Are the beach sited pretty good in Bonaire? I was always interested in diving there, but it seems like the shore diving could be possibly a ton of work...

Shore diving does not get any easier anywhere. Gear up on the tailgate of your rental truck, step into the water, short surface swim to a marker buoy and drop down onto the reef. To me this is far less work than schlepping my gear to a boat, loading it on and off, etc. Plus you are on your own schedule, get to pick your dive site (after 8 trips there are still plenty I haven't done) and if you are good on air can do extended dives, using up your air in the beautiful shallow coral gardens to be found on many sites at 15-30 feet after diving the reef. The shore sites (Bonaire doesn't have many beaches) are pretty much the same sites the boats go to except for a few accessible by boat only (our host, Jake's backyard, AKA Small Wall,where the webcam is,e.g.) and all the sites on Klein Bonaire.

Many of the dive ops have drive-thru tank pickup- just pull up, load'em in the rack in the bed of your pick-up, and you're on your way.

This is the easiest, and some of the best, diving in the world. Only caveat is, it's addictive.

-David

Welcome to the board Scott.

The shore diving on Bonaire is easy. There are many sites that you can pull you truck up to within 10 to 30 ft of the water. Bonaire does not have many wide sandy beaches that would require long hikes with gear. Pink Beach is the only real exception and even there the hike is maybe 100-150 ft. As far as I am concerned, the dive starts when I get in the water. We only surface swim out far enough to get into 8-10 ft of water before decending and starting the dive, same on the way back in. We rarely do boat dives because we find them too much trouble and a hassle. I have never had to rush a meal because I was going to miss a shore dive.

On the other hand, I do know people who want the DM's hover over them and do everything for them, if you like that kind of thing then you may find shore diving a pain.

Scott, how much shore diving have you done and where? Shore diving where I live is a pain...big shore break and it's a washing machine if you don't get it right...now Bonaire...even when they get a little bit of some swell action, still a piece of cake! The only problem is getting out over the coral and coral rubble at some spots, but most spots have a path you can visibly see from shore where most folks enter and exit. You definitely need booties and not full foot fins.

There are a couple of other beach entries with sand, North Belnam, Windsock and Calabasas (in front of the Dive Inn)...and you will become addicted that's for sure!

Some people do boat dives for other reasons than that they "want the DM's (to) hover over them" - my husband had total hip replacement surgery, both hips, last year, and although we did do a number of shore dives this time, the entries and exits were a bit scary for him, because a fall could mean hip dislocation (something more likely to happen with replacements than with original parts. )

I will add that prior to his surgeries, he spent many years diving and training people to dive (he was a Master Instructor) in New England waters from April to November (and himself diving all year from the shore.)

And schlepping tanks to/from the truck is, to me, more of a pain than just setting the nitrox tanks up, marking them as going on a particular boat dive and having a DM carry them to the boat, which is what happens if you dive Nitrox at Captain Don's. If you just dive air, you don't even have to do that much - just get your gear on to the boat, where the tanks are all waiting for you. And the actual schlepping is not that bad - from the area where the tanks are kept, to the parking area where you can park your truck when picking up tanks, is maybe, 20 feet.

I know of a couple of dive ops that do have the "drive-thru" tank pickup, but I don't know that there are actually "many" that do so. It happens that Captain Don's (where we've stayed for 6 trips and will continue to stay) doesn't. Their facilities, dive op, dive dock, house reef, professionalism, and courtesy, in my mind, make up for not having that feature.

Another thing about boat dives: I found a frogfish at Jerry's Reef off of Klein this last trip - not a dive you can do as a shore dive.

We were there Feb 19-29, and did a bunch of dives in front of Captain Don's itself. We also did a number of boat dives, where once in the water we went off by ourselves, and mostly only saw the other divers when we climbed back up on the boat - one commented that it was the "longest surface interval without a drink in his hand he'd ever had" - we tend to stay down longer than an hour each dive. And the DM's don't get mad - you're there to dive, and as long as you don't drain the tank dry it's all the same to them whether your dive lasts 30 minutes or an hour and 30 - you paid to go on the boat, too. They might tease you about it, though.

We also dove Andrea I and Andrea II, Angel City twice, Alice in Wonderland and Hilma Hooker, and Something Special, as shore dives. While we enjoyed them all, it was still more work to do them than to just climb on a boat. And there's the social aspect on a boat too - you get to meet other divers, and perhaps arrange to dive together, or go out to eat together, whatever.

I will agree that having to rush your meal to make a boat dive is a bit of a pain - but if the boat is going to some really nice site off Klein Bonaire, I'm more than ready to make that sacrifice.

So, while shore diving is fun and has it's advantages, so is and does boat diving. And the truth of the matter is, there isn't much on Bonaire that merits macho points. And I'd still rather do La Danias Leap or Barcadera from a boat.

Susan, glad you and "G" had a good time (at least it sound like it) Another thing about the boat dives on Bonaire...it only takes 10 to 20 minutes to get to the dive site so it doesn't take long to get wet

Cynde,

We had a great time. I'll post a synopsis on the Dive Reports page (and eventually a pointer to our photos when I get a web page up).

Of course, Jack Chalk and his staff at Captain Don's were marvelous. The flights were hassle-free on Air Jamaica. We met some nice people, dove, hung out, and just relaxed.

We tried to get over to the Donkey Sanctuary the day before we were leaving, but we didn't realize it closed at 4PM, so we were too late.

One suggestion for Marina - post the hours she's open at the street end of her dirt road! It was a long and torturous trek in a truck apparently not long for this world, to find out that it was all for naught!

Please make sure you have an SUV or pick-up truck. It will make your life much easier then with a "normal" car. Stay away from the dive points all the way North and South unless you are experienced in possible rough entries/exits and currents. Otherwise, enjoy enjoy enjoy! Most dive sites are within 10 minutes from Kralendijk. Also look at the chapter "thieves at 1000 steps".
Have fun!!!

PS, all of the 'house' dive sites are easy entry/exit as they have docks/piers with steps, or beaches.

Nothing could be simpler. Get a copy of "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" by Jessie Armacost (any dive shop will have it--if you don't see it, ask). The book gives tips on entry/exits at each spot, some entries are very tricky/slippery.

Bonaire may put you off boat diving forever, although there are some sites off Klein and Slaagbai that are worth the hassle.

Hello all,
Shore diving can indeed become complex if you have a bunch of diving equipment. If you keep it simple it is really pretty pleasant. For the u/w photographers there are plenty of spots south where you can enter with ease. The pier is also a user friendly shore dive if not out lawed yet.
Life is good on Bonaire for divers... enjoy!