Hullo,
My husband & I are new to both diving and Bonaire. I am a dainty little thing <grin> with 2 bad knees. We are both very concerned about damaging coral.

Where would be good sites to enter and exit that would be safe for us AND the sea? Ben doesn't mind carrying my equipment for me, but a fall or knee twist would end our vacation right then and there. We will do a few boat dives but would like to take advantage of the shore diving. Thanks!

Hmm, quite a poser there Cynthia. Most entries from the actual shore have rubble and rocks you have to negotiate over. Indeed, coral rubble is common in Bonaire and something you will need to make your way over usually to get to the water. If you feel very fragile I would suggest you shore dive from places with docks and ladders, like resorts with diving out front. Usually a good place to catch up on your night diving as well.
As far as friendly dive sites, there is a new ladder at Oil Slick Leap, Salt Pier can be a fairly easy entry, maybe Pink Beach, but that may be too rubbly now.

Would second Oil Slick Leap, very easy & fabulous coral & fish life.

Also try the Plaza - there is a ladder down by Tipsy Seagull, also, the entry at the main beach is not too rocky. Reef not as nice here, but biggest collection of eels hiding under coral patches in shallow (<15') than I've ever seen.

Have fun - I'm counting down to Feb 2004

I did actually twist my ankle on one of our first trips down to Bonaire. I was walking down the steps at Town Pier for a night dive, and I steppd on a rock somebody left on the steps! For the rest of the week, we pretty much stuck with the sites to the south. Lots of coral rubble, yes, but they're all relatively flat to get into, and there aren't a whole lot of immediate coral fixtures to whack into. If hubby is willing to carry your equipment, then the sites to the south are probably going to be easier for him, too... But also watch for how the waves are coming in. If the wind shifts just right, even the south can be a bit rough, and the north is worth a look. The divemasters at whatever shop you're getting tanks through can probably advise best for that.

Certainly boat dives are the safest for those with bad knees. But if you're slow and careful, the flatter, calmer sites are certainly doable...

Faith

I would take a more positive view and say that, relative to other places, most of the west side of Bonaire, the side most people dive, south of the power plant is pretty easy entry. I have bad knees, though I do wear my own gear so not like yours, and have not found a site I could not handle. There is small surge, and some wave action at the ends of the island but mostly the water south of the power plant is quite flat. At most sites, the coral rubble is on shore, the water-side is hard and not slippery like New England at least. Always a chance of an ankle turn but I think you will find plenty of places to dive w/o a problem.

Thanks for the feedback. I am keeping notes and will post about this in my trip report. We'll be there in late September -- I can't wait!

Hi Cynthia,

I will be in Bonaire in a week or so, I will look extra hard at the entries for those with sandier channels. I have heard some have sandy areas between rubble for entries. I am hoping to take my mother with bad knees on my next trip, so will be looking out for the same conditions to see if it is suitable for her.
I'll post when I get back- around the 15th of Aug, so check back.

Jacqueline

Thanks, Jaqueline! I feel like a little old lady, but I'll take all the help I can get. (My knees are about 40 years older than I am.)

Hi Jacqueline, check out www.shorediving.com

They tell where to go in, and show pictures of the dive sites. It's very handy. Also Jessie Armacost's book, Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy is a great resource.

Good Luck! I look forward to your trip report.

Ooops, that should have said "Hi Cynthia!" But Hi Jacqueline too! LOL

Cynthia ... My knees are not my problem, it is my ankles -- I can turn one on a flat surface. But I also echo Glen as shore diving is so much easier in Bonaire than here in New England. Easy entries not yet mentioned are Windsock, Bari, Cha Cha and Andrea I and II. I also second the vote for getting Jessie's book.

Try the reef off the pier at BelMar (I forget the name of the reef) . It has some really good scenery diving left or right from the buoy and the entry couldn't be easier. There is even a rope on the bottom that leads you out to the buoy, which is especially nice for night diving. Just let the dive shop know you are going in, then go around the left side of the building on the sidewalk to get to the back with your gear.

You really have to scope the area out. Realize that a lot of tile will be very slippery when your feet are wet, so have beach shoes for safety nearby. For example, Bellafonte has a great dock with an easy stair to the dock, but there are lots of tiles at the end of the dock between you and the rinse tank. You have to walk using the mortar lines for traction or have sandals or step ins.

Loads of great information! Thanks so much. I'll be sure to post ratings at shorediving.com, too. What a useful site.

Who Kneeds That...

Cynthia,

I suggest some of the greatest diving in the world and easiest entries are down at the southern end of Bonaire. From Margate Bay south you can drive right to a few feet from entry points. I would suggest the beachy entries at Vista Blue and Atlantis would be as easy as shore diving gets. Heading south these sites are past where the two-lane turns into one lane highway.

The inshore soft coral, growing elkhorn and staghorn corals are teeming with fish, mollusks, you name it. Turtles too. The transitional going out to the dropoff is spectacular with an amazing array of patch reefs, soft and hard corals, and life galore. The dropoff and deeper reef ecosystem here is simply superb. The southern tip of Bonaire is blessed with open oceanic and benthic currents bringing all kinds of interesting organisms and clear water.

These beachy areas are great for later afternoon dives and snorkels because the acute angle of the sun picks up the reef and underwater textures, colors, shadows, and organisms motility. Plus chilling out here after a dive and watching the sunset, which Bonaire is famous for, makes a great ending to the day, or start of an exciting evening.

We all kneed that.

from Florida,
Bud Gillan

listen to bud!!!

atlantis may just be the most overlooked spot on bonaire...

this pic shows the sand, not the entry to the water but really, entry is no problem...



i've got pics that show the enormous difference in the amount of soft coral and diversity of life at the southern end vs the north (pics from the north ain't that bad though;))

Look more like "Fishman's Hut" to me...

Hi! I just got back from Bonaire last week, and I also have very bad knees. The easiest shore dive entries that we had were at Town Pier, Windsock, and Andrea I. I hope you have a great time on your trip. *~Brittany~*

Hi Cynthia,
Other than doing boat dives, you can avoid the slippery, jagged rocks by diving from the house reefs in Bonaire,,i.e. Buddy's, Lion's Den, Capt. Don's, Bel-Mar, the Plaza. We dove at many of the house reefs during our week in Bonaire, and loved every single one of them. The resorts have docks with ladders that make entries and exits quite pleasant. You can even do a giant stride right into the water. The Plaza does have one beach entry site with some rocks, but they also have a dock and ladder at the south end of the resort.
At each resort, we found the swim out to the wall was relatively short, plus you see lots of interesting marine life the instant you hit the water. Most of the places had ropes that lead us right out to the drop off.
We felt welcomed at every resort we dove at, even as non-guests. Capt. Don's does charge $5 for non-guests to dive from their dock, but Lion's Den is right next door, so you can enter there and just drift over.
I hope that helps, and I hope you have a great time! Robyn