Question about LATE night diving

[Craig66]

After being a Coz addict, I have decided to break out and give Bonaire a whiz. I leave in 3 weeks and am literally counting the minutes. There is something so attractive about diving where and when I want and the lack of strong currents and absence of a waiting dive boat has really got me excited - dont get me wrong I am still a Cozaholic but this is going to be a great week (May 19 - May 27)

On a serious note though - does the pool ever close? I am a serious insomniac. Alas it appears that my dive buddy RadHal actually needs his beauty sleep but if I can find a buddy for a 11pm - 1am dive is that allowed or advised.


Thanks

Craig

 

[diversteve]

Depending on who you're getting tanks from you may need to make arrangements before they close. Some operators will put them out for you with notice with your name on them, others will store them in a secured area that you can access with a key you're given and others you'll need to get/store them in your room b4 they close.

For example, at Belmar your room key gets you into a public area of the diveshop for tanks, use of the nitrox analyzer etc 24/7.

Many of the resorts light up their docks at night. A couple even underwater. If you dive any of the non-resort sites it will be really dark - there's no lights/facilities at any of them. If you hang a strobe off the mooring rope you'll see it u/w for a long way.

You do know about the tarpon right?

Another good option is a dawn dive - the reef wakes up around sun-up. We like to get in while it's still dark.

I am a serious insomniac.

Join the club...

 

[deco_martini]

The pool is never technically closed, but your access to tanks after hours can be limited depending on which op you have and whether or not you have a vehicle.

 

[rhwestfall]

see if Gypsy Jim chimes in. I read a post of his where his favorite Bonaire "night dive" is being in the water as the sun comes up.... he might hold the clues as to how to pull it off....

 

[RJP]

At Plaza Resort, my buddy and I simply loaded tanks into our truck before the fill station closed for the night. We wanted nitrox, which was not "technically" available 24hrs. Air was.

 

[Craig66]

Depending on who you're getting tanks from you may need to make arrangements before they close.

You do know about the tarpon right?

Join the club...

We will be add Buddy dive and I do know about the Tarpon. Learnt the hard way one night diving in Belize off the Nekton . Scared the hell out of me.

---------- Post added April 28th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ----------

Thanks all..will have to see if I can find someone crazy enough to join me or perhaps I will just slip RadHal a little caffeine...and if all else fails I will have to be satisfied with 5 dives a day

 

[Sue Sue]

Craig, No worries, I am Cozaholic as well, however, Michael and I are beginning week 2 of our Bonaire dive trip and we absolutely are having a wonderful time. We really like the freedom of diving whenever we want, especially the pre dawn dives. Late night dives are awesome as well, especially with the Tarpon activity. One tip I will pass on is depending on your water temp tolerances, you may want to pack a thermal layer in addition to what you usually dive in Coz. In our experience, after diving 2 to 4 tanks a day,60 - 90+ min dives, which include predawn and late night, our cores get chilled easily. We do take advantage of the ability to have long SI's, often 2+ hours, to warm up (and off gas as well). With that said, our dive day is upon us. Time to get our gear set, drive down to to the dive sites and jump in ! Have a wonderful Bonaire trip. Late night, pre dawn, all day.. It's all up to you !

 

[RJP]

In our experience, after diving 2 to 4 tanks a day,60 - 90+ min dives, which include predawn and late night, our cores get chilled easily.

You need a dry suit...

5-6 60+ minute dives a day for a week straight in Bonaire, including 90min night dive at Town Pier... never cold once!

 

[Sue Sue]

Of course, to each their own. For us, an extra Thermal layer, with a hood, is adequate when needed.

 

[spectrum]

While at buddy dive I did a skin dive out to the edge of the dropoff at daybreak. The awakening was amazing!