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Snorkeling Bonaire: 1 day in Bonaire, Taxi or car rental? dive tag? Dive flag?
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2009: 1 day in Bonaire, Taxi or car rental? dive tag? Dive flag?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, October 9, 2009 - 6:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've been diving for 30 years. Always wanted to go to Bonaire. I'm on a scouting trip...(one day with a cruise ship)... then hope to come back next year for a 10 day trip.

How do I do the basics? Ship comes in late at 11:00 -7:00 so I need to get off the ship and in the water ASAP.

Want to see as much shore snorkeling as I can?
- Do I rent a car, take a taxi? Walk?
- How do you get dive tags? Pay the fee? Fast?
- Do I need to bring a dive flag?
- I love big elk coral in shallow water (photos)
- January, weather, wind?

Can someone tell me how to string together the best dive sites and transportation on my own? For such a short amount of time on the island?

Renee is busy (plus I want to try on my own). My Ship has bought up all the water taxis to Clien(sp?) And Woodwind is not sailing at a good time for me (plus I want to try shore diving not really sure how I feel about "drift diving" I like shallow and lots of photos.)

Help?

Wife and I are young, active, adventurous, and have done a lot of snorkeling. But we need a plan.

Thanks so much :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia (Moderator) (Moderator - Post #119) on Friday, October 9, 2009 - 7:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

What date are you on the island?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, October 9, 2009 - 8:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post


Hi Julia,

I'm on the Ruby Princess, Jan 5th 2010

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2477) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 6:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mark: welcome to BT. With the exception of how they drive on EEG in the morning and how Bruce at Caribe Inn can repair scuba equipment, honestly I wouldn't describe ANYTHING on Bonaire as being fast.

With only 8 hours on the island, & looking to snorkel I'd probably just take the water taxi over to Klein. Advice will be forthcoming from others but you really can't get a handle on what's available(IMHO) in only 8 hours.

No need to bring a dive flag and pick up a copy of Bonaire Shore diving made easy. Enjoy your brief visit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 10:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Vince,

I'm going to make it easy. Thanks for the advice. I forgot about "Island Time" :-)

I'll take my ship's tour -water taxi- Kantika di Amor to Klien, "No Name Beach" from 11:30 to 2:30

And although Renee was full in the morning.. I'm going to get together with her at 3:30 for a trip, and leave the details up to an expert.

Glad I could fit it all in.

Looking forward to planning a longer stay next year. We're just going to get a taste this time.

I've been reading Bonairetalk all week. Great web site, and very friendly and helpful people. THANKS

(Message edited by markstudy on October 10, 2009)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2529) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 10:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If it's a ship tour it will probably be packed ! but still fun. I am sure Rene in the afternoon will be GREAT. Enjoy every moment.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 1:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Denise,

I know... the ships tours are always packed.

I wish I could jump on the Woodwind for their 11:00 to 2:00 trip. But I just miss it because our ship pulls in at 11:00.

Its never easy...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #174) on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 2:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lets see ...

1. Kantika di Amor to Klien from 11;00 to 2:30

2. Rene from 3:30 to 4:30

3. May I suggest that when Renee brings you back from your hour tour with her that you ask her to drop you at the Diva Flamingo and maybe even escort you to the Concrete pier located there.

A half hour or so around the pier at that time of day [5:00PM or so]can be really nice. Then its just a short swim or walk back to the ship [1/4 mile or less] and there should still be time for a shower and quick nap before dinner. Bill

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks William

My trip with Renee is a two dive snorkel from 3:30-5:30

Your tip about the Diva Flamingo Concrete pier located close to cruise ship is still very helpful. I have some friends in my cruise group that don't want to book a full snorkel trip... but have asked me if there somewhere near the cruise ship, in case they just want to take a quick look around.(I realize that the cruise ship dock itself is off limits due to security) But glad to hear that there are some sites that are walkable.

My Parents when to Bonaire a number of years ago and stayed at the Divi-Divi. Is this the same place- Diva-Flamingo? Why dose it seem everything in Bonaire is named Divi or Diva something?



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #175) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 4:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am no expert on Bonaire having only been there three times. Twice by cruise ship and once for seven days of snorkeling. Anyhow, my understanding is that ...

