By Leslie Conway (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 7:57 pm: |
Hi all,
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #293) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 8:40 pm: |
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.
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By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #325) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 9:10 pm: |
Hi Leslie:
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #217) on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 9:17 pm: |
Leslie,
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By J Rushman (BonaireTalker - Post #96) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 3:43 am: |
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
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1500) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 7:25 am: |
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.
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By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #160) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 9:32 am: |
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..
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2012) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 9:51 am: |
Leslie, you have received some very good suggestions, best wishes for your vacation.
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By Ron Edison (BonaireTalker - Post #67) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 11:34 am: |
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.
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By Leslie Conway (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 1:09 pm: |
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!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #219) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 3:23 pm: |
Leslie,
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By Mark Felten (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 7:55 am: |
My first `real diving' was in Bonaire last fall on our honeymoon. Phenomenal, memorable, and a perfect honeymoon.
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By Stefan & Kelly Wennik (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 11:13 am: |
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).
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #270) on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 11:25 am: |
All excellent ideas.
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