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Diving Bonaire: Top dive boat operators who go to the best sites?
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2008-2009: Archives - 2008-08-01 to 2008-12-31: Top dive boat operators who go to the best sites?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Knieling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, September 1, 2008 - 8:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm developing a list of the top operators who go to the best and remote dive sites on Bonaire.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

JK
Cool Travel News!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie {Moderator} (Moderator - Post #633) on Monday, September 1, 2008 - 9:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James you are on the edge of Spamming please only one post on this, I am taking your other post off the boards..

(Message edited by modfreddie on September 1, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #443) on Monday, September 1, 2008 - 5:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James:

Have you had a chance to visit Bonaire yet?

Many of the sites may be easily visited by either boat or shore. Yes, the exact same site. Klein is all boat. A few sites on the island proper are also boat only and a few are shore only.

If you are staying at a waterfront resort and are boat diving, I would always suggest the resort that you are staying as the place to start. There are many great operators on the island -- it comes down as much as anything to what is easiest (i.e., leaving directly from your resort) and boat size/layout.

For the most part, they all dive the same sites. They all tend to dive the "best" sites (whatever that means in Bonaire).

AFIK, nobody does truly remote -- to me that would mean at least a two hour motor east into full seas. Bruce does go far north sometimes and goes eastside (especially during the fall). So do a few others. Larry goes only eastside. Bas does some of the east as guided shore dives.

(Message edited by bonairetrip on September 1, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7844) on Monday, September 1, 2008 - 10:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, seems you are a writer and travel writer by your profile, so why are you on a chat forum getting info for your writing? How can you justify writing what other folks say or not say about Bonaire as true or false? I would think you would need to go to Bonaire and find out YOURSELF!! Sorry, but I find your post very disturbing if you plan on taking other peoples post and post them verbatum in your writing.

If you are not getting info for your writing, then I apologize, but your other posts make me think otherwise. And have you actually ever stepped foot on Bonaire? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Knieling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, September 1, 2008 - 11:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for your concern!

I plan on spending 3/24 to 4/3/09 in Bonaire.

I will be personally checking out these sites and operations besides those recommendations from my fellow members and my friends on singledivers.com.

As to the customer replies, like Undercurrents Diver's Chapbook, which I have written dozens of reviews for over the years and my area's Best Restaurant's Survey is called the Reader's Voting Choice. That is basically what I am taking a mix of at this time.

This is the last island in the Caribbean that I have not personally dove, and 10-days go very quick.

Plus, I never like to take one persons opinion on anything. Especially when on the island. They could and usually are some how related or have friends that will benefit from good recommendations.

Now divers, on the other hand, have had first hand experience with an operation. That is not to say that employees may and do change like the wind. That is why Undercurrent's Chapbook lists the dates that the diver experienced the operation.

The web can give you a large sampling poll and as a Statistical Geographer who has done many government sponsored polls for our Regional Planning Council, if you get enough verifiable (*e-mail) responses then you can extrapolate down the data.

All data is just data and should be taken with disclaimers!

Plus, my clients and readers have only a limited amount of vacation time and when I plan a custom vacation I want them to get the very best of the best in their limited time frame.

That is very much important on islands like Cozumel where I send many a diver.

If you don't go with the very limited few boat operators who will even consider going to Punta Sur, Marricabo and Barracuda, you won't go.

Many will flat out lie to my customers and say, oh yes we go there.

Then you book with them for a week, and they will NEVER, NEVER GO THERE!

The sites are too far away and too much of an advance dive.

The dive masters just don't want to get tired out fighting the currents.

I have had tons of flack from readers and customers who paid good money expecting

to go to these sites. I have also had several of my readers tell me and I am not naming names

here, that several operators won't go on Bonaire.

Its not unusual and that is like many a cattle boat operation Worldwide.

Hope that clarifies a few points on the subject.

I am just collecting input data, raw data if you will. All to be varified.

JK
Cooltravelnews!




 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara "CB" Gibson* (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2064) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 1:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good answer, James. Most of the folks on this board really like Bonaire and have a deeper knowledge than a one or two time visitor. I should think their input would be pretty valuable and would give you and your clients more than a superficial tour of the island.

You must get yourself a copy of "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" by Susan Porter...that woman has forgotten more about Bonaire diving than I'll ever know. She's on the boards occasionally, and her input is invaluable.

I'm with David...bag the boats and explore the shore dives. You'll see what I mean when you get there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Knieling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 2:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the input from all of you and any future information. I have already checked into a copy of "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy"!

However, many, many of my older clients just don't have the knees or back for shore diving.

I also, have several vets who need to use a boat with help for their gear in and out of the water.

Its great to see them back enjoying life.

Too many of our Iraq and Afghanistan vets are coming home in awful shape and whenever I can assist them with a vacation I can't wait to find a handicap friendly operation.

Prosthetic devices just make it really tough for shore diving, but boat diving can and should be do able.

So if you know of a challenged vet friendly operator who has staff willing to assist our ex-military fighting men let me know.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #444) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 2:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James:

I appreciate that you are doing recon for a trip. And open ended questions can also elicit some very good info. But your post tends to suggest that the way it works in Coz is the same as the way it works in Bon. Not true. Spent lots of time in both places.

I have no doubt that you have been many places and been on some amazing dives. But all due respect, "This is the last island in the Caribbean that I have not personally dove..." defies belief.

Really? You have done Curacao, Aruba, Trinidad, Tobago, St Vincents, Los Roques, Blanquilla, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Monserat, Saba, Margarita, Cubagua, Coche, Orchilla, and about 6,000 other islands and cayes?

Like you, I find value in getting info from many sources. That said, as a statistical geographer I am sure you understand that not all data is equally valid nor equally reliable. And internet based sampling is not representative of the entire population for purposes such as zoning and land use... (Internet penetration, especially high speed, is impacted by both geographic and socio-economic factors)

"I have also had several of my readers tell me and I am not naming names here, that several operators won't go on Bonaire." To where?

Also, do you post as cooltravelnews on scubatoys?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #445) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 2:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

In terms of vets, you could look at http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/373818.html

or http://www.nbc6.net/news/14189762/detail.html

or http://www.diviresorts.com/divi-flamingo-hosts-handicapped-scuba.html

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Knieling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 3:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have been diving since the early 60's, and yes if it had an airstrip or a beach with decent coral and fish life I went there.

My dad was ex-navy and loved to take his sail/motor boats out of Miami.

He made his spare money buying fixer-upper's and when he was done, we would take them out for a really long run.

I think over the years he bought about over 30-boats. Spending our summers sailing the Caribbean.

We stopped and dove where ever he could anchor, but sooner or later it was time for that beer run! The man loved his beer, God rest his soul.


I was strapping on a pair of twin Aqua Lung tanks at 10-years old and I even still have my 1968 Aqua Lung tank. In fact I just had a hydro on it.

I love partying at Rendevous on St. Lucia, as for the diving I'll pass, but the May Jazz and the great food are super.

Diving with Dive Grenada to the North side, worth the run for black coral, big violet vase sponges and lots of dolphins.

Antiqua has nice sunset's, but not much else in the water.

San Salvador Island Club Med has nice coral and a dangerous cave that exits at 134'.

I have no kids, so I dive for fun.

Spent last summer in Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Majuro and Bikini Atoll.

So, yes I dive, dive, dive.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7845) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 7:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the explanation.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Knieling (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 2:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, why all the islands in the Caribbean & South Pacific?

My ex wanted to take a different Cruise with as many stops as possible, several times a year to every island and place she could find on the map.

If it had any dive shop I jumped ship and dove for it!

Me I am a plane kind of a guy! Just get me there fast so I can run off and dive that extra day!

I would still be in Palau had my dad not passed away and my investments when a little sour!

*Any day's a good day to dive somewhere!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3460) on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 10:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, Welcome to Bonaire Talk. Captain Don's has hosted the Wounded Warriors for the last two years. BT usually collects money to assist the troops during their stay on Bonaire.

Please take the time to read our posting policy if you have not already done so. The link is below the Preview/Post Message button.

 


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