Bonaire trip booked - finally!

[Hintermann]

After several considerations and changes of mind, I have finally booked a short holiday (5 days of diving) in Bonaire in May 2015 before I go to Socorro. I booked a 4-dives a day custom package with VIP Divers which includes a day diving the East Coast, the option of going to the north coast and 2 dives in Klein Bonaire on the last day (for which VIP will arrange to 'loan' me to another operator unless they have acquired their own boat by then). The package includes one or two UV night dives and a normal torch night dive at Lai Cai on the east coast.

I have booked accommodation at Blachi Koko apartments which is very near VIP and they will pick me up and drop off every day. This means that I do not have to rent a vehicle for shore diving but I might rent a small car on an ad hoc daily basis while there to go to restaurants etc after the day's diving.

I am looking forward to it. Should make a nice contrast to the diving in Socorro.

 

[drrich2]

Well, if you're going to try to 'do' Bonaire in 5 days, it sounds like you've got a fine plan to do it, and make some memories while you're at it. Hope it goes great and you post us a report after you get back.

Richard.

 

[Hintermann]

Thanks Richard. If it goes well, I'll go back the follwing year for a longer trip before hanging-up my fins for good.

Arun

 

[herbdb]

Why give it up for good? Lots of us older divers around. I am looking forward to many more years. You will love the freedom of the diving on Bonaire. Give us a trip report.

 

[scubadada]

After several considerations and changes of mind, I have finally booked a short holiday (5 days of diving) in Bonaire in May 2015 before I go to Socorro.

Wow, you do plan ahead!

 

[Bas Tol(B.A.S.Diving)]

Good to see you have it all worked out, Arun. I think you'll be happy with the switch in place to stay. It's a really nice place plus you are more central to get picked up and within walking distance of town/restaurants.
If VIP does not acquire a boat by 2015, I think you'll be 'loaned' out more than once because they do not do the Lac Cai night dive (as is the case with 8 out of the 11 east coast dives listed on their web site, they are still there because I used to work with VIP, they just have not removed them yet). I'm the only one doing that dive at night. I'm looking forward showing you around on what is likely one of the best night dives you have done. That dive is loaded with all sorts of rare and obscure critters & fish!!
I'll have to agree with Herbdb.... why hang up the fins?? Not sure how old you are but I'm diving with Wally again tomorrow morning. Boka Onima is where I'll be taking him. He's 78, doing great and we're not boat diving or going to Something Special ;-) He's been diving with me for about 8 years, taken him all over the east coast. Allthough I can not do everything with him, we still dive places like Onima, Spelonk etc.. and he does very well. Sometimes I give him a bit of support getting in and out but basically does it all by himself. So, don't hang m up just yet

Bas

 

[Tunaman68]

Hey Bas -

Are you available to take two on "

what is likely one of the best night dives you have done"? We're coming in Sat morning and staying at Casa Calexico.
​

PM me!

Tom

 

[Hintermann]

Bas - the other Bas (Noij) did hint that the Lai Cai night dive could be with your boat.

Scubadada - as for planning ahead, I have to for several reasons. I am a GP (family doctor) by trade and the way our group practice is set-up, a 2 or 3 week holiday has to be reserved at least a year ahead. Also, I have family commitments which need advance arrangements for me to go away. But most importantly, I am primarily a liveaboard diver and as many of you know, popular boats often get filled-up a couple of years in advance. For example, after the Boanire break in May 2015, I am flying to Los Cabos to join the Rocio del Mar for 8 days of liveaboard diving in the Soccoro islands; that trip was already half full when I reserved my place 6 months ago. Socorro, Galapagos, Truk lagoon etc are very popular diving destinations.

Herbdb & Bas - The decision to hang-up fins was not easy but I have made it. When I started diving in 2006, I gave myself a target of 500 dives before my 60th birthday and retire. I'll be 60 in November 2015 and have planned all my dive trips till then; I'll be just short of 500 and so am planning that trip to the Bay Isles in March-April 2016 to finish off. My wife, who is only an occasional diver and considers herself now retired from the sport (though she is younger than I), put a lot of our combined land holiday plans on hold to support my diving hobby. In turn, I plan to go with her on all those land based holidays after I retire from diving. Those inlucde Madagascar, Peru, The Silk Route and so on and I cannot afford to do those and keep diving.

 

[Bas Noij]

Bas - the other Bas (Noij) did hint that the Lai Cai night dive could be with your boat.

Scubadada - as for planning ahead, I have to for several reasons. I am a GP (family doctor) by trade and the way our group practice is set-up, a 2 or 3 week holiday has to be reserved at least a year ahead. Also, I have family commitments which need advance arrangements for me to go away. But most importantly, I am primarily a liveaboard diver and as many of you know, popular boats often get filled-up a couple of years in advance. For example, after the Boanire break in May 2015, I am flying to Los Cabos to join the Rocio del Mar for 8 days of liveaboard diving in the Soccoro islands; that trip was already half full when I reserved my place 6 months ago. Socorro, Galapagos, Truk lagoon etc are very popular diving destinations.

Herbdb & Bas - The decision to hang-up fins was not easy but I have made it. When I started diving in 2006, I gave myself a target of 500 dives before my 60th birthday and retire. I'll be 60 in November 2015 and have planned all my dive trips till then; I'll be just short of 500 and so am planning that trip to the Bay Isles in March-April 2016 to finish off. My wife, who is only an occasional diver and considers herself now retired from the sport (though she is younger than I), put a lot of our combined land holiday plans on hold to support my diving hobby. In turn, I plan to go with her on all those land based holidays after I retire from diving. Those inlucde Madagascar, Peru, The Silk Route and so on and I cannot afford to do those and keep diving.

FYI Arun...neither Bas T nor me has a boat...so the dives will be from shore with Bas T as well.

 

[Hintermann]

FYI Arun...neither Bas T nor me has a boat...so the dives will be from shore with Bas T as well.

That is perfectly fine with me. I have booked my dive package with you (VIP) and am happy to follow the itinerary suggested by you in the e-mail.