By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #184) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 2:20 pm: |
A few questions:
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By Jason (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #233) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 2:30 pm: |
Did I miss something? Looks like Larry's boat..
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #655) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 2:32 pm: |
I think that is Larry's boat and operation which changed hands recently. I talked with him in October and know it was all for sale. It appears that has been accomplished. From what I know at this moment the people and the basic operation are the same. The experience should be well worth it!.
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By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #185) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:07 pm: |
Larry's website is still up. I thought he sold these guys his boat and bought a new one.
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By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #186) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:09 pm: |
Hmm... I just looked at both sites, and it's the same boat.
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #657) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:15 pm: |
The numbers on the bow of the zodiac in the pic from http://www.bonaireeastcoastdiving.com/en/ are the same bow numbers on the boat Larry had. I just double checked my pics from a few months ago and shornuff - the same boat.
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By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #339) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:22 pm: |
Smooth transaction , looks like a competent skipper and crew . Hope Larry is happy and does well at whatever he does . I did the trip last year , well worth the ride but I was dizzy the rest of the day.
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By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #187) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:29 pm: |
So has anyone shore dove the east side in the last 30 days?
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By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15384) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:32 pm: |
Very nasty if you miss the exit point, very nasty.
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By Jason (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #234) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 3:45 pm: |
I didn't always like diving at the same two sites with Larry..but I still went back for more. I hope the new guys take people elsewhere..even if it's 5 minutes in either direction..
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By Ashley Perry (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 7:46 pm: |
I am coming to Bonaire in a couple of weeks so I e-mailed Larry about diving with him. He e-mailed back and said he sold his boat and is awaiting a new one but didn't think he would have everything by the time I arrived.
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #670) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 8:17 pm: |
That sounds like we will have access to 2 boat dive ops for the east side. Cool... More and different sites hopefully.
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By Lori Mulhisen (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 9:27 pm: |
I think Gijs Hoogerkamp, now one of the owners of Bonaire East Coast Diving, was one of Larry's divemasters at one time and he also worked at Bonaire Dive and Adventure (at Sand Dollar and Den Laman properties). We had Gijs as a divemaster at Bonaire Dive and Adventure (in 2006 I think) and he was wonderful! We have also done east side diving with Larry in 2007 and he ran a top-notch operation! Seems like a win-win no matter which east coast operator you choose.
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By Jason (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #235) on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 1:17 am: |
A new boat? Ohh boy...this out to be good!
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By Roy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 5:56 am: |
Hi ALL!
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By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2936) on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 2:22 pm: |
This weeks Bonaire Reporter has an article about BECD and says that they plan to add new dive sites.
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By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #721) on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 2:36 pm: |
Roy, Sept. & Oct. is usually the easiest time to dive the east side, esp if there is a wind reversal. The winter is usually rougher.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 10:15 pm: |
So what makes the shore entries so bad on the east side? is it just the waves and wind?
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By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #226) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 9:14 am: |
No Cam - It's not crazy it's called common sense. Just drive around (where possible), have a look at the entry (and exit) and try a few 'unmarked' sites yourselves. Please don't get hurt !!! (and bring back your tank!!)
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #357) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 9:50 am: |
Cameron...Menno is right. It has a reason that there are only two marked sites on the East Coast. Even these marked sites are pretty rough and unpredictable so in general it is a good idea to do your first East Coast shore dives with an experienced guide. You can ask your dive shop about that. There are a number of unmarked places you can dive on the East Coast but there it would really be asking for trouble if you just jump in without a plan.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 12:01 pm: |
I wasn't trying to imply that its crazy that no one dives there, I can totally understand why. What i find crazy is that there is a whole coast line that has yet to be explored! I mean come on! The potential for exploration is pretty awsome for guys with the right gear.
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8605) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 12:25 pm: |
Cameron, as you have never been to Bonaire, I can understand your question. Wait until you get to bonaire, and drive around to the East side, and you will understand, the topography is MUCH different than the West calm side.
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8606) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 12:32 pm: |
Cameron, I found some fairly good pics of what the East side looks like.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 12:53 pm: |
Looks pretty choppy!
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By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #227) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 1:25 pm: |
Guess you will have lot's of new info to share after your return from your first visit to Bonaire.
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1990) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 4:40 pm: |
cameron, the east side is tough almost all of the year. yes, you could jump off a cliff and dive...but some places it's 10 or 15 meters to the water. then how do you get out? people have died on the east side by being swept out in riptides and pulled over ledges into the surf. it takes a special boat and very experienced operators to dive the east side except for a few months of the year. the operators want to guarantee a memorable, but safe, dive and it's not easy getting divers back on a boat in 12-18 foot swells.
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #697) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 5:42 pm: |
FWIW - I have found the east side exciting but am cautious and dive with only the right people.
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #358) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 7:42 pm: |
Yeah Menno...I remember that dive like it was yesterday and still talk about it often. For those of you that were not there...we went out with a group of very experienced locals in Menno's boat to explore some new East Coast sites. On dive number 2 near the Spelonk Lighthouse we went in with 5 foot waves (which is pretty normal on the East Coast) and Menno had brought a boat Captain (Peter who now runs the Deep Blue View Villa Safir) so he could join us on the dive. When after about 40 minutes or so we started hearing the boat engines rev at high RPM's Menno got worried and went up. The rest of us ascended about 10 or 15 minutes later and during our safety stop we found out that there was a little problem. I literally got seasick at 15 feet during the safety stop. When we got to the surface it turned out that we now had 12-15 feet waves instead of 5 feet. And the waves smashed into the cliff which bounced them right back. This meant that we were getting sandwiched in between huge waves. The waves also smashed into the boat and it was impossible to swim out so what Menno had to do was keep up speed to keep the nose of the boat up to get the water out. He had to pull the group out with a line one by one to a place far enough from the reef to be able to safely put the engines in neutral and get into the boat. It took a full hour to get us all in. After that experience I was looking green as was Lisa (from Pasa Bon who was also there with Susan Porter). Lisa phones Joe to pick her up and he became my instant hero as I was done for the day.
