For the past few months I have been reading that the east side of the island is "rough" and "unprotected" when it comes to diveing/snorkeling. Is this in reference to the size/power of the waves or the current/surge or both. I am trying to compare it to what I considered rough while I was diving in around Southern California a few years ago while stationed there. I became accustomed to making entries and exits in 6'+ waves with a strong U/W surge of close to 10'. Naturally the conditions were not always like this, just when we decided to go blow some bubbles.

Tod, the waves on the East side are comparable to those here in Southern California (Laguna Beach area). One of the main differences is that the sets seem to be a little longer on Bonaire, there is a LOT of coral rubble that you have to walk on to get past the breakers, the surge can be pretty strong by what I have heard, and it isn't a "shore break" like it is here in places in So Cal. There is more ground to cover so to speak to get out past the breakers. I don't know what part of So Cal you dove, but it is comparable, with the above exceptions.

Good luck!

(Message edited by cyndelee on September 11, 2003)

I guess that is rough then. I didn't mean to sound like an A**hole, it's just that different people have had different experiences and it is all relative to what they have experienced. does that make sence(sp)????? The majority of my dives in SoCal were south of Oceanside (former jarhead), a few north closer to the islands. I need to re-evaluate my "few years" too, it was in the late 80's that I was there !!!!!
7 more days.....................................

(Message edited by tlube on September 11, 2003)

The ONLY way to know if you can snorkle Bonaire's East Side.... is to pack up your truck and you snorkle gear and head out. Nobody is going to be able to tell you what you consider to be suitable for your level but you. That is what it is all about, Diving Freedom...

Enjoy

Hi Tod,

you are lucky. It is East Coast season, less wind than normal. If you want some great tips on diving the east coast, you can always talk to Menno from Deep Blue View. He knows those dives very well.

It the waves are too high, you could try to get in contact with Dominique Serafini. He can take you out in his Zodiac. He leaves from Lac Cai and then it is only a five minute drive to the middle of the reef.

We dove with both and the diving was SUPERB.
Manta, nurse shark, turtles, eagle rays, wrecks,...

Happy diving.

Peter

Tod, I didn't think you sounded like an a#$hole at all I do some shore diving locally, but only when conditions are good and the surf isn't too high. Here it is a shore break, and very little beach, I'm short, so my husband usually drags me out past the breakers.

Like Peter said, there are folks that can take you on guided tours. Bas is another one (can't remember where he is working now) and Larry, from Larry's Wild Side also does guided tours.

Hey, if you don't mind riding in a washing machine once in a while, go for it! Have a great trip

Other notes about the east side.

The trade winds are onshore and steady through most of the year. The only calm times are during short 'wind reversals'.

The 'shore' beginning somewhere not far north of Lac Bay, like the north shore on the west side, is sheer to the water. On windier days the spray can go 50 feet in the air above the top of the cliffs. There are a few entry places, again like the west side; I don't know how frequently they are dived.

I believe there are only a few places along the whole 20 miles plus of shore that can be dived regularly from shore, Lac being one area.

Rewarding but definitely not for the novice weekend diver.

I was at Lac this morning, and it was absolutely worth "the effort". The vis was pourly, about 25Ft even out on the reef, but it was good again.
I met Bas to over there, he was about to go in when we got out. He works at Photo tours divers.

Menno de Bree
Deep Blue View Divers.

Menno, glad you had a good dive. As we say, any dive is better than no dive! Thanks for the info on Bas (Photo Tours)

how does one get in touch with Dominique Serafini or anyone else who runs a zodiac out of Lac bay?

Here is the webpage of a guide that from what I understand takes trips to the east side fairly often. Last July he told me he had a large new Zodiac coming in soon. This is all the info I have on him, if anyone has dove with him I would be interested in a report. I have some interest in taking a trip over to the east side next trip. A first hand report would be nice.
http://www.infobonaire.com/larrys/

Hi Menno, how is Wilson doing? (-:Did he recover from his last drowning?

Herman,
I believe that Larry still uses his big boat.

Rick
Try http://www.dreamwrecks.com/aboutdreamwrecks.htm

Rumours, I have heard around, are that: Larry has bought a very big "dinghy" to go out and dive the east-coast that way.
Bart (wannadive) has bought a normal size dinghy to do adventurous dives (which side of the island was not in the rumour).
Let's see and wait. Sofar Dominique is the only one doing east-coast dives this way although it is not allowed for him to do it and is equipment has been used for many, many, many years.


Peter, Wilson is doing fine again. Sometimes he wakes up screaming and sweaty al over, but he is willing again to sacrifice himself for higher purposes. So he is back in business !!! Thanks for the fruit-dish, he enjoyed that very much.

You are right about Dominique's boat. (; It looks like Cousteau himself has used it.

I'm glad that Wilson recovered and that he enjoyed the fruit-dish. Let us know whether we can do something else for Wilson to help him get over that horrific experience.

I am going to Bonaire at the end of this week and am also interested in diving the East side. Are there some reefs over there also? I am not a big wreck person, I would much rather see some reefs.



