By June R Giordano (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 10:48 pm: |
My boyfriend and I are considering visiting Bonaire in the fall (November). We both began diving just recently and don't have much experience and we would not be comfortable diving alone, just the two of us, in Bonaire. I know most dive packages come with boat trips, would those trips include a divemaster? and what about the shore diving? Can we hire a divemaster to accompany us on shore dives and does anyone know about how much that might cost? What kind of credentials should we ask for?
|
By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #381) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 3:00 am: |
Dear June, Welcome to the board!
|
By Mike & Sherry (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 3:08 am: |
June,
|
By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #350) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 7:08 am: |
June ... congratulations on your new certification. You can't choose a better place than Bonaire to begin your adventure. In addition to all that has been said I would like to suggest that your purchase the book by Jessie Armacost, Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. It is available on line through BonaireReporter (access their site through www.infobonaire.com or BonaireReporter.com) as well as at the dive shops on the island. It contains a wealth of information about each site including entry, exit, level of difficulty.
|
By Cecil Berry (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3427) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:18 am: |
June, just wanted to agree with all that was said. Excellent choice for your first dive trip. One analogy, when they teach hang gliding they always tell the students, don't fly higher than you want to fall. Use that thought in your diving, if you're starting to feel uncomfortable, start heading for the boat or beach. It really is very easy diving and you will have a great time.
|
By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1548) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 12:09 pm: |
All good comments. learning to shore dive is just that - a learning process. No shame in hiring someone to lead the way. The good thing is that you become dependent and in sync with your diving buddy, because they are the only other one out there with you. So you can stay close enough to one another so you could help out in a situation.
|
By Diane Korzeniewski (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 8:05 pm: |
June - My husband and I had only logged a few dives after certification, and none in over a year when we visited Bonaire. We did a guided dive with a divemaster twice, then felt comfortable enough to try it on our own very conservatively. We've been back 3 years now, and shore dive on our own all the time. Again, we don't attempt anything beyond our capabilities. Andrea I and II, Windsock, Cliff (where we stay), and Karpata(only in the morning, and come back in separately, as the wave action had us just bumping up against each other if we came in together), and last time Salt Pier are some of the dives we have done. Salt Pier is quite easy, shallow, visibility is good. It's also a very good snorkel. All of these are a pretty easy entry. Have a great vacation! Diane
|
By June R Giordano (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:39 am: |
Thank you all so much for the information and for taking the time to respond
|
By Cecil Berry (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3444) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 9:33 am: |
June, one other thing just occured to me. You guys have till November, why not get some dives in this summer in cold water to become more comfortable underwater. You really do learn an awful lot in your first 10 to 30 dives, every dive you'll see improvement. The more of these early dives you can knock off before Bonaire would enhance your Bonaire experience.
|
By June R Giordano (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 3:48 pm: |
Hi Cecil,
|
By John Matheson (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 1:50 pm: |
Hi June,
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites