the start of a new sunny day, good morning/afternoon to everybody

Joost

who's coming up?

where are they looking for?

first visitors to day, for the rest it's silent



and Charlotte passing by

that was a long visit, wonder what he's got there?

looks like a one man show today, another visitor

Door's open, and reef cam wasn't quite quick enough.

Hi Everyone!
What a great site! Here is a parrotfish that stopped by earlier. Only 21 days til I get back to Bonaire!

Linda is going to buy some tasty things today
Hi Richard & John

sorry

Good morning. I'm not getting your posted image yet, was it this?

John, this nice lady twice

Nobody out there.

But still a lot more inviting than our bay:

welcome richard, have a great time!

Good Morning, Richard. Welcome!!
Good Morning, John, and of course...
Good Afternoon, Joost!!

Okay, so who turned off the fish, and forgot to turn them back on this morning??



Lovely warm(??) day here in Canada - started at -21 C this morning, now up to about -18 C

I LOVE winter... I LOVE winter (Chant's not working )

Bill

Bye Jake

Finally, some fish. Pair of wrasses posing prettily.

Morning, Cynde Lee...you snuck in on me!!

Finally - some fish..



Nice ice shot, John!!

Bill

Now the action is heating up. Just need them to move in closer. Need a remote control Cheez-Wiz dispenser on reef cam (said tongue in cheek, with no desire to open up the unnatural feeding debate).

Morning Bill,

I don't like to use "nice" and "ice" in the same sentence, unless I'm talking about beverages. Although I did do a little ice diving back in my foolish days.

Carole and everyone else- thanks for the tips! I will definitely be looking. Looks like another great morning in Bonaire, pretty soon I will be down to counting minutes- it's still below zero here (windchill advisory for today!). Does anyone go to Lac Bay on Sundays when they go?

Joost- looks like you're always the first one up in the morning!

Angela, Good luck with finding the octo's.

John, closest I ever got was assisting the line tender on an ice dive - diver out 25 feet, with about 6 or 8 tenders on the line. Diver got positive, with fins on underside of ice, and we ran with the line - almost got him out of the hole on his feet!!

Bill

Sail ho!

Bill-
Are you talking about ice diving?

Oh, to be out there, enjoying the warm breeze.

Oh well, 32 days...but who's counting??

ME!!

Now he's heading south (in search of warmer water?).

Angela - Yes. Closest I ever got was freezing my tail off watching the divers... most in wet suits, about 10 Januaries ago.

Never got the urge to try it myself!! I'm ALWAYS cold

Bill

The wrasses are back with some friends.

Hello everyone! Sometimes the cold waters of the northern areas it feels like ice diving when the water isn't hard. We did our open water dives in November in northeastern Ohio. No one gives you any trouble when you walk into a MCDonald's in wet suit dripping wet in November. We figured they thought us a tad off any how!!

Fish Parade,

Bill-
I haven't done it myself yet, I'm waiting until I get a drysuit- far too cold for me! I do like to tend lines though and go with as surface support when we do snomobile recoveries that have gone through the ice. I had trouble doing the night dive last year at Town Pier in Bonaire with all of the boats overhead(snorkeled most of it! Props didn't look too inviting and it was a night dive!), I'm not sure how having a sheet of ice with a 6X6X6 hole as my only outlet will sit with me! We'll see though, one of these days.

Angela, have you done the salt pier yet? When we were there in the fall we went to the salt pier and found it a more interesting place than the town pier. Pat

Polly want a fish cracker?? LOL



Bill

Angela - I agree - the salt pier is MUCH better!!

Bill

Good morning, everybody. Cloudy day in Juneau, but only about 40F, so "quite balmy." Must admit, however, that Bonaire looks much more inviting!

Do you have the boats overhead at the salt pier and do you recommend day or night dive? There were about fifty people in the water when we were there at night and that intesified the situation even more! I will say, it was the best giant stride entry (off the end of the pier) I ever did!!

Jake-
What kind of dog is Grendl exactly. I wanted to take her home last year! She's great!

Angela and Bill I also agree.
I was on Bonaire in Nov 2002 and dove Salt Pier twice. We saw just about everything. Sea horses, scorpion fish, baracuda, tarpon, queen and french angels. Just to name a few. If we had had more time we would have made one or two more dives with at least one night dive. Ran out of days or would have made more there.
Picture I took of a seahorse found at Salt Pier.

Good afternoon everyone,
Just catching up on all the posts, great pics!! Can I horn in on the "pier" talk? We haven't done either one but are planning on doing Town one night when we are there in March. I am interested in doing Salt, I think you need to ask permission, is this correct? And who do you ask. Thanks ML

Divers over the wall? Maybe we'll get some visitors soon.

Matthew- excellent picture of the seahorse!! ML

I did not know that seahorses were available! Yay! Do you have to do the dive at night to see them?

Mary Lou- Town Pier is a great dive, but I had too much working against me from the beginning of the dive, hence the reason I did not enjoy it! Tarpon, sponges, cucumbers, etc...

Now I have a whole new plan for the trip! Do you need to get special permission?

