Bonaire Dive Trip

[tarheeldiver]

My wife & I are going to Bonaire next May, we have never did any shore diving in the carribbean just boat dives what I was wanting to know is how are the conditions and what are some great dive sites. We will be staying at buddy dive. Also is there any special equipment we need for shore diving there?
thanks
greg

 

[El Orans]

Having good boots comes to mind. Otherwise nothing special.

You'll love Bonaire! :thumbs_up

Laurens

 

[Dragon2115]

My wife & I are going to Bonaire next May, we have never did any shore diving in the carribbean just boat dives what I was wanting to know is how are the conditions and what are some great dive sites. We will be staying at buddy dive. Also is there any special equipment we need for shore diving there?
thanks
greg

The conditions are usually great. To find a great dive site on Bonaire, other than the one that will be right in front of your hotel, all you need to do is load up the truck, pull out of the hotel, turn either north or south and drive until you find a yellow stone by the side of the road that catches your fancy. It's really that easy. If it happens to be a little rough at the southern sites you can turn around and go to the northern ones instead and vice versa.

For special equipment I heartily agree with El Orans, buy the best hard soled boots you can find. There are very few sandy beaches on Bonaire. Mostly what you'll find is iron shore and loose coral debris.

Also bring your dive lights, if you aren't into night diving yet Bonaire is a great place learn. The tarpon at night are a blast.

 

[cduffey]

There's a great little book called Bonaire Diving Made Easy --it's a little yellow paperback that you will probably be able to find at your dive shop on Bonaire. It describes each shore dive and rates each according to difficulty. It will often give you tips on how and where to enter most easily and safely. I highly recommend it. You're going to love Bonaire.

 

[MarkUK]

I stayed and dived with Buddy Dive about a month ago and it was great. You will love Bonaire – it is an excellent place to increase your diving skills and seeing some great marine life. The reefs are healthy and have plenty of fish (for the Caribbean), including some of the rarer little stuff, such as frogfish and seahorses.

Buddy's house reef has a resident tarpon called Charlie, and he will come seriously close on night dives. It is only 3m deep or so where he hangs out, so have fun!

As others have said, the most-important thing to do is get some hard-soled booties. The coral will shred the soles of lesser booties (I know!) and, as some of the sites can be a bit rough getting in, you will find it a lot easier. Also, watch out for the black sea urchins – they tend to live in cracks in the shallows, so if you have to put your hands down to steady yourself, make sure it is on a piece of dead coral or rock and not something spiky!

Completely off diving, you have to eat at Casablanca's at least once – the mixed grill for two is large enough to feed four!!!! Damn good value for money!

Mark

 

[blawler1]

As mentioned in an earlier post, hard soled booties are indespensible on Bonaire.

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi All

I have not been to Bonaire for a couple of years but it is a great place to dive, as everyone has said good dive booties will help.

When I was there most dive shops sold books that were very good at describing the sites, the areas I liked most were the double reef at Salt Pier and Kaparta was very good ....but all the sites are great, you will have wonderful time.

 

[mjh]

Here is a trip report we did from our trip may answer some of your questions.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=97803&highlight=bonaire+a+la+carte

 

[TheRedHead]

The reef at Buddy's is a great place to start. I can't imagine a better setup for diving. The tank and equipment rooms are accessible to guests 24/7 and you just grab your tanks, kit up and just giant stride off the pier. The reef starts at about 30 feet and slopes to about 120. Swim out to the bouy and turn either left or right. So many profiles right out your door. I think we did a dozen dives - including several night dives - on Buddy's reef. Saw several 6 ft. tiger tail cucumbers on the night dives as well as octopus.

I liked Alice in Wonderland (a bit of a tough entry) because it is a double reef system with opportunities to see pelagics as well as the "normal" Bonaire life (which is abundant and amazing). Saw a big school of squid there. I also liked the Hilma Hooker wreck as it is nestled between two reefs and covered in life as well.

There wasn't a site in Bonaire I didn't like. I also recommend very hard soled booties for the shore entries and fin keepers are handy there as well.

Have fun!

 

[Doc]

Bonaire has the best shore diving in the Caribbean!

Besides leaving your car empty and unlocked, here's a pretty good tip....

When you go out towards the reef, you'll notice by the soft corals/plants which way the current is flowing and you'll head into it to start your dive. But, how upon your return, do you know when to make a hard right angle turn and begin your exit by swimming ashore? Here's how to "remember" just exactly "where you parked"!

As you reach the edge of the reef, maybe in 15 to 20 feet of water, place a floating 2 liter bottle with string with a 2# weight. Go do your dive. Upon return, trace a path that puts you at that precise depth. Look for the bottle, recover it, exit. Simple.

The bottle only needs a bit of air in it to be buoyant. Stick the string (5-7') in the opening and screw the top back on. The other end is tied to a small weight that you borrow from your dive op.

Can't miss. Better than retracing your path with an empty tank against the current flow.

Bonaire is a hoot.