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Diving Bonaire: To Boat or not to Boat
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2005-08-03 to 2005-12-30: To Boat or not to Boat
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Mack (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 8:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are making our first trip to Bonaire this February 24th to March 6th and are trying to decide if we should get a truck all 10 days or get a truck only 7 days and do 6 boat dives. We are staying at Buddy dive and would probably do the boat dives from there but would also consider doing Larry's Wild side.

Suggestions?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #242) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

While other's opinions may vary, I always suggest doing a few boat dives for the following reasons:
--It's always nice to get out on the water.
--There are some sites, especially on Klein Bonaire, that you cannot drive to.
--Most divemasters are pretty good at pointing out some of the more elusive critters like frogfish and seahorses.
--It's often (but not always!) fun to meet other divers on the boat.
--It's just so damn easy.

Just be aware that it might not be a good idea to leave all your boat dives til the end of your trip, because there are times at Buddy's where the boats fill up before you get a chance to sign up for 'em.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J Rushman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #114) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with Scott. Do some boat dives and do them early in your trip so you'll know what you can see at Klein and other boat-only sites. And try to get a trip to Rappel. Time permitting, doing an east coast dive with Larry would be great.

John Mack, what is a "GIS Consultant"?

John R.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Mack (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Geographic Information System Consultant - I work with clients on implementing databases that deal mainly with spatial data. Currently I work mainly with local government clients.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3197) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John, the word "spatial" always makes me laugh. I pronounce it like "special" but with a slight accent, like the Church Lady on Sat. Night Live.lol. Well, isn't that spatial???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cam (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #541) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 6:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wall, ernt you spatial Kelly :-) How's my Amerkin drawl? Not bad for a Canucklehead, eh? 10 days to Bon!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Mack (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 7:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yeah I was going to try and explain it without using words like implementing and spatial but it is just so much easier this way. Call me lazy, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Gaunt (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #684) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 2:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John,

I'll echo what Scott mentioned. We always do a couple boat dives when were on the island. Last time we signed up for 3 separate 2 tank boat dives through Photo Tours. We just did them as afternoon dives and kept shore diving in the mornings and evenings.

Getting out to the sites on Klien are well worth it. Plus, I just really enjoy being on a boat. Gearing up and getting in is just so much easier.


Now get back to mapping something!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #262) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 11:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with Scott!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill and Donna Goodwin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #125) on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 1:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Boat diving is OK, but we prefer shore dives. We plan to do a boat dive one day, but we are having sooooo much fun doing truck dives/shore diving right now! We have been going to Bonaire since 2003, 3 times/year and we have not done a boat dive yet. We want to go to Kline, Rappel and a few others, but there is so much wonderful shore diving!!!!! We like the freedom and the relaxation of Bonaire shore diving. We do 3 to 4 dives a day and everyday either a dusk dive or night dive. Doing 1 or 2 boat dives in 2 weeks would be OK for us, but doing 0 boat dives is better. We take our lunch and drinks out to the dive sites and have a wonderful, relaxing day of diving. No hurrying, no crowds (usually), and it is wonderfully relaxing! I feel the decision is based on your individual goals! Our dives average 90 min...we spend the last 20 or so min. in the shallows where we have seen so much! With Boat dives you have to be at the dock at a certain time and the time we are down is limited.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ray Howes (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 12:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We too are are planning our first trip to Bonaire and plan to go truck/shore diving.
How many cylinders will the dive operators allow you collect at any one time? We are planning to leave each morning and do three dives during the day, returning late afternoon. This will obviously require six cylinders. Will this be a problem?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #306) on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ray,Depends on how many divers are with you. The number of tanks is not a problem with 2 divers per truck but more would cause a shift weight problem. We have caried 8 with 4 divers and it was pushing the safety margin for the pick up.. You can always switch the empty for full.. Ron

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #218) on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

bill and donna, i agree that if you boat dive you have to be on the boat, ready to leave, at a specific time. but i've never had a problem with bottom time. we have done boat dives with carib inn and have never felt pressured to get back on the boat just because everybody else does. we both make sure we're in the vicinity of the boat when we have 500-700# left and hang out under the boat until we are down to about 200-300# then go on board. maybe other operators have different policies tho.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Perkins (BonaireTalker - Post #75) on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 2:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you do a boat dive, make it the White Hole on the windward side. You'll see more large and unusual fish in one dive than during any two weeks on the other side.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lee Cuevas (BonaireTalker - Post #68) on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 6:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our first trip we stayed at The Buddy Dive. We did a combination of boat and shore dives and would recommend it again. Although the shore diving is great, nothing beats a boat dive with Murphy.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nadine Rubin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #111) on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 2:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Since this is your first time to Bonaire, you should try a little of everything. The island has so much to offer. Then if you really like it, come back again and be more selective. It would be a shame not to experience it all!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By martha rhoades (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 11:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I really enjoyed a 4 hour lecture/dive class on fish behavior and identification given by Jerry, a naturalist who works at Bonaire Dive and Adventure near the Sand Dollar. Because of that course I identified over 100 varieties of fish during our 6 days of diving with confidence. We did a combination of shore and boat dives, which I would recommend. I saw a five foot loggerhead turtle on one of the Klein Bonaire dives, and others in the boat saw large rays(not sure what variety) also on a Klein dive. I am not sure whether you would see these on shore dives. It had been 17 years since my last dive vacation, so you may not need the fish identification course if you dive a lot.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1110) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 8:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Seb and I play a game -- we pretend to be calling each other names -- except we use the names of fishes --
-You, sir, are a yellowheaded jaw fish.
-And you are a splendid toad fish!

we keep this up until we cannot think of another fish name to 'insult' each other with.

My fave is
-Why you red lipped blenny!

have fun,
keep learning,
you jolthead porgies!

Mare, the critter nerd

 


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