Looking for Bonaire photo dive buddies, March 6-April2

[Bernhelm]

I'm stoked to be going to Bonaire for the first time next month! I'm an advanced-ish diver (~200 dives) used to shore and boat diving in Northern California and an amateur photographer.

My partner also dives, but she won't want to go out as many days as I will, so I'd love to buddy up with good divers who will be around for morning shore dives that are more the slower-paced look-for-critters to photograph type. I'll have a truck (for the last couple of weeks I'll have an Ultimate Dive Truck which I'm very stoked about ) and will be staying not too far from Dive Friends Yellow Submarine.

If you'll be around looking for some chill dives, especially if you're a photographer or a Bonaire shore diving old-hat who likes showing new people around, let me know!

 

[Jersey]

A month on Bonaire!?!? Lucky, lucky you! Have seen those Ultimate Dive Trucks around island, spiffy! Looking at those pics, you are anything but amateur. I'd be embarrassed to show you anything I've done. 'JustUs' divers will be there 3/12 -3/26 at Buddy Dive. Two couples. We are your 'old-hat Bonaire' divers, met there, liked diving together, similar dive styles (slow...slow....) and now plan trips together. Mid-40's to late-50's. All advanced, nitrox, one is a working DM off the New Jersey coast. He's the most experienced, and been diving Bonaire since 1993. The rest of us were later to the party. the girls have the cameras >I've a Canon G16, I think Becky is a PS Sea and Sea. I usually do a photo dive most afternoons, usually off Buddy dock - its quiet, sun overhead. My buddy usually takes a nap or reads his book leaving me free to do some photo. If you'd like to try to plan a meet and dive, let me know.

 

[Bernhelm]

A month on Bonaire!?!? Lucky, lucky you! Have seen those Ultimate Dive Trucks around island, spiffy! Looking at those pics, you are anything but amateur. I'd be embarrassed to show you anything I've done. 'JustUs' divers will be there 3/12 -3/26 at Buddy Dive. Two couples. We are your 'old-hat Bonaire' divers, met there, liked diving together, similar dive styles (slow...slow....) and now plan trips together. Mid-40's to late-50's. All advanced, nitrox, one is a working DM off the New Jersey coast. He's the most experienced, and been diving Bonaire since 1993. The rest of us were later to the party. the girls have the cameras >I've a Canon G16, I think Becky is a PS Sea and Sea. I usually do a photo dive most afternoons, usually off Buddy dock - its quiet, sun overhead. My buddy usually takes a nap or reads his book leaving me free to do some photo. If you'd like to try to plan a meet and dive, let me know.

Awesome, nice to meet you Jersey!

I'm able to do a month due to remote tech work (as long as the internet and VPN gods are smiling) and a very awesome boss

I'll probably be diving in the mornings mostly, then working on west coast time afterwards.

Most of those pics are Olympus TG6 + lightroom, but now I have a micro 4/3rds set up and am stoked to get a bunch of warm blue water practice time in next month.

 

[Jersey]

You'll have to let me know how the connectivity longer term, VPN, internet works. I've had no issues with the short term, daily check in kind of stuff, but haven't done any consistent, data intensive, Zoom calls w/ video type work from Bonaire.

You have inspired me to set up an Instagram and review pictures I forgot I ever had. They joy of digital, shoot, shoot, shoot, delete. Hope you have lots of dive time and take lots of pictures! My favorite Bonaire dive time is late afternoon, during 'shift change' when the night dwellers start coming up and the day fish wind down. Usually eels about. Try Salt Pier shallows around 4:30 - 5:30 for turtles. Usually in about 10-15 foot munchin on eel grass. I think we have about a 90% success rate. But really no bad dive time. We also like night diving (resort has steps into the water, no getting hurt) with the cameras - crinoids & brittle stars out, lobster out, big tarpon out> I'm not a tarpon fan, they like to get a little too close.

 

[bprtch]

Hey, I'll be making my first trip to Bonaire diving the 19th through the 24th.
Not a photographer, just have a gopro, but totally fine for some slow paced dives.

 

[wgw04024]

If you're diving and photographing, you're basically solo diving no matter how many of you are in the water at once.

 

[Bernhelm]

If you're diving and photographing, you're basically solo diving no matter how many of you are in the water at once.

Yeah, it's like "look up and check on each other every minute or so, and no one go swimmin' off without clear communication so you know your buddy is following. Also, let me have a turn with that frogfish!"

 

[srecko]

I'm able to do a month due to remote tech work (as long as the internet and VPN gods are smiling) and a very awesome boss

I'll probably be diving in the mornings mostly, then working on west coast time afterwards.

Pretty much the same situation I'm in, meaning I'd want to be out of the water by about 8:30am. I'll be there 5th through 19th, let me know if you're interested in 7 or 7:30am starts

 

[Bernhelm]

Pretty much the same situation I'm in, meaning I'd want to be out of the water by about 8:30am. I'll be there 5th through 19th, let me know if you're interested in 7 or 7:30am starts

Cool - I could do some 7:30 starts. I work on West Coast time, so I won't be in a big rush to get back home, but an hour dive before 8:30 could work!

 

[srecko]

Cool - I could do some 7:30 starts. I work on West Coast time, so I won't be in a big rush to get back home, but an hour dive before 8:30 could work!

Can't figure out the DM (new to the forum), but Thursday, March 10th, meet at 7:30am works for me