I added the post below to the Bonaire Top Ten Snorkeling thread, but it might make a thread of its' own.
A couple of years ago (trip #23 to Bonaire) on my last day it rained hard and was cloudy all day. Very unBonaireish. But the effect was that the water was like glass as far as you could see. I went snorkeling at Oil Slick Leap (which if you snorkel south for .5 - 1.0 miles, you will see some beautiful coral terrances). While in the water a huge pod of spinner dolphins swam quite close to the coast and out in a big loop towards Klein. They were hunting. The mirror-flat water allowed for great viewing. Swimming out into the blue water was a thrill.
The dolphins stayed within vision for over an hour, swimming between Klein and Oil Slick and in smaller loops to hunt and gather. There were between 30-40 dolphins in the pod including a couple of small juveniles that were practicing their new-found "spinning skills". What a treat!
Rain or no rain, Bonaire always hold surprises and wonder, including out in the wild blue yonder.
Bud Gillan
Blue Water Snorkeling.
I've snorkeled off Bonaire since 1966. Some the most interesting and incredible sealife is off the coast in the blue water, past where you can see any reef. First, I'll add a caution to be careful and have a buddy with you and regularly check the currents and your drift and for boats.
You have to learn to look in different angles, depths, times of day, focus on very close to as far as you can see. OK OK this creeps some people out, but when was the last time you saw an octopus the size of your pinky nail or swam with a school of blue runners or a pod of red land crab larva. Tiny creatures, translucent ones, jellies, all sorts of new stuff to see.
Bonaire's waters are teeming with life up and down the entire water column. I see new stuff every time I go into the blue water.
Bud Gillan
Flying Fish.
Boca Raton, FL |
By Bud Gillan on Saturday, June 15, 2002 - 4:56 pm: 
