Hi folks...

My husband and I will be going to Bon on 8/19. We are going to windsurf (Pete only), but we've been told that we MUST try snorkeling while we're there. Our question...what do we do about gear? If we buy it and bring it, that just adds to the precious weight limit that I'm already obsessing about! If we don't, can we rent? If so, what sort of condition can we expect the equipment to be in? Thanks for your input!

Vicki,
You can rent good equipment at any of the diveshops but boots are not for rent. Boots are necessary because of the iron shore that Bonaire offers. Buy them at home or on Island. Use them with open heel fins when snorkeling. Have a good time what ever you do... Ron

Vicki -

We want to join in strongly urging you to snorkel. We've snorkeled in Hawaii and several other places in the Caribbean, and Bonaire wins hands down. Simply stated, you're going to one of the best snorkeling destinations any where.

I'm glad Ron brought up the point about hard-soled footwear. That tip for getting in and out of the ocean (except at several resorts where there are ladders or from a boat) is one we did not learn for our first trip and it caused us great frustration. We now have simple hard-soled booties and, just as Ron suggests, wear open-backed flippers over them. Works perfectly.

Along the same lines, be sure to take and use aggressively sun protection, both in and out of the water. While snorkeling, many people wisely wear at minimum a tee-shirt. We wear special sun protective outfits, but at least we recommend that you don't snorkel in sunscreen only...you'll fry before you know it. You have a way of getting caught-up in all the wonders you will see and you will be in the water much longer than you ever anticipated.

I make the point that unless you have been that close to the Equator, it is hard to appreciate the intensity of the sun. The almost constant trade winds belie the solar blast. I will not say that Bonaire is "equatorial" because I properly was corrected that the island is actually some 1l degrees latitude north. (The sun is still fierce!)

Yes, please do yourselves a favor and snorkel, and go early in your trip. After you are hooked, you'll have time to buy your own equipment on Bonaire before you leave.

Chas.

I think buying a mask at home might be an idea. If you go to a dive shop they will help you to get a good fit and this makes all the difference to your comfort. I also don't like the idea of someone else having used a mouthpiece that I then put into my mouth, snorkels are not expensive On a different note, please think about bringing half the clothes you think you will need. The KLM 20K limit really concentrates the mind on what is essential and I have noted the clothes I wear each time I come to Bonaire. I am down to around 20 items not including underwear and swimwear.

Oh wow Julia....teach me Obi Wan! How the heck do you only bring 20 items?? How long do you stay?? I usually stay 3 wks and this next time in Dec I'll be there 4 wks...don't know how to pack light!

But listen to Julia when it comes to buying your own mask Vicki. Everyone's face is shaped differently and if you don't get a mask to fit you perfectly, you will be miserable constantly removing the water from your mask.

I always bring my own little snorkel bag with my fins also. I have a big suitcase, a separate case for my toiletries, both checked and my snorkel bag I carry on. Whew! Don't know how to do it any other way!

I take three dresses, three skirts, 4 pairs shorts and 10 t shirts or blouses for two weeks. They all co-ordinate in some way. I choose two colourways. One good sarong, 4 or 5 swim suits and underwear. I don't count what I wear on the plane. My luxury is a spare pair of shoes. I know I should manage with 1 pair of sandals and flip flops but allow myself another pair. Bob takes 5 pairs shorts, 7 t shirts and underwear and swimwear. I have advice on toiletries if anyone wants them

Yes Julia...please give us the toiletry advice.

Waiting with baited breath (yuck, whatever THAT means!)for the toiletry 911 Julia!

I mean 411..not 911...brain fart! Hey, I'm old, whaddya want?

Hi Vicki
My wife and I are going for our 2nd trip to Bonaire next week. We snorkel and had a great time 2 yrs ago. We are mid 50's and have no problem finding safe and comfortable locations to snorkel. It is a good idea to contact a guide to take you to a couple of sites. We used Renee and just the 3 of us snorkeled at 3 locations one morning. Her fee is very reasonable. She is very good and can spot lots of marine life you may miss otherwise. Dee from the Woodwind also gets lots of good recommendations. We also did a night snorkel with Renee at the Divi which was great. She provides the lights.

As far as equipment, I would definitely get hard soled boots - you will need them at almost every beach whether you snorkel or not. We have all our own equipment but I would suggest at least getting your own snorkel - more sanitary I think.

