Dive flags in Bonaire?

[Bas Harts]

realize its not the question asked but they are required in Curacao. You may not have seen them, or you may ignore it but they are required there. Not in Bonaire which is a reason we go back year after year. Curacao we went once and were shocked to learn they are required there. Important reason we have not returned. my 2cents...

You must shock easy :/ IMO it's not a valid reason to stay away from Curacao :/

In Curacao they are required by law, but this law is not enforced in anyway.

Enforced or not they are for you own safety! (Although there is close too no boat traffic at most dive sites)

If you use them or not its your decision......


BUT like you said the OP's question is about Bonaire and not Curacao...............

 

[drrich2]

People vary in their reaction to ignoring laws. Some people don't like violating laws, and some people would get incensed if, by some wild chance, an authority figure made them an exception to the 'they don't bother you about it' norm that seems to be in place.

For someone with a camera in his right hand, using his left to monitor a dive computer & adjust BC gas while trying to enjoy the reef, the added hassles of messing with towing a dive flag would be undesirable.

So it becomes an issue of whether someone is cool with ignoring the requirement and hoping that they, like the overwhelming majority (if I understand correctly) are not challenged about it.

Richard.

 

[Bas Harts]

like the overwhelming majority (if I understand correctly) are not challenged about it.

You understand correctly

 

[boat sju]

ncaswell,

You may still find a use for a small smb if you have one. There are very few dive sites where kiteboards are an issue but if you do dive one of them the smb may give you peace of mind on your exit.

Also, we'll set an smb underwater with a 4# weight to mark our exit when we dive the extreme northern sites. Up there it can be a little more critical where you return to shore. The coral can be right up to the surface and you want to find the channel that you entered through. I think that's primarily at Caral's Vision. We used one at Nukove too but I don't think it was really necessary there.

 

[ncaswell]

Thanks all! That's helpful.