Dear Divers,
My 14 year old daughter will complete her open water certification dives on island next December. I'm interested in hooking up with 2-3 other experienced divers for shore diving together. How would I contact other divers interested in shore diving with us? I don't want to buddy dive alone with my daughter until she has more experience and is physically bigger. She'll do her open water certification with Bruce Bowker. Your thoughts and opinions please.

Andrew, I would forward your question to Bruce at Carib Inn. Because of his advanced bookings he might be able to tell you if there will be anybody staying with him that might have similar circumstances. You could also engage the services of a Instructor or Dive Master to accompany you and your daughter until you are more comfortable.

I'd check in here every so often as well. As we come closer to your date of departure, there'll probably be others asking questions, or just looking, and you might be able to hook up with them directly. We always like the company.

Yes, I've asked the staff at Carib and they pitched me on boat dives which makes sense and also stated they don't do guided shore dives. Thanks for the idea.

Andrew, the nice thing about the boat dives is that so long as you stay around the mooring line you will have a good reference, and for the most part the boats moor in fairly shallow waters. As you confidence builds you and your buddy can venture out a little further.

I am in the same position.My wife doesn't dive and I would like to do some shore dives but need a buddy.We will be staying at Sand Dollar 3/14-3/21. If anyone will be in Bonaire this week and would like to hook up, please e-mail me.....Thanks

Andrew, Regarding shore dives, we stay at the Carib Inn and at last count have made over 50 dives on Calabas reef right in front of the Inn.
You might think that you would get bored with the same dive (and some people might) but my wife and I see something different on every dive. If you teach your daughter to go slow and look at the small things as well as the larger, she will get more from her dives in my opinion.
We often see people going like heck in all directions and then hear them bitch about not seeing all the stuff they hear us talking about.

The dive in front of the Inn is easy and low stress. The entry is off the end of the dock and the ladder is used to get back up. The reef starts a very easy swim out- surface or UW - maybe 30 or 40 yards from the dock and is about 18 feet deep. You can drop down to whatever depth you are comfortable with - the 25 to 30 foot level makes a great dive - and never get more than an easy swim from the dock.

Clay

Super advise Clay, never dove Calabas but always have felt the same way about "Front Porch". You weathering the storm okay ?

Hi Kelly, I have remote email access, so I am taking my skinny butt, my cellphone, and my laptop home in a while and will ride the storm out there. They are predicting up to 30 inches for us.
COME ON MAY 5TH!!!
Clay

Stay warm and be safe. I will try to leave a few Amstel for you.

Bill, Sand Dollar has a diver orientation every morning at 9:30. They go over how things work at Sand Dollar, they talk about the island and it's a good place to hook up with other divers who need buddies

Alan & Joan
Any place to hook up with other snorkelers interested in shore entry? Emailed for info from "Discover Bonaire" re: trips.
We are those "young" seniors "on Talk" last week.
We will be there Mar 28 to Apr 11.

Most dive shops can hook you up with other people. Generaly speaking from any resort you can just walk into the water and snorkel

Bill - noticed that you'll be there over the same period we are. We are divers but if the chance arises to get together for a drink at Karels we'd love to meet a BonaireTalk couple. We are staying at Sorobon for rest & relaxation for the first week 4/28 - 5/5, then over to Sand $$ for 5/5-5/12.

Gail
Looks like we are a month apart - thax anyway