By Andy Dunton (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 4:56 pm: |
Hello all,
|
By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #399) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:03 pm: |
Welcome to BT Andy . Shore dives are easy . There is an excellent guide called Shore Diving Made Easy . Although it is pre Omar it is still an asset for successful shore dives . No need for a guide on most dives . Rental vehicles are easily available from multiple companies . Do keyword search and you will find all your answers.
|
By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #215) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:10 pm: |
Welcome,
|
By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #461) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:27 pm: |
Andy
|
By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #977) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:32 pm: |
Welcome to BT Andy. I would suggest that if you are a Nitrox user go for Buddy's. Nitrox is no extra charge versus $100+ at Habitat. I have stayed both places and prefer Buddy's although Habitat is very good. I just like the Buddy Pool Bar better!!!!!!!
|
By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #216) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:32 pm: |
A truck for the entire span, yes. It takes enough time as it is to sign out the truck and sign it back in. You don't want to do that more than once...
|
By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #979) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:46 pm: |
Getting a truck is easiest at Buddy's. By far. And returning it is easy - no airport rental hassles. All is done at Buddy's.
|
By a retired Grunt, back May 2nd (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #765) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 5:49 pm: |
Be able to use your compass, at least for a straight out and back in course. Get a compass heading straight out from shore, then once you have your fins on and BC inflated, follow that heading out. Drop down to a depth you like (say 45' or so) and pick out a landmark (big purple sponge etc) that you can find on the way back in. As you move away from the landmark turn back and look at it again. They don't always look just the same from both directions. Drop to your dive depth and swim into the current till 1/2 of your starting PSI and start back. As you gradually go up to the depth of your landmark, start looking for it. Once you find it, just reverse your compass heading and you will be back where you started.
|
By Andy Dunton (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 7:14 pm: |
To clarify, I have some experience with shore dives (lakes mostly) but was referring to simply being in unfamiliar waters in general. In most places I've had a buddy who's a local and we followed a line to a wreck or whatnot. However, based upon the responses (which have all been great, thank you!) it seems like its far more relaxed than some of the other places I've dived. Looking forward to getting on the ground..er..water..to feel things out.
|
By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #982) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 7:31 pm: |
You will love the diving freedom and the shore dive opportunities.
|
By marge karalis (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #851) on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 10:33 pm: |
The diving is just fantastic. No need for a guide. You fin to the drop off and head into the current, (if there is one) and at 1500lbs turn around and return. We try to find a rope sponge or a distinquishable looking piece of coral to find on our return. There is so much to see, we usually don't go too far down the reef before returning any way. Too many critters to scope out to go too fast. Take it slow and make sure to follow your compass going back in. It's a snap. Do your first couple at the back of your resort and definitely purchase Susan's book, Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. She explains the dive entry/exit and what you can expect. How far out the reef starts and whether it's an easy dive, intermediate or advanced. A must for us "do it yourself" divers.
|
By Gail Currie (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Friday, March 13, 2009 - 1:20 pm: |
I would definitely recommend a truck for the entire time you are there especially if you are staying at Buddy's, Capt. Don's, etc. as they are a ways from other restaurants, dive sites, grocery shopping, etc. We dive out of Buddy's (their drive through rocks!), we stay elsewhere, and rent from AB Car Rentals. They seem to have to newer trucks, never have a problem getting the truck or dropping it off (however now that they are located off site from the airport this may be different this year). Enjoy your first trip to Bonaire. We have been going for years - lost count! Can't help ourselves returning every year.
|
By Fid Chinoy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #144) on Friday, March 13, 2009 - 5:21 pm: |
Dive Friends is another good option. They have several locations and all have great house reefs. It is really handy to be able to pick up and drop off tanks at any of their locations and not have to drive through town on busy days.
|
By marge karalis (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #855) on Friday, March 13, 2009 - 8:28 pm: |
Definitly reserve a truck for the whole trip. You won't be sorry.
|
By Kevin Crowe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 7:32 am: |
Welcome Andy. I'm relatively new here myself. Everyone else here has pretty much covered everything. I just wanted to add that if you avoid the extreme north and south sites you should be fine without a guide...VERY easy diving. Watch you step at some of the shore entries, I have seen some careless divers damage coral in the shallows. Like everyone said, be sure to take at second look at your exit landmark (odd formation, brightly colored coral, etc.) for an easy exit. But really, if you miss it, no biggie, the reef runs parallel to shore so just pop up for a looksie and take a new heading. Oh, and spend part of a day in Washington Slagbai, too. You'll love it. I'm heading back in 3 months and can't wait!
|
By Stuart Breil (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 6:53 am: |
Take a look at this URL for shore diving details. Don't worry most shore dives are well marked and easy in and out. Have fun
|
By Dale Derkson (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 4:27 pm: |
Andy, I was a first time diver in Bonaire this past Feb and like the above posts found the shore diving easy. We did a shore dive first and then four boat dives over three days. The rest of the time was spent shore diving with our truck. What I wanted to mention was something we saw on a dive at Margate Bay. Some divers had placed a two pound dive weight with a short piece of floating yellow rope in a spot for their landmark. The weight was sitting in a way so as not to damage the coral and the yellow rope floated straight up. I think I'll do something similar next time we visit Bonaire or shore dive elsewhere.
|
By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #923) on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 6:41 pm: |
Dale, I would suggest not placing any type of marker such as described above. It is against Marine Park Regulations which are available on their website and I have copied here. This has been discussed in previous BT threads.
|
By Beck-ee, 7 days until lift off (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2184) on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 2:48 pm: |
I've found my exit this way on occasion: I carry a camera with a display, I take a picture of a coral formation (if I'm at a non-buoy site) from all sides at my descent/return point and make a mental note of it's depth. When I get back to that depth, I can scroll back through my pics to see if I'm at the right place, then follow my compass heading back to shore. Remember... take only pictures, leave only bubbles
|
By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2070) on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 6:25 pm: |
Folks..There's really no need to place any type of dive markers in the marine park. I believe this is illegal anyway. Just use your head.
|
By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #635) on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 7:04 am: |
Another trend I am seeing is people putting coral pieces on top of LIVE coral to mark their turning point. Feel free to disassemble these.
|
By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2078) on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 10:46 am: |
susan, i can't believe you are ever underwater and don't know where you are. i would believe you'd get lost going back to your house before i'd believe you would get lost underwater.
|
By David Rollins (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 3:31 pm: |
Yes, I saw that coral on LIVE coral and I removed it. There was a dead spot on the live coral. Don't they realize they are killing the coral!!! Use your navigation training and a watch or admit you don't know how to navigate and just surface.
|
By Stuart Breil (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 5:21 am: |
Are you saying that I cant put a temporary strobe on the ocean floor at night to make my entrance and exit points??
|
By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #636) on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 7:00 am: |
Stuart,
|
By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2976) on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 7:53 pm: |
And, off course, there is always that last resort of surfacing and looking around. An admission of failure to some, I know but..... :–)
|
By Freddie {Moderator} (Moderator - Post #711) on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 5:52 pm: |
From: "Bonaire National Marine Park" <marinepark@stinapa.org>
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites