My wife and I are planning our first trip to Bonaire in November and while I have gathered a tremendous amount of great information from this site I have a couple of questions.

We have snorkeled a fair amount on our previous trips but my wife is still a little uncomfortable at times and while I feel quite confident while snorkeling I am bit of a sinker and treading water is not my strong point. On our previous trips we were always on busier beaches and quite close to shore.

As such my wife is concerned about how far we will be from the shore when out, the depth of the water and the safety of sitting on shore waiting as I tend to stay out for quite a bit longer than she does.

Other questions:
-How difficult are the entry and exits? I have a copy of BSDME in the mail but you read a lot about some difficulty with this.
-is there places for my wife to sit on shore while I snorkel? Any safety concerns?
-how deep is the water at the good snorkeling sites and how far off shore are you?
-How is the water visibility and weather in Mid November? Is there a better time of year to go?

We are planning on doing a couple of tours with Renee the first few days and one with Woodwind hopefully as well. This is our first trip away from the All-inclusives so we want to make sure we know what we are getting into. Thanks in advance.

jamie, welcome to BT. for the most part you'll be pretty close to shore when snorkeling...50-100M usually. your wife can safely sit on shore while you snorkel without worrying about being hassled by beggars, hair braiders, or any of the other nuisances you find at other destinations.

my wife and i dove and most of the sites over the last few months and didn't have many problems at all with entries and exits. and it's easier without scuba gear on. but hard sole boots and open heel fins are almost mandatory.

i'm sure some of the more experienced snorkelers can help with this but i'm guessing that most of the snorkel sites have depths of less than 10M, usually less than 5M.

we do exclusively shore diving so we haven't been to klein in a while but the woodwind will take you there. the sites we saw while diving that we thought would be good snorkel sites, even after omar, are: Tori's reef, 1000 steps, witches hut (webers joy), calabas, something special, andrea I, front porch, and ol' blue (tolo). again, let some of the hard-core snorkelers (darlene, where are you?) chime in here...they'll have much better info on snorkeling than i do.

enjoy your trip.

Where will you be staying? Many resorts have their own docks which make for super easy access. I suggest you get snorkeling vests. My husband and I both wear them. If you have mask or snorkel trouble or if the water gets choppy, it is really nice to have that snorkel vest on.

We all dive, but on our off day we snorkel Lac Bay. I love it. It's a long walk in, but once there you're up close and personal with most of the same creatures you see while diving. And if you get tired or want to talk to your bride just pick out a sandy spot and stand up. You'll mostly be in waist-to-chest deep water.

As you swim from coral head to coral head keep an eye out in the distance. I've seen tarpons, bonefish, permit, turtles there. The water moves in and out of the bay and I suppose the predators come in to feed.

I saw the only shark I've seen on Bon while snorkeling at Lac Bay. I don't know what kind, but not a nurse shark.

We usually go to one of the windsurf places for a burger and a beer then spend the rest of the afternoon snorkeling. Put a couple of water bottles in your pocket...

Lac Bay is great, and your wife will have a great place to relax if you stay out longer. Most of the places we've snorkled are not that difficult getting in and out, but I would recommend boots definitely.

You will LOVE snorkling with Renee and also DEE with woodwind. If you really want the best snorkling of your life, I would do a night snorkle with Dee or Renee. I did it in 2006 and I went every night after that. They keep you right over the rocks along shore but the eals, lobster, shrimp and alot more stuff also the blooming coral under the town pier is awsome. I seen 2 seahorses. Kent

Thanks for all the info. We haven't picked out a place to stay yet, I suspect that will be my next post. . I think we will try to get something close to the water and one with a good house reef.

We do have vests and we will likely use them but I like to dive down and get pictures and check stuff out. I may take someones suggestion and put it on but not blow it up.

I definitely plan on doing a night snorkel with Renee but my wife may not be comfortable enough to do one.

Any thoughts on time of that time of year?

We always stay at the Plaza. We go out everyday to different sites, but always seem to have the best luck off the Plaza beach. There are a few places on the Plaza beach with easy access. We like to go in off the little dock by the Tipsy Seagull restaurant. There are plenty of chairs and gazebos for your wife to sit and wait for you.

