I've been wondering about this myself. We have 3.5 (extrememly short days) on Bonaire, and we want to be sure to see the best of the best. From the postings, we are definately planning an outing to Klien with the Woodwind, but other than that we are unsure. We are newbies...just got our NAUI Open Water Cert and are looking for maybe two wonderful dives around 30' - 40' or less. Any recommendations? Also, can't miss snorkeling along north island drive/Washington Slagbaii? Thanks for your help!!

Lac Bay on Sunday around 3. if there is live music. Ask. you might even learn the merangue'!!Fun! or maybe a jazz group at Kon Tiki.

I really enjoyed Oil Slick Leap and 1000 steps (shore dive). 1000 steps isn't really 1000 steps but it feels like it when you carry your gear up it! Here is a picture of the steps



Cheryl

This looks GREAT!! Is Oil Slick also a shore dive, or a boat dive?

It's a shore dive also. Nice night dive for us. We did the giant stride entry and hung our lightsticks on the stairs for assistance getting back to get out. Turns out we didn't need the markers since hubby has gotten quite good at compass navigation. Oil Slick is also a wonderful place to sit and watch the sunset. I think we ended up diving it 3 times.

Cheryl

Great!! Do you recommend any boat dives? ...as newbies, it might be safer for us to have a DM around. Or are the shore dives totally doable for us? What do you think?

Amy,

I'll have to admit, shore diving the first time was kinda scarey....you never really realize just how much you depend on that DM and the boat to "herd" you around! But when you get that first taste of total freedom....freedom to dive with (or without!) whomever you chose to dive with, diving on a boat takes on a whole new light. I think you should try some shore dives on your own and pay attention to what people at the dive shop you use tell you as to which ones to do. Ask for good dives that don't have alot of current or weird current, as the ones up toward Red Slave and that way do. That way you can use your compass in and back and get comfortable with navigation. As "newbies" you'll find the diving on Bonaire the most relaxed and unhurried diving you'll ever do anywhere. You won't be a "newbie" long!

Cheryl

:-) Looking forward to it!! Thanks!

My first taste of diving on Bonaire was last February and my wife and I missed most of the prepaid boat dives because we could not get enough of the shore diving in. It is such a slower pace it is wonderful. As a matter of fact, out next trip in February we will not prepay for any boat dives and only pay for them as we use them. The shore diving is just totally awesome.

Barry Baker

Amy,

You can do a shore dive or two w/ a DM just for
yourselves. The cost will be less than a boat
dive and you can get your 'dive legs', comfort
level check and an orientation all together.
Then dive w/ or without your own DM. Ask at
your dive operation, they can make
arrangements w/ one of their DM's. And if they
want to do the dive after all boat dives for the
day, that is fine. Better fish activity. Your own
choice of time of day is one of the best
reasons not to boat dive.

Boat dives are the only way to dive Klein
Bonaire sites w/o hiring your own boat, as
weel as some of the northern sites.

And ask about joining the 'turtle people' who
use volunteers to check on turtle activity on
Klein. Good people, interesting and a fun thing
to do and meet some of the residents, both
human and other animals.

And about the Green Submarine reef clean-up
dives if you will be on island on their working
day.

All sorts of fun things to do on Bonaire.

>

That is what I expected when I went in Feburary. But the group I was with had a faster pace than me and my wife were expecting. We would get up early then catch the first dive boat, eat lunch fast, then catch the second dive boat, clean up,
eat dinner, go on night dive, clean up again, go
to bed.

This was our first dive trip and our first time to Bonaire. So we had to get use to putting our stuff in the lockers, cleaning our gear, putting on our gear, carrying our gear around, etc. How to get in and out of the boat, were the best place was to sit to get in first when we reach the dive site. When we did shore dives, we had to get use to the surge, climbing up the steps on the docks, stumbling on the rocks, etc. We did a lot of work just to get to our "Relaxed and unhurried diving".

I can relate to that, but we were not with a group. I had a hard time making sure we got to the dive boats we did go on. We were too interested in driving around the island and going to the next shore diving site and saying to ourselves do we want to dive now or wait and go with the boat. I will however concede the fact that the surge did take getting used to and I would like to have booties with a stiffer sole for stepping on the rock and coral getting in, but that was a minor "pain" compared to what you find once you get in the water. I would give up all of my other hobbies, golf, trapshooting, horses and work to be able to climb over the rocks and fight the surge to dive Bonaire more than my planned once a year.

I guess there are things to be said about going on dive trips with groups. I'm sure not all dive clubs pace themselves like that but the above comment seems to be the norm more that the exception, IMHO. That's why shore diving is so great....you have the choice to dive or not to dive. You've paid for your air, you set the pace.

I have to agree with Barry about just how much you can really over look just to be there and dive that!

Cheryl

As a "newbe" I suggest you go with the boat and the DM at first just to get oreintated to the diving on the island then maybe later venture out on your own.Diving right infront of Divi is also is fun and easy thing to do at first. No matter how many times we go diving on the Callabas reef we tend to find something new almost every time. By the way I saw a small ray there once too.And lots of other critters too! It's a good place to orient yourself to the island and you just jump right off the dock and you won't have to the presuure of the the scheduals either.but the DM's know where the "critters"are and have so much knowledge about the reef, so it's a choice. I'm sure this is to be said about most dives infront of the hotels on the shore.The thing about Bonaire is that is "Easy to Be" your choice, Have fun!

We are staying at the Plaza and I've heard a lot about good snorkeling there...is it possible (and do I read correctly from Glen's response?)to go out with your own DM on shore dives? ...and is the Plaza also a good dive site? Is it very expensive to go out with a DM this way?