1. Divi-Divi is a great little airline that flies -- daylight hours only -- between Bonaire and Curacao. The flight from Bonaire to Curacao is great for pictures. 1/500 sec min for shots out the window.

2. The Divi Flamingo is a beach resort. Nice accommodations, good restaurant, the pickup point for the Woodwind and home to the Cement Pier and a very tiny but very nice sand beach.

3. Renee is one of the best snorkel guides in the Caribbean. I have gone on at least seven snorkel trips with her and will make sure she is available before I schedule my next cruise that stops there.

4. I recommend that you take an underwater camera. It is exciting to see an Octopus or Eel or Tarpon or Seahorse while snorkeling but it is priceless to take home your own pictures of them. Renee will locate them -- you take the pictures.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 6:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks again William

And the explanation of Divi-Divi vs Divi Flamingo was very helpful. Tying in the Woodwind pick-up point helps me get a better feel for a few landmarks.

I was going to buy a Cannon Powershot D10 12MP waterproof digital camera. Look like a fun camera for a 10 day cruise with lots of waterfalls, rain forest, and snorkeling. Looking forward to getting some great photos...I'm a big fan of the octopus and squid, probably my favorite subjects.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Ken *** (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #565) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 6:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

mark, g11 just released and avail from amazon (just this wk), might want to take a look at it housing avail too, price just about the same as g10. early reviews seem to be very favorable.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Ken *** (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #566) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 6:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

btw price is pretty much going to be close to list for a while, you just might want to shop your local camera shop and give them the business rather than online, (if they can get it). It will prob be a little hard to get until the warehouses fill up

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #176) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 6:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mark
To get a better feel for landmarks suggest:

1. In Google Earth go to Search/ Fly to;
2. Enter the appropriate Latitude and Longitude numbers;
3. Click on the Magnifying glass

For Concrete Pier at Divi Flamingo
12.144061, -68.276337

For Cruise ship pier/Trapezodial Pier
12.147242, -68.277562

Note: Tools; Options lets you change to decimal instead of Degrees Minutes Seconds if necessary.

Have Fun!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1150) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 8:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

While you're googling, enter "Divi-divi Tree" to see the origin of the Bonairean names you've noticed.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 10:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Ruth,

The mystery in my mind has been solved. LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 10:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

William, the Google Earth coordinates were a lot of fun. Puts everything into perspective.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #178) on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 5:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mark: Here is another set of coordinates.

Old Dive Inn Pier 12.145974 -68.276384

1. Click on the small Blue Square there and you will see a photo which shows the concrete pier with its umbrellas, The Divi restaurant - thats the blue building - and to the far right the pier from which the Woodwind departs. The photo was most likely taken from the upper deck of a cruise ship docked at the trapezoidal pier.

2. The south side of the Dive Inn Dock is a good entry and exit point for a snorkel. You can hold on to the dock while you put your fins on and to make entry and exit easier. Its a short swim around the Divi Dive shop over to the Concrete Pier. Also [if not closed due to the docked cruise ship], the rocks to the north are good snorkeling.

Enjoy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Quinzi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 11:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks William,

Is there a sidewalk or path to walk along the main road from the cruise ship dock to the Divi Restaurant for lunch? Or will the Taxi drivers laugh at me if I jump in his cab and said take me to the Divi for lunch?

My friends and I are on the Ruby Princess.. it looks like the princess line uses the southern pier (is this called trapezoidel pier?). What is the other cruise ship dock called? Further north?

I see 4 docks. What are the names?

The first dock is T-shaped, and this is where your coordinates take me. Is this the dock they close sometimes when cruise ships are in... you mentioned rocks to the north?

The second dock sticks out from a pale yellow building? Is this the Divi Dive operation? "Dive in Dock?" Do they allow cruise ship passengers to walk on their property? Enter the water?

The 3rd dock looks more like a natural shaped little jetty with huts or straw umbrellas (you mentioned concrete pier with umbrellas in the photo?). Is this the Divi Inn Dock/beach? (that's a great photo someone snapped from the upper deck of a cruise ship)

Then I see blue building, Divi Restaurant. Looks nice.

4th dock in far right of photo is "L"-shapped... this is where the Woodwind leaves from? What is it called?

It looks like docks 2, 3, and 4 are all property of the Divi Flamingo?

