45 replies to this topic

[SerialDiver]

Hi Kamala, looking at the "Who is going", noone is doing shore diving. If I book shore diving, does it mean I may be the only one signed up for it? I am not comfortable driving a standard truck on the island nor diving solo, and don't want to switch to a boat diving if there is no company for me to do dive from shore.

[ScubaTex]

Hi Kamala, looking at the "Who is going", noone is doing shore diving. If I book shore diving, does it mean I may be the only one signed up for it? I am not comfortable driving a standard truck on the island nor diving solo, and don't want to switch to a boat diving if there is no company for me to do dive from shore.

Don't know if you've been to Bonaire before, but even the 'easy' entries can become challenging, and I definitely recommend against doing solo. Most of the coast is 'iron stone' [lava?] very ragged & uneven w/urchins in the crevices, then you can dodge the boulders just off the waterline, most too big to go over. I was there in Jan., when my buddy had equipment problems and exited before me, swell caught me in 2 ft, knocked me over, putting my second stage under me in the sand, and almost drowned me. Trust me back rolls/giant strides are much easier. Besides, if you want to dive 'Klein' the only way is by boat, unless you want to paddle over in a kayak!!!

 

I suggest you do shore dives on the house reef, you can probably do 1-1/2 hr dives there and be amazed at what you'll find there, even if you dive it every day. Invite the other divers at lunch, announce your plans for an afternoon dive [no addtl $ for tanks] & you'll be surprised how many will join you.

 

If you're intent on shore diving, here are 2 dive site briefing guides: Official - Geographia

 

Have fun - enjoy the Amaretto gellaito [?] - in the shopping district 'downtown' one block off the 'boardwalk'

 

and at my age, I got to Dive smarter, not harder!!! [could be a t-shirt?]

 

Bill

Edited by ScubaTex, 29 July 2016 - 02:18 PM.

[WreckWench]

Hi Kamala, looking at the "Who is going", noone is doing shore diving. If I book shore diving, does it mean I may be the only one signed up for it? I am not comfortable driving a standard truck on the island nor diving solo, and don't want to switch to a boat diving if there is no company for me to do dive from shore.

 

HI SerialDiver...  the new name!

 

You are correct that no one is doing our shorediving pkg and so if you sign up you'd be the only one doing it.  Please see the post by ScubaTex about some of his shorediving experiences. Bonaire has MANY great shorediving spots so maybe someone will see these posts and want to join you!

 

Currently the boat spots are sold out. We are trying to see if we can add more but as of now the boat is sold out.

[WreckWench]

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

 

The boat diving spots are sold out. We are looking to see if we can get more spots. We need to know how many people are interested. If we have enough we may be able to get the desired spots. If we only get 1-2 more people interested they will be on a different boat so not too much fun if you want to dive with the group.

[John57]

Anyone on the United 1422 flight out of Newark at 08:55 on the 5th, contact your travel agent.  United has cancelled this flight so you will need to re-book.

 

I am now connecting in Chicago and then Houston (looks like a mini-world tour).  I will send the Trip Coord my new details as soon as I get an official confirmation.

[SalishSeagal]

United Airlines is still booking that flight.  I made my reservation two days ago and just checked to see if that flight was still available.  Where did you hear it was cancelled?

[dive_sail_etc]

Anyone on the United 1422 flight out of Newark at 08:55 on the 5th, contact your travel agent.  United has cancelled this flight so you will need to re-book.

I am now connecting in Chicago and then Houston (looks like a mini-world tour).  I will send the Trip Coord my new details as soon as I get an official confirmation.

Thanks for the head's up John. We show the following members have submitted itineraries which include UA1422 from Newark to Bonaire, all on 05 November, I am including you just for completeness and understand you are already preparing an alternate itinerary. Man that sucks; feeling the pain if indeed this is the case (ref: Lori aka salishSeagal's post above).

 

 - Regis aka explorer

 - Suzanne aka CoralReefer

 - John aka John57

 - Richard aka skidiver

 - Karen aka schoentell

 

 - Lori aka salishSeagal (itinerary not yet received, based on post in trip topic)

[John57]

I sent it by the messaging system but just in case... The flight has apparently been moved forward by 10 min. For me that means I don't have enough time in Newark for the connection. My agent told me the flight was cancelled, so I posted to give everyone the heads-up. Sorry for the confusion.

And for my sins, I now face 2 tight connections - 50 min in Chicago and 60 in Houston. What could possibly go wrong?!?!?

[bpro]

Any chance of having United send you out a day earlier and then spending the night in Houston?  Sometimes having that buffer is worth the cost of a night an airport-area hotel.

[John57]

Any chance of having United send you out a day earlier and then spending the night in Houston?  Sometimes having that buffer is worth the cost of a night an airport-area hotel.

I already accepted the Montreal/Chicago/Houston/Bonaire change but if they change my flights again, I will push for a day early to Newark in the late afternoon / early evening, then back to the 1422 flight direct to Bonaire. There are still 3 months to go so I expect at least 1 more major change.

[John57]

As predicted, the airline made yet another change that screwed up everything.  After lots of back and forth (and a bit more money) I was able to change my departure airport to Ottawa and get to Newark in time for the 08:45 direct flight to Bonaire.  So I am back on United 1422.  I hereby decree that there will be no more (major) flight changes!  See everyone in the Newark departure lounge!

[WreckWench]

Thanks for the update John! WOW!!! You have certainly been thru the ringer with flight issues and the plane hasn't even taken off!

[John57]

Thanks for the update John! WOW!!! You have certainly been thru the ringer with flight issues and the plane hasn't even taken off!

And the kicker is that I booked the flights long before the trip was even open.

[John57]

We are 5 weeks out! Anyone else mostly packed?
And a (probably unneeded) reminder: our trip overlaps the US election date, so you should hit an advance poll. Remember - if you don't vote, you can't bitch.

[bpro]

Question about rooms - I'm looking at the PM and something about the latest post caught my eye.  The signup post says:

 

8 Days/7 Nights Deluxe room at the newly renovated Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

 

And indeed, the Divi resort page divides rooms into Standard and Deluxe (http://www.diviresor...-and-suites.htm):

 

Our Standard guestrooms provide beautiful pool views...

Deluxe guestrooms provide stunning views of the ocean from a private balcony...

 

The trip PM says:

 

There was ONLY ONE ocean view room GUARANTEED but SEVERAL STUDIOS for our group and the rest are the standard rooms

 

I'm expecting that the rooms are indeed the much nicer, ocean-view deluxe rooms.  Can we have clarification? 

Edited by bpro, 04 November 2016 - 06:32 PM.