Jason

The barrier reef that runs from Lac Cay to Sorobone is probably around 2 miles long and very beautifull. The entire coastline from Sorobone to the Willemstoren (lighthouse) is one long reef and stunning (very big fans, nice drop offs).

Have fun but be extremely carefull. If you're not used to that kind of diving, don't do it. And even if you're experienced, talk to one of the local guides. (Menno, Bas, ...). These sites are tricky. Next stop is Venezuela.

For east side diving go to www.larryswildsidediving.com His number on the island is 790-9156 or 717-5246. He is very good and SAFE. Diving on this side, even from a boat is NOT for beginner divers.

I heard the word around Bonaire is that Larry has a 30 foot military/navy seal type Zodiac coming to Bonaire this winter for year round diving on the rough east. Anybody else hear that?

"I heard the word around Bonaire is that Larry has a 30 foot military/navy seal type Zodiac coming to Bonaire this winter for year round diving on the rough east. Anybody else hear that?"

I met Larry last July and he personally told me he had one on order. He told me the expected arrival date but I don't recall what it was. Now wheather it's a fact or not I can't say. It does sound like a fun way to visit the "wild side".

Larry told me that it would be here in December 2003.
Tony

I have a trip planed for Jan. 26, 2004. I would be glad to try it out:>)
Tom

I dove with Larry, mentioned above, and I would highly recommend him. Very safety conscious and wants you to have great dives.

He is very enthusiastic with a great sense of humor. We dove 4 tanks with Larry on the East side, and two tanks on the West side....

Go for it...awesome.

There are an increasing number of specialists in "wild side diving" in Bonaire.
Another one is Hans Voerman, he is a highly qualified and experienced dive guide who recently started his own business (he used to work for me here at Bonaire Yellow Submarine). He is doing wild- & tec dives as well as biking, hiking and kayaking. He took me out to the East coast several times and I had a great time.
You can reach him at 00599 7174555 or 7857138
He has also been asked by my dive shop and Photo Tours Divers to participate in the newly opened and jointly run "Bonaire Nature & Dive" at Caribbean Club.

Jan, I have a question about your "add".
Does Hans has a licence to go there with customers, or can he use yours (including insurance).
Menno
Deep Blue View Divers.

Menno, I think we should not discuss these matters here but since you asked I feel that I have to react. Be assured that Hans is working according to the current regulations including everything!
By the way, I like you add below this page.

Oehhh, sorry, sorry, sorry.
My deepest apologies, I did not mean to offend anybody here.
Menno

Dive Cai --
See my review (c. 1996-1997) at
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Caribbean_/Bonaire_/Cai/

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the link. So, you did it two times and no larger fish? You must have been really unlucky then. We have done that dive 10 times. On 8 dives we always saw something special, either sting rays, eagle rays or even a manta ray. Several turtles as wel. We have never seen a shark when we did Cai as a shore dive. The problem with Cai is that you have limited time on the reef due to the long swim back thru the channel. Last year we did three boat dives in one day on the Lac Cai reef. Because we did drift dives, we could cover more distance. We saw two nurse sharks, two eagle rays, 15+ turtles, several sting rays, ... All in one day. It was just great.

When you did Cai, did you go thru the Tarpon dip in the channel with the resident school of tarpons (50+). They are there all the time.

Peter

The school of 50 tarpons are really cool !!!
I did the dive twice a week ago.
We wen't back below the dropoff and had an easy swim back.
Great divespot with huge fish and ray's
Saw a Giant Lobster and a Big Turtle
Now i'm back in Holland :-C

Those tarpons are amazing. (-; You certainly don't see those at Gorishoek.

I've got some pic's someware !

one moment

[img]http://members.home.nl/marceldamen/tarpons1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://members.home.nl/marceldamen/tarpons2.jpg[/img]

This should do it !!

This should do it !!

My top 10 favorites are
1- Baby Beach ( eastcoast )
2- Lac Cai (eastcoast )
3- Windjammer
4- Hilma Hooker entering from Alice in Wonderland
5- Karpata
6- Salt Pier
7- Atlantis
8- Red Slave
9- Light House
10- Cliff by Night

Marcel, cool pics!

Tommorow i will post more pics ,
Now i'm going to recover from my Jet Lag !!

Nice pics Marcel,

keep them coming.

zelfportretje op 30m !!!

foto's zijn trouwens allemaal gemaakt met een Canon S45 met een Canon onderwaterbehuizing.

Marcel, great pictures! I love the squid! What is the first wreck picture?

It's in front of Sun Set Beach Resort
Take the entrance left on BongoBeach drop down to 80feet swim north and you can't miss it.
Most of the time you find a big green murane there.
Somebody know the name of this Wreck ??

Marcel, thanks. I looked at the picture again, and it appears that there is a line on the bow and stern heading toward the surface...what are those? Also in the next one there are several lines hanging down from the side of the ship...???

Have no idea what your last one is...only wreck we dove on bonaire both times was the Hilma

The line on the SunSetBeach wreck is connected to a moring bow at the surface.

I did 6 different wrecks on Bonaire,
I'll open a new topic about the wrecks because i don't know some of the names.