Bonaire, Trip Report: Buddy Dive and more, Oct 3 - 10

[gert7to3]

Thanks for identifying the site where your thefts occurred. This can help warn others about more dangerous sites. My suspicion is that the northern sites are the worst. Most of them have a lot of cover around them and a lot of passing traffic going to Rincon. Southern sites are more open and a long ways away from town.

If your topside person was only out of sight from the vehicles for such a short period of time, then the miscreants were probably watching and waiting. Oil Slick has a couple of roads around it and some trails on top of the upper cliff, overlooking the site.

Much as booby trapping something appeals to me, you might not want to be the one who has their dye pack blow up on a TSA flunky (I'm sorry, inspector) at your departure airport. Or worse, a customs official at Flamingo.

Although it's too late for you, others should consider having the last person in at Oil Slick, hand down cameras before fully gearing up to make the jump. The inverse for getting out. First one up drops their tank/BC then collects cameras from those following.

 

[Georgiadaybreak]

After reading several posts....I have a few questions...I am assuming the truck has only a key, not a remote....also, how comfortable to you feel drinking the water you leave in the truck upon your return diving? Do you think the locals tampered with it? I get low blood sugar after a dive and eat a cookie or something...where should we stash any food? Are we being "watched" by locals the moment we park at a dive site thus we shouldn't even try to "hide" anything?

Sorry so many questions....I am going to Bonaire for the first time in Feb. Thanks!

 

[Scuba Monster]

On a final note, please, please, please, don't leave ANYTHING of value in the truck while you are out diving. At Oil Slick we had one diver staying on shore and didn't want to take the camera on the jump off the rocks. Sooo, at some point during our dive the non-diver walked the 50 ft from the trucks to the shore, sat down for a few minutes, and when returned to the truck, after about 5 minutes, three cameras were gone from two trucks. I'll be shopping for a new G10. Unfortunately, I have no pictures or videos to share. Sorry.

Tom

On a positive note to your loss of a G10 ... we had the G10, but with some problems. Cannon replaced it with the G11 - love it even better! Go for the G11!

 

[herman]

After reading several posts....I have a few questions...I am assuming the truck has only a key, not a remote....also, how comfortable to you feel drinking the water you leave in the truck upon your return diving? Do you think the locals tampered with it? I get low blood sugar after a dive and eat a cookie or something...where should we stash any food? Are we being "watched" by locals the moment we park at a dive site thus we shouldn't even try to "hide" anything?

Sorry so many questions....I am going to Bonaire for the first time in Feb. Thanks!

Welcome to the board. Please don't blow this out of porportion. As islands go Bonaire is safer than most. Contrary to what some would have you believe there are not thieves waiting behind every bush just waiting to jump out and rob you. If you leave valuable goods in a vehicle unattended they may be taken, otherwise there is little to worry about. I have taken at least 1 trip to Boniare every year since 99 with groups ranging from 2 to 24 (including 2 trips last year) and so far I have had zero, nada, no problems. The only thing my divers take to the site are old shoes, tshirts, towels (plain old resort ones) and water. As for hiding anything, what is there to hide?? There is no need to take anything with you to the dive site that does not go in the water with the exception of those things I listed above. I carry a credit card, room keys, a $20 bill and the truck key in a secure case....it's susposed to be waterproof but it's not ...that is all you need that is of any value. Water does not hurt CCs, metal keys or money. I clip/tie the case in a BC pocket and then zip it shut, totally safe. Anything else you may need can be kept at the resort, dive sites are rarely more that 4 or 5 miles from a dive site. If you are still concerned about your need for sugar, just take a juice or soda with you under water in a BC pocket, the depth will not effect it.

Don't take anything of value to the sites, leave the vehicle unlocked with the windows down and enjoy the diving freedom the exist no other place.

 

[SubMariner]

Welcome to the board. Please don't blow this out of porportion. As islands go Bonaire is safer than most. Contrary to what some would have you believe there are not thieves waiting behind every bush just waiting to jump out and rob you. If you leave valuable goods in a vehicle unattended they may be taken, otherwise there is little to worry about. I have taken at least 1 trip to Boniare every year since 99 with groups ranging from 2 to 24 (including 2 trips last year) and so far I have had zero, nada, no problems. The only thing my divers take to the site are old shoes, tshirts, towels (plain old resort ones) and water. As for hiding anything, what is there to hide?? There is no need to take anything with you to the dive site that does not go in the water with the exception of those things I listed above. I carry a credit card, room keys, a $20 bill and the truck key in a secure case....it's susposed to be waterproof but it's not ...that is all you need that is of any value. Water does not hurt CCs, metal keys or money. I clip/tie the case in a BC pocket and then zip it shut, totally safe. Anything else you may need can be kept at the resort, dive sites are rarely more that 4 or 5 miles from a dive site. If you are still concerned about your need for sugar, just take a juice or soda with you under water in a BC pocket, the depth will not effect it.

Don't take anything of value to the sites, leave the vehicle unlocked with the windows down and enjoy the diving freedom the exist no other place.

Good advice. We've been to Bonaire about 12 times now & everything you say is spot on, Herman. Good job!

 

[Tom Kreider]

G11, nope. Got another G10.

Already booked for three weeks in Bonaire in 2010. Two in May and another on October. No hard feelings against Bonaire. I knew not to leave the camera in the truck... but did it anyway.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I just got back from my second trip this year and here is what I do! I use a cheap dry bag for soda, water, and fill it with Ice from the ice machine..... Then I roll the windows 3/4 up so if someone really needs to get in they can. I do lock the doors, just to make it a little harder! Remember thieves are lazy.... I cover the dry bag with an old towel on the back floor behind the passengers seat. Throw my clothes around like they don't matter and carry money and key diving with me.....

I often wonder why the resorts couldn't put lockable bed boxes in the trucks, but who knows?

They are doing more private security patrols at the parking sites and park in the open and you will be fine!

 

[pa diver]

I do the same ..... so far so good.