Happy to report no PBD here...

[georoc01]

It seems like Divi Flamingo's setup with 3 boat dives a day may be more what you prefer. We are doing that in May and should have a report in about a month..

 

[Papa Steve]

Got beat up at Angel City so be careful there. 1000 steps isn't as bad as it sounds.

Tell me more about Angel City. My wife and I are going down in September. She's a little concerned about difficult shore entries. Angel City was one of the first dives I was planning on doing since I heard it was one of the easiest entries.

Thanks

 

[dogenia]

Maybe its the high winds we are currently having in the area?

You might want to check windguru periodically for wind conditions? Just a suggestion.

Don

 

[Trixxie]

Tell me more about Angel City. My wife and I are going down in September. She's a little concerned about difficult shore entries. Angel City was one of the first dives I was planning on doing since I heard it was one of the easiest entries.

Thanks

It may have just been the amount of surge at that time and not picking the right place to come back at. I was low on air going in, someone put the cap back on an empty tank so I gave a new diver w/us my full tank and took the one w/800 lbs in it. I got down but couldn't stay without a little effort.

Decided to call it quits around 500 and came in over the rocks, that was probably a poor call on my part but thought it would be easy to stand up there but with the surge I ended up getting knocked around. Remember to keep your reg in your mouth - that helped me from drinking seawater I'm sure. At first I was worried about my camera housing then said if it survives it survives, I am more concerned about getting me out at this point.

Let myself get run across the rocks a little ways to get to an easier exit point, once I got my footing it was ok, it was just a little tricky finding a good place to stand up. Who knew you could get scrapes under a wetsuit without the wetsuit tearing?

 

[Trixxie]

Tell me more about Angel City. My wife and I are going down in September. She's a little concerned about difficult shore entries. Angel City was one of the first dives I was planning on doing since I heard it was one of the easiest entries.

Thanks

Checkout Windsock, that was an easy entry and was a good dive. it's on the way to Angel City.

 

[herman]

Amen! With a relaxed group including Herman and DeputyDan, and an assortment of vehicles that going with a larger group allows, there are so many diving options anyones diving tastes can be accomidated. My GF is happy with 1 maybe 2 dives and snorkeling and sunning, my teenagers dive constantly, and I need 4 tanks minimum plus night or I dry out.
(sigh)I should have been in Bonaire all last week.....at least we'll have July!

July is coming. With 18 this year we are going to have to break up some, otherwise I may not have any hair remaining...and I need to keep all I have. Great group so it should be fine.

Tell me more about Angel City. My wife and I are going down in September. She's a little concerned about difficult shore entries. Angel City was one of the first dives I was planning on doing since I heard it was one of the easiest entries.

Thanks

I would put Angle City down the list a little if for no other reason it is a little deeper than the typical dive...or at least mine anyway.
The first 2 I would suggest are Windsock in the south and Old Blue in the north. Very easy entries and exits. A couple of other easy sites are Witches Hut (N) and an unmarked site about 1/2 mile past the salt pier (S). The unmarked site is another very easy entry with a large flat section of coral from the shore into waist deep water, it is a little swim out to the reef but the entry is super easy.
The key to most entry and exits on Bonaire is to carefully scout the site first, polarized lenses help. If you study the site for a little you will be able to find a channel to enter and exit from, this channel may or may not be directly at the parking spot and it may angle or curve some. It is important to find the channel and use it. Random attempts to enter and exit at many sites is a bad idea. This is the way I mark the channel for return. Before I submerge, I locate myself at the end of the channel and line myself up with some object on shore, 2 objects are better then take note of the direction and angle of the exit.
Entries are best made with fins off and BC inflated. Enter and as soon as possible squat down and let the BC take the weigth of the equipment. Duckwalk with your reg in your mouth until your chest deep water then push off and put your fins on. This is easiest done while floating face down, reg in mouth...having your buddy submerge and put your fins on is an option. Exits are similar, find the enterance of the channel, surfacing if you must to align yourself and swim underwater until your waist deep in water, remove your fins- again face down reg in is the easiest, then duck walk as far as practical until you must stand up. If the surf is up some, move between waves, standing still during passing waves. It is also helpful for stronger divers to go in first, remove gear and return to assist weaker divers, 4 legs are better than 2. Most sites on Bonaire are not that difficult but you do need to plan your entry and exits, random guessing can be painful.

 

[piikki]

Couple of other very easy entries are: Calabas Reef, Valero, Yellow Submarine and Vista Blue (but the time we went to Vista the viz absolute sucked because it has so much sand to blow about in surf). I also find Bachelors Beach easy but you have to maneuver the stairs that some people might not like.

I have had some hairy times exiting Angel City too. On our first trip the winds were up, and those little ledges were enough challenge for newbie-ocean divers in tiny surf. Buddy certainly proved that you can get a hunk of flesh off through wetsuit.

 

[robint]

the easiest entry/exit we found down south was Alice in Wonderland. It is exactly what the "shore diving" book says too... we dropped over the reef down to 100' depth and sat and watched a field of 100+ garden eels, then headed back over the gorgeous reef towards shore. Very nice dive!

roughest entry for me was the Hilma Hooker! Not only did I wipe out and crash and burn getting churned face down in the coral but I used my video housing to break my fall and keep me from smashing my face into the rocks... so I got some nice scratches on the red filter. Luckily, the scratches don't affect the video.

 

[Papa Steve]

Checkout Windsock, that was an easy entry and was a good dive. it's on the way to Angel City.

Thanks for the tip.

And . . .your post above describes quite an ordeal. I'm glad all you received were some scratches.

I have to admit, I have an evil streak. If I saw it happening I'm sure I would have rushed out to help but once you were on shore and out of danger I would have probably started LMAO.

 

[gert7to3]

The past 2 weeks in Bonaire have been windy with occasional rain. The wind kicked up near shore debris and the rain promoted algal growth. So vis has been low by Bonaire standards.

Many people make the mistake of getting themselves in too shallow before popping their fins and trying to walk out. If you get too shallow the surge will roll you around as you get up on your knees. Ironshore is even less fun to crawl on than to walk on. Remove your fins just at the point where you can stand. This way you're already upright, not hoisting a BC, your weights and juggling fins. The surge will push you in. Look for little chutes eroded in the ledges. These offer pathways to shore. Two people bracing against eachother and clamboring out together is another method.

It also helps to count waves. There is usually a pattern, with several smaller waves building to a big one, followed by a brief lull. Move during the brief slack period. Slide your feet along with a wide braced stance. You may only advance your foot one shoe length at a time, but you'll stay upright.

Playa Pabou, just north of Yellow Submarine is another easy sand beach entry. It is the shore side entry point nearest Something Special. The fish diversity seems greater here. It's also a good night dive site. The house reefs can assume a circus like aspect early in the evening.