Good day everyone!
I'm going to be on Bonaire for the first time around 11/30-12/3, and really want to dive the highly recommended Town Pier and Salt Pier dives. I've been informed that they must be done with a guide/divemaster though, and the dive operations have to apply for permits asking for permission based on no boats being docked in the area, etc. But the dive operations such as Toucan Dive and Carib Inn (downtown area since I'm staying at Hotel Rochaline and diving mostly with WannaDive..but if there's a place willing to do it outside of downtown that's great too) have said they can do the guided dives on those dates and will try to get permits if a group of divers wish to do it! So far I'm solo on this one, so either post a message here and/or call dive operations in the downtown area (preferably) such as Toucan and Carib Inn to hopefully secure the dives if there's enough of a demand.
Anybody's input on the Town Pier and Salt Pier dives is much appreciated as well!
Cheers,
-Brian

Wannadive does guided dives to both piers so be sure to check with them - they have sign up boards in all 3 locations (Eden Beach, Wannadive Hut, and City Center) so you are bound to find a group there to go.

Have a great time

Hi Becky
I did check with WannaDive and they said for some reason they only do the Town Pier and Salt Pier guided dives M-W, and the dates I'm available is Th-Su. A bit strange but they told me to look elsewhere if I want to do those dives..
Thanks for your input,
-Brian

Sorry, I didn't realize they had date restrictions... maybe it's to allow all the dive shops access to the piers on a rotating basis? Good luck finding a guide, it shouldn't be too hard I wouldn't think.

I've spoken to people who really like Carib Inn - very well run shop from all accounts! Another one that is down in that general area is Yellow Submarine.

Town Pier is cool - lots to see, I haven't made it to Salt Pier yet, but it's definitely on my "to do" list

Brian,

This will be our second visit to Bonaire. I think both dive sites are good. We didn't dive Salt Pier last visit, but we want to do so this visit. We did dive Town Pier last visit and plan to do so again this visit. Last time, it was just the 2 of us along with Eddie from Photo Tours, and we hit a window just as a large group was exiting, and we left just as a large group was entering, which suited us well. We took a nice slow pace with lots of picture taking in a smaller group.

Your time frame is right at the end of our upcoming stay. We fly from Bonaire to St. Eustatius (DAE via Curacao and St. Maarten) on Dec. 2, departing Bonaire at 8 AM. We plan to leave the 24 hours prior to our departure dive-free, so Nov. 30 is the only day that we can possibly overlap with you.

We're staying at the Bellafonte, so we're closer to Salt Pier than you are but farther from Town Pier than you are. Our dive package is with Photo Tours / Dive Friends, we'll be using the Free Nitrox upgrade option from their Port Bonaire location. They have multiple locations on Bonaire, including the downtown area (also as Yellow Submarine).

http://www.dive-friends-bonaire.com/

I'll drop Dive Friends a note and see what their availability is for these sites during our upcoming stay and post back again.

(Message edited by rj_west on November 18, 2006)

Brian, also try Roger Burhnam at http://www.blennylips.com/services.html

I've done Salt Pier twice with him now, and Town Pier once. Last trip we did Town Pier during the day and it was a real treat. The video he makes is awesome as well...I watch it when I need a pick me up

Brian, I see you are from San Diego, I'm just a tad North of you. Email me if you like with questions, I've been to Bonaire a few times...and love Wannadive, they are a great operation

(Message edited by cyndelee on November 18, 2006)

he brian

i sent a reply to you on my post. this looks like a good place to organize a group. after a few trips to cozumel, i'm sure lookin forward to bonaire( no current ). drift diving is fun, but i'm looking forward to for lack of a better way of putting it, mellow diving. MAN I CAN'T WAIT TO GET WET!!!

-ron

May I please remind people about multiple posting.. If you post a message or reply in one section of Bonaire Talk it is sufficient. someone will either answer you or they will see your response if you just post on one thread.. No need to post on multiple threads.. please see our policy about posting you can find it Here

Hi,

We have done both those dives with the DMs from Carib Inn. You can write ahead - check their web site for email address - and see what they have going on for the dates you need. They are wonderful, knowledgeable and safe and fun. Lydia

Hi Ron

Sounds good! I'll definitely give the Golden Reef Inn a call when I get to Bonaire..I'll be arriving Bonaire in the morning of Nov. 30 and have my dive orientation around 11AM. After that things are completely open really..are things relatively open for you from the afternoon of Nov. 30 onwards?

