Bonaire shore diver goes boat riding

[Damselfish]

While I wouldn't walk around in most of BC, or anyplace at night, I've actually walked around the area near the hotel and along the water to a couple shops, and the cruise port shopping area (lots more shops there, but most won't be open unless there's a ship in port.) Mostly with others but occasionally myself and never felt unsafe. Possibly this was dumb, or maybe it's changed more for the worse (at the time no one was warning otherwise) - it's been like 10 years since I've done that.

I think it's worth trying to fit in a tour of some sort, even if just to the zoo which is not your typical zoo and pretty interesting. Don't think you'd have enough time the afternoon you get in, that seems like a good time to relax with umbrella drinks. But boarding day you might be able to - you should be able to leave your luggage with the hotel, or you might be able to have the boat put it on board depending on the timing of everything. The Aggressor may offer a couple tour options (probably to the zoo and another to some ruins that aren't too far) for the last day after you get into port, though it may depend on the time of year. I'd talk to them for recommendations on operators, timing, etc.

 

[KathyV]

Since this is your first liveaboard, I wanted to mention the remote possibility of seasickness. I try not to eat or drink much on the day of departure and I take the travel sickness pills before boarding.

I don't get sick on boat rides with land-based dive ops but I have gotten very ill on liveaboards - most often when it involves a deep-water crossing - I did NOT get sick on the Belize liveaboard trip that we did.

Since you like to fish this may not be a problem for you. But if you do feel ill, I find it best to stay up top in the fresh air and watch the horizon. I also try to stay hydrated if I can tolerate drinking water.

No mater how bad it gets, I am usually just fine within a day and I don't have any more problems after my body adjusts to the motion of the ocean - even during bad storms. Have fun!

 

[gbf]

My lovely and long-suffering bride is subject to seasickness. She won't even ride in my truck when I'm pulling my boat. But not a problem for me.

Thanks all. I'll probably just hang. I did a little googling on fishing charters and I just don't think it will work out -not interested in bottom fishing the reef and the others take all day.

It's 8 months until I go and I already can't sleep - running gear checklists in my head.

 

[KeithG]

Ask the crew about bulldozer shrimps..

 

[gbf]

Aight, the time draws nigh (62 days) and I've been doing my part to keep various purveyors of gear in business.

A couple of questions for you experienced folks, while I still have enough runway to react:

1. I have a generic roller duffel, hard pan on the bottom, that I've always used as a checked bag for Bonaire trips. It's big enough for gear + spares + clothes for a 3 week stay on Bonaire. My plan is to use it even though it will be grossly oversized for my aggressor trip and doesn't squash up into a ball, along with my carry-on backpack for breakables/steal-ables. Will this work out with respect to stowage on the boat, or should I buy me a smaller squashable duffelbag?

2. This trip is by myself. I use a 19cf buddy when I do solo dives on Bon. I know I won't be diving solo on this trip, but have no idea what sort of buddy I will draw - same day/same ocean guys, photog, finest kind, etc. Should I take buddy19?

3. I've read the recommendations to take along a jacket or sweater. Are we talking a real jacket, or something like Frog Togs, basically just an unlined rain coat? I kinda had my Frog Tog jacket in mind.

I'm sure I'll think of some more and will continue to besiege y'all as the time gets shorter.

Thanks

Brad

ah, one more, aggressor-specific question:

4. I'm old and conservative with my dive plans. I don't have any interest in a 130' bounce dive - it exceeds my self-imposed depth limit, and I've seen deep and all the holes in the ground I care to. Would it be exceedingly bad form to blow off the Blue Hole dive and lay on the deck with a book?

tia.

 

[Wookie]

The blue hole is indeed a hole in the ground and not very exciting, but it is a "must do" dive. With that said, there is no reason to dive it to 130, it is not really very interesting until 150. Pop your head down and make a decent 50 foot 20 minute dive and buy the T-shirt.

But don't miss Half Moon Cay Wall, or the bird sanctuary. I got married in Belize almost 20 years ago, and the other 2 spots that day were highlights of the trip.

 

[KeithG]

4. I'm old and conservative with my dive plans. I don't have any interest in a 130' bounce dive - it exceeds my self-imposed depth limit, and I've seen deep and all the holes in the ground I care to. Would it be exceedingly bad form to blow off the Blue Hole dive and lay on the deck with a book?

tia.

Not bad form at all. You are on vacation and get to select which dives you participate in. They are all optional.

We did the blue hole the first time and have skipped it ever since. The first time we skipped we watched the cluster gear up and get ready. The first diver in the water spend 15 minutes on the hang line waiting for the last straggler to get ready. Then it was a 28 minute dive. In general people spent more time gearing up and cleaning up than they did diving.

Life is too short to do short dives...

Now I go topside with a book and some good music and maybe a pillow. The boat starting will wake you up when they all get back...

 

[drrich2]

To transport a scuba cylinder by plane, you've got to take the valve off, and in theory, it's supposed to get a visual inspection before being filled. How the boat crew will react to one showing up I don't know. I don't think you need it. If you want it, e-mail them and ask about it.

I doubt they'll have trouble with your bag. At least on the Sun Dancer 2 (now called the Belize Aggressor IV), after you empty your checked luggage, they store it elsewhere so it's not taking up space in your room.

Never felt the need for a jacket or sweater, though I'm chubby and generally prefer things cool. If your room mate cranks up the AC, you might want it in the room!

Skipping the Blue Hole dive isn't bad form, but I'd do it anyway. Think about this; from now on, when the topic of the trip comes up in discussion, or you see a post card or other photo with a pic of the Blue Hole on it, and someone asks if you dove there, your answer will be 'No; I stayed on the boat and read a book.' Up to you, of course. Not a bad form issue; many people on live-aboard trips don't do all the dives. In fact, if you do all the dives offered, you can get an 'Iron Diver' medallion (on a red, white & blue cloth neck band) with the name of the live-aboard on it.

Richard.

 

[KathyV]

We each always brought a roller suitcase for our clothes and gear and the crew always took it away for storage, no big deal. I always thought they put these bags in the hold or some other storage space but then someone told me that crew members have to store them in their quarters, usually on their upper bunk bed. I don't know if it's true but I felt kind of bad when I heard that because I don't imagine that they have much living space.

It's up to you if you want to dive the blue hole; it's not an exciting dive that I would care to repeat. Why don't you wait and see how you feel on the day they are diving it?

I think it is a good idea to bring a light weight jacket with you. Occasionally it gets cool out on the water at night. Something like a windbreaker would be fine.

 

[NYCNaiad]

I loved the Sun Dancer II! You'll love the hang bar for your safety stops. It's like a swing and gymnasium all rolled into one.

I get cold easily so I had a heavy sweatshirt with me that helped especially after doing so many dives per day.

If you don't want to do the Blue Hole, don't do it. It's not bad form. I didn't want to do it so snorkeled instead. I hate snorkeling, but it was actually a pretty decent snorkel as I saw a few sting rays up in close. As far as stories go, how many people can say they snorkeled the Blue Hole?