Bonaire March 21-28...

[robint]

yeah, signalling devices are good. I have a subduck and my hubby has a hammerhead, both make a louder noise than most tank bangers. Since he shoots photos and I shoot video we tend to dive pretty far apart at times!

 

[Waterskier1]

Patrick,

I suspect I'll be with you on this trip, assuming you are going with Marcos.

If not, it's quite a coincidence that two dive clubs in Nashville area are going to Bonaire the same week:shocked2:

This will be my 4th trip with that club and my 5th trip to Bonaire in less than 2 years - can you tell I love Bonaire?

I rented all my equipment when I went the first time, and rather than rush out and try to buy everything in the next month, I would recommend you rent it there too. I think I paid right at $100/week for it. WannaDive (the dive shop) has nice equipment. It was brand new when I rented it in Mar 2007. I'm not sure how often they replace it, but it is not junk. It might even be better than what you are training in. That way you'll have time to evaluate the pluses and minuses of different types of equipment and even find some go deals on it right here on this Message Board.

But, do bring your own mask (that you know fits), snorkel, fins....and good dive boots and either a shorty wet suit or a Lycra suit for exposure protection. Oh, and of course your Dive Log, and any training materials. Some actually wear tennis shoes, if the fit in your fins, and some wear hard sole sandals. I had the run of the mill boots the first year, and that was the most important thing I bought on my second trip.

I bring powered ice tea and coffee grounds - my buddy brought powered Gatorade last month. You can mix it up there (the water is fine to drink, no need to buy it). I take a couple water bottles (one filled with the powered mix) and fill each 1/2 way; one with tea, the other with water, and freeze it the night before. I top them off in the morning before we leave and throw them in a collapsible cooler for cold tea/water/ all day long. You can throw in a soda too. Other than that, all I bring food-wise is my Cinnamon Gummy Bears, and my Hot Tamales (candy).

There are several grocery stores to pick up stuff you might want. Most go out for dinner. I eat breakfast and lunch at the room with stuff I buy and sometimes dinner (like last Oct when OMAR came through).

Shorts and Tees are all the clothes you need, besides a couple swim suits. Oh, bring a hat, and sunglasses if you use those too. I often take a Solar Shower (a black and silver plastic water bag) and throw it on the cab roof while diving (under $7 at Wallmart) so no loss if stolen. I don't use it a lot, but many like to wash their mask and face with water after each dive. It is an easy way to take fresh water for washing, and it will be warm.

Desirable if you already own them would be a Wrist Dive computer, and Dive light(s): Main, backup, and tank light.

I have detailed pack lists and will be happy to answer any of your questions. You can email me direct at Waterskier1@earthlink.net. BTW, I am not a member of this dive club, but I have traveled to Bonaire with them 4 times.

 

[tiggrr]

Patrick,


Shorts and Tees are all the clothes you need, besides a couple swim suits. Oh, bring a hat, and sunglasses if you use those too. I often take a Solar Shower (a black and silver plastic water bag) and throw it on the cab roof while diving (under $7 at Wallmart) so no loss if stolen. I don't use it a lot, but many like to wash their mask and face with water after each dive. It is an easy way to take fresh water for washing, and it will be warm.

I have detailed pack lists and will be happy to answer any of your questions. You can email me direct at Waterskier1@earthlink.net. BTW, I am not a member of this dive club, but I have traveled to Bonaire with them 4 times.

Hey! The Solar Shower is a great idea! I hate that salt water feel inbetween dives. My only question is how hot did the water get?? Don't know if I'd really like the water to be super hot.

Here it is at Walmart.

Walmart.com: Coghlans Solar-Heated Camp Shower: Camping

Sent PM for pack list.

 

[Waterskier1]

Hey! The Solar Shower is a great idea! I hate that salt water feel inbetween dives. My only question is how hot did the water get?? Don't know if I'd really like the water to be super hot.

Here it is at Walmart.

Walmart.com: Coghlans Solar-Heated Camp Shower: Camping

Sent PM for pack list.

That's it, but I am sure it was cheaper at my local store - either $5.95 or $6.95. I usually leave mine there for someone else who thought it was a great idea, and just buy a new one for each trip. Saves having to pack it back nicely into that box too. Last March, my dive buddy had a fancy one from REI (around $25, I think). It was nicer if you were camping as it had a better system for hanging it from a tree, but since we just left them on the cab roof, and "ducked" under them, that is a non-issue. But it did also have a temp gauge, and when I looked at it one afternoon, it was 117 F*. You could just toss it in the bed, or turn it over (so the clear plastic is on bottom and the black on top, so it wouldn't heat a much. I was going to buy a collapsible 5 gal jug (the showers are around 5 gal too) and this was less and serves better.

