Trip Report Bonaire: Den Laman and Dive Friends, October 20-November 3, 2021

[Soloist]

It was visit number 11 for us and we had never seen it so busy. There were always a lot of cars at Salt Pier but it did not affect the dive site too much. There seemed to be a higher percentage of non-divers on the island than usual so there were always a lot of snorkelers there.

Nice frogfish pics. Nobody at Salt Pier now! A ship docked overnight. We have been struck by the sheer number of non divers on the island too. Lots of people snorkeling and sunbathing. Here’s the bait ball we saw at Pink Beach.

 

[Blues Runner]

Thank you for the very detailed report and pictures. We overlapped with some of your time there and were tipped off about the Frogfish at Bari! We dove out of the parking lot in your picture to see them.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Trailboss123]

Nice frogfish pics. Nobody at Salt Pier now! A ship docked overnight. We have been struck by the sheer number of non divers on the island too. Lots of people snorkeling and sunbathing. Here’s the bait ball we saw at Pink Beach.

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Great Bait Ball pic, Eric. What kind of camera set up are you using these days?

 

[Soloist]

Great Bait Ball pic, Eric. What kind of camera set up are you using these days?

Still using a GoPro (9 & 6) on a SRP tray with a couple of BigBlue (VL4000P) lights, so a setup an average 3rd grader could master. The pics are just snapshots from video with a little color correction. Here’s a pic of one of the smaller frogfish using a BackScatter magnifying lens. @scubadada provided us with excellent details on where to find them prior to our trip. Cheers!

 

[Soloist]

Saw tons of newbies with some very interesting “dive techniques” this trip. I found this poor thing swimming around Invisibles without a reg!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Jersey]

Great pics, especially the chasm that was the frogfish mouth

 

[gajahduduk]

thinking of Den Laman in March. Has anyone stayed in Tuna condo? Or Flying Fish? Any more recent idea of the effect of the next door development on the enjoyability of the stay or diving or reef condition?

 

[scubadada]

thinking of Den Laman in March. Has anyone stayed in Tuna condo? Or Flying Fish? Any more recent idea of the effect of the next door development on the enjoyability of the stay or diving or reef condition?

We've only stayed in Sunwise rentals, Parrotfish and Yellowtail, 1 bdrm oceanfront 2nd Fl and Wahoo 2 bdrm ocean view 2nd Fl. All these are fine, very good. We looked at the Tuna 2 bdrm oceanfront 2nd Fl, as it was for sale, very nice. Know nothing about the Flyingfish 1 bdrm ocean ront 3rd Fl. If it is like the Parrotfish and Yellowtail, it would be very good.

Chogogo was not yet open in Oct/Nov, I hear it is at least partially open now, have not heard any reports. I was wondering what they would do for a dive op and what the impact on Bari Reef would be...

Maybe someone with more recent experience can comment on Chogogo.

 

[gert7to3]

What's going on next door to Den Lamen? Looks as though Front Porch is closed off.

 

[scubadada]

What's going on next door to Den Lamen? Looks as though Front Porch is closed off.

Hi @gert7to3

Why do you say it looks like Front Portch is closed off? Were you there recently, see it? Has anyone else seen it recently?

The Chogogo Resort seems to be about half open Time to smile at our dive and beach resort - Chogogo Bonaire Wannadive is the dive operator, their main location is just south at Eden Beach Resort, boats leave from there. The dive op at Chogogo is said to open this month. Their pier(s) are not yet built. Does anyone know if they have permits for one or two piers? I believe the old Sunset Beach Resort had a pier, have always wondered it that permit goes with the land.