Talk later,

-Brian

Hi Robert
Yea, if you get a chance please let me know about Dive Friends availability for Town Pier and/or Salt Pier!
If one of the dive operations downtown like Caribb Inn or Toucan Diving are able to get the permit, would you have any interest in going on Nov. 30, since it appears that's the day that may match our schedules? Like I mentioned before, the dive operations have told me they're willing to ask for a permit and do the dives if they have a group.
Thanks again,
-Brian

I can also recommend Sipke Stapert who is independent of the shops and is a wonderful guide for a night dive at town pier or salt pier. Unfortunately I lost his contact info ( think email is tortugos99@yahoo.com ) but he is in the island phone book. He lives in the house on the corner just south of Pasabon pizza and runs a photo and crafts studio out of his house.

You can also try Caren at Sea and Discover www.seandiscover.com also does private groups (but I think she passes the night dives on to Sipke).

David

Hi David
I tried e-mailing Sipke Stapert at tortugos99@yahoo.com but it says it's not a valid e-mail address. Do you know if there's a way to check the Bonaire phone book online or somehow get his contacts? I did a bit of searching online with no luck..
Cheers!
-Brian

Brian,

I owe you a private email, but till then you can find Spike's phone number via: Bonaire Yellow Pages Online Directory

Cheers,

I guess my memory isn't as good as I thought. I lost his e-mail in a hard drive crash. If th online phone book doesn't have it, try reaching him through Caren at www.seandiscover.com

David

hey well i just found out that there's a cruise ship in town on Nov. 30 so Town Pier can't be an option on that day (checked http://www.infobonaire.com/cruises.html), but I don't see any reason Salt Pier couldn't work out if anyone's interested?!
Also, anybody know of any other independent guides/divemasters who may do Town Pier and Salt Pier without videos/photos (the videos are awesome, but I've done it before)?
Cheers..

Wonder if there is a chance that I can get Salt Pier for 5 folks this week (will be on island Wed of this week through Wed of next week). Any suggestions?? Staying at Capt Don's.

Emit, i figure it's a stretch but if you're able to stay an extra day, i could definitely do Salt Pier that Thurs (Nov. 30, as that's the day I arrive)...

My group of 5 is scheduled to leave on the 29th. I was wondering what divemaster/shop that would take us to the pier. Wish we could extend a number of days but it would not work out this trip.

Brian,

Angela at Dive Friends sent me the following info.

"Salt pier and Town pier are both great dives! When you check in at our location please take your passport number with you and then we can scheduled in whenever you want (and of course when it’s possible for the harbour master)"

So, don't count on us for Nov. 30, we'll hedge our bets and try to get dives to both locations in before our last diving day.

You should still be able to get a group together that fits your schedule. Keep trying, and thanks for the invitation!

thanks for the info everyone with contacting Spike! i got ahold of him and we're set to dive Salt Pier Nov. 30 and Town Pier Dec. 1, with Dec. 2 open to possible dive either of those dives if one of them has to be cancelled due to weather, ships being docked, etc (or maybe another dive, we'll see). he said he likes to dive with about 1-3 other people besides himself, so if another 2-3 people wish to join get ahold of him at 717-2019 or tortugos_99@yahoo.com. it sounds like it's first come first serve..
if you like maybe let me know here if you decided to join!
also, anybody have any recommendations on another dive besides Town/Salt Pier that's good to do with a guide such as Spike?

(oh yea and the cost with Spike is US$20 per dive, I'm assuming per person)

Brian,

His name is Sipke (pronounced sip-kuh), not Spike.

-David

hello again brian
well count me in for salt pier. wish our respective trips overlapped more than they do, but hey! we'll make the most of it. i'll get in touch with sipke. get my name on the list.

I think the max number of divers per Bonaire employed DM is 4 now.