 

[tiggrr]

That's it, but I am sure it was cheaper at my local store - either $5.95 or $6.95. I usually leave mine there for someone else who thought it was a great idea, and just buy a new one for each trip. Saves having to pack it back nicely into that box too. Last March, my dive buddy had a fancy one from REI (around $25, I think). It was nicer if you were camping as it had a better system for hanging it from a tree, but since we just left them on the cab roof, and "ducked" under them, that is a non-issue. But it did also have a temp gauge, and when I looked at it one afternoon, it was 117 F*. You could just toss it in the bed, or turn it over (so the clear plastic is on bottom and the black on top, so it wouldn't heat a much. I was going to buy a collapsible 5 gal jug (the showers are around 5 gal too) and this was less and serves better.

We were just gonna buy a 2 liter of pop or whatever and fill it with water but, I don't like too many artificial drinks so, this will work out much better. Ok, good to know there is clear plastic on one side. I'm the same way, leave stuff behind for the next person.

Thanx for the great tip!!

 

[Pembina]

Would something like this be thick enough for the shore there?

Deep See 3mm Mens Caribbean Boot

My husband just bought us both a pair of the Deep See Manta 5mm high tops. Although we have not yet tried them out on the shores of Bonaire (we will in 10 days but who's counting) the soles look and feel good. They are as sturdy as a tennis shoe and has some tread on them. We both wear 1/2 sizes but went down instead of up in size and they fit great (ie. wear size 10-1/2 buy a size 10). I think you will be happy with the quality. From what I've read I think it would be best to go with the 5mm.

 

[Pembina]

Hey! The Solar Shower is a great idea! I hate that salt water feel inbetween dives. My only question is how hot did the water get?? Don't know if I'd really like the water to be super hot.

Here it is at Walmart.

Walmart.com: Coghlans Solar-Heated Camp Shower: Camping

Sent PM for pack list.

I bought one last night at Bass Pro. I paid $24.95 but it is a much heavier vinyl. If I had read this thread sooner, I might have done some searching for a cheaper one.
My shower says that on a 70 degree day the water will be 85 in 1 hour, 100 in 2 hours and 107 in 3 hours.

If you drive by and see it laying in the bed of our truck, feel free to help yourself.

 

[donooo]

I just got back from two weeks in Bonaire, My second 2 week trip. Seems that the mosquitoes were a little worse this year, so something with Deet might come in handy. Maybe those coils to burn in your room. We couldn't find any on the island so we just closed the door and froze them. Also, leave home the Sweatshirts and sweatpants. They seem to absorb moisture and it will be humid. Also, stay away from black. The color absorbs heat and mosquitoes, when left to hang.

Also liquor and drinking out seemed a bit expensive so we picked up a couple of bottles of duty free rum for "happy hour".

Now, back to the shorty. I get cold easy. I know the first few dives that you might not. I ended up wearing a 5/4/3 full wetsuit in 80 dg. water and loved it. Every time that I switched back to the 3/2 I got cold again. So, at the very least have a hood or beanie, something to cover your head. But then you know more about your thermal characteristics then I do.

have a great trip, don O

 

[gert7to3]

I've used a shorty on one trip. I don't get cold easily, but by the third or fourth dive, especially a night dive, I would get chilled. I strongly suggest a full coverage wetsuit of 3mm to 5mm thickness.

Another issue is that you will likely be shore diving. While you're not supposed to be contacting reef structures, this can happen during entry and exit. The coral you will most likely contact is fire coral. It is not named fire coral because of its vivid color, but how it feels when you brush against it. This is a pioneer coral, which populates marginal locations.

I bring a collapsable 5 gallon water cube. You can get a full shower from this thing and thoroughly rinse out your regs and camera housing. I don't like plopping my reg in a rinse tank containing everyone else's boots, BCs and wet suits. That's a good way to get sick. Also letting your salt water immersed reg dry out before washing it will let salt crystals form on the mechanism. Then you can see what a free flow looks like.

 

[bsumner]

Patrick,

I suspect I'll be with you on this trip, assuming you are going with Marcos.

If not, it's quite a coincidence that two dive clubs in Nashville area are going to Bonaire the same week:shocked2:

This will be my 4th trip with that club and my 5th trip to Bonaire in less than 2 years - can you tell I love Bonaire?

That you, Rick?

I wasn't able to make it back last March and won't be able to make it in October, but I'm planning for next March.

See you then, if you're there.