shore diving in bonaire
- Thread starter snowfish
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Hi Snowfish,
Where to stay is wide open. What do you want/need? First class or just a clean place, single rooms or a big condo, does it have to be on the water or not? If you can tell me your needs, I can give you better ideas. Almost any dive shop on Bonaire is fine, if there is a bad op I don't know about it. That said, if I were choosing it would be either WannadiveBonaire or Buddy Dive. Not to knock any other shop, they are just the 2 I have used and both are first class with great people. If it were me, I use the shop that is affiliated with the resort I was staying at, it's just easier that way.
You really don't need a DM on Bonaire. The shops do not supply them as part of your dive package but you can hire one if you really want to. The shore dives spots do a slow easy drop to a depth of about 35ft where it sharply drops to 80 to 100ft. All you have to do is to swim straight out from shore until it drops off, look to see which way the current is going, turn into the current (it will be a 90 deg left or right turn)and follow the dropoff. Go until your turn pressure (we do 1500) , turn around and follow the drop back to the place where you did the 90 deg turn, do another 90 deg turn (which will always be away from the deep water) and swim straight back in. We mill around in the 15 ft water (lots of fish to see) until our tanks are around 500 lbs which is a loooooong safety stop. If you still want a guide, for air fare and room I would be happy to be your island guide
.
Where to stay is wide open. What do you want/need? First class or just a clean place, single rooms or a big condo, does it have to be on the water or not? If you can tell me your needs, I can give you better ideas. Almost any dive shop on Bonaire is fine, if there is a bad op I don't know about it. That said, if I were choosing it would be either WannadiveBonaire or Buddy Dive. Not to knock any other shop, they are just the 2 I have used and both are first class with great people. If it were me, I use the shop that is affiliated with the resort I was staying at, it's just easier that way.
You really don't need a DM on Bonaire. The shops do not supply them as part of your dive package but you can hire one if you really want to. The shore dives spots do a slow easy drop to a depth of about 35ft where it sharply drops to 80 to 100ft. All you have to do is to swim straight out from shore until it drops off, look to see which way the current is going, turn into the current (it will be a 90 deg left or right turn)and follow the dropoff. Go until your turn pressure (we do 1500) , turn around and follow the drop back to the place where you did the 90 deg turn, do another 90 deg turn (which will always be away from the deep water) and swim straight back in. We mill around in the 15 ft water (lots of fish to see) until our tanks are around 500 lbs which is a loooooong safety stop. If you still want a guide, for air fare and room I would be happy to be your island guide
.
munkispank
Contributor
To add to what herman has posted, if you are at all unsure, take a compass and rioght befroe you drop down/enter the water, do a heading back to shore= that way if you miss your exit point on the way back, you can at least swim towards shore and then find a suitable exit point.
When we went to Bonaire we had only a couple of shore dives under our belts- it was really easy and only twice did we 'lose' the shore- once when we had seen a turtle on entry and forgot to set a compass heading (we swam along the shore thinking we were heading in- only noticed when it did not get any shallower) and the second was the third dive on salt pier- we followed the wrong stantoins until they ran out- quite funny really!!!
I would also vote for Buddy dive- they are awesome- and they have the coolest drive through for tanks - you can load up the truck with several tanks (we took 3 each every time) and them bring em back for refills without even taking off your wetsuit diving bliss
You will have a great time- i wish I was going back
When we went to Bonaire we had only a couple of shore dives under our belts- it was really easy and only twice did we 'lose' the shore- once when we had seen a turtle on entry and forgot to set a compass heading (we swam along the shore thinking we were heading in- only noticed when it did not get any shallower) and the second was the third dive on salt pier- we followed the wrong stantoins until they ran out- quite funny really!!!
I would also vote for Buddy dive- they are awesome- and they have the coolest drive through for tanks - you can load up the truck with several tanks (we took 3 each every time) and them bring em back for refills without even taking off your wetsuit
diving blissYou will have a great time- i wish I was going back
ScubaLuke
Guest
I can't speak for other places on Bonaire but I've been to Bonaire 3 or 4 times and always stayed at Buddy Dive and I've always been happy with them. The dive right off the dock at Buddy's is pretty good too.
One piece of equipement you might consider adding is a solar shower. I got mine in the camping department at Wal-Mart. You leave it in your car while you're doing a dive. Then when you come out you can rinise off with nice warm fresh water.