My mom and I stay at the Divi and it's nice because when she is tired of snorkeling she can sit on the sunning pier and I can keep snorkeling. We also love being able to walk into town from the Divi.

Just wanted to add that the Sea Cow is another good boat snorkel. Did this this past march on off gasing day and had a great time. the woodwind was booked so we tried this and was very happy. there were also very few people which was great. be especially cautious during cruise season as these boats can get VERY busy.

IO echo the cruise ship busyness aspect. Only one more ship next week then none until October.

Hey Jamie,

I also do advise to rent a 3mm wet suit or shorty, wearing this, will make you and your wife feel more secure in the water since your buoyancy does enhance, besides you will be able to stay longer in the water and enjoy the reef life. It also protects you from accidently coming too close to the reef and you dont have the feeling of treading water while you might have to adjust your snorkel mask and just being able to lay in the water.
Snorkeling with Renee is the best idea, you learn a lot over bonaire's reef inhabitants, as a matter of fact, I hardly met Renee being outside the water!
Divi is a great resort and a great spot to snorkel, I also suggest the Sand Dollar or the Den Laman, easy entry over the dock or ladders, and Bari Reef is a wonderland to explore while snorkeling. But every suggestions you read from all BT'ers are good ones, we do love Bonaire!
Using booties is a must if you consider to snorkel particular dive spots, however, my trick is, since while snorkeling I use full fins: I choose a dive/ snorkeling spot ,walk the first few minutes along the shoreline to look for the most suitable and easy entry, sit down in the shallow water to put my fins on and snorkel out from there. I hope I might have helped you with this information, I wish you and your wife a wonderful tine on Bonaire!

Oh, reading the posts again, using a wet suit is also a good way of getting rid of those snorkeling vests - besides that, with a wet suit you can easily dive down by exhaling a tiny bit while you dive down.

A 3 mm or 3/2 mm full length wet suit should work wonders for snorkeling. Maybe a shorty could work. Both may be buoyant enough for most people to float on the surface easily but not so buoyant that a short free dive down to see something would be a problem.

Also it provides sun protection while on the surface for an hour or so - very important in Bonaire's sunny weather. I am not a particular vest fan if a wet suit is available.

I just purchased a 17oz Polyolefin Henderson suit to replace my lycra. I intend to use it snorkeling
maybe diving and as an undersuit to my 3 mil wetsuit. A 3 mil suit is too bouyant for me to snorkel in. anyway this might also be a good solution as its reported to have better thermal characterisitcs than lycra. but i haven't actually used it yet so I can only propose it as possible alternative.

Thanks for all the great information everyone. I do have a new wetsuit (not sure how thick it is) that I plan to wear and we will likely get one for my wife as well. I am not too worried about the bouyancy because of the suit and the vests (and I will practice treading water with Bonaire as inspiration) but the relative isolation is different than we are used to.

Any more thoughts on depth of the water and how far from shore most of the spots are? I think we tend to get a bit nervous about being far from shore, especially if the water is deep. I have done some research on shallower spots but will wait for BSDME to finalize a list.

As well, any thoughts on November as a time to go? I have thought of Sept or Oct because of the lack of wind but this I would like to keep it close to winter if I can (I am in Western Canada so a break from -40 is nice). My wife is not as big a snorkeling fanatic as I am so I want to make this an amazing trip so that she will want to come back ASAP...lol.

Thanks for the info. Great website.

jamie, most of your snorkeling will be in water 25 feet deep and shallower and you'll be about 50 yards or less from shore. some places the water will be less than 10 feet deep and you'll be pretty close to shore (at tori's reef there is a nice ledge right at the shoreline that's great for snorkeling).

november will be only a little different than sept. or oct. as far as visiting. you'll be at the end of the "hot" season (little wind) and at the beginning of the rainy season (more normal wind...a little more rain). friends of our stayed in our place a few years ago in the second half of november and loved it...they had one day of rain but the rest of their trip was sunny and dry.

