boot/fin recommendations

[caldiver23]

First trip to Bonaire coming up in December. We have booties with stiff soles, but not the hiking-boot things I see recommended for Bonaire. Are they truly a good thing to have? Will out existing boots be good enough? If we buy the "hiking" booties, we need new fins to fit them into! Shops on the island seem to rent mostly full heel fins, which likely fit only the standard booties.

Water temps in December? Visibility? (Not that we can change anything about it - that's when our trip is)

Thx

 

[Chasin' Tales]

My wife and I both have the regular booties with a molded plastic sole similar to the Scubapro Delta boot. It's not heavy duty at all. They worked fine for all of our shore dives. It sounds like the ones you already have will be just fine.

 

[bcaderunr]

Been to Bonaire twice in the past 2 years -- 3 weeks of shore diving so far. Our regular pairs of booties are holding up just fine.

 

[diversteve]

I've used the Tusa Imprex boots there and on Curacao (same ironshore...) with good results. They have enough of a tread pattern for grip, yet fit my existing fins. I prefer a boot with a little "feel" when picking my way over the ironshore - esp. in the shallows.

Check out any of these site descriptions for pictures of the entries. Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands