Am arriving in Bonaire soon after having been a diver there five years ago. My family and dive "buddies" will arrive four days after I do. In the interim I will have time to do a practice dive and/or orientation. What is your recommendation? Is this adviseable? Please let me know. I am in good physical health and am 75 years old. Billy

Billy, Welcome to BT. Lucky you going to Bonaire. Sorry I don't have an answer for your question and a lot of the "regulars" here seem to have taken the afternoon off. But don't despair - there are a lot of good folks here that will no doubt have an answer for you sometime soon.

William, welcome to Bonaire Talk You can do the orientation before your group arrives. You could also let the shop know you are looking for a buddy (if that's what you want) and so you could get some dives in. You can also hire a DM to go on your orientation dive with you as well.

Also, I'm moving this to the Diving Bonaire Topic area.

Have a great trip!

Cynde

Billy welcome to BT. You could also do some boat dives and stay with the DM.

75 and still want to dive...YOU ROCK DUDE!

certainly picked the right place;)

enjoy your dives;)

Billy..75 is certainly not too old to dive assuming you are in good physical condition as you indicate. Between you & me, I plan on diving when I hit 100..

At any rate, I see by reading your profile that you are light in the experience area. Ergo, Cynde's comments to you make a lot of sense. If you dive with a DM for your orientation, you should be fine. You didn't say when your last dive was. Skills learned in the past have a tendancy to"get rusty" so using the practice to get them up to speed before your dive buddies arrive makes sense. You didn't indicate where you're staying but recommend doing your dive off one of the docks at one of the resorts, i.e. EZ exit & entry if this is available to you.

If it's been a while, you could take a refresher course. For instance, the Habitat offers a "Review Course (Scuba Tune-Up)", a half day course which also includes a dive. You could find out if the dive shop you're going through (if it isn't the Habitat) offers a similar thing.

I've never taken it, but I imagine they do some review of the book stuff, then take you on a dive to review your skills underwater.

Most of your LDS offer a scuba skills update if that will help you out.

(Message edited by pat_t on August 13, 2006)

True, Patrick -- but wouldn't you rather do a refresher in Bonaire waters than a quarry or the Pacific Ocean?

Billy, I agree with Bob. Diving at 75! You ROCK DUDE....Have a great time in Bonaire. I am sure your dive "buddies" will keep a watchful eye out for you....Just remember to stay with your buddy!

Actually it better to do a scuba skills update in confined water to me. It's a lot safer enviroment if something happens and you have more control of the area.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, Patrick. Are you talking about a quarry or a swimming pool?

I can't imagine safer waters than Bonaire, with good vis and generally no currents to speak of. And he needs to get set up and acclimated for salt water, not fresh.

After all - he's been certified.

(Message edited by susanf on August 14, 2006)

Welcome to Bonaire Talk

Janelle, I assume you know William? ;-)

William, have a great time!