Bonaire boat dive sites

[farsidefan1]

4 of us are headed to Bonaire in February. 2 are newbies. I want to do some dives with a dive master so I don't have to worry about them. I'm thinking boat dives would be a good way to do this and I also was thinking to use the boat dives to hit some interesting sites that are more nasty entries but when I asked about boat dives with my dive company I was informed that their boat dives are mostly to Klein Bonaire.

My question is does anyone know of a company that would be more open to suggestions as to where we dive.

 

[driftwood]

Buddy's goes to Karpata, Small Wall, Kali, and Something Special as boat dives since shore access is difficult at those sites. Karpata is a long drive back to Kralendijk, shore access to Something Special and Small Wall requires crossing private property, Kali has a pretty good cliff. All are really great dives that I would do in a heart beat.

I know that I will catch some flak for this but here we go. I have never been impressed with diving Klein Bonaire when there is much better diving on the big island. Not just my opinion, on our last group trip, the entire boat rebelled when they wanted to take us back to Klein.

 

[farsidefan1]

Thanks driftwood, I'll check them. I'm diving with wannadive but I'll how much buddy wants for us to go on their boat for a few dives.

 

[b1gcountry]

Divi Dive has a lot of boats that they send out everywhere. They are located in town near the cruise ship dock, and a lot of their customers (I think) don't have cars. I always dive with Bonaire Dive and Adventure, and they will go wherever you tell them to if you are the first to sign up for the boat (exception: the 2PM boat only goes to close sites.)

May I ask why you think the boat dives would work better for you guys? Why not have them buddy up and dive their own profile after they spend a day or two getting used to the waters? I've always found that boat dives put more stress and time constraints on newer divers.

Tom

 

[dvrliz1]

Far,

I know one of Bart and Bob's favorite boat dives is Rappell. It is listed as a shore dive, but you actually have to rappell down to get to it, so boat dive it!!! Talk to Bart and Bob at Wannadive, they can recommend which ones they like the best.

Liz

 

[farsidefan1]

Thanks Liz, I didn't talk to anyone specifically, just emailed them asking about if the boat dives went to some of the sites with nasty entries and they gave me the generic "we go to Klein Bonaire" response which generated my question. I'll see if they are flexible (Perhaps if I offer an incentive?? ). As to why the boat dive, I think it is less stressfull to fall off a boat than to lug the gear out. I also have never been to Bonaire so I wanted to have the time and ear of the locals doing the boat trip so that I could gather data for shore diving after the kids were decently competent. At this point I don't trust them buddied up. I want to see them in action first (you know, the daddy thing). I'd rather put the responsibility on the divemaster the first few dives. Then, away we go.
Liz, Rappell sounds like exactly why I want some boat dives early on I want to do it but... rappelling???? No thanks lol. 1,000 steps = same. I'm going there to have fun. When I was younger 1,000 steps sounds fun, now with inconsistant knee & shoulder, not so much. Gimme the boat.

Thanks for the help folks

 

[diversteve]

My take on Rappel would be do it later in the week. As it's an intermediate dive as you're right up against the cliff for part of it so there's a little rebound action off the wall sometimes. One of the best (of 22) dives we did.

I've seen somebody's boat at 1000 Steps also. It's not the walk down, it's the climb up...lol

We also did Witches Hut coming back from Rappel. It's also an easy shore entry though.

Personally I liked some of the Klein sites, Jerry's Reef starts shallow, is protected by Klein and was about the only place we saw turtles. In 15' of water while offgassing between the island and the boat. Hand's Off was done as a drift dive, it may be a little rougher, we did it as a live drop/pickup. But it certainly wasn't difficult, just float along near the DM. It would be considered a beginner dive.

The current single-tank rate for non-guests at Buddys is $34.

 

[ncchuck]

May I ask why you think the boat dives would work better for you guys? I've always found that boat dives put more stress and time constraints on newer divers.

Tom

I don't think this is true. Boat diving can be easier and less stressful than shore diving. No waves pounding you around near the shore, no messy sand to deal with, no lugging your gear around, no rocks or coral to avoid during entry and exit, no exhausted newbies that are tired by the time they get to the site and usually a dive guide to help you out. All are scheduled around normal meal times so I'm not sure what is meant by time constraints. You'll never find cheaper boat dives anywhere since shore diving is so popular.

Have fun whatever your decision.

 

[farsidefan1]

Yes when I started it via boat (Belize). In fact all my diving except in Roatan has been from a boat. I guess that is why I'm so comfortable for them to start the same way. I was a bit surprised diving on the GBR off the back of the Spoilsport the entry was a 10 ft drop for the giant step but after one dive it seemed normal. Of course since it's Bonaire I expect to do a ton of shore diving as well. I just want the divemaster to watch them for their first several dives.

 

[diverbart]

Hi Guys,
as far as the boatdives go at Wannadive, I can state with some authority that the boat goes to where the guests want it to go, which is most of the times to spots the guests cannot get to from shore. That means mostly klein Bonaire or dives up north. Having said that, any other dive, with or without a name is open to us, stopped only by the regular restrictions such as diver ability, nasty sea conditions, or restrictions from authorities, (if they are watching that is ) deciding the destination democratically at departure. All that with the goal of having a great time and returning to the dock with boat, crew, and guest numbers still intact:
Bartman