Bonaire: Shore diving or is it boat diving?

[scubadobadoo]

We dove Something Special by boat and the DM's were emphatic that there was no public assess to the site (I asked). The vacant lot you crossed is private property, you really should get the property owner's permission to cross it.

Blah blah blah. Walk in the water and dive. Nobody cares except the dive ops and DM's that lose out on extra business when people don't do boat dives.

As for Karpata etc...just shore dive Bonaire. The ONLY complaint I EVER hear from divers after a week in Bonaire is, "Why the heck did we book all those boat dives? We never used them all and I like shore diving more anyway."

Unless one has a physical limitation, just go shore dive in Bonaire or go somewhere else. The best thing about Bonaire is diving where and when YOU WANT TO. Book 20 boat dives in a week in Bonaire and you are missing Bonaire. JMHO. Happy diving.

Do one trip by boat to Klein just to say you did it, do the town pier dive with a dm cuz it is worth it, do a dive on the other side of the island with a dm if weather permits, and maybe do a half day naturalist course with a dm like Jerry Ligon if that type of thing interests you. Other than those options...skip the boat or the DM!

 

[Trixxie]

Do one trip by boat to Klein just to say you did it, do the town pier dive with a dm cuz it is worth it, do a dive on the other side of the island with a dm if weather permits, and maybe do a half day naturalist course with a dm like Jerry Ligon if that type of thing interests you. Other than those options...skip the boat or the DM!

will prolly do one boat dive over at Klein, maybe, time permitting.
I had wanted to go out to the park where the dive sites start at 1 *but* I have been told by folks who have been there before that it takes forever to get out there and some places you can only take a 4WD. so I guess we'll start and the southern end of the island (or end up there) around the salt pier...
some friends who had been there said they busted a front axle off their truck taking it out to the park... doh!

Thanks to everyone who has responded... can't wait till April!!

 

[scubadobadoo]

will prolly do one boat dive over at Klein, maybe, time permitting.
I had wanted to go out to the park where the dive sites start at 1 *but* I have been told by folks who have been there before that it takes forever to get out there and some places you can only take a 4WD. so I guess we'll start and the southern end of the island (or end up there) around the salt pier...
some friends who had been there said they busted a front axle off their truck taking it out to the park... doh!

Thanks to everyone who has responded... can't wait till April!!

I am excited for you! We return next month so.....

Yeah, going into the park to dive can be VERY time consuming and honestly dangerous. If something happens out there, god forbid, you are on your own. One small ankle twist can start an avalanche out there. I know of a man who simply tripped exiting a shore dive in Bonaire and hit his head on a rock and passed out. His wife couldn't get his head above water due to the surf and the rocks and her gear and he drowned so it only takes a minute. Entries, currents, surf, and other conditions like road issues can and probably will come up.

If ya really want some adventure without the huge safety risk and time then perhaps you can head a little north of Karpata (few people ever do) and dive sites like Nukove (marked site just before the park), Taylor Maid (unmarked), and Candy Land (unmarked). All three can be found by driving on the road that goes behind the Bopec oil storage tanks. Susan's book and being there to see the landmarks is the only way to find these sites your first time without a guide.

Honestly though, you will have so many shore sites to choose from that you really won't be missing anything if ya head north of Karpata or South of say Red Slave. Many visitors plan on doing "all that" but most get to Bonaire and realize that they just can't do it all in one week or even two.

HAVE FUN!!!!! Visit ShoreDiving.com - Your Shore Diving and Snorkeling Web Community! for in depth reviews and photos of all the sites mentioned already and MORE! ....No I don't have anything to do with the page other than being a contributor named Jason NYC.

 

[Andy_G]

Shore diving on Bonaire is amazing but if you really want to do a boat dive when you're there rather than diving Klein Bonaire may i suggest a day diving on the windward side of the Island. Get in touch with Larry at Larrys Wild Side Diving - bonaire diving Welcome at Larry's Wild Side they're the acknowledged "wild side" specialists on the Island
Have a great time, and don't forget the hard soled boots ;-)