Teens and Parents Bonaire logistics

[Kksmama]

I'm truly grateful for all the replies and had hoped to "pay it forward" with an awesome trip report. But the heaved sidewalk on which my kid was riding his scooter had other plans.....I've searched in lots of places but no one seems to recommend that teenagers dive before a fracture is healed, even on nitrox with a waterproof cast

 

[wgw04024]

Oh no. You've got a month...what did he break?

 

[Kksmama]

Thanks for caring. There are minor breaks in 4th and 5th fingers, but the big problem is joint dislocation and likely (CT has been ordered to confirm) break of small hamate bone which holds 4th finger joint in correct alignment. The hand specialist says surgery will be easy and successful, a pin will be buried and later removed. The doctor didn't say we had to cancel the trip, the wound would have 17 days to heal, it isn't his dominant hand, the cast would keep it safe.....tough call but we have to be conservative with our boy.

 

[wgw04024]

Yup, gametime decision for sure. Good luck!

 

[Doctorfish]

I your son has a hand injury with recent surgery, re think the shore dive options somewhat. I would think that diving hotel house reefs with easy access/egress as well as doing more boat dives would be easier on the hand. If you are shore diving, some of the sites can have difficult access so there is more potential to fall and have a re injury.

 

[wgw04024]

Two thoughts.... 1. How easy is it to get on the boat one handed? 2. Maybe just have someone bring his bcd/with tank attached and put it in the water for him, and bring it out when done the dive. Not a huge deal. Once you get in the water, I find it pretty calm anywhere in bonaire, I'd think it would be easy to slip it on in water. Good luck!

 

[Kksmama]

In an abundance of caution, we've cancelled our Bonaire reservations to allow full healing before any diving. I hope the thoughtful replies here are helpful to others, and that we'll be able to put all the good tips to use when we reschedule. Happy diving to all!

 

[wgw04024]

We are going in May and tickets right now are still real cheap.

 

[tkaelin]

Tickets to Bon "real cheap"? Do tell. This is the only negative I have with BON. Expensive air. What do you consider cheap?

 

[wgw04024]

Well, I just booked for 3 of us May 13-20, Portland, Me (small airport) to Bonaire. One stop in Newark. $700. That is about as cheap as it gets for us.