Bombed by Tarpons in Bonaire

[Jersey]

I hear a lot about shore diving in Bonaire. But how is the Boat Diving?

We tend to split shore-boat 50/50. Sometimes I just don't feel like dealing with sand or getting tossed at entry or exit. As pointed out, Klein is all boat diving. In addition it can be faster to get to the Northern sites by boat, it saves you the around-the-island-drive, you can drift between sites (1000 Steps - Karpata comes to mind), Northern sites tend to have shallow rock and coral to swim over and around (Nucove and Tailormade) and some, unless you are willing to make a really giant stride (Rappel) are not practicable from shore. Many of the ops have multiple boat trips so you don't have to be up and out really early (unlike other islands where the boat leaves at 7:00 and at 7.01 we will wave to you on the dock).

 

[diversteve]

I hear a lot about shore diving in Bonaire. But how is the Boat Diving?

By most counts there's about 63-65 shore dives on Bonaire. There's another 26 off Klein Bonaire. Since you can't take gear on the water taxi you'd miss all of them.

The East Side dives are probably easier by boat. As mentioned Rappel is a big first step - like 50' or so. I saw some kids jump off there once but not with gear. Also Small Wall is off private property so unless you're staying at Black Durgon, mostly inaccessible. I could make a good case for diving the Hooker from a boat - the shore entry isn't the easiest and it's a long swim. Some of the operators moor and drop you on the side of the 2nd reef so you start there then swim in to the wreck. Plus if you want to dive the Park sites, Buddy's 3-tank trip seems a lot easier than the drive into the park. Easier on the truck tires also - there's a lot of thorns. I've seen boats moored off 1000 Steps also - good dive but those 64 rock steps are more than I want to do with gear.

I think we did 3 days of 2 tank boat dives and saw some of the best. One afternoon there was another couple signed up so I asked about it at the shop and they needed 4 to go. 4 So we went out and spent an hour+ at Forest. For $20 extra pp.

 

[Jersey]

I could make a good case for diving the Hooker from a boat - the shore entry isn't the easiest and it's a long swim. Some of the operators moor and drop you on the side of the 2nd reef so you start there then swim in to the wreck. Plus if you want to dive the Park sites, Buddy's 3-tank trip seems a lot easier than the drive into the park. Easier on the truck tires also - there's a lot of thorns.

Yes! Thanks for the reminder - the Hooker is not bad from shore for a diver with reasonable SAC. We had 2 newly minted divers last trip, one air-hog. He would not have made the Hooker from shore. Thanks to the boat we got 2 new divers their first wreck and deep experience with some extra time to hang around and watch large tarpon and barracuda at the end. They loved it, very postive experience.

Buddy has stopped the 3 tank park dive. The boat has issues. Shame, I loved that trip and yes, far easier than driving into the park with dive gear bouncing, afraid a tank would break.