By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 10:18 am: |
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?
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #508) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 11:54 am: |
Cindy,
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By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #351) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 11:58 am: |
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.
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By Mary Wills (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Sunday, April 4, 2004 - 10:25 pm: |
Hi Cindy,
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By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 3:50 am: |
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.
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #332) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 11:18 am: |
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!
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By Cindy Bourgeois (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Monday, April 5, 2004 - 6:53 pm: |
Sue,
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By Denise Kacavas (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #670) on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - 1:00 pm: |
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 :-)
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By Joseph Martine (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Friday, April 9, 2004 - 8:31 pm: |
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!
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By Cindy Bourgeois (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 2:54 am: |
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.
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By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #814) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 5:02 pm: |
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.
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