Bas told me of a site just north of BOPEC that is marked with a stick and an inner tube. Does anyone know what the name of this site is? It was a great site. We called it "Candyland" because all of the massive boulder coral looked like gumdrops as you look up the reef. We would like to call it by it's correct name though. Thanks!

Mike,

I've marked it when I found a small passage in the reef about a month ago with low tide. It took me about 250 yards of walking along the coast to find this opening. I had to mark it on shore with two sticks to make sure we'd find it again coming back in. (line the 2 sticks up and come straight in) I went there again last week and the sticks are still up. I don't think this one has a name. But by another 300 yards further north there is a site called Taylor Made. Follow the trail that runs off to the left (coral trail) along the shore. Not sure if that one is marked.
Some of the coral formations there are indeed spectacular. Seen a few that were at least 15 high. Also many ledges to look under.
One note however: please be very careful going in and out of the water. There are many small brain coral heads growing in very shallow water.. 2 feet deep or less!! so they are easy to step on. I think they are (still) there because no people were going in and out of the water there. So look where you step and walk no further then you have to. Knee deep is plenty water to lie down in with inflated BCD, carefully put fins on and swim out. Same for coming back in, swim all the way in to very shallow so you've passed those corals.
Thinking about this I come up with the question whether or not I should remove these sticks!??? It's a beautiful dive site but there is a lot in the shallows inside and through the channel that will be damaged/die when people start walking through there. I wonder how many people would notice and take precautions for the corals and other creatures like nudibranchs. How many times do I see people come out of the water...take off fins and mask when they are still in 4-5 feet of water and start a struggling walk out. At most of the yellow stone sites there is not much alive in the shallows because of this. (ok, Lenny has done her part aswell) Hopefully those people diving the unmarked sites will think about this. You would almost assume so... seems to me these are more 'advanced' divers.

Hi Bas,

We will be calling YOU soon, twelve more days.
I think you should leave the sites unmarked so you can take BT's to these sites. And hopefully save the coral.

Bye,
Ida,Tim & Kenny

Bas
Or worse yet,put their fins on on the beach and walk in flapping and floundering around, sometimes backwards over the coral. That,s OK on a sand bottom, but not on a lot of entries on Bonaire.
Mickey

Bas, I completely agree with you. I actually did just as you said because I noticed the coral in the shallow areas as you said. It is especially important in that shallow type of water to take such precautions. Thanks for telling me about the site, but it certainly should only be told to people willing to go that extra mile to protect the reef!

Bas, I also wanted to say that I wanted to thank you for your invitation to dive with you, and that I was sorry that I never got to. I had family with me and was never able to get away from them. If it's OK I'll still call the site Candyland and maybe next time I'm there (hopefully in January) I'll call you and we can do Taylor Made.
Mike

The markers at this site have been removed. There really is not a suitable entry that will protect the corals. If you wish to dive this area please go to Taylor Made. You can get details on this site using Jessie Armacost book, "Bonaire Diving Made Easy". This book is a "MUST HAVE" if you are shore diving Bonaire.

TPS

Hi Tom,

I still dive this spot. I do not need the markers anymore to find the way back in. It can be done.. not touching the coral on the way in and out. I went back there last week for another dive with 2 people and they did great getting in and out.

Candyland sounds great Mike!! Guess this site is named now:-)

Thanks Bas,

I look forward to diving with you the next time we're down there. Hopefully, it will be soon.
Mike