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Diving Bonaire: Shore diving with novice divers
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2005-06-05 to 2005-08-03: Shore diving with novice divers
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leslie Conway (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 7:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi all,
My husband, 17 yr. old son and 14yr. old daughter will be diving on Bonaire in a few weeks. My daughter is newly certified and my husband and son have been on approx. 30 dives apiece. They've been to Mexico, Coz, Curacao, FLA. etc. I am a bit uneasy about them diving with no divemaster on some of these shore dives available on Bonaire. If we rent a truck, and do the shore diving, any suggestions on where to go? While my husband and son have been to approx. 100ft., my daughter was just certified a few weeks ago.
Thanks!
Leslie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #293) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 8:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check with the dive shop that you will be using for air fills, they can give you the best advice for novice divers. I would recommend staying away from the far north and far south, currents can develop and be pretty strong.
Andy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #325) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 9:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Leslie:

You don't say if you're a diving part of your divining family :-)
Or maybe you're a snorkeller not a diver...
Or maybe you're a swimmer and beach enjoyer...

Diving to 100 ft in warm water usually involves less task loading (read "easier") than diving to the same depth in cold water...so your husband and son probably have adequate experience already. As for your daughter...

Two years ago my 17 year old niece had her first "real" open water experience - on Bonaire. (Before this, she had her certification dives in a cold water quarry with the 7ml neoprene, hood and extra weights).

As an initial cold water diver, she found that warm water Bonaire (with just her two "jaded and crabby aunts" as dive buddies) was so much fun, she quickly became a fish. Of course, one needs to plan the dive and dive the plan, but on Bonaire this is so easy! One can stay at 60 ft or shallower, and stroll along a wonderful reef, checking out the fish dramas in little or no current....

The first dive on Bonaire is a check-out dive, after you get your initial dive briefing and tag from the shop you're diving with. You are given a clear picture of the Bonaire dive environment.

On my own first dive 6 years ago on Bonaire, I was a bit apprehensive abount not having a divemaster for every dive, but once I grasped how relatively benign shore diving is on Bonaire, my confidence increased.

I have to say that as an aunt, the amount of worry I have as a dive buddy/supervisor on Bonaire is much less than diving in cold water Ontario. If your kids -and husband!- :-) enjoy and respect dive plans, in my experience diving Bonaire is the best place to experience diving.

If needed, you all could get a dive guide for the first dive or two to build everybody's confidence.

Best of all, if your accommodations are right on a house reef, this is the easiest way to go, since the house reef is just a jump off the dock. Just check for (possibly non-existant) currents off the house reef, and if they're present, swim into them if you all must go on a grand tour of the house reef, turning around (as you know) with half your air.

Certainly there are more advanced dives on Bonaire, such as at the southern tip, (Red Slave etc.) where there may be currents, but generally, in my experience, Bonaire is a great place for novices as long as you plan your dive and dive your plan....

Darn it all, here I am with a bad case of missing Diver's Paradise....

Enjoy,
Fiona

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #217) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 9:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Leslie,
You've asked a very smart question.
Several others have asked the same or a similar question recently. Search this site for those replies concerning dive sites.
You do not say whether you are certified and will be diving with them, Leslie, but seems like you are not.
One inexperienced adult should NOT be trying to dive with and supervise two inexperienced kids, one of them a brand new diver. I strongly urge them to take some boat dives and stay with the dive master or to hire a dive master to make some shore dives with them. No matter how many different locations they've been diving, 30 dives isn't much, and a new certification is even less.
And buddy teams always consist of a pair of divers, not three divers together. Nobody can watch two other divers carefully at the same time. If an emergency developed, this group could be in for a very difficult time.
As a newly certified diver, your daughter should not be diving deeper than 60 feet.
Andy is correct that avoiding the far north and far south would be wise. But I am more concerned about the other issues I've raised.
Have a safe and happy family vacation!
Tish

