Thanks to all who take the time to post. I have learned so much in reading over the past few months. I have booked a trip for this summer and I would love some recommendations from the group. Where is your favorite dive on Bonaire and why?

I am going to cheat and list two. Red Slave Huts and Forest (Klein).

Best dives I had on last trip (ending Wednesday past)....Fish Hut South
.......anything on the East Side

In Bonaire my favorite dive is the one I am on ... each one is unique and special. Some have easier entries and exits, some have more interesting topography, some have better shallows, but I have never had a dive that I did not like. If you have not thought about it you might want to get a copy of Jessie Armacost's book Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. Useful info on all the shore dives.

My favorite this trip (1/11/04) was on Klien, Bonadventure. Great shallows with fans and grasses, awesome tube sponges and soft corals. The whole site was in super shape. Margate Bay was a great dive too. Double reefs are another personal favorite.

Because of incredible dives in the past I always look forward to and will do anything to ensure that I dive;

North - LaDania's to Karpata
Mid - Oil Slick Leap
South - Lake to Hooker
Klein - Tie between Joanne's Sunchi and Forest

I have to agree with Susan's "my favorite dive is the one I am on..."

Rappel is awesome. The last 10 minutes in the shallows are a sight to behold. Healthy corals right up to the rocks. But it is a boat dive, and your boat has to be the fastest to get there first! I've only done it once, because the conditions have to be just right, but it truely is an awesome dive.

Karpata is one of my favourite sites, great usually for Turtle sightings. The house reef at Captain Don's is a second as I know it so well.

Hi John,
I was in Bonaire last March and again in December. I've fallen in love with Bonaire, and I'm taking a group of 16 from my dive club back there in August.
I've been to a dozen or so dive sites and not a single one was disappointing. Out of the dozen, I would have to say that my absolute favorite was 'Margate Bay' at the southern part of Bonaire.
The swim out in the shallows was really beautiful. There was lots of staghorn coral, many, many tropicals, and the most anemones I've ever seen at one site. I found one cluster that was made up green, purple, and cream-colored anemones and it was about two feet in diameter! There were cleaner shrimp inside too! Once we got to the wall, we spotted several turtles, lots of eels, and a few huge tarpon. I will surely go back to Margate Bay in August!
Have fun! Robyn

Robyn, when you do Margate (which i truly love too) keep your eyes open for a pair of glasses. Those cool new otter boxes stay closed a lot better in your bc pocket (DUH)
My last trip I saw an eagle ray and an angelfish playing tag for maybe 10 minutes, prevideo days, I can't find the pic of them both but here's the ray



Enjoy

the cheesinator

I would have to agree with Robyn Churchill- Margate Bay was our #1 dive of the 21 we did in 1 week last December. Why ? --Higher concentration of fishlife here than any other site we were on. This was a site which was recommended to us by a divemaster at Captain Don's. If I were to go back I'd plan to do 2 dives there, the bay is big enough to go one way and back on one dive then to go the opposite way and back on the second dive. Little or no current when we dove there.

my favorite on my trip back in July was Karpata. We saw 3 or 4 turtles on a single dive there. We did it from shore first, then asked the boat to take us there for the last dive of the week. Fantastic dive.

All the dives are good! Country Gardens, Rappel, Small Wall, Calabas, the dives at the double reef and several dives on Klein.

Mine are:

- Taylor Made (an unmarked shore dive from the yellow shore diving book)
- Red Slave
- Karpata

Thank you all so much for sharing your fond memories. And thank you Joe for that fantastic eagle ray pic! I can't wait, it does sound like every dive on Bonaire is great!

Angel City ....by far my favorite....Have to do this dive....go to double reef....

Of course....Small wall.....web cam site....

Coconut beach...always tarpons....

Salt Pier if you can get habormaster approval...for me this site is alittle disorienting....I lose my way in the pillars...but the fish life and diversity of species is great. Spotted rays, octopus, tarpon, eels....and multitudes of other species to view...

Bari...the dive at 5 ...great fish life at this time.....

1000 steps....love this site....

The Forest...beautiful!...some current...depending on the weather...but nothing really strenuous.

I guess If I had to pick one more it would be a toss up between the lake and Margate bay.....the lake is also a double reef that goes into Hilma Hooker...(so two for one here....)

Margate bay is alittle tricky due to urchins, where good booties....but the fish are very diverse here.....

My favorite is a 'combination dive' of Angel City and Hilma Hooker. We enter at Angel City at the mooring line. Swim over the far part (away from shore part) of the double reef towards Hilma hooker. As you see a huge anchor chain on the reef top follow that chain and you'll find hilma hooker. Do not spend too much time on the wreck and watch your computer. This should enable you to swim around the wreck, go shallower and return on the first reef towards Angel City.

(Message edited by bnoij on February 15, 2004)

Thanks Bas. Will have to do that the same day I do the Lake to Hooker dive next week.

My post is geared toward Joe B., the cheese guy, but anyone chime in with comments. First, loved your ray photo; way awesome!

We're heading to Bon in 90 days, May 22nd to be exact! In our 10 years prior we've pretty much done the same ol sites year after year but since DH and I will be coming alone on this trip we've decided to try some new sites we've passed over on years prior. Yep, we're gonna be daring and live large Our only daring dive now is the Windjammer and even that gets boring despite it's challenges. Walt, we'll see you for our gas once we arrive; as always

Joe B., I read your post about East (windward) side diving. This peaked my interest and am curious to know how to get hooked up for diving there and with whom? We'd like to "move on up....to the East side"!

Can you shed any light on that side of the island? Certain times OK to dive vs. anytime with the right guide? Certain great spots, etc.? This trip will be our second year using our new Sea & Sea DX3000 & we'd love to get shots of new and exciting things not often photographed on Bon

Thanks in advance for any info you have .......... Did I mention 90 days and counting? LOL!

Hi Bob,

do a search on "East Coast Diving". Several people, including myself have posted about East Coast diving.

Leave your camera home when you do the East Side (unless it is very, very calm). We almost lost two video camera's during one dive at the shrimp factory. Lac Cai, could be the execption since the entry/exit is easy. Try to get hold of one of the specialists: Bas (PhotoTours) or Menno (Deep Blue View).

Peter

Thanks, Peter, for your prompt reply and good tips I'll get searching for previous posts. I forget I can dig through archives..........

Much thanks,

R&K