On Island Trip Report Bonaire 20 Feb - 11 Mar

[Adaveke]

26 Feb

We've decided to buy some O-rings. I know this is standard equipment for every diver but we just hadn't felt the need for them yet. Last year we didn't need any, this year on the other hand. Loads of bottles with faulty O-rings...
That's not the only problem we're having at the moment. On our last dive of the day (Alice in wonderland) just before we where entering the water, my octo started to freeflow. No Alice in Wonderland, and since it was past 5 o'clock we didn't even try to get it repaired.
The previous two dives had been without any problems, very strange.

On the first dive of the day we visited 1000 steps, which was just wonderful as always. Although those bloody steps are bitch to handle when you come out...

Lunch was had at Elle's Deli again. It's convenient, it's good, ... why change?

The second dive of the day was at Windsock. We found the seahorses again. Almost on the same spot as last year. It's amazing how residential they are!
Furthermore this dive brought us a couple of morrays (one of them was a really tiny one), the tiniest cleaner shrimp you can imagine and about 10 juvenile spotted drums.

In stead of diving Alice in Wonderland we headed back to BBB and had corona in the jacuzzi followed by dinner at Rum Runners. It always surprises me how refined their cooking is!
I had the grilled catch of the day (which was Mahi Mahi) with the pineapple, chili rellish. Absolutely devine. Al along dinner I was making plans how I could fake my death and take on another identity, just so I could stay on the Island and have this kind of cooking every day...

 

[jennfl]

Thanks Adaveke for keeping your eyes out! Have a great rest of your trip.

 

[Waterskier1]

If you are talking about tank O-Rings, most of the dive ops have some they will give you for free (assuming you are renting their tanks). I know Wannadive has spares. I always keep a couple in the truck, just in case.

 

[Adaveke]

27 Feb

Some good news (at least for us): My octo was not free flowing after all. Must have been a grain of sand or something that was stuck and that came out while rinsing...

So in the morning we headed out for Alice in Wonderland. It came down very hard when we entered the water, but after a wonderful dive we came out with wonderful sunshine. The weather sure does change rather quick over here.
At the end of the dive we saw a huge Cubera Snapper! Couldn't believe our luck.

After Alice in Wonderland we headed back into town for lunch at city café (the vegetarian fajita's where absolutely devine) and to see the children parade for carnival.
Be aware, if they say something will start at 15.00h in Bonaire, it will absolutely not start at 15.00h. The parade started at 16.15h. But it was a hoot.
The different schools had really put an effort in it.

After the parade we hung out at 'El Mundo' for some beers before heading back to BBB for pre dinner drinks in the jacuzzi.

Dinner was had at 'La Guernica'. Again, very good food, cooked till perfection!
I had the gazpacho and the blue merlin in red wine sauce... All very well prepared, simply delicious.

 

[TheWizard]

Just curious: how did you secure your dive gear in your truck while you lunched at City Cafe?
Did you park so that you could see your truck while you ate?

 

[Jersey]

Couple of questions for you since you are there now, and I can take advantage of your perspective..... We will be there in May for one week, can't wait, even though I just found out I'm pregnant and can't dive. We will be snorkeling instead, but still looking forward to it.

Just read you ate at Sense. Is that located at the Tropical Inn where Tropical Divers is? Just curious how the hotel itself looks. We are diving with them, or at least my boyfriend is now, not me. We are planning to stay somewhere else, but may change our minds.

Also, have you been by the airport? How is it with the construction noise at night? The place we plan to stay is very very close to the airport, Waterlands Village. Jenn

Jenn - Sense is next to Tropical Inn and Tropical Divers. Same side of the road, all 3 basically across the street from the entrance to the Plaza. While I've never stayed there or done any diving with them, the Inn appears well maintained from the outside and the shop has been honest and helpful in the past. As for Waterlands, it is close to the airport, but not ajoining it. I would think noise would be buffered by distance and other properties. It looks nice - very new, on a canal of sorts.

Adaveke - glad you got to try and enjoy Sense. I find and read very little about it, our diner was a spur of the moment decision for which we were happily surprised. I had gin soaked tuna sashimi starter proving gin is not just for breakfast. (Joking) Wahoo sounds yummy.

Thanks you for keeping up your on island commentary.

 

[Adaveke]

Just curious: how did you secure your dive gear in your truck while you lunched at City Cafe?
Did you park so that you could see your truck while you ate?

the gear was dropped of at BBB. See, I shouldn't cut corners when typing up my report

 

[Adaveke]

28 Feb

The day started as every day starts for us on Bonaire, with corn flakes. We are not big breakfast fans, so we keep it simple.

For the first dive of the day we headed out to Karpata. Man, did we have some obstacles getting there. The Island was swarmed with POD people. (2 boats!) They all got in those tiny busses and taxis in order to see the northern sights. If you are behind them you will be biting your steering wheel as they drive really(!) slow...

Once we got there, we started gearing up, when we suddenly heard thunder. It turns out a german biker gang had landed on the island. About 20 Germans on Harley Davidsons stopped at Karpata. I shouted over to Hubby: "you know what I like so much about this island? The peace and Quiet!" Sarcasm? Me?

We tried to get in the water as soon as possible, to get away from all the noise.
The dive itself was a nice and relaxing one. At the end we even got to see another turtle.
When we came up, all was perfectly calm again.

We returned our gear to BBB and checked in at Rum Runner's for lunch. It was very quiet at RR, I guess the POD people scared the regulars away? Anyhow, it was a nice and quiet lunch. We gave all the iguanas a piece of lettuce, since they were begging... (They're just like dogs, aren't they?)

In the afternoon we dove Margate Bay and Vista Blue.
Margate Bay is absolutely magnificent. Although we spotted 6 lion fish on this one dive! We also got to see 3 barracudas and another turtle. Yay!
It was a bit dusky when we entered at vista blue, and boy does that change things on a reef. Lots of fish that are pretty dormant during the day come out and chase the reef. Fun Dive!

For dinner we went to It Rains Fishes. I had the Fish Creole and Hubby had the catch of the day. Both where really good. How is it that so many restaurants have such high standards on this island?
The coffee afterwards was fair trade, another plus point. Only thing I didn't like was to see the red snapper on their menu...
But for the rest, high praise.

 

[guilosch]

Hi, I´m going Saturday. I did not see anything about water temp. Can you tell which is the temp today and what type of exposure suit are you and hubby using?

Thanks!

 

[Adaveke]

Hi, I´m going Saturday. I did not see anything about water temp. Can you tell which is the temp today and what type of exposure suit are you and hubby using?

Thanks!

Hi,

last week my computer told me 28°C which is 82.4°F these last three days we've had a steady 27°C (80.6°F).
We're using 7mm wetsuits, but that's just because we don't own anything less than that...