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Diving Bonaire: Diving and Fishing
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2004-08-15 to 2005-06-05: Diving and Fishing
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stuart Munn (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 9:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Folks...

I need some advice / tips... My wife and I are arriving in Bonaire at the end of Feb for a week. She has just passed her PADI certificate not sure what level, but has completed 2 open water dives and passed all the exams. I don't dive at all, I can swim but not well... but I do like to fish!

Any recommendations for a good dive team who can look after her in Bonaire? she will need to rent equipment etc... are there any people who will take me fishing for tuna? or other fish I can eat?

Cheers

Stuart from rainy and cold Scotland

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1055) on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 2:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Stuart! Welcome to Bonaire Talk!

Your wife sounds like she is a newly certified diver and I don't know where you are staying, but most of all the dive shops at the resorts have a sign-up sheet for dives and she can sign up and let everyone know she will need a buddy. There are a lot of people who I am sure will also need a buddy and be happy to dive with your wife. You can also talk to the dive manager of wherever you're staying and let them know your wife will need a partner for dives. She will love the ease of diving on Bonaire!

As far a fishing goes, now, most of Bonaire is a protected area for fish. I did a search and came up with some web sites that offer some fishing. Try: www.bonairefishing.com and www.multifish.com and www.bonairefishing.com/piscatur/ I do know you can't just walk to the water and start to fish anywhere you want. Maybe someone else might know of some local people you could hook up with for a lot less money than a charter. Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #837) on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 2:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Stuart

welcome to Bonairetalk, I am a bit further south than you in the centre of the UK. Your choice of dive operation for your wife will be more convenient if you use the one at or near your accommodation. We stay at Capn Don's and have found them to suit our needs.

I have nearly gone fishing several times and Nolly was the person I would use - Has anybody got contact details for Nolly. He is Malin's partner and she and - I think Nolly work at Harbour Village.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #838) on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 2:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Debbie

I think the rule is that fishing can only be done in the blue water - ie not on the shore or on the reef.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J Rushman (BonaireTalker - Post #71) on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 9:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One of Bonaire's strengths is the flexibility you're allowed with diving. But for a new diver, accompanying the dive master is probably your best option. You will see many more things than you would on your own. You'll certainly be able to find other buddies, but diving with the dive master, you won't get in "over your head" (no pun intended).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stuart Munn (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 5:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Folks for your advice

OK I should have said we are staying at a friends house whilst they are away, so not at a hotel! They live in Sabadeco which I can't find on the map... My wife is newly certified... she should be certified insane... as she has been diving in a quarry near Peterhead the past two weeks... in the snow!! are all divers mad?

I'd like to try one of these charters but they seem expensive (us Scots are careful with our money :-)) So Maybe I'll just bring my tackle and do some shore fishing or rent a boat myself.... Are there rules about fishing for bonefish? ...

Cheers

Stuart

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #182) on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 10:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Stuart
The Bonaire Marine Park page about fishing is located here.http://www.bmp.org/html/fishing_regulations.html
I would say it's not really clear about the status of tourist fishermen. I would email them for clarification. You could even call them(your country code+599-717-8444) it does not cost a fortune to call into Bonaire.
Good Luck Mickey

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #841) on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 3:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Stuart

I am a Yorkshire man - so I also have short arms and deep pockets.

sabadeco is Santa Barbara see http://www.sunbelt.an/lots_SantaBarbCrowns.htm

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #842) on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

you are close to most of the main Dive Operations. I think in Order PhotoTours, Captain Don's and Buddy Dive. I have only used Captain Don's but if your wife wants to boat dive the Dive Master is always in the water with the guests and she would be able to dive with the DM. If she needs additional certification/tutition then they would be able to do this to - but at a charge.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marabeth Owens (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #502) on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 5:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Stuart,

My brother joined us for vacation this past Christmas and he too is a fisherman. He did some flats fishing with a guide and then did some of his own fishing. Surprisingly there are plenty of places on both sides of the island that allow fishing from shore. Pink Beach actually is one of those places. Now I will say that if there are divers about it probably isn't wise BUT you can do it AND we saw folks that were. Also, as you drive around the south side of the island past the lighthouse and toward the east there are few areas of spillwater (inlets I guess) and those are perfectly fine. Also, past lac bay where the wind surfers are, you can fish out in the mangroves there and along the shore area.

Enjoy your trip - there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.

Mara

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Edison (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If the quarry in Peterhead is anything like the quarries in Northern Illinois, your wife won't want to get out of the water in Bonaire. Diving in the Caribbean is 1000% better than a quarry. (We don't even wear wetsuits.) Last year a couple we met at Sand Dollar did some fishing and brought back a 30-pound tuna that the chef at the restaurant overlooking Harbor Village marina cooked up for a group of us. Check out the charter links others have posted.

Personally, I think you should spend the week working on your swimming skills and getting certified so you can dive with your wife. She'll never stop raving about it and you'll never understand until you experience it for yourself.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stuart Munn (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 9:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron.

Sounds like good advice on the swimming... I'll see if I can overcome my irrational dislike of swimming! I'm definitely going fishing though...its a once in a lifetime trip so I don't want to be saying in a few years I should have gone deep sea fishing when I got the chance...

only 2 weeks to go ... :-)

Stuart

 


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