Any info on Salt Pier? Another thread discussed dives were discontinued due to unstable pilings. Does anyone know the facts? How is salt export being handled or is it only a safety concern for divers? I have looked at Bonaire Reporter and Bonaire Insider but no reports are apparent on those sites.

Can, I don't know about the business that takes place on the pier, however, the reason that you cannot dive it is because of a safety concern for divers....so they are not issuing any permits right now.

(Message edited by cyndelee on January 9, 2009)

Cyndee:

So it seems the issue is for divers not ships which is a good heads up by the Harbormaster and Cargill s/p Omar. Curious no info on other sites. I sometimes get on Scubaboard for Bonaire info but nothing from that source either.

What is the other thread that discusses this? I tried SEARCH but failed.

Mel, it's Ilona's trip report, I made the comment there.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/386278.html?1231512780#POST544023

I do know this first hand, as I received an email from a DM on island that works at Belmar.

Cyndelee, thanks.

I'd be happy to sign a waiver if I could still dive there. I'm not happy to be "protected" in this way. It is probably more dangerous driving to the dive site than it is in diving it.

Dan, sorry I called you "Can." lol!

Cyndee - no prob.

We were denied a permit to dive there on December 11th or so. It may have been the beginning of the ban, because earlier that week the dive shop had thought it would be a go.

That is sad indeed -- that was one of my favorite dives (I'm sure you all remember that from the trip report I have yet to post!).

I hope it's a temporary situation????

I remember your pics best Boom...it was such a GOOD trip report...lol...

Have no idea, but I hope to find out..in..oh...SEVEN DAYS!

Did you save room for me in your carry-on? I've packed the vodka, flamingos and thongs

Oh where is Scotty when we need him to just put us in a transporter and rematerialize on Bonaire! Beats a commute to work and back. In fact I would live on BON and commute anywhere I needed to work - IF I had to work !!

We were denied Salt Pier permits for last Wednesday, with the reason cited as "uncertainty over structural integrity post-Omar."

On Friday, we saw a large ship docked at the pier, presumably taking on a shipment of salt. The ship was there all day, as far as I know.

So, it does not appear any permits are going to be forthcoming in the immediate future, but who knows when that could change.

HTH.

we have done the salt pier 2 weeks ago without permit ..outlaw we were !! everything looks the same no damage at all ...

Glad Salt Pier looks good. However I would avoid diving without a permit as the repercussions for loss of permit / equipment / etc. is not worth the risk in my opinion.

They need to figure out what is really the issue, let people know and deal with it. That dive is great and a terrible one to lose for long.