Bonaire, Mar 14 - 21. Questions

[Couv]

In addition to the Grogan's videos I can highly recommend the YouTube channel, "A Divers Life."
https://www.youtube.com/c/ADiversLife/videos (also a member here @adiverslife )

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[stuartv]

One more question.

Is theft from our rooms at Eden Beach Resort also something we need to worry about?

I know about expecting anything left in my truck to disappear. But, what about leaving my laptop, camera rig, or other stuff in my room when I'm out diving or out to dinner?

 

[tursiops]

One more question.

Is theft from our rooms at Eden Beach Resort also something we need to worry about?

I know about expecting anything left in my truck to disappear. But, what about leaving my laptop, camera rig, or other stuff in my room when I'm out diving or out to dinner?

It is not a problem at Buddy Dive. I can't speak to other resorts.

 

[tursiops]

Stuart, the best open-source bathymetry I've found is a combo of this one:

and this one:

 

[Soloist]

The key to exiting the water is to take your fins off in waist to chest high water, otherwise you are going to have a very bad day (see link) if you are too shallow. We clip off our fins with a length of one inch webbing thru the heel straps with a quick connect (attached to an upper d-ring to mitigate wave action), so hands are free for cameras, gear, hand holds or support. Your reg should remain in your mouth until you’re on shore.

Just landed in Bonaire

We landed a little earlier today and I thought I would share our entry experience in the hopes that it might help someone else. These are solely our experiences only, YMMV. The new protocols were a little stressful/confusing but not difficult. We left DFW (late of course) on AA for MIA and not...

scubaboard.com

Leave your freediving fins at home. Speaking from experience, full foot fins are a PITA for shore diving Bonaire. We occasionally use a PVC “cane” at the shore (hat tip @AdivingBel). Very rigid, supports your weight and no investment. I was struggling to get my seashore legs exiting Andrea 2 when diving with @drrich2, so he handed me his trekking pole. I put some weight on it and it began collapsing just as he was telling it’s only for balance. Oops. Enjoy your trip!

 

[NDL_Diver]

That 1st chart is in meters

Stuart, the best open-source bathymetry I've found is a combo of this one:
View attachment 711300

and this one:

The 1st chart appears to be in Meters

 

[tursiops]

That 1st chart is in meters

The 1st chart appears to be in Meters

They are both in meters.

 

[Soloist]

We are in the camp of dropping below the surface as quickly as possible to explore as we make our way out to the reef (see link). Just last week we found a bait ball a few feet from shore at Vista Blue (north) with five massive jacks in pursuit.

Bonaire - the questions not asked or thought about?

Never been to Bonaire, but very interested to go. Easy things to know straight away ... great diving, easy access, lots of accommodation options, out of the hurricane belt (typically), Dutch. I think I got most of them. However, if you think back to going there, what is something that you...

scubaboard.com

Here are two pics taken in the shallows. So ask yourself which looks more interesting…

This?

Or this?

 

[stuartv]

They are both in meters.

Wow. Thank you!

At first, I assumed it would be meters. Then I looked at the numbers and thought "maybe it's in feet?" Wow. But, good to know we can basically get any depth we want very easily and with practically no swimming.

 

[drrich2]

I'll use this photo taken as I was preparing to exit the Hilma Hooker dive site to show some practical concerns about entries and exits shore diving some sites in Bonaire. This photo is actually from a less hazardous situation, because the water is thigh-deep, and if she's wearing an inflated BCD a fall probably won't hurt her. Imagine if the water were just deep enough to cover her feet and she was at the shore's edge, and my concerns will make more sense.

Due to waves and surge disrupting the water surface, she can't see through the surface (except a vague perception of color pattern). She can't see clearly where the bottom even or uneven, or where it's reliably clear vs. having a piece of rubble. In shore diving here, you at times may take a 'leap of faith,' stepping down from a ridge like that about a foot or so into the water, onto bottom you're not sure of, wearing a metal tank, lead weights, etc... Stepping up onto that ridge coming out while in gear isn't a lot of fun, either. And a wave can hit you in the back, so be wary.

I also used my trekking pole to poke around and 'feel' the bottom, to help gauge how level and uncluttered it was.

You're not allowed to wear gloves and the iron shore is often quite abrasive, so just grabbing the ledge to steady yourself can cost you some skin.