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By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #346) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 7:46 pm: |
Great reality report , thanks!
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By Barry Gassert (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #593) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 8:12 pm: |
And, even though it may look doable you well find the shore coral sharp as razors. Living on Bonaire for 7 years I had dived the East coast very often. I had gone places that, looking back, were absolute craziness.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 11:39 pm: |
Thanks all for your impressions of the east coast. It certainly sounds like a challenging environment. Like I said, I'll see when I get there.
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8618) on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 2:39 pm: |
Bas, Menno, I have heard that story from Susan as well...
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By *@*&Barbara* ^%^*"CB"*# *Gibson*?*! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2687) on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 4:04 pm: |
It's a funny fact that you can be very competent in a diving environment that is considered challenging and get you clock cleaned someplace benign looking that you don't have an eye for, yes?
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By Roy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 9:30 am: |
Hi All,
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By Liz .... back to Bon 3/29-4/4. (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #244) on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 1:00 pm: |
Bas & Menno....crazy story! Glad everyone made it back safely. After reading this thread, I think I'm going to stay on the West side for the foreseeable future. I'll leave the daring adventures to those braver than me!
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By Kevin Crowe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 6:27 pm: |
Great story, Bas, thanks for sharing. I have been to Bonaire once, and am heading back in June. I would like to try Lac Cai on the East Side, but will ONLY do so with a quality guide, in the early morning, if the conditions are decent, etc. I've dove in some current before (Keys..USS Duane, Adolphus Busch), and you would never catch me considering the East Side without proper planning, decent conditions, and an experienced guide by my side. Cameron, listen to the people that know this area well, they know what they're talking about because they live there and have many years experience diving there..something you don't have. If Bas#2, Menno, or others give me advice on diving the East Side, I'm listening to every single word. I recommend you do the same.
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By Kevin Crowe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 6:33 pm: |
Sorry Bas, or you 1 or 2? LOL. I'm so confused I know Bas Tol is the other, but which is 1 and which is 2?
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By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #203) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 6:35 pm: |
Cam works & lives u/w more than he's on land.
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By Barry Gassert (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #596) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 7:24 pm: |
Hi Roy.
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By Kevin Crowe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 12:49 am: |
He may have 10,000 dives and be the fishiest of fish. However, he does not have experience in the area like Bas or Menno. That is all I am saying...nothing personal against him.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 8:27 am: |
Hey guys
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8696) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 2:37 pm: |
Cameron, guys get defensive cause of that testosterone thing...that's my "female" take...lol...now no one get on my case about you guys...lol...as others have said, there are a few bokas that can be done from shore, but again, the experts know how to get in and out. I've done Cai, it's a great dive, but navigating in and out of the channel requires a guide too (well, I guess you could do it alone, but...well ya know). There have been divers that have gone in, and never come out (without a guide).
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By *@*&Barbara* ^%^*"CB"*# *Gibson*?*! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2708) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 5:30 pm: |
Cam, definitely give us a report when you come back. And if you want to write a guide to the east side, I'll be happy to read it. With your experience, I'm sure you know when to be in the water and when to be on shore.
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 2:02 am: |
I'm not going to be down there till 2010. It's the only time I could get the families schedule and my work schedule co-ordinared for a 2 month trip. So July august of 2010, here we come!
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By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #231) on Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 7:53 am: |
Wow.....Two months....
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8699) on Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 4:43 pm: |
Cameron, I thought you were going july 09,,,
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By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #232) on Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 5:48 pm: |
No need to reinvent the wheel...The east-coast has been explored by quite a few by now. I have "covered" about 50% and, truth to be said, gave up because I found it to be to much effort for the result. Big parts of the northern part, especially between Spelonk and the National park Slagbaai, has a topography like Rappel, but, sadly, the plateau is about 80Ft deep (if I remember correct) and covered with .....nothing but grass and algeas..... Hardly any fish....On one of the dives I did there I counted maybe about 15 fishes in 40 minutes...... Then there was that one pretty big Nurseshark lyinbg in the algeas ..... that made the dive, but without that shark the dive eeehhhhhh ...... s*cked!!
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8700) on Monday, March 2, 2009 - 1:13 am: |
Menno, my post was "tongue in cheek." I know, lost in translation...
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By Cameron Takacs (BonaireTalker - Post #27) on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 9:20 pm: |
hey menno, great info.. thanks!
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By Jason (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #243) on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 12:20 am: |
I dove the entire East Coast on a 21cu ft tank, half-filled...down to 100ft the entire time.
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By Barry Gassert (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #599) on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 3:10 am: |
Wow! And I thought my 3 hour dive was cool. Did you enter at the park and exit at the lighthouse? Joking Jason. It's just the way you phrased it. I thought it was funny.
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By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #235) on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 7:35 am: |
Why bring such a big tank if you only use half...:-))
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