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J Rushman (BonaireTalker - Post #96) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 3:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree strongly with the comments provided by Andy, Fiona, and Tish. Diving in Bonaire is (relatively) easy but shore diving navigation requires some practice. If this is your first trip to Bonaire, and with the level of experience of the divers in your group, I'd recommend doing more boat dives with divemasters. There are plenty of boat dives to keep people satisfied. And there are lot's of other advantages for doing boat dives: site briefings by the divemaster, chatting with other divers on where to eat, dive, stay, sightsee, shop... And it's more sociable. Although you're with a larger group when doing boat dives, the (typically) 10 to 12 divers on the boat disperse fairly quickly after entry. The only time you'll see other divers is

1) At Hilma Hooker (where several boats may be moored)

2) At the end of a dive when everyone is congregating in the shallows around the mooring site. (It's often how I now when I'm close to the boat when I'm "lost" (i.e. not sure where the mooring site is). If suddenly you find several other divers around, your either

a) at the mooring site of another boat (embarrassing) or

b) close to your own mooring site (sigh)

Enjoy your trip! Where are you staying?

Juancho

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1500) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 7:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I just got the new revised copy of Shore Diving made easy revised by Sue Porter. It is an excellent guide to all the shore sites on Bonaire for diving and snorkeling!! It does an excellent job of describing the entries and exits as well as what to expect during your dive.It has just been revised and should be available in Bonaire as I write this. It can also be obtained through Sue Taft who has posted on this board here in the US.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #160) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 9:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Leslie, This would be the perfect time for you to become certified at home and get a referral and do your 4 openwater dive on Bonaire with your family. To be a diver family is special and it will change your out look on the word vacation..
Bonaire is easy diving and the vis is good the water is warm but should always be respected. Most dives are north-south into the curent. If on a boat go down the mooring line and check the depth at the bottom. When you return to the boat assend to the mooring depth and you are home free.
When shore diving surface swim out to the reef and desend. Check your depth and look for something to remember on your return for your exit.
There is a public beach(Cha Cha Beach) just north of Divi Flamingo Resort. Cha Cha Beach is a easy entry for snorking or diving and has little curent. A perfect place to practice skills... Have a great trip at the best dive spot in the world... Ron

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2012) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 9:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Leslie, you have received some very good suggestions, best wishes for your vacation.

Ron, you are so right about being a diving family:-{)}

Darlene, I agree, Susan P. did a great job!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Edison (BonaireTalker - Post #67) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 11:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

A few boat dives are a comfortable, safe way to start out. Also try the house reef where you're staying. (Sand Dollar, Divi, Buddy's, Capt. Don's all have excellent reefs.) The dive shop at your resort should be able to arrange a guided dive with divemaster at your house reef to ease you into things. On Bonaire all the action is at the 20-40 foot depth.

BONAIRE SHORE DIVING MADE EASY is invaluable, get a copy by all means.

Easy shore dives (aside from house reefs)in the north, are Andrea I and Andrea II, Witch's Hut, and Ol' Blue. Save the trickier ones like Karpata, 1000 Steps and the Nat'l Park sites for boat dives. In the south, North Belnem, Windsock, The Invisibles, and Pink Beach have easy entries.

I agree with Ron G. about getting certified yourself. Your family will speak of nothing else and you'll feel left out. Haven't been to Cha Cha beach, but I like the suggestion.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leslie Conway (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 1:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks so much to all of you! I know becoming a diving family would be fun; I have been several times in Hawaii, Coz, Bermuda, Curacao and just don't love it. I also think being down there with my kids would make me too nervous; a quality not good in scuba! We are a "safety first" family so all of your input will be considered as well as the advice of the divemasters there. We are staying at Harbour Village so that my 10 yr. old and I will have a beach and some snorkelling to do while the others take advantage of their unlimited shore diving and 6 boat dive packages. Is the house reef any good there? I assume the dive shop there will be good. Thanks again, and any other input is always appreciated!
Leslie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #219) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 3:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Leslie,
Harbour Village is lovely, but, alas, divers who are not advanced divers must go north on shore dives, no matter which way the current is going.
This is super important. If your husband and children head south, they will put themselves in grave danger by diving right in front of the boat entrance to the marina. Please be sure they all know they must head north and must stop on their return well before the marina entrance.
There's a fairly new boat wreck, a trawler I guess, cute although not encrusted yet. A huge school of jacks lives there, and also a green moray. It's at around 40 feet, so it is shallow enough for even the newly certified child.
Unfortunately, the area in front of Harbour Village is not much good for snorkeling. That is, not pretty coral, but of course you will see fish.
Have fun!
Tish

