Maine Diver
Contributor
This will be my second trip this year. My favorite dive last time was Cai. Please share your favorites to really get me in the spirit.
46 more days to Bonaire!
- Thread starter Maine Diver
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Jersey
Contributor
Darn - 2 trips in your first year there? Favorite is usually the site I'm on! Last trip we did a late Saturday night dive, around 2300. We seemed to be the only people at the resort, on the dock and in the water. It was eerily quiet, even the reef seemed subdued...Way cool. Other favs Tori's, Ol Blue/Tolo, Angel, Margate, HH as a beach dive, Andrea I & II, almost anything on the double reef system. Finally found Nukove and that is slated as a must do, providing another excuse to go back!
Another reason ~ restaurants! We tried Sense and Will's Tropical Grill and can't wait for return visit.
Have fun and be sure to write a trip report.
Another reason ~ restaurants! We tried Sense and Will's Tropical Grill and can't wait for return visit.
Have fun and be sure to write a trip report.
Barb729
Contributor
Welcome to the Bonaire Club
Rick & I went June & August 2008, then June, August and December 2009.
Now we just go June & Dec/Jan. We're definitely addicted.
I agree with "Jersey" and would like to include Karpata, Bari, Something Special,
really loved Ol Blue/Tolo, just did that dive in June. Hilma Hooker was really nice and the reef right next to it, can't think of it's name.
There really is no bad dives in Bonaire.
Have a great trip. Leaving again Xmas night til Jan 9th.
Rick & I went June & August 2008, then June, August and December 2009.
Now we just go June & Dec/Jan. We're definitely addicted.
I agree with "Jersey" and would like to include Karpata, Bari, Something Special,
really loved Ol Blue/Tolo, just did that dive in June. Hilma Hooker was really nice and the reef right next to it, can't think of it's name.
There really is no bad dives in Bonaire.
Have a great trip. Leaving again Xmas night til Jan 9th.
DeputyDan
Contributor
One of my favorite memories to date occured at Old Blue.
My kids (at that time were ages 13 and 16) were diving with me at that site,
There was a dive group that drove in. The elderly grand parents were set up with
chairs, a cooler and a sun umbrella while the middle agers went diving.
The elderly gentlemen wanted to know about my kids and their ages. Based on his accent
and looks I think he was Hebrew and from the Netherlands.
After telling him my youngest was 13 years old - he closed his eyes for at least a minute and then made the comment that life must be wonderful to be 13 years old and be able to dive in Bonaire.
I could only imagine where he went back to in the minute his eyes were closed. Hebrew and from Europe and probably in his 80's.
He was right, our lifes are so much better than we realize!
My kids (at that time were ages 13 and 16) were diving with me at that site,
There was a dive group that drove in. The elderly grand parents were set up with
chairs, a cooler and a sun umbrella while the middle agers went diving.
The elderly gentlemen wanted to know about my kids and their ages. Based on his accent
and looks I think he was Hebrew and from the Netherlands.
After telling him my youngest was 13 years old - he closed his eyes for at least a minute and then made the comment that life must be wonderful to be 13 years old and be able to dive in Bonaire.
I could only imagine where he went back to in the minute his eyes were closed. Hebrew and from Europe and probably in his 80's.
He was right, our lifes are so much better than we realize!
OP
Maine Diver
Contributor
What a great story. It really puts things into perspective. Thanks for sharing.
OP
Maine Diver
Contributor
You are correct, I didn't have a bad dive on Bonaire. We are staying at Sand Dollar again and Bari reef is wonderful. I will have to try Old Blue this time.
Skookumchuck
Contributor
The worst part is the waiting, isn't it? We're returning, for two weeks this time, for our second visit this November. Last October my favorite dive was the double reef system at Invisibles. Even though it was listed as a long swim to the decent I enjoyed the shallow sandy area with individual little coral communities. Being a new nitrox diver I was rattled by my computers MOD warning and didn't get as deep as I would have liked so this year I plan to rent HP 120's and check out the deeper part of the second reef.
dbulmer
Contributor
MaineDiver,
I was in Bonaire this time last week.
My favourite dive was the Willemstoren lighthouse which is a nice change from some of the other sites. My equal favourite dive
was an early morning dive on the Buddy Dive reef.
The worst dive was the Hilma Hooker - it's so utterly dull - as a UK diver I considered it more as a training site and I'd put money on your local wrecks being of far more interest.
I met quite a lot of people who enjoyed the HH so I guess I'm in the minority.
I was in Bonaire this time last week.
My favourite dive was the Willemstoren lighthouse which is a nice change from some of the other sites. My equal favourite dive
was an early morning dive on the Buddy Dive reef.The worst dive was the Hilma Hooker - it's so utterly dull - as a UK diver I considered it more as a training site and I'd put money on your local wrecks being of far more interest.
I met quite a lot of people who enjoyed the HH so I guess I'm in the minority.
Heck yeah. I like the HH. It's a nice swim out, I usually like to descend well before the wreck so I can "discover" it as it emerges into view. There's a mix of reef and wreck, a collection of tarpons and other big fishies hanging out deep, and then a nice mellow swim back. It's no Truk Lagoon to be sure, but a pleasant alternative to the remainder of Bonaire's reef sites.
Jersey
Contributor
MaineDiver,
I was in Bonaire this time last week.
My favourite dive was the Willemstoren lighthouse which is a nice change from some of the other sites. My equal favourite dive
The worst dive was the Hilma Hooker - it's so utterly dull - as a UK diver I considered it more as a training site and I'd put money on your local wrecks being of far more interest.
I met quite a lot of people who enjoyed the HH so I guess I'm in the minority.
Dbulmer - what time of day did you dive the lighthouse and what were winds/tides like? I've never had conditions to my liking to attempt. Buddy did it once years ago said it was great, but required planning, navigation (fighting wind & tide) on return.
I like the HH as a beach dive, nice swim out, clearly defined turning point, swim back. Plus as my first real beach dive, it will always remain near and dear!
I love the shift change dives - late afternoon or early pre-breakfast dives. Come to think about it, there isn't an hour I don't like to dive
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