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Diving Bonaire: Diving in the national park
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2008-2009: Archives - 2008-03-01 to 2008-07-31: Diving in the national park
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garrett Killian (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 1:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Can anyone speak to the dive sites in the national park? Are they worth the drive through the park? I'm not a big fan of miles and miles of bumpy dirt roads for an average dive, but if they offer something more than other sites, it might be worth considering.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1029) on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 1:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've dove Playa Benge twice. To me, it was worth the drive but I have read posts on Bonaire Talk by divers who don't feel the dives in the park are worth the effort. My advice is to just do it one time and find out for yourself. It it turns out you don't think its worth it, then you don't have to do it again.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By luis figueroa (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 10:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Did 3 in park yesterday. Boca Katuna, Playa Benge, Wakaya (sp?)

Net net, not worth the drive for mediocre dive. Katuna, Benge Very rough surf, difficult climbs, long swims to drop off..

I won't be doing again. Long drive in and out of park. At least 1 1/2 out from last site.

Make sure you bring your marine pass receipt and license. We drove up, didn't know we needed receipt. The ranger let us in with our marine tags this time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian back in Dear Old Blighty (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3794) on Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 2:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

You also need picture id for entry to the park

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garrett Killian (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 9:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good info thanks...I've been up in the park once about 5 or 6 years ago but did not dive any

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Yvette Gardiner (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Friday, May 9, 2008 - 1:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We dove Nukove a few years ago and definitely did not feel it was worth the bumpy drive or awkward entry. The coral was bleached out and there was a lot of algae. It was my only somewhat disappointing dive in Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By luis figueroa (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Friday, May 9, 2008 - 10:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

2nd that on ID. Make sure you bring your Marine Tag receipt! I had forgotten. I did have my picutre ID and was able to show the marine park tag. They are supposed to be non-transferable. The ranger explained it was written on receipt to have if go to the park. Did I read the receipt? No. Did the shop that sold me tag say it was neeeded if want to go to the park? No. The ranger let us in this time. We would have had to pay $10 or drive all way back to hotel for the pass.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1262) on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 4:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We usually pay again, they need the money :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brad (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #714) on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 9:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned yesterday and did our first dives in the park. We dove Playa Funchi, Wayaka II and Boka Slagbaai. (Sorry if I butchered the spellings!)

I agree that these dives are worth doing once. We saw the largest green turtle we've ever seen at Playa Funchi. That in and of itself made the trip worth doing for us...once.

 


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