Senior shore diving Bonaire help

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For the groups I lead to Bonaire, we usually have a 9-boat-dive package that we have arranged, along with some other bennies. I set up those dives so we go to Klein and to those Northern sites that are not accessible from shore, like Rappel. Occasionally we do the Hilma Hooker as a boat dive, which gives lots of additional time on the wreck! Not everyone in the group uses all those boat dives, but many do, especially the photographers with the big domes....
 
Just returned from two weeks of shore diving in Bonaire. I wanted to thank everyone for their ideas on entering/exiting from shore. On entries that would be difficult I used a collapsible cane. It took a few dives to find the best system to attach to my bcd while diving. My buddy and I also helped each other. We faced each other and entered using side steps while holding a forearm or shoulder.. Leading sideways with the cane allowed me to find holes or determine if a drop or rise was coming. I also used the 5 inch aluminum spring clips to hold my fins. And harder soled boots.

Another suggestion from our dive shop was to get in to a depth of 12" or so, inflate the bcd, put regulator in mouth and gently lay in the water floating out to a deeper spot to put fins on. Since fins were not on my feet moving forward was slower than if having fins on, obviously. Also, with the fins on the metal spring clips they were a further hinderance.

It was a great dive vacation.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions.
 
What hard soled boots did you use. I am looking for some.
 
At ages 67 and 72, if you were to get into trouble shore diving in the middle of nowhere, self or buddy rescue would be unlikely.
As difficult as it is to admit, aging happens to all of us. Maybe time to change strategy rather than rely on a collapsible cane and luck.

I used to shore dive all over Bonaire but now limit myself to boat or dive shop entry/exit or easy sites like Pink Beach, because of concerns about getting in/out.

Some might call this lazy, I call it cautious and smart.
 
At ages 67 and 72, if you were to get into trouble shore diving in the middle of nowhere, self or buddy rescue would be unlikely.
As difficult as it is to admit, aging happens to all of us. Maybe time to change strategy rather than rely on a collapsible cane and luck.

I used to shore dive all over Bonaire but now limit myself to boat or dive shop entry/exit or easy sites like Pink Beach, because of concerns about getting in/out.

Some might call this lazy, I call it cautious and smart.

Same here. Aside from the easy beaches, I stick to boats now.

Most of the other entires are quite slippery, big and unforgiving. I can easily see slipping on a rock and ending up dead or paralyzed.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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