By MONTY FORBESS (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 5:32 pm: |
going back to bonaire june1st is there any recent updates on the windjammer site? thanks
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13625) on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 5:46 pm: |
Monty, BOPEC has closed the access to the site. You can no longer dive there. (That's the way I understand it anyway)
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By MONTY FORBESS (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 6:12 pm: |
thanks cynde, if you hear any updates will you please let me know, thanks,...you know the reef there was also a very good dive even if you didn't choose to go deep to the wreck...hate the closure
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By Monique Anckaert (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 10:36 am: |
Last time we dove on the Windjammer was end december 2004. It would be a pity to close the site as indeed also the reef is more than worth the dive. I'll try to have some information from Buddy Dive. Some people there use to dive on the Windjammer from time to time.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #108) on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 11:02 am: |
The site is closed. The dive shops have been trying to negotiate reopening it, but until that happens diving and snorkeling at the site are prohibited. This includes the reef as well as the windjammer. Bopec is an international dock, and security from terrorists is the issue. Lately a US naval ship has been located in that northern area. (See Roger's thread on that.)
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By Tom Pritchard (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 11:06 pm: |
Could you dive it from a boat?
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By ceestoosmiekesuizanne (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 12:28 am: |
I don't think you can, Tom. The site is closed, officially because it is too dangerous to dive there. I forgot the details. A wreck at too great a depth, too much current. But maybe you're right, stating that security has something to do with it.
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By Monique Anckaert (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 2:57 am: |
You cannot dive the Windjammer from a boat. Even the people of divecenters that used to dive it did it from shore. They said that no diveboats were allowed there because of security reasons. That's the same reason why now you also have to ask permission to dive on Salt Pier, as before it was enough to have the Pink Divebus on the site.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #117) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 9:23 am: |
Toos,
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #128) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 1:28 pm: |
I wonder how many of the dive accidents at Bonaire are WJ related. It seems, more than a few.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #119) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 4:54 pm: |
The Bopec site closure had nothing to do with dangerous diving. It was about prevention of terrorism at international docks.
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #165) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 9:36 pm: |
If the closure is about terrorism, why don't they put in place a similar policy as we now have at Town & Salt Piers. You must dive with a local divemaster. I would recommend that BOPEC add the stipulation that this divemaster is on their approved list.
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By Susan Porter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #135) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 7:14 am: |
Town Pier and Salt Pier do not have tankers going into their docks. The International Port Security people take that very seriously. You will not see the BOPEC site opened anytime soon. There has also been much discussion about building a new cargo pier outside of town due to these same regulations. Be very happy that we are still allowed to dive the Salt or Town pier at all. Susan
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By Susan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1347) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:23 am: |
I'm actually surprised BOPEC wasn't closed sooner, given the situation.
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #178) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 6:22 pm: |
Geoffrey,
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #133) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 9:16 pm: |
Don't get me wrong, if people want to dive the windjammer AND they really know what they are doing, then fine. However, I think most people do not know what they are doing, demonstrated by the number of accidents that occur there over the years ... way out of proportion to other sites on the island. Its not a surprise, its an especially deep dive. Things can go from "Whats the big deal?" to horror much faster at 160 than at 60.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #121) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:33 pm: |
Geoffrey,
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #179) on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 11:12 pm: |
Geoffrey,
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #134) on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 8:50 am: |
Tish,
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By Robert Deal (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #431) on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 9:04 pm: |
To each their own...I personally believe it is sad that the site is closed. I always found it a beautiful and alluring wreck, and feel it is unfortunate that those who would want to dive it will not now have the opportunity to do so. I do find it somewhat a stretch to believe that the "war on terror" must include restricting dive sites on Bonaire.
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By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #322) on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 2:14 pm: |
David, I agree with your posts #178 and #179.
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #135) on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 8:54 pm: |
Fiona, I think it makes sense to have the site restricted to guides with proper certifications. These guides could hang extra tanks, assure that their divers are in reasonable shape, provide decent size pony bottles and so on. This would assure that there are all the elements of a safe deep dive.
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By Buck Inman (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 6:08 am: |
Geoffrey,
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #142) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 11:50 am: |
Buck ... don't tell me how to suck eggs.
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By Sue (BonaireTalker - Post #96) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 1:37 pm: |
Many years ago - people knew about the Windjammer and dove it on their own. The few dives shops that were around then did not supply much info about diving the site. Yes there were people who dove it and yes there were some people who ended up in a chamber after they dove it. why did they end up in the chamber - If you looked at their diving profiles prior to diving the wreck, they had doved a lot during their vacation. Even so one keeps careful records of down times and out gasing, one has to remember each of us reacts differently as to what is out gased from our systems.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #313) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 2:06 pm: |
I recently read on article in one of the dive magazines that said air dives should be restricted to 180' in order to avoid oxygen toxicity. How did you guys arrive at 230 - 240'? What's the source of your information? Just Curious.
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By Timothy Westfall (BonaireTalker - Post #30) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 6:01 pm: |
This is how the depth for oxygen toxicity is arrived at.
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #143) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 7:13 pm: |
The key is whether people are mature enough to consider what can go wrong and whether they are prepared for it. If the prospect of a 5 minute blind ascent after losing your mask is horrifying ... you should not be going that deep. If it seems unpleasant now, try that with narcosis.