(Message edited by markstudy on October 12, 2009)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Gates (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #179) on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 12:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mark: Please keep in mind that I have only been to Bonaire 3x and two of those visits were day trips off a cruise ship. Also I have not been there since Omar [October 2008] which I understand hit the southwest side of the island pretty hard. Hopefully a more experienced and up-to-date BTer will jump in and provide you with current inputs.

With regard to the piers, I will stick with the latitude and longitude coordinates since you seem to be comfortable with them and since they dont leave any room for confusion.

Heading from North to South ...

Club Nautico Pier [Home of Mushi Mushi and Kantiki Di Amor]
12.153631 -68.278574
The Kantiki Di Amor may pick you up right at the ship.

Karels Pier
12.151706 -68.277980

North Pier aka Town Pier
12.149890 -68.278023
This is the other cruise ship pier

Customs Pier
12.148922 -68.277103

South Pier aka Trapezoidal Pier
12.146733 -68.277355

Rocks to the North of former Dive Inn Pier
12.146353 -68.276750

Dive Inn Pier
12.145974 -68.276384

Divi Flamingo Dive Shop Pier
12.144841 -68.276421

Cement or Concrete Pier
12.144077 -68.276327

Woodwind Pickup/Dropoff Point @ Divi [???] 12.142563 -68.276333

Carib Inn Dock
12.142108 -68.276101

Pier at the Plaza near Typsy Seagull [Restaurant]
12.136693 -68.277370

There is a sidewalk and street that runs right into the North gate of the Divi Flamingo. It is often open but it is also often locked. Guests are supossed to ask for a key. Understandably the Divi doesn't want hoards of non-paying cruise ship visitors using their very small beach, the Palapas [Umbrellas], and chairs on the concrete dock.

The Taxi Drivers would probably turn you down or as you suggested laugh at you. It's one block South, turn left and walk one block East, Turn South and it's less then 1/2 block to the Divi parking lot and main entrance. A five minute walk if you are strolling or using a walker.

Yes, I believe that the Trapezoidal pier is better known as the Southern Pier and is the likely docking point for the Ruby Princess.
The Cruise ship pier further North is known as the Towns Pier or the North Pier

The small T shaped pier south of the Trapezoidal/South Pier used to be called the Dive Inn Pier. No clue what it is currently called. It is located on Cha-Cha-Cha beach which is a public beach that is quite popular with the locals.

The dock sticking out from the pale-yellow building is the Divi Dive Shop. If you enter the water at the Dive Inn Pier [south side] it is a very easy snorkel around the Divi Dive shop pier over to the Cement/Concrete Pier.

The pier in the photo with the umbrellas [They call them Palapas] is indeed the Divi Concrete Pier. It generally abounds with fish and in my humble opinion is one of the best night snorkel spots on Bonaire.
see ...
http://falls4sale.com/Bonaire/Renee-Night.html

Also for photos of a 2-stop with Renee [1. Across from the Airport and 2. across from the Yellow Sub] see ...
http://www.falls4sale.com/Galleries/Gallery3.html

The very last picture on the following URL is where the Woodwind picked up and dropped off in 2007. I, perhaps incorrectly, assume that it still uses that location.
http://falls4sale.com/Bonaire/Woodwind--2.html

On cruise ship days Divi may charge a fee to walk on or use their facilities. $5-$6 last I heard. However, the water is, I believe, public; Hence, as long as you dont touch down on their pier or the very small sandy beach, there should be no problem swimming in.

Hope this answers most of your questions

One last item. Your friends might enjoy the Plaza Resort. Its about a mile walk each way [no hills] Nicest beach on the island; excellent snorkeling to the south of the Typsy Seagull. Super easy entrance down some steps.
The Plaza is a nice resort and probably the destination of one of the ships tours. They do charge to use their facility but I believe that includes pools, beach, chairs, palapas, showers, etc. I think its $15 to $20 per person on cruise days.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By *Tink* (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #748) on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 10:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mark, welcome to Bonaire Talk, be prepared to fall in love :-)

William, thanks for your help with the GPS coordinates :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1296) on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 4:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Please note that as of last summer there really is no sand beach left at Divi. :-( We were there the end of May for 2 wks
You can still get in there(to the water) but I highly suggest booties or water shoes.
You can still go on the cement pier or to the bar.

 


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