A small group of divers here from Montana have placed a new rock at a new site. The site is called "Montana" meaning Mountain. The site is just south of Invisibles. Go straight out down the first reef, over the short sandy to the Mountain Reef "Montana" Check it out and tell others about it as well.

Hello Robert..If memory serves me correctly, I believe I saw that sign posted last week at the site known as "The Rock" which we've been diving for many years. See Susan Porter's book BSDME for a description of this established dive site.

Does STINAPA (http://www.stinapa.org/) take kindly to others decorating the roadside with self-proclaimed dive site markers?

Hmmm, Bonaire, diving freedom, worried about placing a marker... what am I missing here.... take a deep breath and try to relax

Strict STINAPA rules are what yer missing.
Dive in their no-dive zones, wear gloves underwater, take a mess of yummy LOBSTERS underwater.
BANG...you're history...

Hey Robert, Welcome to BT! I saw your yellow stone, "MONTANA" and was wondering what it was doing at the dive site, The Rock. Thanks for letting us know what that was about. And to think I thought it was a sign for a group of divers to find each other. The Rock is a nice dive site, easy entry and you just never know what may go by.

I like 'Montana' as the dive site name. Somehow 'The Rock' just doesn't 'have it'. Other site names have changed, I go with this change.

I think the stone has already been removed.

We shall bring new rocks to Bonaire.
And new cans of yellow paint.
We shall not be deterred...

Please , leave that to the pros at Stinapa

The rock was painted by a native Bonaireian known around the island. His idea was that it was not marked and we should mark the site. None of the maps located this site and I know several dive shops located on the island was glad someone took the steps to mark the site. One shop owner was going to submit the site for the future maps and site names. I can't see anyone getting a hang nail over this! If so they need to get a life.

No hangnail , got a life . A little secret , the whole leeward side of bonaire is a dive site , if you can get in and get out you have your new site . Rocks are great for reference etc , however in my opinion there are plenty enough already . I would hate to see the island getting inundated with yellow rocks painted with peoples homes , dogs , wives , children names littering the roadside everywhere. but that is just my opinion

That concept is kinda funny, Lloyd.
Perhaps a Rock Non-proliferation Treaty would be good...

Don't take anything I say too seriously . I am just coming down from dengue fever , kicked in a week after coming home . I dream while I am awake.

Tom, been coming to Bonaire since '72 every year... haven't messed with the reefs don't intend to.... I just have to laugh at the whole premise of this silly argument...
If you really want to help, follow the people that are overweighted and looking for frogfish.. and watch them lay in the coral... have many stories about chasing them off reefs... someone indicating a good dive spot is funny also... but it's not hurtful...IMHO.... that's it for me on this one...

hmmm...where's CB...got my chair.

The Montana stone was not there March 11.

I don't think private rocks ought to be encouraged, it could really get out of hand.

I have a rock in front of my house with my house number on it, but it's my property it is on.

Nice rock Mel!!

Tink, I'm in for this one. I got some drinks to share.

Tink - Tribs, will either of you call and wake me if anything exciting happens here?

Robert, many Bonaire dives ago I started to tell a local about a "new" site and was rudely interrupted when he started describing that very site

Bas, are you and your lovely bride now using the Montana rock as a door stop? I know how much you like yellow rocks my friend.

Thanks, Marcus. Quite the project. First we went to the hardware store near the rotary and bought a can of "BMP Yellow" and then remembered we couldn't take it on the airplane. We also forgot to put a stick in it and take that home for a color match. So next trip we brought down some color chips and found a match, then bought the paint at home.

FYI: The final color we ended up with was from Home Depot, Behr Premium Plus External Satin Enamel, Sun Ray (S-G-340), Deep Base (9340), with some KX White (0/30/0) and T Medium Yellow (2/22/0) added.

It must be the right color! People who visit us who've been to Bonaire say, "Cool! Your house is a dive site!"

Cool, Mel! I had one in my driveway for a while, but it disappeared.....huh?


TRIBS IS BUYING!!! I'm checking back in the morning...I have a new folding chair with TWO drink holders that I'm dying to try out!

Here's the answer Ramon sent me in Sept 2007
Dear Mickey:

Indeed we are responsible for the maintenance of the yellow markers
along
the road. We do not have any specific name for the color. We do buy the
paint in different shops and most of the times they are different.
We just buy yellow paint. We just paint all the stones not to long ago
and
this time are very bright. The trick is that after a few weeks, the sun
kind
of burn the paint and the shine vanish and the yellow becomes a little
darker.
But to answer your question, we do not have any specific name or code
for
the paint, is just yellow paint.
Best regards and thank you for your interest.
*****************************
Ramon de Leon.
Manager - Bonaire National Marine Park

LOL @ Tom

Tom, can I add a thought? I get it!

Leave the marking of dive sites on BON to the locals. If you are a visitor, your right to do so is nil! You are a guest and you should act appropriately as you would when you visit a friends home. "Take only pictures, leave nothing but bubbles" also has much to do with topside ediquette. If you can't understand that, you have no business there.

Agree or disagree, I don't care. That's what I know.

Right on John , when I tried to be polite about this I was accused of having a "hangnail".
I think your approach is better . Some peoples kids have no manners .

Get the garden chairs out girls .

God I love Bonaire Talk, just makes me smile

Skippy, we saved you a spot, but you showed up late!

I was there, but fell asleep.