I am planning a trip to Bonaire in July and would like to do some trimix diving on the Windjammer. Does anyone know which individuals are authorized to guide dives on the Windjammer? Thank you, D.L.

Walt Stark at Rec Tek Scuba.

Walts email: info@rectekscuba.com

Thanks Marcus, I have been in touch with Walt. His name always seems to come up when I search the subject of trimix diving on Bonaire. Do you know if Mr. Stark is from the US? D.L.

Walt's an American living and working on Bonaire. I've taken TDI Advanced Nitrox with Walt and will be taking TDI Decompression Procedures with Walt this spring. Walt's an outstanding instructor and I feel confident in saying he is the most expirienced guide on the island when it comes to the Wind Jammer. Over 500 dives on the Jammer if I'm not mistaken.

Awesome.

Walt is a SUPER nice guy!!! Enjoy your guided dives.

I did my solo training with Walt in May, he is outstanding and has thousands of dives to his credit. I join those recommending him. He is an American but has lived on Bonaire over twenty years I believe. Doing the Windjammer would be awesome, have a great time.

Is that the same Walt that had the dive shop at Sunset Beach?

I did a check-out rebreather course with him. Here's another vote for Walt.

I'm thinking about the rebreather experience as well. What did you think? D.L.

I don't think so Jeff. I thought that was Babs' husband, who owned The Dive Inn. He is in Curacao now. She went back to the Netherlands.

It is the same Walt that ran the Dive Shop at Sunset Beach for 9 years. Anton owned it.

I thought so; Walt you and Ernst made my first trip to Bonaire a blast. Sunset Beach was a lot of fun. Been back many times since then. Shame that old place got torn down.

Sorry about that guys. Was Anton Bab's husband Walt?

Yup

Walt,

I haven't forgotten about you. We've not yet set a date for Bonaire. I understand that there are some documents required by BOPEC for shore access to the Windjammer site. Could I send you those in advance? D.L.

We need the following information for each diver to request the permit to dive the Windjammer:

Name as it is on your Passport
Home Address
Birth date
Passport #
Passport expiration date
Passports issuing country


Each diver will also need to bring a clear copy of their Passports Picture/Information page with them on the day of the dive

Thanks Walt. I will email the information to you. D.L.

Dove with Walt the last 3 visits, this year did the Jammer. Great stress free relaxing day, and a great dive too. As a course director I really like his approach to diving and would and do push every one to him.

Rob,

Tell me more about your Windjammer dive. How deep? What Gasses? OC or RB? Computer or cut tables? I'm looking forward to this trip! Thanks, D.L.

My dive with Walt on the Windjammer a year and a bit ago was to 195 ft, 24 mins on bottom, on OC, 20/36 (that's the way it came out), 50% and 100% for deco, V-Planner based tables, with Nitek He as backup computer. 82 mins total run time. Walt is pretty flexible...he'll work out pretty much anything (safe) with you.

(Message edited by tursiops on January 6, 2009)

Sounds real good. I like 50 and 100 as deco gasses and I love my V-Planner! Take care, D.L.

My dive was OC in November. 20/25 and 50 percent. I like to go with one stage as i was doing HD video and when I did the Orsikany in June I found 2 stage and the camera was too much for me. So I did the extra 18 minutes that the one gas gave me. Bottom time was 20 minutes with a run of 73 minutes but a bottle of 80 or 100 would cut that down alot. 20 to 25 minutes is enough time to do the wreck. Max depth for me was 192. The only off thing was the total overcast that day and now I have to go back,sigh!!! I did Karpata the year before to 215' but the sun was shining and it was great vis and light still. Hope for a sunny day and have a great dive.

Oh reread your message and I cut tables, use a grease pencil and put them right on my Amphibico housing and then back up is on Halycon wet notebook. If you have never tek dove Bon then listen to Walt as per local customs, he had me leave a few items behind that were not needed at all for that dive site such as reel and SMB. For me I do most of my trimix at 5000' or Vancouver Island so it is totally different there.

Rob,

I hate to go off topic, but how did you like the Oriskany. I have been trying to get a trip together with some of my friends from Florida. I have heard good things about Captain Dave Mucci, "Y-Knot." Did you scooter? D.L.

I dove with Down under out of Gulf shores Alabama, great bunch of guys. Boat captain was Bubba and the Crew was Forest. I found it funnier than hell and they took it well. Ask for Brian and tell them i sent u. No sled, again my video occupies my hands.

Nice.