Jamie
If you or your wife have any doubts about your aquatic skills wear a vest.
The depth of the water has almost no bearing. Anything more than 5 feet and you're out of luck if you can't swim, or at least float well.
Panic will do the rest. You've got to be comfortable, otherwise it's not fun, and that is the IS the the object of the whole thing.
Mick

First time visiting the island, try the Divi Flamingo or the Plaza resort. Great locations and always some amount of people around, so that will make you feel a lot more comfortable. After snorkeling the house reef at wherever you are at and with Renee, I have full faith you will be fine wherever you decide to get wet at and see some fish.

Bonaire's water is quite buoyant, lots of salt, and a wetsuit, I don't see you sinking. My in laws are in their 80's and we found lots of close to shore snorkel spots for them to go to as they don't like to be real far from shore. I am betting you will fall in love with the island and all Mother Ocean has to offer down under to see.

Nov. is one of the times we go to Bonaire. Great time to be there.

Two years ago we went to Bonaire for the first time. I was a novice snorkeler (snorkelling in Aruba with Kent the previous year was my first time). I was still a little leery in the water, but someone suggested getting an aquasize belt and it works beautifully for me, keeping me comfortable when I'm upright clearing my mask or whatever, and helping me float while I'm snorkeling.

This year we stopped in Bonaire on a cruise ship in March and four of us went out with Renee. What a treat! Two of us were very novice snorkelers and she accomodated everyone. I won't hesitate to book snorkel again with her this January when we go back on our vacation. And a night snorkel is definitely on our must-do list this time.

Sharon

My mom and I did a night snorkel with Renee last year. We were both a little bit nervous but it was the highlight of our trip. We got into the water before it was actually dark and Renee was great. It was amazing!! YOu will LOVE it.

We wear swim jackets and pants from www.coolibar.com while snorkeling. They have SPF 50 in them and they have worked great for us.

We are Divi timeshare owners who love to bring our friends and relatives to Bonaire.
Many of them have never been to the carribean and had the same fears as you. My sister-in-law was even afraid of deep water also as she is not a very good swimmer.
By the time she left, she was spotting the octopus and other fish faster than us. She loved it so much, she came with us the next year.
The water is a warm crystal clear blue(you can see the bottom) and very salinated(very, very salty) so you are natrualy more bouyant there. The reef is literaly right off the beach with lots of pretty fish. No heavy currents.
Divi also has steps leading into the water from the docks for easy entry/exit.
Renee' and Dee are great choices also.
Both ladies are very knowlegeable and fun.
They will show you were the critter's live. Excellent choices for newbies.
Dee's catermeran(The Woodwind)is a must. Get a video of your snorkel trip. It's so much fun to share it when you get home.
Try a night snorkel with either of these women too.
You won't be sorry. They both accomodate all snorkeling levels.
Have Fun!

Is it possible to buy a copy of BSDME locally on arrival on Bonaire?

Most dive operations have them for sale.

Chatnbrouse has BSDME for sure... Ron

I'll be there on Sunday to pick up a copy

Hello, Jamie: I admit to being a very nervous person in any water over my head - in Bonaire I've seen amazing fish and coral in water up to my knees - honest! I also bring a snorkel flotation device which makes me feel really happy and secure.
For instance, if my mask gets a bit foggy, with the flotation device, I don't need to "thread water" - I just roll over on my back, fix my mask and then roll over again. Bonaire is a truly wonderful spot and you don't need to worry. Entries and exits: booties are a must - Bonaire is not a "sandy beach" kind of place, it is more like "sharp pebbles" - chunks of coral or volcanic rock. But once you are beyond the shore area, there is so much to see!

I agree with previous posts about the Woodwind. I have done several snorkel cruises with Dee and enjoyed every one and learned something new every time. Dee is very helpful, considerate, experienced and professional. She will take care of the most inexperienced swimmer and make them feel at home in the water. Highly recommended.

Another easy entry is Front Porch. It's shallow, has a fantastic variety of critters, and is an easy walk in from sandy shore. It's just south of Bari Reef. Get there by turning towards the shore from the traffic circle. Have fun!

Sorry, wrong thread.