Trip Report Bonaire Trip Report- Entire month of August- 2019

[cjibber]

Only upside to the green algae at Salt Pier was that I got to sit for 15 minutes in 10 feet of water watching 9 turtles munching on it when coming back in from one of my dives there.

Are they munching on the green algae or the red stuff poking through the sand?

The turtles were at Salt Pier before the algae:

 

[Trailboss123]

Are they munching on the green algae or the red stuff poking through the sand?

The turtles were at Salt Pier before the algae:
View attachment 538852

They may have been munching on both. I have seen them at Salt Pier in the past, but never in these quantities simultaneously- prior to the algae.

 

[Soloist]

Glad you enjoyed and made the most of your trip. Excellent report and nice bait ball. I blew out my knee (again) helping other divers at 1000 Steps several years ago and haven’t been back since, but may have to reconsider. It will be our turn in October. Unfortunately we will only be there for nine days...NOT an entire month! Seriously, a month? Good for you!

 

[Trailboss123]

Glad you enjoyed and made the most of your trip. Excellent report and nice bait ball. I blew out my knee (again) helping other divers at 1000 Steps several years ago and haven’t been back since, but may have to reconsider. It will be our turn in October. Unfortunately we will only be there for nine days...NOT an entire month! Seriously, a month? Good for you!

A month is a long time and I quickly realized after week two that I could not keep the same pace for a month that I would for a week or two. I definitely slowed down the # of dives the last two weeks, plus I was technically working from there the last 2 weeks and had other obligations-- but even if I had been completely free, I didn't have the stamina or motivation that you have when there for a shorter time frame.

 

[Soloist]

I definitely slowed down the # of dives the last two weeks

You “only” did 91 dives? I don’t think anyone will be calling you a slacker. It appears you made the most of your trip. Before heading down the last couple of times to Bonaire we convinced ourselves we would do fewer dives and take time to relax on the balcony...but it hasn’t happened yet!

 

[pelsasser]

@Trailboss123 - I sat next to you on the airplane ride to the island.

Nice trip report! I will send you a DM

 

[jcm1911a1]

Awesome report! Loved the bait ball and will definitely be looking for the turtles at Salt Pier when we return this coming spring! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has "been there, done that" for the Northern sites. Not really worth doing again for the time involved.

Could you please PM me your secret Trailboss site along with any tips for diving it?

 

[chiggins]

Thanks for a great report! I'll need to get the intel on the secret site for my next trip. I'm extremely jealous of your month, especially since I had a trip planned for 2 weeks in November which it has been postponed for work. In December on all of my days away, it's less than half the price for airfare to Indonesia or the Philippines. I'm very torn between the freedom of Bonaire and the critters of the indo pacific.
I noticed the red algae last winter at 1000 steps; hope it hasn't gotten worse since I've been. While I cant say that I've had a bad dive on Bonaire, that site was probably my least favorite. Did you get up to Nokove or any sites between there and Karpata?

 

[Steelyeyes]

• An unmarked dive site that I am naming after myself and you will have to message me to get the location—also my new favorite dive site on Bonaire. 

I'd be interested in this dive site as well. I'll be on the island for about 3 weeks in Oct. and I'm always looking for something new and fun.

 

[Steelyeyes]

They may have been munching on both. I have seen them at Salt Pier in the past, but never in these quantities simultaneously- prior to the algae.

Rumor has it that something killed the sea urchins that normally eat the algae. I noticed a lot of it there in July.