Hi again, Angela
And Good Morning Alaskan Dan Sounds like you're having a mid winter thaw!!

Angela, you are not supposed to dive the salt pier when there is a ship in, or expected. I believe there is more info on this in one of the other groups. Maybe Jake can help us out. I have done both day and night on the salt pier. Biggest problem was some surge and the camera at night... one minute you are trying to take a picture of the cup corals, next minute you're trying to avoid hitting them. But it was much better - and much less crowded - than the Town Dock. In My Humble Opinion, of course.

Bill

Is there a place on the website where you can look up previous pictures from previous years, etc... I saw that the guest book is on there from the actual site but what about web archives?

Angela, funny that you ask ;-)

To look up past WebCam images (all the way to December 1, 2000), you need to be paid member of the Bonaire WebCams site - click on the "Become a Member" link at http://www.BonaireWebCams.com.

For other questions I saw above:

- Grendel is a mastiff - half neopolitan and half fila brasileria (Brazilian mastiff).

- Salt Pier diving requires permission of the harbor master, although even if the harbor master gives permission and there's a salt barge in you cannot dive the Salt Pier (happens sometimes). Your dive shop can arrange the permission for you. No local dive master needs dive with you at the Salt Pier. If the Dive Bus (http://www.divebus.com) is at Salt Pier, then it's apparently okay to dive the Salt Pier without extra permission. Diving Town Pier requires harbor master permission AND you must be accompanied by a local divemaster - either someone from a dive shop or a Bonairean friend who is a divemaster or better.

Jake

Bill-
We tend to get a lot of surge off the end of the Durgon and there is a lovely spiny urchin hanging out right on the rocks at the end of the dock. That's fun, as you can imagine. Surge isn't too bad, I've dealt with worse (cold water dive, surge and ten foot rollers while doing a search and recovery dive!). It sounds like it would be worth it though!

Jake-
We have Eddie take us when we dive (Klein Bonaire). We stay over at Al's so I'm sure he can tell us how to get permission, or help us get permission. Otherwise, one of our group has done about 10-15 trips to Bonaire (Rob Schmitt, former owner Diver Down Scuba, Marquette, MI) so he should know the protocol. Thanks for the info though, we'll be seeing you in about 18 days!!

Jake, Thank you for helping to supply the answers!

And thanks for the info on Grendl...I was wondering what kind the Big puppy was myself.


Angela - the area all along the salt pier - the sites just south, including the Lake, and the sites just north are great for critters. I was helping find an easy (??) entry point and found a very large common ray hogging a sand patch.

Bill

Cool! I had heard that seahorses frequent the mangroves, but I didn't really think of them as being diveable. Now I have a way to see them. I wonder if anyone would have a map of the area because I'm not sure if Rob or any of the others from our group have dove there before. We'll have to see, I guess! And I didn't think I could get more excited about going!

Finally... here they come!!



Bill

Thanks for the info on the Piers. 19 days to go!!

Angela....

more excited?? MORE EXCITED!!!

Our group of 6 divers - 2 years ago did a boat dive off - I think it was Oil Slick (the one with the newly replaced ladder). 4 of us spent our time photographing a seahorse! We pitied the other 2....until we found out they had spent their time with a Manta Ray that apparently had come in to feed!!

Day dive wonders - Green Morays, spotted morays, golden morays, sharp tailed eels, eel gardens, and practically hundreds of varieties of fish.

Night dive wonders - all sizes of crabs, from pretty big to pretty small, cleaner shrimp, jacks, crinoids, and the biggest lobster the wife and I have ever seen!!

Don't forget to take along - a mat, about 2 ft X 3 ft - keeps the sand from between you and your suit! and
collapsible water containers (5 gallon) Great for a fresh water rinse after your dive!!

Enjoy We'll be there starting March 15th!!

Bill

Accckkkk!!!

It's... The....... BLOB!!!!





The sun even looks warm underwater. We're being hit with mini blizzards right now. Snows hard for about 10 minutes, and then clears up for about 5 minutes - but no sun

Bill

Actually, Superturtle, we're not having a mid-winter thaw in Alaska. None of Alaska has really had a winter so far. Strange weather patterns. Its a bummer. Not even enough snow to go skiing. So, instead, I do my first love--diving! But not as often as I would wish.

Bill, All your talk of cool underwater life is driving me crazy!! :-) I love it, keep it coming!! I am driving my family insane with all my Bonaire conversation. Who wants to talk about mundane things when I can talk about vacation!!

Dan, Maybe Maine is getting part of your winter. This is the first real winter (snow wise) that we have had in years!! I am ready for warm air and water.
ML

Hi All - welcome Richard and Patricia! Clear and sunny in Virginia today, although quite chilly this morning (19).. I think we're having Alaska's winter for them.. we've had more snow and cold this year than in many past years combined!

FOUR WEEKS FROM TOMORROW at this time we'll be in Bonaire!! YAHOO!

Hi, Stef !!

Not ignoring you, haven't seen you on the board for a while!!

YES - 32 days and counting like crazy!!!

But, I'm NOT EXCITED...MUCH!!!

