213 replies to this topic

[kevininpo]

BC and the fabulous PNW are great in Nov/Dec!

[WreckWench]

Hey gang....we snuck one last person on the trip...Michael aka CyclingMike although he should be called Cycling & Harley Mike but thats another story...or two!!! LOL!!

Be looking for an email from me today with final questions and details for the trip. If I do not have your email addy....please pm me with it! Thanks, Kamala aka Wreck Wench

[WreckWench]

Hey gang...just got this great feedback from a diver who has just been there! CyclingMike has also had friends just return and he is taking ALL of these great ideas and working of a super cool agenda for our trip! Woo Hoo!!! And you can bet we'll be diving some of these great sites and checking out the grub recommends! Thanks for all your help gang!!! -ww

Hello... I just got back from Bonaire a few days ago and my friend DiveCutie asked me to post a message.

There have been a lot of changes to Bonaire in the last few years due to a storm that few people talk about. I just wanted to give y'all some tips on some of the best dives and also some places to avoid.

As a general rule of thumb, the dive sites in the north are in better condition than the ones in the south. You can skip the Lighthouse Dive (Far south) - the beautiful sea fans there are nearly all dead now.


Best Dive Sites
Karpata (Entry can be rough)
1000 Steps (Entry can be rough)
Oil Slick
Jeff Davis
Witch's Hut (aka Weber's Joy)
Ol Blue
Town Pier (Must have guide. Pay him $20 each for a 1.5 hour dive)
Salt Pier (night dive only, have to get clearance from Harbor Master)


Dive Sites to Avoid
Pink Beach
Margate's Bay
Red Beryl
Angel City
Bachelor's Beach

Additionally, be sure not to hit any of the wild donkeys that roam the streets with your car. You will ruin the donkey's day, the locals will laugh at you, and the car rental place wont like you. (Btw, the donkeys are used to being fed occasionally by tourists, just dont let them eat from your hands bc you could accidentally lose a finger if you dont know what you are doing).

And lastly, on ANY shore dive, never take anything with you other than your dive gear. Leave the car unlocked at all times and leave the windows rolled down. Local kids will often get into the cars looking for money, etc. and they will steal anything that they might be able to pawn.

Also, try not to keep your gas tank more than halfway full. Sometimes the teenagers will siphon gas from the tourist rental cars - and gas aint cheap! $10 US will get you about a quarter of a tank of gas.


Restaurants
You _MUST_ eat at ZeeZicht while you are on the island. The food service is slow, but worth the wait.

That's all about I can think of right now. Feel free to respond with any questions.

~ Me

[bandit]

Ok. I'm going to take exception to a few things in that trip report. Margate's Bay,
Red Beryl, and Angel City are all good dives. We do Margate everytime we go. We caught the dolphins there this time. Angel City as well. Red Beryl was good last fall. We had more critters to the south this time. We had spotted eagle rays on almost every dive from Margate to the Lake. For Angel City, The Lake, and Alice in Wonderland, when you hit 60' kick on across the sand flat to the outer reef, work into the current for 1/2 tank, and cross back to return. Most places on the island are still recovering from Lenny and you won't find alot shallower than 30'.

Karpata is a must dive, and yes the entry can be a little rough if the wind is wrong. Look for the anchors on your way back. The other northern sites are ok, but entries depend on the wind. By the way, it's only 72 steps, not 1000. LaDania's Leap can be done as a shore drift dive if you have decent air consumption. Exit at Karpata and short walk back to the truck. There is a snack stand at Karpata now (avoid the hamburgers!)

BOPEC boat ramp entry is a very good dive, just go right and stay out of the marine reserve (good fish life in there, don't ask me how I know). Once you clear the sandy area of the boat ramp, the reef is excellent. There are a couple of divesites on the dirt road north of BOPEC, tough entries but interesting terain underwater.

The dolphins tour the island on a fairly regular schedule, north in the mornings (Andrea about 8:30-9:00) and south as the day moves on (Salt Pier area 11:00-12:00). It's best to snorkle with them, they don't really like SCUBA. They will skip days, so no guarantee.

Salt Pier is a good afternoon dive, and I suggest you do it in daylight first, then return for a night dive later in the week. Don't sweat the harbor master permission, just watch for salt boats.

You'll find the dive boats hit the sites shortly after 9:00am. If you can be in the water at your chosen site before 9:00, you can avoid crowds and see more big critters. I seem to find more free swimming eels out in the afternoon dives (and night of course). We usually head either north or south and pick a dive site based on which one's are not busy. For Dive Fest, that maybe a challenge. Hit the Hilma Hooker at 8:00am if possible and do work the reef on the way back in.

Rumor on the island says that access to Town Pier may be terminated because of US Homeland Security and cruise ships. Others say only topside access will be limited. Either way, if you want to dive it, now maybe the time. I prefer Salt Pier and no guide. Cruise ships and US Coast Guard ships will close Town Pier periodically, so when it's open, go. We had a cruise ship there, broken, for 5 days during our trip. Try to get a guide for just your group and go late, after the crowds.