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Felten (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 7:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My first `real diving' was in Bonaire last fall on our honeymoon. Phenomenal, memorable, and a perfect honeymoon.

My wife and I were newly certified, had just a perfect set of 11 dives - what we did was:

Spent a long time with the divemaster before the checkout dive. He suggested places to avoid, easy/hard shore access, the different stuff we'd see at diff. places ... but he gave us a great primer [and the tough shore dives to rule out]. We got a lot of information, suggestions, and he walked us through how we'd want to enter/exit before we went.

Had a dive plan, dove the plan. If either of us felt uncomfortable ... we stopped diving and safely left the water.
There is no more important rule in diving, or so I think.

Dive the first dives with a divemaster, maybe even a boat [Klein Bonaire had some neat dives, different than shore-available ones].
Go with a small group in a boat, tell the DM your experience - we found our DM took time for us, pointed stuff out from time to time ... diving [esp. the first times] was better with a divemaster.
But after two boat dives [an afternoon, the next morning] we felt confident to go out ourselves.

Shore diving was nervous the first time, but we adapted readily. Buddy skills are really important when shore diving - the entrance/exit we found sometimes needed a buddy.

We found shore-diving to be ideal for our skill level. While our final dive we went deep to Hilma Hooker [with our DM] - 6 of 11 dives were shore dives.

The wonderful thing about shore-diving Bonaire was that you could stay near the entrance, swim along the reef one way ... lots of options depending on conditions/etc. I'm sure we could have gone much farther distance-wise ... we spent a lot of time focusing on smaller areas of the reef, slowing down as more becomes visible the slower you go.

Anyway, I can ramble a lot more, but I think that provided they dive safely, plan their dive, and don't `go for records' ... shore diving can be done safely.

Don't know about any of the house reefs, we stayed inland [DBV] so did our shore diving north or south of town [where most sites we had ourselves]. `Shore Diving Made Easy' ... available down there, and with consultation with the DM and other hotel guests was a great guide.

Enjoy Bonaire. We sure had a wonderful time, great food, and a perfect introduction to ocean diving. Diving elsewhere will be hard to compare, as it will most likely lack shore diving. While nervous for new divers, this was one of the nicest parts of Bonaire.

And always, if uncomfortable on a dive, safely end the dive. There is no shame in stopping any dive, ever. Diving is not a competition, never compromise safety. If you have this thought, plan the dives, you can safely shore-dive Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stefan & Kelly Wennik (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 11:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

There are a handful of things that differentiate guided from non-guided diving (on boat or shore); but the one skill that is needed above all others for non-guided shore diving is the ability to navigate underwater (in my opinion).

Shore diving on Bonaire is wonderful. But you still need to be able to successfully do your dive and find your way back safely to where you started from. There are a handful of skills you need to be comfortable with to be able to do this. They are not difficult. But if you've always relied on a divemaster to do this for you, you need to get some training and experience before you tackle it on your own. And Bonaire is probably the perfect place to acquire these skills!

Assuming you've always dived as part of a guided group on other trips, taking on shore diving as an unguided group for the first time with relatively inexperienced divers sounds to me like you're pushing things.

At a minimum, I would team up with more experienced divers for your first 5 or 10 shore dives. Pump them for information and learn the ropes.

Hiring a divemaster is probably even better.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #270) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 11:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

All excellent ideas.
Taking a navigation course would also help.

 


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