Has anyone dove Something Special by shore lately? We've dove it in the past and paid a man to go through his yard, but last year the gate was locked so we couldn't get through that way. We also heard that they no longer allowed you to dive this from the marina. Any more suggestions, we really love this dive but hate to do it by boat?

Gail

Gail,
Why not enter something special from the other side? At the end of the boulevard there is a road towards the appartments. but just before entering the yard you can park your car and enter the water easily. We did so last month

OK, now we need to talk directions and landmarks. We've taken the road on the south side of the marina that goes behind some homes and parked and walked to the water. We used to park up close to the big yatch that's on the south side of the marina and enter right in front of Something Special, but last year there was a lock on the gate. Is this the road you're talking about and if so what house/apartment are you parking behind? You're giving directions to a blonde...so you gotta be specific..,LOL

Gail

We dove it, from shore, but were invited by guests staying at a home on the reef (sorry, just had to say it). It was a great dive ;-) We were all sworn to secrecy on the house location. I could post the pic of the house lookng at it from the reef, but then I think my life would be in danger!

fotodux, that's not the road I'm talking about. I've been there and there is no entry to Something Special. BUT... when you go drive from the marina to the city you take the second raod to the right. The first is a no entry. This raod maybe closed for cars. You take the second raod just opposite of a pizzarestaurant. You drive towards the water. Turn right and stop just before the gate of this resort/appartment. We walked just in front of the gate into the water. We parked on the rightsite of the road (landsite)

are these directions good enough for a blonde :D

Remember when you turn right at the water, that those houses on the water are private property...I know of one for sure, and maybe one other one between where you turn and that gate at the resort. And also if you park there you may be blocked coming out by another vehicle that the occupants have mysteriously disappeared from. I know the place you speak of, just be careful you aren't infringing on any homeowners.

The road which cars can turn on is directly across from Bistro de Paris. Pasa Bon Pizza is actually a little south of there.

I believe the road across from Pasa Bon is one way, going east (inland). So technically, if you're heading north on the main road, you would turn at the first left after Pasa Bon, because the first "actual" road is one way going the opposite way. I think this is right from when I was there a few weeks ago, but my mind is like a sieve sometimes. lol.

That being said, if you do the dive, coming out, don't turn on the same road in which you came in; go south to the next one. Oh, and stop at Pasa Bon for pizza because hey! you're there anyway!

Tish, I keep forgetting to ask you, who do you dive with at Divi? I know you do a slew of boat dives, and that's where I dive when I go with my dive club. We love Rofino and Geertje... oh heck, we love ALL of them !! They are great.

How often do you get to dive?

You're right, they're all great, and I dive with whoever is on the boat.
As for how often, I have been forced to spend quite a bit of time away from Bonaire, although that's about to change.
But when I'm home, I generally do six dives a week, on three mornings. Love those two tank boat trips!
Sue sent me a photo of you and her. Great dive skins!!
Tish

that was a dive skin??? oh...i thought kelly just had a lot of colorful tattoos...LOL

Riekelt...thanks for those directions, yep I think even a blonde can get there now.

Kelly...yes we will keep in mind of other people's private property and infringement. And we always love PasoBon pizza.

Thanks guys for the info, we'll be trying it again this year.

Gail

All this brings a question to my mind: this area is the north end of the 'new' public access esplanade that runs from (almost) the south marina jetty to (almost) the Town Pier. All that length is good diving, in my experience.

What are the parking regs along the length of the esplanade: i.e., can divers park along the side of the road (land or sea) and do their thing? If not, what parking is there on the access roads between Kaya G.N. Bebrot and the 'water road'? I am asking about both the law and the practise.

Glen, if there is any doubt, I would assume you could park on the main road across the street from Pasa Bon, just along the side of the road. It's a bit of a walk, but not that far, and your truck would be in plain view of LOTS of people, so it would lessen the theft risk I would think.

Tish, I enjoyed my dive with Sue so much, I didn't get enough time with them, though.

Wow! 6 dives a week! That is very impressive. Color me jealous.