Bonaire, which dive sites have I missed??

[Blackrock]

There are actually 3 accessible wrecks from Eden Beach (Front Porch).

The tug boat (which you talked about) is the furthest north. It's between Bari Reef and Eden Beach. As you said, it's about 95'.

The second is the sailboat which is about directly out from the wooden dock at Eden. It's in about 60'-75'.

The third is a bit of a swim from Eden heading south. This is a wooden wreck called "Our Confidence." This wreck (if memory serves) is in about 50'. Sometimes there is a current flowing south off of Eden Beach so keep that in mind when calculating turnaround time and air consumption.




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[Martha]

Rung was fine on Oil Slick in November 2 weeks after Omar.

We were there over Christmas and the rung was missing. I hope it's fixed now. I'm short, so it made it rather difficult to get to the next rung.

 

[DiverKKC]

Thanks Blackrock. I didn't know there were any others there. I'll have to check them out when I'm there....much appreciated.

 

[amajamar]

Also, there is a short cut that you can take from just outside Karpata back to the main road near the Oil Slick. The short cut will get you back to town a lot faster than going through Rincon.


Once you depart Karpata heading toward Rincon, take the first dirt road on the right. It is a bit rough, and you have to go slow but it will save a lot of time.

Ryan

Just to quickly revive this thread, could you guys please elaborate on the shortcut? What points are you connecting to cut out Rincon? Forgive my stupidity but I will be there in two weeks for the first time, and I am trying to gather all the pointers I can!

Thanks in advance!

 

[DeputyDan]

The short cut goes up by the radio towers.

It looks a bit like a donkey trail when you first see it from the paved road.

It is on the right and is not very far from where the road turn inward toward Ricon.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Rung was fine on Oil Slick in November 2 weeks after Omar. Ol' Blue also looked fine, although we didn't dive it.

I really liked White Slave for something different. Red Slave was okay. I liked The Lake quite a bit, and also Bloodlet, but that is boat only. Most of my other favorites you have done. Bari is a lot like Front Porch. I really like the shallow pier wreckage between Bari and Front Porch. I've never been able to find the wreck there.

Tom

The rung at Oil Slick was missing two weeks ago when I dived it.

White Slave was a bit of a rough entry for us ... we all got bowled over at least once getting in and out. By contrast, Vista Blue was about the easiest entry I have done on any of the south side dive sites. It was also one of the more interesting dive sites we did while we were there.

Angel City is a "must do" to my concern ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[b1gcountry]

Yeah, when you go past Karpata, and turn right to head back to Rincon, there will be a red rock marking a little dirt road on the right. The road is only about 1Km after you turn inland, and is very easy to miss. Turn right on the road, and it will take you back towards the radio towers. It dumps you back on the main road near the nice houses.

The road is very bad, and they were doing some construction in November, burying some cables or something.

Tom

 

[b1gcountry]

We may have hit White Slave on a calm day. It was nice not having to step down over ironshore, though.

Tom

 

[CUunderH2O]

Just got back on Sunday. Ol' Blue is still easy to get into, just different. You have to go the southern part of the parking area and climb down a little (not bad at all, even with heavy camera and dive gear). There's a sandy entrance right at the southern end of the beach, by a big flat rock.

The rung at Oil Slick is still missing, but if you put your left foot on the stub of metal on the left, you can hoist yourself up enough to get out. The sandy bit from the parking area to the edge is all gone, it's all exposed ironshore now. A little harder to get to the 'leap' now.

Karpata is still easy to get into. Same entry as usual, just a bit more coral debris in the shallows.

Angel City was a nice dive (several eagle rays, and cherubfish on the second reef).

Red Slave was actually fairly easy to get in as the first dive of the day. Dive it in the morning before the winds are up.

White Slave was the same as usual.

At Front Porch, there used to be a line from the shallows (14-20ft) above the tugboat, attached to a wooden post (old pier piling?) Now, just find that post and start your descent there; you'll see some pipes crossed in an X. You'll find the line down to the tugboat in around 30' or so (maybe less).

Witches Hut was a little tougher to get into (the coral rubble is much steeper), but definitely do-able.

Andrea II was still a nice dive, but completely changed from last year (lots of sand covering the bottom).

Something Special was very easy to get into (soft sand). Stiff current there one day.

In general I found the southern sites better (more variety of sealife) on this trip; I guess the northern sites were damaged a bit more. We dove southern sites in the mornings, and northern in the afternoons.

We didn't try the shortcut back from Karpata, as there were a lot of construction vehicles at the entrance to it, as well as the exit.

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

I drove the shortcut two week ago , it was in very good condition . A little construction is going on up there .
I recommend the far south . Easy entry's and exits , pristine reefs .