Had to get a new gear bag last weekend, and of course had to make sure everything fit...
so my gear is all packed

Mary Lou.... Sorry, forgot to mention finding Peacock Flounder...or seeing Eagle Rays!!

And, of course, nothing beats having to fill out multiple "Turtle Sighting" reports every other day!!

i just wish the snow would stop

Looks like I'll be shovelling for an hour or 2 tonight!!

Bill

Hi Bill - I didn't think you were ignoring me .. I'm not sure we've actually spoken yet, but I know you're going to be down island same time we are!

We're actually going to check out all our new equipment tonight in a local pool... new bc, reg, booties... I'm quite excited! I'm going to shut my eyes and pretend I'm already there!

Hi Mary Lou - getting ready for the Big Day???

Bill, I am drooling!!! We haven't been back to
Bonaire since 2000 and I am champing at the bit!! We try other vacations and they are not the same! If I had my way it would be a yearly (or more) thing to Bonaire.
Congratulations on your new dive bag :-). I want to pack mine now but I am afraid they will take me away in a white jacket. Everyone in my house just rolls their eyes at me and shakes their heads. I can't help it, I am a fish.
I hope you don't have too much snow to shovel!!

Hi Stef, Have you started packing yet?

Stef, I am jealous!!!! I wanted to check out all my dive gear in the pool (I work in the pool at our local Y), but once again my family thinks I am ridiculous!! I need a new family.......... just kidding.
And YES YES YES!! I am ready!!! Just the fact that I will be in Bonaire makes 40 a breeze!! Especially since I will be underwater :-)!

Mary Lou and Stef,
I just bought a new set of regs and tried them out in the pool last night. It was great.. Would rather be in Bonaire with all of you. But the pool was good therapy. New regs worked great. Stef new dive gear is always fun.
Was just there last Nov but it feels like years.. guess ive got PBS real bad.

Hi again, Mary Lou..
I know the feeling!! The wife wants to try other places, see other things. So, she's not going with the group this year. This will be my 3rd 2 week stint to Bon, and every time I think about it, I remember more things I have seen or experienced. Most great and some that were scary but all in all it is about the best place to dive, dive, dive!!!

AND... 40 is nothing!! 45 might be a little tense....50?? Been there, done that....and have the tee shirts to prove it!! You're only as old as you want to be....and I'm not going to grow up!! If you try to make me, I'll hold my breath til I turn blue!! So There!!

Bill

Mary Lou - we actually have a trip to New Orleans this weekend !! (pre-Marti Gras)... we've almost "forgotten" about it in our anticipation of Bonaire! We're pathetic!!!

And yes... I have a "pile" of things ready to go.. just got my Coracidin HBP yesterday (for stuffy nose without antihistimins), and got out a box of shorts to weed through!

I LOVE the anticipation of a good vacation.. it's such a nice way to spend the time between reality and actually being there!

Bill,
No dont grow up.. I'm not going to either.. but no holding your breath while diving...
Dive shop is going on Blackbeards Cruise in June.
I am going on this trip.
I would rather go back to Bonaire but they want to go other places...
45 years young and getting younger every year..
\image

Here is the Pic.

Hi Bill, What are your dates for Bonaire? We are there the 3-17. I am not too worried about turning 40, I have always been around 12 in my head. I have always believed age is in the mind, and I bet I could hold my breath longer than you!!! So there!!!

You guys with your new gear, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, congratulations, very nice, I got a Sea & Sea camera as my new gear :-).

I have my suitcase out and I keep putting things in, moving them around, looking really busy. Everyone still rolls their eyes :-)

Stef, Have a great trip to New Orleans!! That is somewhere my husband, Joe, would like to go, but only during Mardi Gras. Me, I like people, but that many, all those crowds, I don't think so. I guess I am people claustrophobic!! I am like you I love the anticipation of the trip!!

What is it with these people and wanting to go other places!!!!!!!!! Don't they know that Bonaire is THE place!!!! SHEESH!!

Mary Lou,
Thats what i tried to tell them but would they listen...nooooooooooo... gotta go to other places...But a few of us are tring to put a trip together with 4 to 6 guys from dive shop to bonaire sometime this spring or summer.
Why go anywhere else....

Matthew,
I am with you!! They think we are crazy, it is the other way around!!
I am on my way home from work, think I will wear my bc around the house tonight :-)
Have a good night all!! Mary Lou

I'm just getting around to posting a picture of the snow we got in Virginia this past weekend. This is the Potomac River with Virginia on the right and Maryland on the left. Unfortunately, I can't fly in this area anymore due to the new airspace restrictions imposed in the Washington, DC area this Monday.



I can't wait until August to be slipping under the waves in Bonaire.

Have a good evening all.

Again, all is quiet in Bonaire. All four cams are dark.
Sleep well, everyone.

Mary Lou, I don't think you are crazy!!!! I have had my bag packed for two weeks now and I don't leave till the first!!! I have even packed all the gear. My husband hasn't done anything yet and his passport isn't due till the 25th!!! A little too close for comfort seeing as they took the raised seal birth certificate so he has nothing at the moment!!!
I hope we get to meet at Gibi's!!