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- La Dania's Leap.
- La Dania's Leap.
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Slip on fins/ No booties. Any other options so I don't kill my feet?
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No but once you "leap" you're committed to drift to Karpata to get out. Some dive operators do it only as a boat dive for that reason. Oil Slick Leap is a similar leap but has a ladder to get out.
drrich2
Contributor
Here's an entry around the southern region of the island (southern part of the west side).
Here's an image of the entry to, I believe, the Hilma Hooker site.
Note that even with fairly calm Caribbean seas, there's enough wave action near shore that you can't see the bottom really clearly. You're not walking in on a plain sand bottom.
Oil Slick Leap is fine once you giant stride in (though bare feet on that ladder might hurt coming out in gear), but walking across the area to get to the wooden platform you giant stride off of, or back to your truck later, can do a real number on your feet. I hurt a foot fairly bad there that way, and I was wearing soft-soled boots! That's what convinced me to go buy a pair of harder soled boots, and I got SeaSoft Sunrays.
Richard.
Here's an image of the entry to, I believe, the Hilma Hooker site.
Note that even with fairly calm Caribbean seas, there's enough wave action near shore that you can't see the bottom really clearly. You're not walking in on a plain sand bottom.
Oil Slick Leap is fine once you giant stride in (though bare feet on that ladder might hurt coming out in gear), but walking across the area to get to the wooden platform you giant stride off of, or back to your truck later, can do a real number on your feet. I hurt a foot fairly bad there that way, and I was wearing soft-soled boots! That's what convinced me to go buy a pair of harder soled boots, and I got SeaSoft Sunrays.
Richard.
keesmon
Contributor
Nice gloves in that picture BTW 
gert7to3
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I have used NRS felt sole kickers on Bonaire, though with my open heel fins. They are a snug fit so donning/doffing in the water is not a good idea.
The ironshore on Bonaire is coral blocks and rubble in most places. You may also have to do short climbs through a gap in a rock ledge. In the more stable rocky areas you are likely to encounter spiny urchins and/or fire coral. Herman's advice is what I would follow.
NRS has a sale on, there are all sorts of watershoes/sandals. The Scout or Descent shoe models would work well. You probably will want toe protection.
NRS Home - Clearance Rack - Apparel - Footwear
Their regular watershoe page:
NRS Home - Apparel - Footwear - Water Shoes
A final thought, take your full foot fins, but buy a pair of watershoes. Then rent open heel fins for use with your watershoes on the ironshore sites.
The ironshore on Bonaire is coral blocks and rubble in most places. You may also have to do short climbs through a gap in a rock ledge. In the more stable rocky areas you are likely to encounter spiny urchins and/or fire coral. Herman's advice is what I would follow.
NRS has a sale on, there are all sorts of watershoes/sandals. The Scout or Descent shoe models would work well. You probably will want toe protection.
NRS Home - Clearance Rack - Apparel - Footwear
Their regular watershoe page:
NRS Home - Apparel - Footwear - Water Shoes
A final thought, take your full foot fins, but buy a pair of watershoes. Then rent open heel fins for use with your watershoes on the ironshore sites.
Thanks again for all of the posts. I'm still torn on which way to go, but now I have a good idea of my options.
I've been emailing with the dive shop we plan to use and they suggest the open heel fins and booties as the best all around solution.
But, luckily, he told me they rent those and they are included in the rental gear price they quoted me already! So, I'm thinking I will buy a pair of water shoes and just try that way to see how that works out. Then, have the back up plan of renting the open fins and booties if that just doesn't work out for me.
After I go, and try them both, I will know which way is the best for me, I guess.
Now, I just have to decide on sturdy type water shoes like most have suggested, or ones that fold and go into a BC pocket like one person suggested.
I've been emailing with the dive shop we plan to use and they suggest the open heel fins and booties as the best all around solution.
But, luckily, he told me they rent those and they are included in the rental gear price they quoted me already! So, I'm thinking I will buy a pair of water shoes and just try that way to see how that works out. Then, have the back up plan of renting the open fins and booties if that just doesn't work out for me.
After I go, and try them both, I will know which way is the best for me, I guess.
Now, I just have to decide on sturdy type water shoes like most have suggested, or ones that fold and go into a BC pocket like one person suggested.
Skookumchuck
Contributor
I dove Oil Slick yesterday and walking from the parking area to the leaping area hurt my feet even in proper booties. The weather on Bonaire the past week and a half has been very unpredicable. A wind reversal on Thursday shut down diving for the afternoon on the West side of the Island. We we're already in the water at Windsock and exiting was very difficult. I would strongly recommend sturdy booties.
DeputyDan
Contributor
The oil slick site took alot of pounding a year or so ago. It is much more difficult to walk to and from the site - due to the rough coral - just guessing but it may be the worst site on the island as far as cutting up your feet trying to get there.
DeputyDan
Contributor
No but once you "leap" you're committed to drift to Karpata to get out. Some dive operators do it only as a boat dive for that reason. Oil Slick Leap is a similar leap but has a ladder to get out.
Wonder what year that pic was taken.
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