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Diving Bonaire: Best shallow dives?
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2005-08-03 to 2005-12-30: Best shallow dives?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Melissa Dowling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 8:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are bringing our son diving with us for the first time. He just got his jr certification so we'll be limited to 40 feet. I have Shore Diving Made Easy so I crossed the list of Easy Dives with Excellent Snorkel Dives and got a good list for us to begin with, but I have been enjoying reading the posts on BT and thought I'd ask what some of your favorite shallow dives are.

Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #251) on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 9:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

hi melissa, welcome to bonairetalk. most of bonaire's dives can be done shallow. i like oil slick and margate bay for starters. also andrea I and II as well as witches hut and 1000 steps. calabas off carib inn and divi is a great shallow dive too. check with your dive operator and explain that your son has a junior c-card and see about boat dives that will remain within his range.

when will you be going to bonaire? make sure you get together with the other bt'ers at gibis on tuesdays.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #211) on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 9:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Melissa, my daughter got her jr certification in Bonaire 2 years ago. All the ones mentioned are good, plus 18 Palm from Plaza (where she did her certification). Also try North Belnam & the airport. Boat dives from Klein can be done in the shallows.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lydia S. Segal (BonaireTalker - Post #98) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 7:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Also in town Something special..and Salt Pier, 30 and above. A wonderful time.. Lydia

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leif S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #287) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 1:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Do not underestimate Eden resort's rubble (where the reefcam is located)... great variety in the few small rubble/coral piles; jots of juvis.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14856) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Melissa, where will you be staying?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2202) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 2:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

All of the shore from Cliff south to Red Slave has a sand shelf along the shore that is good shallow diving, right up to the water's edge.

Invisibles is one of my favorites. In 2002 there was still an area of broken coral to the left of the entry point that teemed with juveniles including 6" morays. I watched trumpetfish stalking the juvvies.

I second Something Special. And Bari Reef in late afternoon for bait balls and jacks and squid.

Great dives. Enjoy!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By melissa (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 8:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wow! Thanks all, I knew this would be the place to ask. I've put those sites you've recommended at the top of our list. We're really stoked about getting to bring him along!

We arrive Wed night and are staying at Buddy's. If memory serves me still (it's been a while), I'm thinking it's pretty good for shallow diving too.

Gibi's on Tuesdays? What time?

melissa

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay Hoyer (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

What's water temperature in February? Do most folks dive in 3mm wet suits or without wetsuits?
Jay

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #252) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

the bt'ers meet at gibi's at 630. try to call him first and say you'll be there. you don't have to but it makes it easier on gibi if he has a rough idea of how many people might be there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #447) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jay,
The water temperature right now is 86%. By February it will have dropped some. Could be anywhere between 79 and 84 in my past experience (and I live here and dive regularly). Seems to depend on where the currents are coming from and how much rain we're getting.
Most people who dive here wear some type of wet suit, but not everybody. How much you need is an entirely individual matter.
If you want to read a lot of peoples' comments on this matter, do a key word search.
Enjoy Bonaire!
Tish

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Botsford (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #364) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 8:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Plenty to see at the 40 foot contour or less at Buddy's. You can head north and go to the wreck at Capt'n Don's or head south and hang out under the Samur...and explore all the areas in between.

Our 12 year old daughter qualified with Buddy this past June, her favorite was doing the jump at Oil Slick where she found three juvenile Spotted Drums in one spot.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By martha rhoades (BonaireTalker - Post #23) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We took our 14 3/4 y.o. son with a brand new junior certification in August. We especially liked Angel City for one you drive up to and walk in, and the reef off Bonaire Dive and Adventure, between Sand Dollar and Den Lehman. We also dove the house reef at Don's Habitat. All of the boat dives we did with Bonaire Dive and Adventure were within that limit, or to 60 feet, except one with a part time divemaster who didn't pay attention to our limits - she was the only woman divemaster there and easy to avoid. The fish identification and behavior class given by the certified naturalist (Jerry) at Bonaire Dive and Adventure on Monday mornings really helped all of us identify a lot more fish. It takes about 4 hours, since the class is followed by a dive where Jerry points out at least 40 fish on his underwater slate. We saw striped shrimp, octopus, striped moray eel, sandivers, and lots of more common stuff in that dive right off the pier. I believe more different fish have been identified off the reef by Bonaire Dive and Adventure's pier than anywhere else
possibly because of the naturalist in residence there. I am sure your new diver will love it - Jeffrey did!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By melissa (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 9:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Regarding Gigi's, I can't think of a better way to spend our last night in Bonaire! I would love to meet up with you guys and share experiences. I've got the map and phone number and will call before coming. Thanks!

And thanks again to those of you who have continued to add to our list of awesome shallow dives. We can't wait to check them out! See you tomorrow night!!!

Melissa & family

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By melissa (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

*** of course I meant Gibi's ***
~m

 


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