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Diving Bonaire: Reserve Dive Package or Not?
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2004-02-16 to 2004-08-14: Reserve Dive Package or Not?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 10:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My husband and I are newly certified divers and are coming to Bonaire for the first time for a week in May. We have not dived since we became certified last September, although we have practiced buoyancy and other skills with club members in a pool. We are very much looking forward to our first shore and boat diving experiences. I was wondering if we should reserve a dive package before we arrive or if that is easily arranged once we get there. I also understand a checkout dive is mandatory once we arrive?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #508) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 11:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cindy,

Reservations is not mandatory at that time of the year but why wait? Where are you staying?

Check out dive is required but I would call it more of an equipment check out dive ....you want to make sure that all of your equipment is working after the long trip. This is a good place to get your weights balanced with your bouyancy...you will not have a dive master in the water with you (unless you ask). You will not be required to demonstrate skills (as you did for check out to get certification).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #351) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 11:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I reserved on one trip and just walked in and paid the second trip (9 months between trips). As new divers, I'd recommend that you might want to book at least a few boat dives with your package to remember your skills and get used to Bonaire water....with that you might want to go ahead a book your package in advance. I don't think it has any affect on prices but it'd be one less thing to worry about when you get there. Yes, the checkout dive (and Bonaire briefing) is mandatory. I'd also recommend that you let the shop your going to dive with know that you're new divers so they can be extra available to you during the checkout. Don't risk a bad experience on your first (of likely many) dive trips by trying to overdo your experience level. My wife did that on her first trip and I'm still trying to get her back underwater (she puts up with going wherever I want to dive, so it's not a great big deal, I just feel like she's missing so much of what i get to see). You'll love Bonaire. I could think of no place better for "lightly experienced" diver to get into the water.

Cheesy Joe

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Wills (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 10:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Cindy,
At your orientation to Bonaire, you will also be asked to pay a fee for the Bonaire Park Tag which you will place on your BC.
I agree with Joe, the cheese meister, about letting the dive shop where you get your diving package know that you two are newly certified.
Have a great time,

Mary w

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 3:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

All great advice. Our package includes unlimited shore diving with Wanna Dive, so I will book some boat dives with them. Thanks to all who responded.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #332) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 11:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cindy, another option for the "lightly experienced" (love the term Joe!) is pay for a divemaster to do a shore dive with you. Our first solo trip after certification was to Bonaire and we also used Wannadive. They are great folks and were always willing to help with our zillions of questions. We have continued to use them on every trip since. Something not mentioned above is the ease of shore diving navigation for newbies. May I also suggest that you get a copy of Jessie Armacost's book Bonaire Shore Diving Made easy. It is available at dive shops on the island as well as on line at www.bonairereporter.com. Enjoy!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 6:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue,
Thanks for the tips and it's great to hear you enjoyed Wanna Dive. I can't wait to get my feet wet! May 15 is soooo far away!.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise Kacavas (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #670) on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - 1:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cindy, my husband and I are arriving on May 15th to .... we have been to Bonaire for 4 previous trips but not in the past 5 years. We are counting down the days :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joseph Martine (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Friday, April 9, 2004 - 8:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Definately do the divemaster thing. Boat diving is great, but to see how the different critters inhabit different parts of the underwater world just adds to the magic. Also, I would recommend getting setup with the nature course with Jerry Ligon at Bonaire Dive and Adventure. ($35/ea?) He will tell you all about alot of the critters and then take you out on Bari Reef and show them to you. Unbelieveably educational and fun!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cindy Bourgeois (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 2:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Denise, I hope we meet you and your husband - maybe at Gibi's! We are arriving on the 15th also, and I am also counting the days. Joseph, the nature course sounds wonderful. Thanks for telling me about that.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #814) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 5:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Susan's advice is excellent. The fact that she too was in your "fins" once and had a great experience with where you are signed up is a added plus.You'll fall in love with Bonaire like the rest of us here.
I love listening to newbies comments when we go to Gibbies.The excitement in their voices is fun to hear. See you there.
Mary's mention of the park fee is a good thing too. I haven't seen that subject mentioned lately.

 


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