BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Diving Bonaire: TOP 10 SHORE DIVES?
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2004-02-16 to 2004-08-14: TOP 10 SHORE DIVES?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob morris (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 10:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My wife & myself are experienced 50+ yr(age)divers.
we are staying @ the plaza for a week (7/21/04). we would like some recommendations about which shore dives we should consider (without too much entry trouble).Also do we need to rent a pick-up , 4 wheel drive or will the cheapest vehicle do?
thanks
bob morris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #134) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 3:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bob: Here's what I recommend. Since your staying at the Plaza, I assume you are diving with Toucan. Assuming this is your lst time on Bonaire in the last year, Toucan will want your first dive to be an orientation dive off the Plaza Beach - very easy entry. Upon arrival at the Toucan Dive Shop for your orientation, buy a copy of the book Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, 3d Edition, by Jessie Armacost. As stated above your first shore dive is taken care of without having to do any research. Once the orientation dive is completed, spend your surface interval/lunch checking out the book and putting your list together of shore dives you might want to do. The book is around $15.00 and the information is straight to the point so it can be digested in a short period of time. We favor the Mazada pickup with solid tailgate. We prefer the solid tailgate because it seems to make gearing up for shore dives a little easier. The Mazada seems to be a little more rugged than the Toyota. Could be larger wheel base - not really sure. We don't feel 4 wheel drive is necessary; even in the park. Have a good dive!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #135) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 4:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That should be Mazda - not Mazada; Sorry!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #154) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 4:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I already spent 15 minutes finding out where I could rent a Mazada. Could not find it :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #136) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 4:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorry about that Bob. Try ABCarrental, Group 2 Mazda Pickup.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #137) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 4:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bob: I think the Group 3 Mazda has airconditioning if you want that in the truck.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #155) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 4:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just kidding Marcus :-)

Bob Morris: During the last week (or 2?) I remember reading a post on BT that someone found a car rental that was much cheaper than the others.

Maybe if you browse a little you can find that post.

(Message edited by bpsmits on June 28, 2004)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #138) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 5:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

No problem Bob S. I think my attention to detail skills are starting to slip a bit!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #391) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 10:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Get yourself to Netty car rental and get the Suzuki minivan..the perfect " dive mobile" you can sit on the back to suit up and easy to load/unload tanks and gear...she has an older one without the rear backseat...then after orientation dive at house reef of your dive shop Bari reef at Sandollar, Webers Joy. Old Blue, Karpata if there are no waves..down south Angel City, Margate Bay, we think Hilma Hooker is hard to get in...Torries Reef is easy, Jessies book is a big help too..make sure you have good hardsoled booties ...have fun !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #578) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 6:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bob,

Other easy dives are Windsock, Buddy Dive, La Machaca (Captain Don's), 1000 Steps(only issue are the 60+ steps), Pink Beach, Front Porch, Eden Beach, Bachelor's Beach and Oil Slick Leap.

I do not read in your post that either of you have any physical conditions which might restrict your diving. As such you should be able to enjoy most all of the shore sites using caution on your entries and exits like the rest of us do.

Regarding van/truck rentals, I have used, Netty's, Buddy's, Total and Telerin over the years with no problems. I prefer pick-ups for the same reason Debbi mentioned - gearing up on the tailgate.

Enjoy your trip.

Tom

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #406) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 8:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Still favor Fish Hut South as my personal best. Home of the posing turtle

cheeseit

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #394) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 10:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

are there any problems at Fish Hut with the wind(kite) surfers ? seeing them there made us reluctent to dive there anymore ..yes forgot Oil Slick Leap...thats always a good one Hi Tom..you diving Lake Champlain these days ?brrrrr....weather still has'nt warmed up down here in the south ( Brattleboro, Vt.) ha!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #580) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 1:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes I am diving Champlain. It is warming up here in the north country. I think I will be able stop wearing long johns this Sunday in time for our local parade. They really don't look good under my bermudas (shorts) anyway;-{)}

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #408) on Saturday, July 3, 2004 - 6:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I went to fish hut south which is beyond the windsurfers and had not problem.

cheeseit

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robyn Churchill (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 - 10:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Where exactly is fish hut south? I'm coming to Bonaire the first week of August. Also, can anyone fill me in on the exact directions to BOPEC? Thanks, Robyn

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #146) on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 - 9:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robyn:

Shhhhhhh..... its a secret. We'd be glad to show you, tho. Look us up when you arrive. John & Sue at Lion's Dive #2203. We'd love to do a few dives with others (we've left the kids behind this time).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #415) on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 - 9:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cheeser can't even keep a secret. Just keep going south past the slave huts and look for a kinda ratty old building with dead boats near it. I entered to the south of the building on the kinda sandy part. I'd try looking in the morning if you go, it seemed to me that currents picked up there through the day. Sorry for spilling the beans John

cheeseit

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robyn Churchill (BonaireTalker - Post #52) on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 - 10:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the info everyone. We'll look you up, John and Sue,,,was going to stop by Lions Den restaurant anyways, for an awesome 'cheeseburger in paradise'! See you next month, Robyn

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #148) on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 - 12:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

LOL,

4 out of 5 times we've done that dive we've seen eagle rays or turtles. It's always a favorite. Now that the cat's out of the bag eating the spilled beans, shouldn't a yellow marker go up at some point?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ryan Schoonover (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 11:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

1. Town Pier Night Dive
2. Fish Hut
3. Margate Bay
4. Invisibles
5. Jeff Davis
6. Angel City
7. Alice In Wonderland
8. Buddy Reef
9. Reef Scientifico
10.Andrea II

 


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


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration