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Diving Bonaire: Fish ID Courses
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2005-06-05 to 2005-08-03: Fish ID Courses
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Thomas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 2:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've heard great things about the id courses taught in Bonaire. Can anyone recommend a dive operation that really goes into detail with their courses. I'm afraid the class might not be worth it if it's just a quick slide show. I've read the fish id books cover to cover and want to take it a little further. I'm staying at Buddy dive but willing to use another operator to get the most out of it.

Thanks,
Richard

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chet Wood (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #575) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 7:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Please check out Jerry Ligon at Bonaire Dive & Adventure (by Sand Dollar, road entrance at the center of the traffic circle). He's got to be one of the best!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #128) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 7:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree: Jerry Ligon!!! He's a biologist originally, so he's way ahead of everybody else on the island.
Tish

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Baker (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #535) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 10:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've taken the "Dive with the Naturalist" course from Jerry 4 times now, I think. My first trip to Bonaire we stayed at the Sand Dollar where Jerry was working through and Bubbles and I signed up for his class. We enjoyed it so much that we took it again the next week and had Jerry sign pic cards for us for Underwater Naturalist specialty on top of it. Jerry teaches more than just id, he give you information on behavior also. I would highly recommend it.

Aquaman

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2233) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 11:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Richard, the REEF series has an excellent software ID program with many more pictures, movies, ID games, flashcards,and such, I highly recommend it. You can also set it for what you are interested in studying today, and for geographic area. I don't suggest this in place of a naturalist course, but the more you know going in, the more you'll know going out.
Check out reef.org
There are also various free slideshows at different resorts listed in the What's Happening in Bonaire handout available when you get your rental car, and other places.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Degan (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 1:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Richard,
Check with BDA - Jerry was out over May 9-13 having, I believe, knee surgery or something to that effect. We were unable to do the course, but still ID'd a lot of neat fish ourselves. Jerry may already be back at work - I don't know how involved the procedure was.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #865) on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 1:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Two more great Bonaire Resources:

Caren Eckrich and Dee Scarr.

Caren can be reached at Sea and Discover

and

Dee can be reached at Dee Scarr's Touch the Sea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Gillan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #148) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 4:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Richard,

Along with the on-island/in-water courses with Jerry and Caren (et al), which are top notch, you can start with the resources from Paul Humann and Ned Deloach at wwww.fishid.com
They also offer an actual ID course but it is not on the website offering. Email or call Erik there and he will help.

Happy diving and snorkeling.

Bud Gillan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #487) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 9:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

http://www.reefnet.on.ca/products/reefseries/index.asp

http://www.reefnet.on.ca/products/reefseries/index.asp#overview

sites for software from reefnet, also available in Bonaire

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #873) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 9:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Susan, I was about to post that info!
Mare

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1427) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 9:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The reef net software is incredible!!! It blows my mind away with what it can do!!! I got it last March in Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2241) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 12:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It sure is Darlene! (How did a Yankee get named Darlene anyway?)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Porter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #139) on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 2:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda Baker at Carib Inn teaches a super Fish ID class. She recently received the first ever "Golden Hamlet" award for most surveys turned into REEF.org data base. I would recommend her highly. Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lydia S. Segal (BonaireTalker - Post #66) on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 10:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda Baker is wonderful. Incredible knowledge of fish, and gentle teaching manner. And loads of fun.
I have taken her beginner fish id, learning the 60 most common fish on Bonaire. Then went on to intermediate, and then blennies ane gobies. She used the reef fish series in the am and then dives in the pm to find what you have just learned in the classroom.

A fantastic learning experience. Of course she can not help my brain's tendency to forgot fish betweeen dive vacations.. Oh well, might have to take remdial fish id this summer from her. She is at the Carib Inn.

 


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