Ten things I learned in Bonaire last week

[RJP]

Ten good lessons.

I could add one more - fill the truck bed with tanks in the morning and don't come back until late.

Yup, here's a picture of me (taken by tajkd) sleeping on 8 of the 10 tanks in the back of our truck during our surface interval at the Hilma Hooker...

This shot was taken early afternoon. We left Plaza Resort after breakfast at 7am, and didn't get back there until after dinner and drinks at Papaya Moon. Did five dives that day.

The need for a "truck full of tanks" is important if you are doing up north, because once you hit the one-way portion of the road, it's a L-O-N-G way back to your resport/shop to get fresh ones. Even more specifically important to bring at least three tanks each to the park, since you'll be investing 1/2 - 2/3rd of a day on the drive itself.

Ray

 

[gypsyjim]

Plus an extra tank, or two, in case something goes wrong with one. We had on bad O ring, that survived the EAN analysis and pressure test, only to fail when one of the divers went to gear up. Luckily Duke always threw at least one extra into the truck, and no one had to sit out a dive.

If you do go up north there are a few shortcuts back over the top, to regain the two way pavement, rather than going all the way around the top, but they are pretty rough "roads", and not for the meek and fainthearted.

 

[RJP]

Plus an extra tank, or [-]two[/-] six, in case something goes wrong with one.

Fixed your typo...

:cool2:

When David (tajkd) and I were driving up to the park he asks me "Do you hear that? The truck's making some kind of hissing noise. Sounds like it's coming from the back..."

:shocked2:

DOH!

 

[Walter]

5. Boat diving can be worthwhile and as cheap as shore diving is, boat diving on Bonaire is also relatively inexpensive.

Yes, but you end up trading three or four shore dives for one boat dive. Meet at the shop, load the boat, motor out to the site, make the dive, motor back to the dock, unload the boat, travel back to your base..........

I no longer make boat dives at Bonaire.

 

[tonka97]

Correction: Gloves are permitted for entries/exits. At sites such as Karpata gloves come in VERY handy! No gloves are permitted during the reef dives.

I have never been bothered by bugs in Bonaire, so I was surprised by the OP report.

 

[DeputyDan]

At to #5 in the OP..
Why do a surface swim to the bouy?????

Enjoy the dive from shore line back to shore line

 

[DiverVince]

Correction: Gloves are permitted for entries/exits. At sites such as Karpata gloves come in VERY handy! No gloves are permitted during the reef dives.

Tonka: Well to my knowledge gloves are NOT permitted for entries/exits. So why don't you show us the rules to corroborate your statement? To my knowledge the ONLY exception for a diver without a med certificate is descending a support line on a wreck which may be covered in stinging organisms.
See this link to STINAPA..

STINAPA - Bonaire National Marine Park

 

[parzdiver]

Great post Trish - most of my experienced matched since we were in the same villa!

With the towels, the washcloths women seem to love were nearly non-existent, the situation with the rest of erratic. The first couple people just left more towels and we had a bunch, but halfway through the week a new housekpeeper came in and took all of the used towels (and the one washcloth) and just left two bath towels and one hand towel.

I also had delayed luggage. Toucan Diving was awesome and didn't even charge us to use the gear. I only needed a couple pieces/parts, and they were very accommodating.

Food was most excellent at Cappriccio and Mona Lisa and Richards. It is awesome to see only the catch of the day being served - had my first barracuda and snook, along with locally caught wahoo and grouper. And the goat at Maiky's was GOOD!

At to #5 in the OP..
Why do a surface swim to the bouy?????

Enjoy the dive from shore line back to shore line

Dive from shoreline is a LONG WAY to get out there, I'd rather conserve my air for the 90-100' dive at the wreck itself. Why burn all that gas on the way out and limit your time on the wreck you are there to dive? We did make our way back up the reef and to shore underwater, it is a very nice reef. We even navigated fairly close to our truck.

 

[tonka97]

Tonka: Well to my knowledge gloves are NOT permitted for entries/exits. So why don't you show us the rules to corroborate your statement? ...
STINAPA - Bonaire National Marine Park

Prickly aren't we? Reading the rules, you are correct. but....

The entire purpose of prohibiting the use of dive gloves is to protect the reef and its creatures. DON'T wear gloves during your reef dive.

When entering/exiting in difficult areas, it would be absurd not to protect your hands as the situation requires. Sorry, STINAPA, these are my hands we are talking about.

STINAPA's rules need to be expanded to allow the use of gloves for entries/exits only.

Try exiting at Karpata during a strong surge; you will agree with me.

 

[gypsyjim]

When we were fighting to exit from our shore dive on the wild side last week, gloves would have been nice, but we did not break the rules. I did hold my fins so they protected my hands when the surf picked me up and slammed me into the fire coral and urchins. Glove probably would have prevented the urchin spine that I got in my 3 fingers, any better than the fins did, though, unless they were kevlar! Sharp little fellows!

This arguement over gloves has gone on for years. I know many who break the rules, some who have real medical reasons, but gloves (except for real verified medical reasons), spearguns, and glow sticks are simply illegal on the island. I feel it's live with the rules or dive elsewhere.