Bonaire boat dive sites

[b1gcountry]

All are scheduled around normal meal times so I'm not sure what is meant by time constraints.

It's pretty common to feel rushed and hurried by a dive boat, even for experienced divers. The small space and "get in and dive" attitude on some dive boats can create an extra level of stress. A nice easy shore entry is better any day. No rush, you can take as much time assembling and double checking your gear as you want, and you can make your dive last as long as you want. Plenty of shore sites have extremely easy access; all the house reefs, Oil Slick, Tori's Reef.

Maybe it's just me, but if I didn't feel comfortable with my kids in the water alone, I wouldn't want them with a stranger either.

Tom

 

[socaldiver]

We have only stayed at the Plaza and that equates to Toucan Divers. We did a number of boat dives with them and had probably an equal share of dives off Klein as well as down by 1000 steps and Karpata.

I enjoyed the boat dives as much as the shore dives, never were we under any time restraints. The DM let us stay down as long as we had the air.

Another option would be to see if you can "hire" a DM, maybe on their day off, to do a couple of dives with your friends. We were very fortunate to make friends with our 2 DMs we had in our trips to Bonaire and so it wasn't too bad. Mostly we used them for night dives but I do believe they went with us for a day dive once as well.

I have always felt it never hurts to ask, the worse they can say is "no".

 

[driftwood]

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.

I only mentioned Buddy's since it was the resort my LDS set the trip up with. BTW, the house reef at Buddy's is very good and they have an open dock policy. Off load your gear and find a parking space away from the dock. Easy entry, fantastic reef.

 

[b1gcountry]

FYI, BDA wants you to limit your boat dives to 60 min or less.

Tom

 

[farsidefan1]

I'm definitely going to check with wannadive regarding hiring one of them to guide us on some shore dives. Hopefully One of them will be available. They have been very helpfull in getting this trip set up. Very quick responses to my email queries. Liza at Golden reef has been nothing less than spectacular, even handling air transportation in such a way as to save us a bundle. This trip is making me salivate now. One more month ...

 

[Boat Chick]

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

Well, I was gonna sorta say the same thing (but I have no authority...lol) what Bartman said, and he should know, uh, cause he is one of the owners of Wannadive

I've used several of the shops over the years, the last few, it's been Wannadive on each trip if I'm not at a location that has an on site dive op. I've been on quite a few boat dives with them, and they are always fun too

Email Wannadive and set up a DM to go on your first few shore dives, if they know ahead of time in particular, they can arrange it.

That said, Bart, see ya in, oh...NINE DAYS, rum punch party here i come. I just wish Tom and Smack were gonna be there:depressed:

 

[farsidefan1]

Thanks, I already pm'd him

 

[Boat Chick]

Thanks, I already pm'd him

Have a great and safe trip. We took our kids one year. One was certified locally here in Southern California, and had a few dives under his belt befor his first WW dives...he was like a golden retriever on crack I swear, up ...down...up...down...because the visibility was so great. After several "discussions" with him, I had to put him on the inside of the reef, and me on the outside next to him to keep him from bouncing all over the place.

Our daughter had done her classroom and pool work in Arizona where she lives, and I had a friend who is an instructor do her check out dives on Bonaire. He was exhausted...LOL!

It was a lot of work, that dive vacation...I hear you on stressing over their safety, and I can vouch that they may listen to a DM more than mom or dad, and you can enjoy your dives

 

[del_mo]

I would also consider doing the wreck Hilma Hooker from a boat. It's a real tough entry from shore. But, with newbies, it might be beyond their comfort level....sand at 95, top of wreck around 65.

 

[del_mo]

I'm definitely going to check with wannadive regarding hiring one of them to guide us on some shore dives. Hopefully One of them will be available.

You HAVE to hire Bart for a dive on the wild side. It should be law. I shot this ditty on one dive with him.

YouTube - Bonaire's Wild Side