Trip Report Isidel Beach Park October 2024

[divezonescuba]

There was some more work on the water side of the park this last week. The path down and boat ramp were blocked off to vehicles with cones. I had heard somewhere that there were eventually going to be carts. We observed divers walking from the parking lot to the ramp. It’s a long walk from the parking lot.

I climbed out of the water onto the ramp on one dive. It as a really easy entry / exit. The material is some sort of rough non-slip synthetic material.

 

[scubadada]

HI @divezonescuba

In the article posted by @tursiops a "pier for wheelchair users" is mentioned as a future installation.

 

[Jake 10]

thank you @scubadada for the report

 

[rmorgan]

Thanks from me, too--I missed it the first time 'round. The ramp into the water is an interesting idea, assuming the slime is scrubbed off on occasion. We stayed in Blue Marlin awhile back, and saw several people take hard and/or floundering falls going doing entries from the (former) parking lot.

 

[divezonescuba]

HI @divezonescuba

In the article posted by @tursiops a "pier for wheelchair users" is mentioned as a future installation.

There are two fully functional ramps that now allow entry to the water. The previous narrower one with rails as seen in your photo and the wider “boat ramp” one that your picture, now with the synthetic extension into the water.

However, I am not sure the actual intended or authorized use for either. The wider one could accommodate a trailerable boat width wise. The one that I went up was the wider one.

There did not appear to be a flatter section in the water where a wheel chair could be positioned to allow someone to easily enter the water. At least not yet. I think that they could add an under water pier to allow that. The synthetic grid material could also be used for an underwater pier. So far, it seems like it is holding up.

There are some pvc and mesh wheelchairs on the market that could be used for mobility issues with some expectation of longevity.

When my wife broke her ankle on the Den Lamen dock at the end of 2022, I had to push her around in a wheel chair for 6 months. Pushing a chair up the wider ramp with the overall existing grade might prove to be a bit difficult. I am not sure about the narrower one as I did not go up that one.

 

[scubadada]

...I had heard somewhere that there were eventually going to be carts...

Maybe like the ones they use over at Dive Friends Sand Dollar/Den Laman for loading your truck or transporting gear down to the pier and back?

 

[tkaelin]

All good information. Heading down soon and diving Bari is on the list

 

[tkaelin]

Sorry if I missed it but are the food stands cash, credit card or both?

 

[scubadada]

Sorry if I missed it but are the food stands cash, credit card or both?

I only ate at The Fat Dog, it was cash. And delicious

Here is the menu for The Fat Dog

MENU

thefatdogbonaire.com