Bonaire Crime - Our experience - Looking for input to share

[Kharon]

Technically one can put a cell phone in an underwater case, but I'm leery of trusting a multi-hundred dollar iPhone to a case knowing that a small amount of salt water seepage might wreck it.

Go to Walmart and get a $20 flip phone for a possible emergency. If the case leaks - so what?

 

[oldschoolto]

I trust my Go Pro in a water proof case... I see people with $1000 + cameras trust water proof cases... I see people taking photo's with their i-phones in underwater cases on the reef..

Jim...

 

[drrich2]

Haven't priced Kharon's idea for a cheap flip phone but sounds like a winner.

Jim, the underwater cases for those expensive cameras are often nearly as expensive as the camera itself.

Richard.

 

[oldschoolto]

I didn't say it was CHEAP..... LOL

Jim....

 

[mattia_v]

Haven't priced Kharon's idea for a cheap flip phone but sounds like a winner.

Jim, the underwater cases for those expensive cameras are often nearly as expensive as the camera itself.

Almost without fail they are MORE expensive than the camera inside. By a decent margin. Especially when you start adding ports, strobes and what not.

 

[KathyV]

This discussion of cheap cell phones and expensive water/pressure resistant cases is interesting and may offer a valuable work-around solution; but it doesn't address the central issue. Why is crime on Bonaire so prevalent and accepted that you dare not even risk the chance of leaving something of relative value inside of a locked car?

During our first trip to Bonaire in 1995, the car rental agreement stated that if the car was damaged or stolen because we had failed to follow instructions - then we would be held responsible. Why is it that the criminals that create the damage and perform the crimes never seem to be held responsible?

 

[drrich2]

"Why is crime on Bonaire so prevalent and accepted that you dare not even risk the chance of leaving something of value inside of a locked car?"

Short answer from other thread(s) is you're likely to find this issue in any area combining the following factors:

1.) Large numbers of shore divers, especially with rental vehicles, so locals know parked rentals by shore dives sites will be abandoned for around 45 minutes to an hour, & people returning will be in water & encumbered by gear, easily outran. Victims are mainly tourists who won't have local connections, or be around long enough to make prosecution likely in the highly unlikely event one is caught.

2.) Likely thieves in the area. Regional poverty seems to be a risk factor for that.

Richard.

 

[oldschoolto]

I can ask you the same Question about any number of places... I would not leave anything that I don't want stolen in any car anywhere... Before they invented car radios that were locked ( NO GOOD ) if removed without the right code,we had to remove them or buy the ones with face plates that come of... In fact they still make them... The CB radios on slide mounts... Locking gas caps... And the list goes on... And all this in the good old USA...

The only thing that can be done is to have the Island dive shops and resorts pony up the money to place a local person at every dive spot as a helper to divers and watching over the trucks... You put up a small shack with a map of the dive site... Things to look for, Things to watch out for coming in and out.. maybe giving a helping hand to older divers having a hard time.... Have these people working under the local tourism board...

Jim....

 

[deeper thoughts]

The last time we were in Bonaire was 1996. These stories are night and day compared to what I remember. Shame

 

[oldschoolto]

I personally don't know what Bonaire was like in 1996... I know that I have been to Bonaire 4 times in the last two years for 2 weeks each trip and have not had any trouble, And feel VERY SAFE there.... In fact it's one of the safest places I've traveled to... The freedom to shore dive when and where I want and the great diving along with wonderful local people make it a favorite place to go....

But, I was born and raised in NYC.... So I understand crime and how to be careful....

Jim...