If you wear eyeglasses you may want to get disposable contact lenses to wear while snorkeling. I have done this for years and it works well. I do not wear contacts except when on vacation, otherwise I wear regular eyeglasses, and find I can tolerate the contacts for about 8 hours before my eyes get uncomfortable. I get the daily disposable type and use one pair for about 4 - 5 days before changing to a new pair. I clean them every time I wear them.

And by all means don't forget the sun screen and SPF 15 lip balm - your lips get burned too.

Have a great trip...
Tom

Wow, you read my mind Tom about the contact lenses. I've wanted to know about that since I started wearing them about 6 mos ago. I've worn the gas permeable ones my whole life and just switched. The hard ones are so easy to wear in the water but I don't feel the same way about these soft ones. Sometimes they start to come off in the shower!

I was wondering if I'll be ok in the ocean even before I put my mask on. I was hoping I didn't have to get a prescription mask.

I can't wear the daily ones...bad astigmatisms...mine I wear for 30 days and take them out every night and clean. Whaddya think?

Thanks much to everyone for all your great advice! Sounds like the only thing we can really get away with renting is (are?) the fins. I would imagine they are the heaviest of the snorkeling equipment, so that would be a good compromise. I know what you mean about the mask, Mercy. I snorkeled in the Caymans with rental equipment and I DID spend much of the time getting the water out of the mask. And I agree about the mouthpiece, Julia...yuck! Good idea about the contact lenses, Tom. My husband does wear glasses, and he was concerned that he might need some sort of prescription mask! Fortunately, we have been to Aruba many times, Chas...so we have a healthy respect for the sun and how brutal it can be! Do you wear a lycra or neoprene shirt? Now, about the boots, Ron...what do you mean by the "iron shore"?

Mercy
I used to wear gas permeable lenses about 18 years ago but my job changed and was I exposed to dust, etc. and needed eye protection so I went back to regular eyeglasses. Since I don't wear my contacts very often, except for a week or two a year while on vacation, I don't wear them in the shower - just go blind and hope for the best. I have not lost a contact lense while swimming or snorkeling - usually loose them while putting them in or taking them out. I usually get 3 sets to see me through the week in case I loose one. I discussed this with my eye doctor and he said if I cleaned the lenses daily they would last up to a week. I also bring eyedrops for contact users in case my eyes get dry or tired. So far this has worked well for me. I have considered getting a mask with prescription lenses but I usually procrastinate until the last minute and don't do it.

Hope this helps...
Tom

Vicki
We went to the local dive shop to get dive skins a couple of years ago while preparing for a trip to Bonaire and the sales person suggested getting a thin dive suit instead. I don't remember exactly why she recommended the dive suit but it turned out to be a good decision. I think we paid about $90 each which was much more than the dive skin. We were looking for protection from stingy things and sun but the unexpected advantage they gave was extra flotation. My wife has been wearing a snorkeling vest and she found there was enough flotation in the dive suit that she was comfortable in the water without the snorkeling vest. We would usually go out for 1 - 1.5 hours and she never felt uneasy with the dive suit. I looked at our suits and cannot figure out how many mil thickness they are. They do not take up much space while packing and they do dry out quickly after snorkeling. Aside from from the sun protection they also help keep you from getting your body banged up while entering and exiting the water in case you are a clutz like us and fall into a rock on shore. I would also suggest getting something with some color in it so you can identify your significant other if in a group.
Tom

Vicki -

Regarding what we wear for sun protection while snorkeling.

I wear the SPF 30 "water shirt and legs" by Sun Precautions (http://www.sunprecautions.com/). It is very light weight, dries very quickly and is not hot even out of the water when dry. Sun Precautions normally claims the life of the sun protection in the fabric to exceed 300 washings.

For snorkeling, my wife wears (and I wear when driving around)the tee-shirt from Solar Veil (http://www.solarveil.com/home.asp). This product is really nice in that the sun protection is in the fabric weave, not due to a chemical treatment. So, the life of its sun protection is basically the life of the fabric. It is almost as cool as having nothing on. I wear it year-around in Texas while bicycling and the SPF factor is impressive. Unfortunately, they no longer make the pants, so my wife has a pair of inexpensive, light-weight synthetic fabric slacks from one of the discount retailers she uses while snorkeling.

I was not aware of your experience with the sun in Aruba. I should have known that any serious wind surfer would have been to Aruba. No need to tell y'all about sun protection. That is not our sport, but from what we've heard and seen, your husband is going to love Bonaire!

Hope this helps.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Hi, We will be going to Bonaire for the first time in September. We do not have open heel fins. Does that mean we can't wear booties with them? I've never seen booties. Would water shoes work? Thanks, SRT

Hi Rosie, You can get booties at any dive shop in your area or even on Bonaire at any of their dive shops. There are even a few downtown on island that have them. My in laws snorkel, but don't dive and they invested in an open heeled fin and bought booties to make life a lot easier on Bonaire as it has all tiny pieces of coral that hurt your tootsies and there are sea urchins at some locations that you don't want to step on. You could try water shoes with the fins you got, but first try them at a pool prior to going to see if they will work. I don't think that would be very comfortable at all and bother you that way. Not sure if they would even stay on when kicking. Booties are just a boot like water shoe with a hard bottom, some have softer ones, some zip up by the ankles, while others just slid on. I bought mine on island for $34, the low kind that just slide on, I need to flex and like them. Whatever you decide, make sure you try them on with your fins as what might fit without the fin, might not fit with the fin. Matter of thickness and mobility.

Thanks Debbie,

We will go to a dive shop this weekend and check on booties and open heeled fins. Maybe it is time to update. Thanks again, Rosie

To be read in your best Martha Stewart voice. Okay now how big are your toilet bags? Mine were huge until I started to make big changes.
For two people!
Toothpaste, use 'fresh and go' toothbrushes which are preloaded with toothpaste, lasts for at least two weeks. Or take little sample tubes from the dentist, free and one will last a week.
Deodorant, Nivea does a tiny spray for men and women that is economical and effective. Comes in 20ml bottles and lasts two weeks easily.
Don't take shampoo. Shower gel and conditioner works really well in the soft Bonaire water. Take sachets of conditioner, less weight.
Look for the facecloths that they sell for kids that have been vacuum packed and expand when you unwrap them. Just after Christmas they sell them off, I got 6 for about $2. Just make sure you get the Barbie and he gets Bart Simpson! Don't take them home.
I take three bottles of sun lotion with three different factor usually 25,15 and 8. Share them instead of taking bottles for each of you.
Folding hairbrushes.
No hairdryer, no tongs, no straighteners, no curlers. My hair always looks fine without on Bonaire.
How much makeup do you need? I cut it down to 6 items. Any guesses what?
Guest soaps. One will last ages if you buy it a few weeks in advance and leave it in a warm place to harden off.
That will do for now.

Well you use more make-up then I do, I only take a contour Khol, waterproof mascara an a lipstick.;)
Just for the evening, during the day I don't wear make-up.

Good tips here too travel light!!
We are flying businessclass this year so I don't have to be too carefull with packing.
My husband has very long leggs and he had cramps last year, and becorse we didn't go skiing this year and spend that money on the tickets.

Vicki - I don't think you ever really got an answer to your iron shore question. Here are some images that might help you with the various comments.

This is the area to the north - this is "iron shoreish"



This is kind of mid island - (the old beach cam location)


And this is more what the south shores look like


The hard sole booties are really good for walking on any of these surfaces...the hard sole being the operative words.

Enjoy your time on Bonaire.

Ok - so for those folks that are going to slam me on my pictures - I know the top one is more like the "leap areas" and no, you won't be walking into the water from there but that is a good illustration of the iron shore.

The south - well that is really along the salt flats but you get a good feel for the crushed up corals and stuff that make up the shore line.

Long story short - hard sole booties ROCK!

I'll add in on the contact questions... I've worn contacts since I was 16, got scuba certified in college at 22. I've never lost a lens, even during the mask clearing exercises. I now wear the disposable (2 week and throw away) kind and haven't had a problem. I take them out nightly in Bonaire and clean them, but do take about 3 extra pair... just in case.

I've also got a great "iron shore" picture to help illustrate:

Thanks, ladies! This is going to be a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway...

Why the word "iron"???

Ironshore is a divers terminology for a rocky rough beach or shoreline... Ron

Becky, I can't believe you never lost a contact diving. Before I got my script mask, every time my mask flooded...lost contact. Or my eyes would get dry while diving...etc. I finally gave up and just went with the script mask...kudos to you

Will the aqua shoes work or do I need something with a harder sole?

Charlotte

Charlotte, My husband ended up buying open-heeled fins. He wore his water shoes which were hard enough to not give him a problem. I didn't have any trouble with wearing rubber-like sandals for walking into the water. I put my fins on once I got into the water and then hooked my sandals to my belt. This worked for us, but I would definitely wear something on your feet. Rosie