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Snorkeling Bonaire: Considering Bonaire -- what about rocks?
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2006-03-01 to 2006-12-31: Considering Bonaire -- what about rocks?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pauline Word (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 3:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are looking very seriously at Bonaire for next summer. Seems to have good snorkeling for me and shore diving for husband that maybe we can do together.

(We went to St Croix earlier this month for our first Caribbean trip and loved it -- easy entry snorkeling from mainly sandy beaches, not much current, and good stuff to see relatively close to shore. Husband had several great boat dives as well.)

I'm a little concerned about the shore entries on what appear to be mainly rocky beaches on Bonaire. I really don't want to get beat up by surf and smashed on rocks or coral. Many of the entries look kind of rough from some pictures I've seen online and just a few things I've read. We already wear semi-hard booties with our fins so that's no problem. But I'm still a newbie snorkeler so should I be worried? I just started looking so maybe Bonaire's entries are deceiving in pictures? Are there many easy sandy entries?

Thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4968) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 3:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Welcome, Pauline, some of the entries can be tricky but neither are they death defying. Just take your time and watch your step and you'll be fine. Now there are many great snorkel sites that have very entries. The Divi comes to mind, you can enter from their dock and the snorkeling is great. There's also the Tipsy Seagull at the Plaza, great snorkeling to the right and a dock to enter from. Many place there is a sloping beach of coral rubble which is rough on bare feet but easy with booties.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #19250) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 3:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Windsock is another easy snorkel entry site:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs Loves Bonaire (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3202) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 4:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nothing like getting wet from a good face plant! Seriously though, there are lots of nice entries (but always wear booties): Bachelor's Beach, Margate Bay, Red Beryl, Andrea I and II...not to mention taking the leap at Oil Slick. :-) :-) :-)

(Message edited by jeanineclark on August 29, 2006)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #397) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 4:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pauline -

Bon bini na Bonaire Talk!

If you like to snorkel and/or dive, you will have a first-rate experience on Bonaire. Although we have not been to St. Croix, we have snorkeled St. John, Virgin Gorda, Gran Cayman, Kauai and Hawaii and all were good experiences, but none comes even close to Bonaire for quantity and quality of snorkeling. From the sea fauna and flora to the ease of shore snorkeling, you won't regret your decision.

Cecil is on a good track for first-timers: seek out the hotels and resorts that have ladder entry. I think most of the resorts are pretty lenient about letting non-guests go in the water, but at most you might have to pay a nominal fee.

We can attest that the ladder entry at the Tipsy Seagull restaurant (south end of the Plaza Resort property) is super easy and the snorkeling up and down in front of the Plaza is excellent.

Once you get beyond ladders, there are as Grasshopper says a few sandy entries, but you'll get the hang of walking over the coral and rocks in no time.

Beyond that, there are boat snorkeling trips you can take, one of which the most popular is the trip to Klein Bonaire, a small island right off Bonaire.

One other plus, and it is a big plus for most of us, is the topside experience. You already have learned no doubt that Bonaire is a basically quiet culture, developed, but not over-developed, planted on a semi-arid island.

Those who are looking for party-nights, discos, all-inclusive resorts, international shopping, lots of greenery, long, sandy beaches and such are the ones who are disappointed in Bonaire. Those who love the sea and what is in it, respect a different culture, treasure friendly and unassuming locals, enjoy meeting folks from many parts of the world, and generally enjoy nature are not treated fairly by Bonaire...they are sandbagged! They end up plotting their next trip before they leave.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #589) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 10:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check with the dive shop you are using to see if you can snorkel while your husband does boat dive. Many of them allow this because there are a lot of couples who are in the same situation you are in. Also get the book Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, there is a lot of information on the different dive sits and which ones are good for snorkeling. Check out www.bonairestuff.com and www.infobonaire.com for more information.
Have a good time. Andy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pauline Word (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the responses. Will consider all the suggestions.

We're not into nightlife or shopping and we're not sunbathing beach types so I think Bonaire would be a good choice for us. We like to try new things and new places and aren't afraid of adventure. Just wish we could go now...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2189) on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 9:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Torries is antoher easy entry and so is Lac Bay
Snorkeling is good in Bonaire no matter which resort you stay at. I am a fan of the waterfront rooms at the Divi Flamingo. The resort is a ten minute walk to town and the snorkeling there is awesome! They have a cement pier that tons of fish life in it. There is a little sunken boat just to the right of the pier in about 15 feet of water that is really neat too as well as under there southern most dock. The Woodwind also sails from the Divi which is an added convenience.
The Woodwind is a trimaran that does sail and snorkel trips with unlimited drinks and lunch included. It does one stop at Kline where you usually see turtles and then another stop at Andrea, Pietre Pillar or Small Wall. It is a really fun day.www.woodwindbonaire.com I also would suggest doing guided snorkels with Renee from www.reneesnorkeltrips.com. She is incredible and is very reasonably priced. I call her eagle eyes. She find so much and knows where a lot of the little critters live. You will love it in Bonaire!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Edison (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 10:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just got my new edition of "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" as Andy & Dave B. above recommend. Wish we'd had it for our trip. We didn't do much snorkeling. The best we found was in the shallows at Andrea II and Witch's Hut (AKA, Weber's Joy). We also took the Water Taxi from the Sand Dollar pier (stops at most resort piers--call for reservations) to Klein Bonaire (all sandy beaches) for a few hours--that was probably our favorite snorkel, but my wife got a nasty sunburn. BSDME tells you which sites are best for snorkeling. As to entry, keep in mind that snorkelers won't be encumbered by tanks and weight belts so you'll probably have a much easier time of it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andreas (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello Pauline,
Here is a link to a site with descripions and pictures. Not all of them are up to date (Oil slick got a brand new ladder) but you can figure out what to expect.
Have fun anyway

Bonaire North
Bonaire South

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pauline Word (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 5:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Andreas. That's the site I originally saw that got me so worried!

Anyway while there definitely were some places on there that I wouldn't do, I'm sure I'll find plenty that I can. Will also get the book suggested above and keep researching Bonaire until it's time.

Thanks again all.


 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #441) on Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 6:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pauline.. Don't know where you were on St Croix, but I dove there for about 8 years.. (Haven't been there however in at least 7).. Outside of Cane Bay gardens & Buck Island I think Bonaire's snorkeling is far superior.
You're welcome to snorkel at any of the resorts which have easy step in access, Divi, Plaza, Buddy's or Sand Dollar..Take your pick.

 


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