By Nanette Oselett (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 10:43 am: |
Hello, Is there a boat that will take you to Klein to snorkel & picnic for the day? Can you walk from dive/snorkel site to site-ie. Forest to? Is there shade on Klein? Our friends will be visiting Bonaire 6/23 to 6/30? Nan
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By Jennifer A. Rose (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 2:00 pm: |
I know there is a water taxi that will take you to Klein - not sure where it picks up I know someone on here will know. As far as I could tell there is no shade on the island. It looks like it would be fun to snorkel and have a "beach" day/picnic. You must bring all your own provisions. It also looked like it was pretty easy to walk around the island. I only saw the island from the dive boat but I did see people snorkeling at different areas on the island.
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By carey moluchi (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 10:31 pm: |
There is a boat that goes from the pier at It Rains Fishes restaurant downtown.(They post the schedule at the dock there on the board) If you pay an extra $2 (which makes it about $17 round trip- if my memory serves me okay)and tell the captain, he will let you drop off your picnic etc at the island and then take you over and drop you off so you can drift snorkel for about an hour along the coastline back to where your picnic is. This is the most awesome snorkelling, but be aware that you are in really deep water to start so you must be comfortable in that. I wear a wetsuit shorty for additional floatation and am a good swimmer. We saw numerous turtles and the coral and fishlife was fabulous. We did the trip at the end of our vacation and wish we had done it at the beginning because we would have gone numerous times. There is some shade at the drop off point but we did not have much time to enjoy it as we drank our drinks and headed back halfway along the beach to drift again! Take the 10am ferry out and the 4pm back and ensure you have some hard beach shoes to explore at bit as the sand turns to coral along the shoreline. Enjoy!
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By Tom Tarnowski (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 1:28 am: |
I have done the drift snorkel and it is great. Hope to do it again in July when I'm there. You should reserve the water taxi in advance to be sure there is a place, and tell them what time you want to return There is a small shack that is continuously rebuilt at No Name beach where the taxi will drop your picnic stuff and you can get a bit of shade. You will likely be sharing the shack with others. Highly recommended, but plan on a long outing and bring plenty of beverage and sunscreen.
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By William Gates (BonaireTalker - Post #72) on Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 8:31 am: |
For a first visit to Klein, I would strongly recommend the Woodwind trimarand. It sails from the southern most pier at the Divi Flamingo. Dee and Ulf -- the owner-operators -- run a really nice snorkel tour including a multi-course lunch. They also provide unlimited soft drinks, juice and water and a second stop to snorkel at Andreas or Petri.
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By Ron Edison (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #121) on Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - 11:05 pm: |
When we were there in 2003, the Water Taxi picked us up at the Sand Dollar pier at 10AM. (You have to call them to request a pickup.) I want to say there were boats making the run at 10AM, 12PM, and 2PM. We stayed for two hours of great snorkeling, but make sure you wear skins or bring sunblock--my wife's 'waterproof' sunblock wore off and we had to buy the giant bottle of aloe vera from Cultimara.
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By Jim Sambataro (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 10:13 am: |
I will only be there for a day - cruise ship.
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By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #109) on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 7:57 pm: |
Jim:
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By Jim Sambataro (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 9:55 pm: |
Thanks Bill. Crown Princess on WED, Nov 14 arrive at 11:00A and sail at 7:00P. I had planned to go right away to Klein and spend 2 to 3 hours on the island, mainly to snorkel. I will have my own equipment. With less than 8 hours on the island I'm not sure how to best use my time, but I do like to snorkel and from what I've read it is pretty good on Klein. I will search the Woodwind. Thanks for any advice.
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By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #110) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 12:31 am: |
Hi Jim:
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By Jim Sambataro (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 8:13 am: |
Thanks again for all the info not to mention the beautiful pics. There is a 2 stop excursion being offered at $62 aboard Seacow, but no detail as to where. Also sail on Mushi Mushi and snorkel in Bonaire Marine Park ($62). $30 to $40 each for my wife and I is our budget and that is why I am trying to bypass the cruise line deals.
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By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9147) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 8:36 am: |
I think Jim if I were you I would take my gear and walk or get a taxi south to the Divi and ask permission to snorkle on their it can't be more than a 1/2-1 mile to the Divi.. look at Google earth find town pier and then go south..You might even email them first..
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By Ron Gould (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1141) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 9:16 am: |
Jim, Just north of the Divi is Cha Cha Beach, it is a public beach, and it is free. You can enter there and snorkel to the south at the Divi or to the north at the working pier. That area is a great snorkel or dive...
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By carey moluchi (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 10:14 am: |
Hi there. If I were you, I would be concerned that the cruise line has monopolized the water taxi for the day. Having said that, the taxi normally goes out every hour so maybe they have not. If the cruise line is charging $29 including the tag then their "mark up" is not a large one and would be your cheapest option. We spent one month last February on Bonaire and the time spent on Klein was our favourite for snorkelling.
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By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #111) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 7:14 pm: |
Jim, what are the times that the later ship organized taxi tour[s] to Klein leave and return?
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By Marlene Robinson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 7:49 pm: |
Actually, buying a Marine Park tag is not just about supporting a good cause: you are required by law to purchase a Marine Park tag if you are using the water. It is not the taxi driver's responsibility, but rather yours (the user). Find a vendor and buy a tag before entering the water. And when you see all that life and beauty, you will feel extra happy.
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By Ron Gould (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1143) on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 7:53 pm: |
The Dive Inn diveshop(across the street from Cha Cha Beach) sells the tags...
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By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 3:48 am: |
As long as we are talking about the fee, it needs to be pointed out that there is a one day Park fee not just the annual fee. The one day fee for Snorkelers would be $2.00.
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By Jim Sambataro (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 8:26 am: |
Greatly appreciated. My goal now is to get a reservation on the water taxi for 12 noon. If I understand all the informative posts I should be able to walk to the water taxi or get a taxi for a few dollars, pay a $2 tag fee for the day and snorkel for a few hours including the "drift". I will be sure to get back in plenty of time for the scheduled 7:00P Princess sailing. Even if the cruise charge includes transp. to water taxi and the tag we will save at least $20 going it on our own. Not a big amount, but why not.
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By Stew Podolsky (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 7:39 pm: |
Can anybody recommend whether it is worthwhile and, if so, how to get to Klein South side sites such as Rockpile and Captain Don's? We have drifted from Ebo to No Name and hiked to Lenora/Knife/Sampler - all great, but would like to visit the other side on our upcoming trip.
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