First trip to Bonaire

[robint]

Thanks! You guys are awesome! Tons of great advice to sort through.

We are seriously contemplating getting the truck for the entire time at this point, or at least getting it a few days into the trip after some (or a lot of...) dives on the house reef. Also, the last thing we're worried about is boredom - we're both fish biologists and into photography, so we'll be not only looking to catch images of the critters, but behaviour as well and that takes time and familiarity.
Mountain Dog, the schedule you laid out for how your favourite days go on Bonaire is exactly what we've got planned! You're our hero!

DiverKKC, thanks for all the great advice and comments. Very much appreciated!

Thanks again, All.

Lee

Fish biologists and photographers......... holy cow, you are going to be in HEAVEN. We went on our trip with a group of photographers, some professional, and they all had a blast. In fact, several of them did 6-7 dives per day if they found a spot they liked. They staked out frogfish, or seahorse, or yellowhead jawfish, or.....you get the picture, and would spend a whole dive laying in the sand in front of them, shooting away. At dinner each night we would discuss where we dived each day, and several of them would talk about 5 dives on a reef that day, just taking pictures of one particular fish. LOL One guy found a Sgt Major nest with eggs, and went back every day to photo the eggs developing.... made an awesome series.

robin

 

[DiverKKC]

Hey Lee, you're welcome.

You'll love Bonaire. I've dove quite a few places, and Bonaire is still among my favorite. Explore all that the island has to offer. I've found some of the southern double reefs are better for sheer fish diversity (really like a giant, very well stocked aquarium), and some of the northern (Oil Slick Leap, Ol'Blue) are some of my favorites for other reasons.

I can't tell you how many dives I get in while there. It really is, wake up-dive, breakfast-dive, early afternoon-dive, eat a sandwich, late afternoon-dive, night-dive, sleep like a rock and repeat. It's great.

A couple other things;

-I would spend one day enjoying Washington-Slagbai National Park on the northern tip. Be sure to take your camera, I have some wonderful shots from that beautiful area.
-If your package includes a daily (normally late morning) boat dive, consider going. The divemasters I dove with were great and will be able to point out a lot of things you could miss. Frogfish, seahorses and such are easy to miss, but they know where to find them.
-stock up on sandwich or other "make at your room" food items. My package included a free, and good, breakfast at Buddy's, and exploring some local dining is recommended, but I was diving so ridiculously much I didn't care to spend much time searching for food :scubadive:
-if driving and diving (a must), leave nothing of value in your pickup when unattended. It may not be there when you get back.
-really, really, really consider renting a truck. There are too many sites to explore without.
-dive at all hours. The night dives are awesome, several tarpon almost always join you. On a couple of occasions, they used my spotlight to spot small fish and were feeding right in front of me. Dive at dawn. I've seen eagle rays more often at that time (sand flats of Invisibles) and you'll see a larger diversity of life on any of the sites.
-dive slow. No need to rush on Bonaire. Micro life is plentiful, and you'll miss a lot not paying attention. Honestly, you could pick out a small grid, and spend almost an entire dive investigating all that small area has to offer.
-try to achieve near perfect buoyancy. For one, you don't want to damage the reef, but also being able to hover and closely examine the reefs will reward you.

Enjoy and let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

Kevin

 

[newmanl]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the additional info and tips! We plan to do exactly as you suggest - dive, dive, dive - go real slow and take it all in.

We do plan on getting a truck - maybe the entire time or maybe for the last two weeks or so after we've done a bunch of dives on the house reef. I've been certified a long time and have lots of varied experience, but my wife is relatively new to diving - so we were thinking of taking it slow and hanging around the house reef until she's comfortable with everything. As for not leaving anything in a vehicle, we do that at home and when on vacation!

We also plan to visit the park - any info on diving/snorkeling the mangroves? Is it allowed? I spent a lot of time in the mangroves on Grand Cayman in the North Sound when I lived there (working as an Instructor and dive guide), but have not been back... in, glup, about 25 years. I've spent the last bunch of years going to the Amazon and would really like to get back in the water around the trees if possible.

Again, thanks for the info and tips! I'll post a trip report with photos when we get back.

Thanks!

Lee

 

[DiverKKC]

Hey Lee,

I haven't been in the mangroves, but a couple of my friends took a kayaking tour through them while I was diving the Hooker. I think you could snorkel them if you wanted, but I would check first. I'm sure lots of young fish call it home before heading out into the Carribean, might be fun.

Definitely post some pics and let me know how it goes. I have some great topside pics from my last trip but they were on slide film and are just now being scanned onto a disc. If I can figure out how to, I will post them on this thread for you when I get them back.

When are you going again?

 

[DiverKKC]

Lee, I added you to my friends list (never used that here before). Let's keep in touch about Bonaire in case one of us finds a new divesite, great restaraunt, etc.

 

[newmanl]

Hey Kevin,

Thanks! I'd like to see any photos you wouldn't mind sharing. We leave on April 4th - can't wait! I'll for sure post a few images here when we get back. About the mangroves - I'll check with the Park when we get there or ask our host - he's a long-time resident and will likely have the info or be able to point me in the right direction.

I've accepted your friend request, thanks. It sounds like a great idea keeping in touch about Bonaire. I have the feeling that Bonaire just might become a regular haunt if there's even half the diving freedom everyone has talked about! There's no such thing as too much time in the water!

Thanks again, Kevin.

Lee

 

[herman]

Here is a link to some of my photos, enjoy.
NC Divers Photo Gallery - Home > User galleries > herman

 

[gypsyjim]

Herman, your pics are SO much better than mine I should just leave my cameras at home!

 

[herman]

BLEEEP Jim !!! I just remembered I have your copy of 08's trip buried on my desk. I will get it in the mail to you, got a slide show as well.

 

[phelana]

Caribbean Laundry is a 15 min walk/1 min truck ride from Carib Inn. Sunrise Convenience Store across from the Divi has some fruit and veggies and dry goods such as pasta. Also beer and wine. May I share my two new fav dining spots:

Unbelievable a 10 min walk from Carib Inn and Yacht Club Restaurant is about a 4 min. car ride. It is near Bistro de Paris. Both are very good. The wine at U is so so but Robby's fish is very good. YCR has by far one of the best chef's on island. The best deal remains the 13.00 Bar Menu at Mona Lisa.

Ann Phelan
Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations--Your Caribbean Travel Specialist