Luke
One piece of equipement you might consider adding is a solar shower. I got mine in the camping department at Wal-Mart. You leave it in your car while you're doing a dive. Then when you come out you can rinise off with nice warm fresh water.
Luke
Solar showers are nice. A cheap alternative that I use are 2 L soft drink bottles, ones we have emptied on island. I put several small holes in a spare cap to act as the spray head. I lay the bottles full of water in the sun on the truck before the dive (with a solid cap on), get out, swap caps and shower away, feels great, is cheap and does not take up any space in my suitcase. And while we are on things to take, hard soled booties are a must. The shore line is mostly ironstone and coral rubble, very hard on the feet. The sock like booties and bare feet are no fun.
The key to finding your entry point is simple if you understand the layout of the reef. Like I said above, the reef slowly gets deeper until the dropoff and that's the key. The way to nail your exit is to take a compass heading as soon as you leave the entry point. This heading can be either straight out or if the site has a mooring buoy, take a heading on it. In either case, head straight on your compass heading until you get close to the dropoff and then look for something unusual and easy to spot, the mooring blocks are perfect. An odd piece of coral is fine as well and the bigger the better. Markers closest to the dropoff are best. NOTE THE EXACT DEPTH of this reference, this is important. When you are returning, about 1/2 way back to your exit marker, start easing in twards shore watching your depth until you are at the exact depth of your exit marker (buoy, rock, whatever). Stay at this depth and soon you will spot your marker. Do a 180 on your compass (90 deg from your travel direction)and head straight in. I usually try to pick a interesting marker in 15 to 20 ft of water. That way we linger around it until our air is down to 500psi or so before heading in. It gives me time to take some macro pictures and is a very long deco stop. Our average dive time is 70 to 75 minutes. It is important to note that because you are returning WITH the current, you air usage and travel time is quit a bit less. The biggest mistake people make is not taking this into consideration. It may take us 30 minutes out and only 15 to get back. If you keep this to yourself and are not to obvious with your compass, you can totally amaze your buddies with your super nav skills.
The key to finding your entry point is simple if you understand the layout of the reef. Like I said above, the reef slowly gets deeper until the dropoff and that's the key. The way to nail your exit is to take a compass heading as soon as you leave the entry point. This heading can be either straight out or if the site has a mooring buoy, take a heading on it. In either case, head straight on your compass heading until you get close to the dropoff and then look for something unusual and easy to spot, the mooring blocks are perfect. An odd piece of coral is fine as well and the bigger the better. Markers closest to the dropoff are best. NOTE THE EXACT DEPTH of this reference, this is important. When you are returning, about 1/2 way back to your exit marker, start easing in twards shore watching your depth until you are at the exact depth of your exit marker (buoy, rock, whatever). Stay at this depth and soon you will spot your marker. Do a 180 on your compass (90 deg from your travel direction)and head straight in. I usually try to pick a interesting marker in 15 to 20 ft of water. That way we linger around it until our air is down to 500psi or so before heading in. It gives me time to take some macro pictures and is a very long deco stop. Our average dive time is 70 to 75 minutes. It is important to note that because you are returning WITH the current, you air usage and travel time is quit a bit less. The biggest mistake people make is not taking this into consideration. It may take us 30 minutes out and only 15 to get back. If you keep this to yourself and are not to obvious with your compass, you can totally amaze your buddies with your super nav skills.
I have only been to Bonaire once and used WannaDive. Bob and Bart are two the best guys you would ever hope to meet. Their air pacakge for the week is only$99.
Don't stress over the navigation. You will find when you get there it is much easier than you think it be. When I went to Bonaire last year I only had about 25 dives under my belt and was scared to death about not having a dive master with us. I think it took us two days to get completly comfortable with not having a guide. We grew to love the freedom shore diving gave us.
Above all, have a great time and dive safe.
Don't stress over the navigation. You will find when you get there it is much easier than you think it be. When I went to Bonaire last year I only had about 25 dives under my belt and was scared to death about not having a dive master with us. I think it took us two days to get completly comfortable with not having a guide. We grew to love the freedom shore diving gave us.
Above all, have a great time and dive safe.
Damselfish
Contributor
My first dive trip was to Bonaire as well, except for a few days in the Fl keys and diving at home. It's a great place to dive a lot and build up your comfort level. And it's pretty hard to get lost.
ronnyballgame
Guest
It was great! The place has nice rooms, and they make the diving easy. We went with about 30 people, and therewas another group of 25 there, and they made it real easy for us.
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