Rough return time from Buddy Dive's morning boat dives?

[hroark2112]

When are you going? I'll be there 5/3-5/10.

 

[drrich2]

May 17'th. Just me this time, which will be a 1rst. 7 Trips, and I've yet to actually drive there. Got an automatic truck reserved, which should help. Hope my reticence at undertaking new motor skills related activity doesn't cut into my dive count.

Richard.

P.S.: Yes, there are other good places to eat. Captain Don's is reputable for pizza; the 'fish pizza' at Pasa Bon Pizza was okay, and a novelty to me. I liked City Cafe' and Cactus Blue, but I think they closed. Cactus Blue has a truck stand at the coast somewhere, I think. Wil's Grill is quite nice. I liked It Rains Fishes, but pricey. Bon Appetit for Chinese that's not too expensive. Thing is, wherever I go, I get 'Catch of the Day,' and it's usually the same thing. I think it was the last trip where I didn't get to have barracuda at Wil's, but was delighted to get it back at Buddy Dive Resort instead.

 

[T.C.]

You got an automatic?

Part of the fun for me is getting to drive an manual. Even though they probably have to replace the clutch and the oil after I turn it in, and even though I stall it or grind gears like a teenager.

Even though it's hard to impress cute girls when your truck looks like it's having a seizure, it's still more fun than an auto.

 

[hroark2112]

I enjoy going to rental places and telling them "I can't drive this car, I don't know how to drive an automatic!"

 

[t4e]

Hi:

I know the answer will vary with site. I'm trying to figure out a rough 'work flow' for planning a 7 day trip to Buddy Dive Resort (been there before a couple of times). In my prior Bonaire trips, I've only shore dove; never felt the inclination to set foot on a boat in Bonaire. But when I was working out the logistics for this trip, I noticed they had a special going on, where I could get 9 boat dives instead of 3, and up to a $75 restaurant credit (which I'll use; I've eaten around on Bonaire, usually get 'Catch of the Day,' it's usually wahoo or mahi mahi plus vegetables and so forth, and sometimes a fried calamari appetizer). So for very little added cost over the shore diving only package, assuming I'll eat supper at Buddy's quite a bit (which I planned on anyway), I can get up to 9 boat dives.

If I want to. And these boat dives don't count the park, I'm told; not using 3 credits for a 3 tank trip up there. Ah, well...

Question is, if I do a morning boat dive to Klein Bonaire, for example, any idea what time I'm likely to be back? I'd like to know when I can be in a truck heading to a shore site, so I can at least guess how many dives I can get in that day with good natural light.

Richard.

P.S.: Been to Bonaire before. Washington-Slagbaii Park is beautiful, waves crashing upon the rocky northern (park; think Playa Chikitu), eastern & southern shores are impressive, the donkey sanctuary is fun and the southern lighthouse is neat to see. I've been to Seru Largo, a mountain top with a Christian monument atop it, at night; there's a panoramic view online by day that's one sweet view. So I've seen the sites. This trip, I just want to dive.

google tells me is roughly about 1km from mainland

https://goo.gl/maps/im8Jr

 

[drrich2]

You got an automatic?

Part of the fun for me is getting to drive an manual.

I haven't dove an automatic since I was a kid on a tractor. Have very little idea how, and I'm often slow to acquire motor skills. I tend to have focused attention, and the broad awareness needed for driving in general, much less in a foreign country, makes the tried & true the way to go.

Although it costs more money.

Richard.

 

[T.C.]

I haven't dove an automatic since I was a kid on a tractor.

I've never dove an automatic either.

I know what you meant, drive a manual.

My second time driving a manual was in Bonaire; I learned on an Afghan Army Hi-Lux 4 months before. Driving there was fun, but it didn't tax me too greatly; though I tend to familiarize with vehicles very quickly. I understand why the tried and true is best. Just wanted to harass you for the choice.

 

[KeithG]

You may be over analyzing this.
Am I hungry? Yes = eat!
Am I tired? Yes = sleep!
Am I wet? No = dive!

All you need to know on Bonaire.

 

[DiverVince]

Thanks, everyone. That tells me what I needed to know. I've heard the name 'Rappel' before, but of course never dove it. Sounds like one to look for.

Richard.

Well the only (IMHO sane) way you're going to dive Rappel is from a boat. Of course legend has it (yes there are photographs to document) that the first divers (Bruce Bowker and co) at this site did it the old fashioned way. They were and still are trailblazers, extremely knowledgeable and competent professionals.

 

[Jersey]

As of March 2014, the boat times were 8:10, 10:10 and 2:10. Normally 1 tank dives. There were a couple 2 tank morning and/or afternoon dives worked in as the boats and boards filled and people had a hard time getting their boat diving in. They were also running 3 different boats - 2 are 30-some feet Newtons (24 divers) and 1 smaller (12 divers). Watch the board - if you sign up for the 8:10 on the Harbor Lady and the 10:10 on the Harbor Lady, you essentially made a morning 2 tank. Yes, you have to return to dock and get off the boat between dives, but your gear stays put. The 8:10 is back around 10:05, the 10:10 is usually back a bit after noon, perfect time to grab a quick snack and hit the shore. The resort was sold out and packed our first week and Gusto added an afternoon 1:10 boat as well. That made it easy to get 4 - 5 dives a day - 2 morning boat, 1 afternoon boat (or shore), shore and night.

I like the Klein sites - if conditions cooperate, Southwest Corner has a beautiful shallow plateau with lush gorgonians, lots of stuff hanging around, I suspect few ever venture to look around it. Bonaventure and Joannes Sunchi are shallow moored with sand bottom great for end of dive/safety stop. Look in all those rocks - my newphew found an ocotopus in a coral head right under the boat. Everyone splashed and headed to the reef edge and missed it. As others said, some of the mainland sites are far easier from boat - La Dania's, Rappel, Bloodlet, Jeff Davis, Small Wall.

DrRich - couple posts above I think you meant you haven't drove a manual shift since you were a kid on a tractor, I recall you request automatics and have to pay more. Driving since I was 14, now in 50's and have my first automatic, sometimes I pick up the left foot looking for a clutch. Like riding a bike.

Enjoy your trip!