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Snorkeling Bonaire: Snorkeling Gear-Where & What to Buy?
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2001-09-06 to 2003-03-31: Snorkeling Gear-Where & What to Buy?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Gobbo on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 9:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are heading down to our first trip to Bonaire. Does anyone have suggestions of what we need to snorkel? We have basic (and cheap) snorkels,masks and fins from another trip-but maybe we need to update them. We also have three kids-ages 11,9 and 7. The 7 year old doesn't swim to good, but the other two swim well.

What's this about special socks-do you wear them in the fins?
Do you recommend sling back fins or the whole shoe type?
What about the longer snorkel tube-is that better?
Do we need wet suits and what kind? Any with float devices for kids?
Yikes, I read about the sea wasps-do we need to carry some kind of medicine in the water or nearby.
And, most important, is there a website or stateside store (we are in New Jersey) to buy this stuff ahead?
We were planning to just snorkel at the Divi reef. Any other good beginner spots?
Obviously, we are novices and hoping to be prepared so we can enjoy the snorkeling. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

One more thing, my 11 and 9 year old would like to try to Scuba Dive. We are at the Divi. Is there any kind of "learner program"?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 10:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

They are not really socks. What people are suggesting are dive booties with tough soles or what amounts to reef shoes. The reason is that many of the shore entries are over coral rubble and iron shore which can be very tough on your feet. You don't need them if you are only snorkeling from Divi since it has a sand beach and the piers. (As a shore diver on Bonaire, I prefer dive booties with open fins rather than fullfooted fins.)

Sea wasps are not usually a problem here. You would want to watch for them as the sun is setting and the early evening. Ask the dive shop if any have been sighted recently. Usually a little vinegar gets rid of the sting but again ask the diveshop.

PADI bubblemakers starts at 8 years old but it is pool only. PADI junior SCUBA cert. starts at age 10.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 11:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

In addition to Linda's information about booties and open back fins I would add:

wetsuits: I wore a 2mm shorty in Bonaire but I was in the water for 6 hours a day. If you are doing just a few short snorkels you would probably be just fine in your bathing suits (but remember lots of sunscreen). As a novice I would not suggest buying wetsuits because of the expense -- you can always rent them once there if you feel the need. WannaDive charges ten dollars a day. Websites for the bonaire dive shops list rental prices for gear.

websites for purchasing gear: Divers Direct has a website but I would not recommend buying masks over the internet as fit is important and you may need to try on more than one mask. If you do not have a dive shop near you, the prices at the shops in Bonaire are about the same as here (at least they are similar to the dive shops here in VT).

If you want something to help your child float you can rent a vest from a diveshop in Bonaire.

If you do decide to venture away from the Divi and try some shore snorkeling I would recommend Windsock and Andrea I and II. On our last trip we had a new snorkeler with us and she was very happy with these sites.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 4:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you do decide to buy equipment on Bonaire, I'd recommend Carib Inn (which is just next door to Divi). Their selection is good and they are very knowledgeable and patient. The Divi shop seemed to have a VERY limited selection. There are also a couple of shops on Kaya Grande that have a better selection than Divi.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 7:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Your first snorkeling trip to Bonaire !! It was ours over 10 yrs ago and that's were we fell in love with the underwater world. Divi is a great place to snorkel. We're timeshare ownwer's and have brought many people ,who hardly swam at all, let alone snorkel and by the time they left , had them identifying in the book all the different fishes they saw right off the dock. Easy acess from the small beach or the tanning pier by the time share ,or off the dive dock. There are so many differant fihes and creatures you'll see right off Divi's premises.
My suggestion, though, is to get a good fitting mask at a dive shop. Either ,here or there. The masks you buy for the pool just don't make it.You don't have to buy the most expensive, just good fitting. Place the mask on your face and suck in, if the mask stay tight it's good.That way you won't have to keep lifting you head to clear a poor fitting mask, and miss something;)You can always use it if you decide to learn to dive too!
They have a resort course at Divi if you want to try.That's where we did our certification.
It is not a swim to see the fish, right there !!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 7:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A good waterproof sunblock is an excellent idea too!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jason thomas on Thursday, May 2, 2002 - 7:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Youll need a few dive lights which you can rent. Night snorkel.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Gobbo on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 12:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you all for your helpful advice. I shopped around today and am starting to get a good idea of what we'll need.

Please see the new post about a "Dry Snorkel". It was highly recommended by the dive shop I went to. I just wonder if it really works.

Thanks again.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By herman mowery on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 3:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

After you get your mask, you need to "prepare" it, otherwise it will fog up on you. Here is the method most divers use. First, clean it good by placing a small spot of any plain toothpaste on the lens and rub with your finger, using it as a mild cleaner. This takes off a protective film used during manufacturing. Then rinse it well. Before the dive/snorkle you will want to apply a good defoging agent. I use any no-tears childrens shampoo. On a dry mask, put on a small drop, smear it all around the lens and let it dry (if possible). Just before the dive/snorkle, do a very quick rinse. Repeat between dives if necessary. I do hate a fogging mask! Enjoy your stay on Bonaire, I can't wait to get back.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 7:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Herman, I like your idea on the no-tears shampoo for defogging. Here all these years and I go around buy the "expensive" defogers. Didn't realize that the no tears shampoo works too. Masha danke for the $ saving tip!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By herman mowery on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 9:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Your welcome. A pole of the dive board I am on showed that about 80% of them use baby shampoo. The stuff works better than any commercial product and is super cheap. Think I paid $1.98 for a 12oz bottle of shampoo vers about $5 for 500 psi (1 or 2 oz)that does not work as well.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pat Relich on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 6:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Herman, I will also give this a try. Don't need the shampoo for my head seeing that I have no hair.
Thanks

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 7:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

just a few divi snorkel suggestions...

The reef is a little deep for snorkeling BUT there is tons to see anyways. Snorkel around the dive piers... enter from the beach or the dive pier. The left (facing ocean) pier has alot less boat traffic. Also don't miss checking out the stone suntanning pier...lots to see around the rocks. The best snorkel around divi is the customs pier. You don't need any permission and there is an easy entry slightly toward divi from the pier (the customs pier is the 1st big pier north from divi...toward town). You can snorkel all the way from the divi dive shack pier...but it is a little ways. I put the customs pier as a must see... just watch the kids around the pier supports... plenty of room (even to swim under pier).

I second the suggestion about Carib Inn for masks.. they are just south of divi and had a good selection with good prices. One place in town also had a good selection. Divi is lacking in equipment for sale.

Saw octopus under the divi dive pier at night several times... once in the sand between the pier and the suntanning pier.

Have fun!!

Ken

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 8:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Susan, I shouldn't worry too much about Sea Wasps, BUT it doesn't hurt to exercise caution.. Should you ever experience a sting from any kind of jelly, the first thing to do is to reduce the number of nematocysts discharging into the skin and to reduce the effects of the venom. This can be done by using sand as well as vinegar.. wear a good sunblock too.. SPF 20 and above.. and as Linda mentioned, communicate regularly with the dive operation there. It might be an idea to look at a few pics of jellyfish too (to help you recognise the different species). If you think that you see a Sea Wasp(s), it's best to get yourselves out of the water!

ps: I have a Mares mask and snorkel, (long tube).. I do have to clear the snorkel from time to time, like when I surface, but at the surface it works really well. Have fun..:)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Gobbo on Friday, May 24, 2002 - 12:10 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I'm getting set with the gear. I got the masks and snorkels. Now just the wetsuit question. I'll make a new post of that.

Thanks again. I can't wait to go!

Susan

 


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