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Diving Bonaire: Info on Willemstoren Lighthouse
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives 1999-05-18 to 2000-12-28: Info on Willemstoren Lighthouse
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob routhe on Friday, August 18, 2000 - 10:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Looks like we're putting together a Sept trip to Bonaire instead of Cosumel.When we were on Bonaire in Feb.we drove past some divers coming out of Willemstoren Lighthouse.They looked like they really enjoyed the dive.Can anyone tell me their experiences at this dive site as well as Red Slave and Sweet Dreams? How are the currents,visibility, ideal depth?The furthest south we've dove is Margate Bay but that looks a lot calmer than Willemstoren.Thanks for the help.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bart snelder on Saturday, August 19, 2000 - 9:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The willemstoren is one of the hardest dives on Bonaire aside from the really windward ones, and imho one of the most beautiful, with the densest forest of sea fans I've ever seen. I recommend spending most of your time at about 45'
Red slave and sweet dreams are somewhat more similar to the leeward side dives. Currents can be ferocious or almost none.Matter of trial and error. Viz is as good as anywhere else.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob routhe on Sunday, August 20, 2000 - 8:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks,Bart.The difficulty is what I expected,and I was looking for opinions on whether it was worth it.I have a lot of respect for strong current.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marilyn Tuttle on Sunday, August 27, 2000 - 1:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

During or last visit to Bonaire, our threesome made several dives at the Willemstoren, but it was during a wind reversal (which doesn't happen very often). Those dives will be some of the most memorable for us (during that trip). On one entry, I received some scuffs and decided to abort the dive. My husband lost his mask, but he took mine and they went without me. I can not imagine diving that area unless the seas were very, very calm, but even then you can not be too sure what the current will be. We have done Red Slave many times and never had any problems with entry or current. But you always have to be prepared, because the last time we were at White Slave, the current was very strong.

During that same trip we were even lucky enough to go to the wild side (outside Lac Bay) to do a boat dive. Now, that was awesome! The forest of sea fans were so incredible.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peggy Bowen on Sunday, August 27, 2000 - 2:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That area by the lighthouse is subject to many currents AND it is a Wonderful dive. Just be careful and watch the water. Sometimes it is impossible to know how the current is running but it can be wicked. Sometimes a current comes south from Red Slave (that area can have some funny currents too) and another current comes south past the old freighter wreck -- when they join, the water goes out to sea. Sometimes there is an upwelling from the bottom that takes you up and over the sea fans. other times it goes from the top of the reef on down. Think about it.... that is why there are sea fans in the area. But, on a calm day with not too much of a current running... Wonderful!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob routhe on Monday, August 28, 2000 - 10:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Marilyn and Peggy,
I guess the only way I'll dive the Lighthouse is on a calm day.In my origional posting I said the divers I saw looked like they enjoyed the dive.What I really wanted to say was they looked very proud of themselves for having accomplished the dive.

 


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