I have gone to shore diving.com and have read all of the reviews and I am wondering if the difficulty level ratings etc. are pretty true to life? My husband and I have less than 15 dives each and are interested in Bonaire because of all the access to shore dives. Is it realistic to venture there as a novice diver and do it on our own? Also any suggestions for navigation tips and EASY shore diving would be appreciated. Thanks to all who respond!

Lynette,

The shore diving in Bonaire is extremely easy. If you have any trepidation on your first couple of dives, find another person or group to go with. People are very approachable in Bonaire since all the tourists and most of the locals have a great interest in the water.
Navigation is also easy. You swim away from shore, and then reach a point where the shelf drops off from 25-35 feet, down to 100 feet and deeper. At this point turn right or left, swim until you reach 1500 psi, turn around, try to turn back to shore at the same spot. When you surface, you should see your car/truck/van.
Your limited experience should not be a problem. Just don't get crazy. The stuff that was taught to you in your SCUBA courses is valuable. Stay within the limits and you'll be fine.
WEAR THICK SOLES BOOTIES. The rocks and Urchins (black ones with very long spines) can hurt your feet.
DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR. Leave your windows open. Take your keys diving with you. If its important, put it in your BC pocket. If it can't get wet, don't take it diving with you.
If you are uncomfortable with a dive, whether it is because of a rough entry, current, or anything else, don't dive. There are plenty other sites to dive.
You WILL have a great time. I was just in Bonaire for the first time 2 months ago, and can't wait to get back. I hope you two feel the same.

Lynette,
we got certified on Bonaire last Nov. and did shore-dives on our own for the remaining days of our holiday: everything went well and the access is very easy in general. The dive-sites on the calm side of the island are al located pretty much next to the road, so you can check out a site and if u don't like it, u just drive on 2 the next one.
Navigation: the advice John gave is pretty much what we did and it worked remarkably well every time.
John is right on the don't take stuff u don't need 2 the dive-sites and leaving the windows open. We did buy an Otter-Box for our car-keys, credit-card and some cash.
Have a great trip & let us know how the diving went.

Lynette,

I would just add one comment to the already accurate info. Some, if not all, of the resorts/hotels that are located on the water have added a navigational aid for shore divers. Stretching out from their pier, they have attached a rope. The rope runs directly out to the drop off. So you follow it out, turn left or right at the drop off, turn around at 1500psi, find the rope again, and follow it back to the pier. It just doesn't get any easier than that. If that's not available, the same principles apply. When you head out for the dive, find a recognizable landmark (coral head, interesting sponge, anything) and make a mental note of your depth where it is, then make your turn. On your way back, find the landmark and head in.

Its Easy! Have Fun!
Mike

hi Lynette,

Ditto what has been posted. Depending on where you are staying, all the resort "house" reefs are FANTASTIC and you could spend your entire vacation just diving them and not miss out at all. Night or day. 24/7. Many of the resorts (not Capt Don's) allow you to use their piers/steps for incredibly easy entry without a charge. The good Capt demands $5 per person each day to use their stairs - Go to Lions or Buddy instead and enjoy the same reefs system. Just my personal opinion.

Many of the sites to the south, like Windward, Angel City, even Hilma Hooker have quite simple shore entries. If you don't want to park alone, just visit sites that already have divers there or where the Pink Dive Bus is that day. I 've been solo to Bon twice now and can't wait to get back. If there is a safer, easier, happier or better place to dive, for any skill level, but especially for new divers, I can't imagine where it might be.

You guys are going to learn what a thrill total diving freedom in Paradise is all about.

I think you got some great info here but I just had to add my two cents to what Mike said

"When you head out for the dive, find a recognizable landmark (coral head, interesting sponge, anything)"

DON'T pick "anything" remember fish move!. Sorry our DM gave us that little piece of advice on our first boat dive and for some reason I thought that was really funny and when I read Mike’s post I started chuckling all over again.

As for being a novice diver, don’t worry about it I had a grand total of 9 dives with the longest being 48 min last year when I arrived in Bonaire. On my check out dive and my first 2 dives after, I blew through my tanks extra quick trying to keep all the little things in mind and staring at my gauges and never really looking at any of the scenery. I was kind of bummed about how short my dives were and was talking to another diver about it at the resort where I was staying. He gave me the best advice I think I've received so far in my short diving career. "relax, slow down, breathe, and just look at all the beautiful things around you" (divers really are the friendliest people on earth) and it just seemed to click. I found a new love for diving I didn’t know existed in me.

Before I went to Bonaire I learned how to breathe compressed air underwater and not die, on Bonaire I learned how to dive!

So, relax, slow down, breathe and just look at all the beautiful things around you. Have a great time in Bonaire and when you get home contact your local medical establishment to help you with your PBD

Grawz

Excellent advice, Doug! You made me recall our first salt water dives as newly certified divers - Key Largo - a great place with almost no current, lots of fish, etc. Our dives that trip were much as you described - short, gauge-staring, will-we-get-back-to-the-boat affairs. In the years since we have become much, much better divers, and can relax and enjoy the underwater world.

Excellent point Doug...made me laugh too! :-) Make sure you mark your spot with an immobile object!

Hi Lynette and Everyone!

When I'm diving, I have to remind myself constantly to take slow, deep breaths. If not, I tend to "Hoover" (read: suck air) and end up being the second person back on the boat (but not the first...that would be my brother-in-law, who must have very large lungs...ALWAYS first on the boat and a terrific diver).

Just call me Hoover...

Sally

Actually, my REAL nickname is Chum (for chumming the barracuda with pineapple in Grand Cayman)

Yes! THICK soled booties!!! Also good for cactus spines! Ouch

I found it to be a little tricky....

You have to take slow steps. The coral can be a little slippery and with the waves coming in it makes it a little hard to see where you are putting your feet.

Place some air in your BC and walk out about knee deep and lay down and place your fins on and off your go.

Have Fun!!!!

i would add that a shore entry is one of those times where it is nice to have a dive buddy

recognizable reef features...

who recalls which site this one is at???

karpata, I remember that fish

very good dave!!!

i can't navigate for sh_t and can't count kicks either...those fish really help out a lot

dave?

oh sorry john,

My wife and I went there just after getting certified. Did all shore diving on our own. (Buddy's Drive and Dive) Easiest diving in the world! Clear water, nearly no current, and the slope of the wall keeps you oriented. Go slow and look into all the crevices of the formations, they are filled with amazing creepy crawleys. Many of our dives were over an hour and we still had air. I recommend a full 1/8"(3mm) wetsuit for long dives to keep from getting cold. A buddy does help on a few of the shore entries where there is a surge. I usually would float out with my regulator and face in the water so I can see the bottom and then put my fins on when I get to about chest deep water. It depends on the entry, some are easier than others. You can usually spot where most people have entered and that is usually where it is easiest. -XMurray