Just returned from a three week trip to Bonaire in August (now suffering from a bad case of pbd). During our stay my husband and I dove with Larry's Wildside Diving twice (total of four dives). It was a blast!!! We loved his boat -- well set up, and easy in/out, even in big waves. Captain Larry stayed on the boat while Divemaster Eddie led the dives. Both guys are friendly, funny, and smart, and they run a tight and safe ship. Eddie has great skill at finding things both large and small - we saw so many rays, turtles, eels, sharks, and more that at times you didn't know where to look! Even a seahorse! Viz was good on the days we went. Eddie keeps an eye on everything and everybody but you can do your own profile (no deco diving tho) and he is really fun to dive with. Although it was too rough when we went, Larry will take the boat farther north (ie to wrecks at Spelunk Lighthouse) when conditions permit. Highly recommended for Eastside boat diving!!!

So glad to hear you had a good time diving with Larry. We went out with him and Eddie back in May and it was a BLAST!!! I can't wait to dive with them again. I will join you in recommending Larry. The boat ride itself was quite exciting, but the diving was beyond what I had expected.

You are right. I did 4 dives on Cai - East side during my trip last 2 weeks. I did all of them from shore by myself. It takes some surface swim to get to the reef but then it is gorgeous. A lot of action, big fish and plenty of fish. Nurse shark, spotted eagle rays, turtles, tarpons, moreys seen on each dive. Return in strong current over sandy bottom of a channel is a real thrill.

Tomas,

There are a lot more fun and safer ways to exit Cai than by the channel. You will also see a lot more on the return. Email me if you would like some additional choices on the exit. My wife and I have been away from the east side for almost 5 weeks and thankfully will be back at the end of September for more rays and sharks.

Hi Michael,

of course I would welcome some alternative exit choices. I usually spent about an hour on the reef and saved some 15-20 minutes for channel exit and I have never regreted that time. It is so much fun to be pushed by the current through the schools of snappers, grunts, margates and passing motionless tarpons not speaking about friendly french angelfishes. Just on one day the sea was a little bit too rough with really big waves so the return was not comfortable and keeping the course was tricky...
I wish you very pleasant time on your September trip.

Michael,

I suspect there are a number of BT'ers who would like to know about alternative entries/exits at Cai. Please post here for all of us! :–)

The problem with laying out this dive is that this dive should be done with a guide and I can not stress that enough. You get into trouble on the east side and you are on your own.

From Lai Cai go east out of the north side of the channel. The current will push you through the Tarpon hole and over the lip of the wall. Turn south go for greater than half a tank (maybe 1800#'s), turn back till slightly north of where you hit the wall. Then turn west and follow the slope up under the surge and surf. Working your way back left into the channel. The technique is to let the surge push you in then garb the bottom and hold on for the outward surge. Rough on the hands but it does work and you'll make good progress against the current.

It sounds like paralel to channel exit way but you miss all the fun in the channel and must work even harder against the current....