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By Timothy Westfall (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 7:30 pm: |
Having been trained and practiced deep air I thought I was doing a safe dive every time I went deep, and according to training and excepted practice I was. After the first tri mix dive I realized how close to the edge I had been. The difference is dramatic and life altering. My air limit is 165’ now and that is pushing it.
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13746) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 8:55 pm: |
Where's Walt III?
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By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #871) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 11:38 pm: |
Cynde, good question!
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By Walt III (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #233) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 5:54 pm: |
The reason I have stayed out of this is because I will piss off most of the people who have posted here and I don’t have time for a debate right now. I’m too busy teaching divers how to do deep technical dives. So if you expect another response or think you are going to draw me into long drawn out debate think again.
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By Walt III (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #234) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 6:21 pm: |
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13754) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 8:56 pm: |
Walt, glad to see you "surface" ;-) A pleasure as always...oh, and love that picture!
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #146) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 8:43 am: |
Walt you really should read what I posted and not others misreading of what I said. Everything you addressed to me was not really addressing what I said but how others chose to respond to it. That is more than a bit annoying.
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By Jim Peters (BonaireTalker - Post #17) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 9:30 am: |
I've been good up until this point but...
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By William Tweed (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 10:49 am: |
Geoffrey, you are so far off base you are in the stadium parking lot. What I find annoying is you don't even read your own posts.
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By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:27 am: |
HELLO, maybe i didn't want to dive windjammer anyway, i've really enjoyed reading the threads though, and do realize that our level of training does not qualify us for this dive anyway, we do have 202 though, and would probably just have done a fly over anyway, hate to display my ignorance, that's a louisiana thing, but what are they referring to when they use the term darwin at work? thanks
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By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #881) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:34 am: |
Monty, the Darwin Awards link is here. honoring those who accidentally kill themselves in really stupid ways
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By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #23) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:44 am: |
thanks, that's a really interesting link!
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #703) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
Thanks Walt for the information! The REAL information. I hope you get the apology you so much deserve. Dive safe!
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By Michelle_S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #197) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 2:43 pm: |
Hey Mare,
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By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #882) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 2:50 pm: |
Michelle,
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By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #147) on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 4:32 pm: |
Mr. Tweed -- READ MY POSTS. You continue to demonstrate an inability to really do so. I don't disagree with anything that Walt says of a technical nature ... so I am offended that he acts as if I did.
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By William Tweed (BonaireTalker - Post #40) on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 12:29 am: |
Geoffrey, did you read your quotes I posted? Your post #133, first paragraph, is not presented as opinion, or impression, it is presented as fact. My problem,sir, with your posts is what reasonable information and opinion you have to share is interspersed with utter fabrications presented as fact. It's like listening to Cap'n Don, except he's amusing, and you get belligerent when challenged.
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By Jim Peters (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 7:03 am: |
Wow, talk about not being in touch with reality. Geoffrey, I sure hope you don't treat people in person the same way you do here or some day someone is going to knock that chip you like to carry around on your shoulder off.
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By Cap'n Buck (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 10:39 pm: |
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/cgi-local/bbs/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&profile=gfeldman-users I am an active instructor, and I have experience on the wreck, and I will be back in Bonaire in two weeks. If the time, conditions, and availability are all right, I will probably do it again. If it is closed, I will not. Remember, never dive beyond your ability or confidence level, and never assume superiority over nature.
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By Cap'n Buck (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
To the other posters here, please continue with the good discourse. I enjoy learning and you guys are demonstrating clear knowledge and a desire to share.
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #705) on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 11:13 pm: |
Geoffrey, the more you post, the deeper the hole gets. Is it time to concede to those with the knowledge of what's what? That would be a smart move, IMHO.
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By ceestoosmiekesuizanne (BonaireTalker - Post #27) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 3:06 am: |
It started with a simple question:"are there any recent updates on the windjammer site?"
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1893) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 7:39 am: |
ceestoosmiekesuizanne, I agree.
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By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2266) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 9:45 am: |
OK, we totally need a sound file to hear how to say ceestoosmiekesuizanne
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13770) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:44 pm: |
Seb...LOL...ceestoosmiekesuizanne...can you please sound it out for us phonetically?
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By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4008) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 1:05 pm: |
Cynde, Seb, you have it in the mail / IM...
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #137) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 2:46 pm: |
Cynde,
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By Bob Banker (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 5:42 pm: |
We drove to BOPEC during a surface interval between Karpata and Oil Slick May 16th. It was closed for diving, swimming, etc.
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By Cap'n Buck (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 10:25 pm: |
Well, fourteen more days 'til check outs, advanced course evaluations, and just plain recreational fun with my son in Bonaire. I hope the beauty of the walls and the juveniles on the reef hold true to last trip.
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By Cap'n Buck (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 10:27 pm: |
Recent sea horse sightings??
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By Cap'n Buck (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 10:28 pm: |
BTW, I heard the Mari Bahn is being dived again.
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By Tom Pritchard (BonaireTalker - Post #25) on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 10:58 pm: |
Really? Any details? I am anxious to know because the instructor who is our trip leader takes his other instructors and divemasters to the site.
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By Susan Porter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 8:05 am: |
The site is officially closed. There are groups working on trying to find a way to get it reopened. If folks abuse the closure there will be no options. Please ask your friends to refrain from diving there illegally.
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