Shore Diving and Theft

[stu_in_fl]

are tanks left in truck are safe during shore dive ?

yes .... (needed 5 characters to post !)

 

[diversteve]

are tanks left in truck are safe during shore dive ?

No diveop will fill another's tanks. So no resale value...

 

[Martha]

We've been to Bonaire three times (returned from our last trip on 3/17/07) and we've never had any problems with theft. We've left a towel (use it to sit on after diving), cover-up, and t-shirt, water, etc... without ever having any problems. We only take the bare essentials (and stuff that we won't be too upset if it disappears), we always leave the windows down (unless it looks like it's going to rain) and the doors unlocked.

 

[pa diver]

The key to shore diving and theft in Bonaire is to make it a game to see if you can get your stuff stolen that way when or if it even happens then you will feel like you won and were one of the special chosen people. This is a much better tactic than setting yourself up to feel like a victim. For example, if you go with a group, set up a points system where the person who has the most stolen wins and doesn't have to pay for dinner at the end of the week. SO, a $15 dollar hat would be worth 15 points etc...A small child would be worth say...depending on the child...male, female, age, IQ, about 5 points, lol.

Seriously, we were there for a week and we left all kinds of stuff in the truck and NEVER experienced theft! Never!!! I felt personally injured and hurt that I wasn't one of the chosen people!!! Serioulsy, what? Is my stuff no good? I will sue them next time for discrimination if they don't steal from me!

One time, in a silly rush to get in the water, we left the keys in the ignition and my wallet on the front seat filled with money and credit cards that didn't make it into the dry box my wife puts in her BC pocket. We always left dry clothes, shoes, drinks, and other cheap items and I guess we just have cooties or something.

Here is my suggestion to myself....GO BACK TO BONAIRE AND RECTIFY THIS HURTFUL SITUATION ASAP! September of this year for us actually! And ya know what? I will play the "chosen people" game again and I will be honored if they pick me! I'll just try not to play with the truck keys and my wallet this time, lol. Bet with the plastic chips my friends, not the nice clay ones like the casino has. It really is this simple.

If you worry and set yourself up to FEEL LIKE A VICTIM then you WILL BE A VICTIM! So go to Bonaire, play the game, have fun, and DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!!! Maybe you will win!

Sarcasm runs rampant in Bonaire as well as Cozumel? I figured I'd find you lurking here now that you've booked a flight. I'll send you another pm

 

[rottielover]

@scubadobadoo - Hey man, I just wanted to let you know that I've been using your trip report from last year as my guide to our trip. We were supposed to be on Coz when you were riding out wilma (our trip was canceled the day before it hit) and we were all here rooting for ya that time! Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it was an EXCELLENT trip report!


About the towels and tanks - I've heard a couple of different things on these. 1) that if you take resort towels and loose them you'll get charged around $20 to replace it. 2) I've also read that tank theft was getting bad, because of illeagal spear fishing. Apparently someone on the island was stealing tanks (partial fills and full) so that they could do some illeagle fishing. From what I've read it seems as though those people were caught. However, this is all hearsay, and I read it from a post of some guy that heard about it thru the grapevine... So def. take that with more than 1 grain of salt!

From what I've read, I think I'll be perfectly comfortable using the resort towels and only leaving things like water, towels and my sandles in the truck. My wife and I each have small pelican cases that fit into our BC pockets, and I plan to put my sunglasses and any cash I need in there. (I also modified the box and my BC by sewing nylon webbing and a D ring into the BC pocket and then I sewed a plastic clip on a nylon strap to the box. This way I can clip my box into my pocket and not have to worry about opening the pocket and loosing the box

 

[piikki]

About the towels and tanks - I've heard a couple of different things on these. 1) that if you take resort towels and loose them you'll get charged around $20 to replace it.

I usually pack a beach towel when in beachy locations just for this reason. Resorts do not like their towels out of rooms (except the fancy ones that have their service on own beach), and you pay more than they are worth if you lose them.

However, knowing that Bonaire is a scuba island, I was not sure if it's commonplace to expect divers to take towels out to ruffle the hair a bit, and maybe protect the car seat from bikini bottoms. Maybe the resort towels would be embroided and not so hot items for thieves either?

 

[CUunderH2O]

I always bring my 'dive towel' on dive trips. It's a old faded beach towel that also serves as extra padding for gear during travel. I don't really care if it gets stolen as it only cost me about 5 bucks.

 

[Drewpy]

I was wondering how long before PF showed up..... # 3 post?

Seriously......dont sweat it! Go dive and have a good time!

I put 2 crisp 1 dollar bills on my dash for two weeks...guess what?-no takers at all!

Its really not an issue!

Drew

 

[scubadobadoo]

@scubadobadoo - Hey man, I just wanted to let you know that I've been using your trip report from last year as my guide to our trip. We were supposed to be on Coz when you were riding out wilma (our trip was canceled the day before it hit) and we were all here rooting for ya that time! Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it was an EXCELLENT trip report!

I am so glad that my trip report is of some use. Frankly, I forgot that I posted it, lol. We just booked for Bomaire again in September! Can't wait!!!

I just read my trip report and I have to say, reading it again reminded me of just how wonderful a trip it really was! One of our best trips yet actually. Not a single thing went wrong and it was by far my favorite diving to date! I hope your trip is just as fantastic!!!

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=143274&highlight=trip+report

 

[scubadobadoo]

Sarcasm runs rampant in Bonaire as well as Cozumel? I figured I'd find you lurking here now that you've booked a flight. I'll send you another pm

I stink and I apologize! Please forgive me? How the heck are ya'll? So, wanna go to Bonaire in September?