I strongly suggest you leave valuables at home, including jewelry other than a dive watch. Rooms do get broken into periodically. I also know of at least one diamond over 1ct on the bottom at Andrea I dive site. That lady is still hearing about it from her husband. Likewise for excess electronics. There are a number of places on the island to check email and make phone calls cheap (your cell won't work, leave it at home). Most places will read SM and CF cards and burn CD's. I take blanks with me and a cheap USB card reader, or get together and only take a couple of laptops instead of everyone hauling one. Damn things are heavy with dive gear and cameras.

Most places rent regs for $10 a day, so it maynot be worth hauling a spare unless you're as picky as I am. Parts are scarce on the island so service your gear before you go.

Good food--
Rib Factory
Casablanca (big entrees -- mixed grill will feed 3-4)
Gibbies (local food -- try the goat stew)
Caribbean Club on the hilltop (all you can eat Bar-b-que Tuesday nights)
Party --
Lac Cai Sunday afternoons til everyone dies -- food, beer, live music, island dancing (very hot and sexy). This is where the natives go, very out there! Barefoot casual, swimsuits, beach coverups, etc.
Karel's Pier and bar on the waterfront

[nauticlue]

Hard to disagree with bandit on very many things, and I live here so I know most of the dining places and the dive sites.

La Donya leap to Karpata is a great dive - even with bad air consumption you can make it if there is a little bit of current.

The BOPEC boat ramp IS as good as he said.

If you want to go farther north - the dive at Taylor made is an easy entry when the wind is right.

There are lots of better places than Zee Zicht to eat. Go to the Mona Lisa (a dutch bar. right downtown) and eat dinner in the bar. They will have one meat dish and one fresh fish dish. For 20 nafl in the bar, it is the best food on the island.

Tuesday night BBQ at Hilltop/Caribbean Club is alot of fun. Call ahead if you are a big group.

Gibi's is great island food. The goat stew is excellent. Again, best to call ahead for a big group.

Monday night is taste of Bonaire in the downtown park. Lots of music and island food. It is a fun way to start the festival.

I am happy to provide individual advice if you want e-mail me directly. Just see my profile.

bonaire bob

[bandit]

Now how have I missed the Monday nights in the park?? Another trip to Bonaire will be required!

[WreckWench]

No problem Bandit...we are already planning our 2005 trip and we haven't taken this one yet!

Thanks to All for such awesome suggestions!!!

[WreckWench]

A couple of questions have been asked and I thought I'd clarify them:

The Cochran computers are a revolutionary new computer that records not only dive data but flight data as well. DAN wants to monitor how our bodies respond to not only diving but what happens after we dive and fly etc. I am not sure how it all works but it does and we can be part of a study group to help feed information back to DAN for their research.

Aquatrix is the reservation system that I use to ensure that dive waivers are filled out accurately as well as all trip details are captured for our trips. Currently we are using the system licensed to Red Wet and Blue Diving which is my other dive operation. We will soon have a registered copy for SD so that only the SD trips show up in it. Please register in this system for the trip. Go to www.SingleDivers.com and click on Upcoming Trips. Then click on the calendar and it will show you our trips. Click on the Bonaire trip and it will show you a picture of the boat and who all has registered on the trip so far. Go to the upper left corner and Click on Reserve Now and it will ask for a password if you've registered before or ask you to fill out a new profile. Please have your c-card handy so you can fill it out properly the first time.

After you finish your profile the system will show YOU on the boat. Here is a trick...if you use a nickname in your profile only the nickname will show up on the boat. If you don't use a nickname or screen name...then your real name will show up on the boat.

Optional Bonaire Dives: Hey everyone...as I mentioned in the emails I sent you we have the chance to dive on the East Side for some awesome Eagle Rays and turtles and tarpon etc. as well as other pristine diving adventures AND/OR do a wonderful fish & creature identification dive with valuable classroom instruction making this a mini-eductational seminar! I need to know if you wish to participate in one or both so that I can hold the spots and make the arrangements!

Thank you all!

[Blublood]

I'm up for both...LETS GO ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marvel]

I'm up for both...LETS GO ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmmm, young Skywalker. Patience, have you none?

18 days 'til liftoff!!!

[Blublood]

Ms. Marvel......Yes!!!!...I have none!!!!!

[Marvel]

Ms. Marvel......Yes!!!!...I have none!!!!!

OK, Gar, I confess- me neither! I just got my replacement passport in the mail today!!!

[Blublood]

ya baby..we gonna dive our butts off!

[nauticlue]

Greetings to all.

I live on Bonaire an it will be fun to have y'all here.

It looks like you have a great trip planned.

Bob

[Marvel]

Greetings to all.

I live on Bonaire an it will be fun to have y'all here.

It looks like you have a great trip planned.

Bob

You've got to come hang out with us some!!