The 2002 Bonaire Trip

[DuckDive]

Bit late, but here I am (tadaa).

Friendly, easy-going, 37-ish, humanoid male, happily single, answers to the name of Mark ("Oy!" will also do though). Sorry no photo, I only have old ones. Working on it.

Resort course in '93, OW in '94, AOW in '96, Rescue in '02. My 50-odd dives have been quite varied, in places like the Red Sea, African Indian Ocean and African Atlantic Ocean (ahem, and a quarry in Pennsylvania).

It's great getting to know everybody already and I'm looking forward to diving with you all immensely. Let the countdown begin...

 

[DuckDive]

You, me, sunrise, secret bodysurfing spot... I won't tell a soul.

 

[Natasha]

Like I said this is a GREAT group.
There are still several more people traveling ( Kevin and Kim) (Anita) ( Raphael) and they will sign in when they return.
We now have 22 divers going to Bonaire!

 

[sunshinefishy]

All this talk about seahorses and angelfishes....I may just give in to the urge to buy an UW camera. Someone did say that diving is a credit card intensive sport (I think it was Sass). I'm not sure I'm ready to dabble with digital yet so I will most likely get the S&S MM II-EX (I think). Please PM me if you have any suggestions for set-up, accessories, strobes, etc. I'd rent one but it's money that goes down a black hole.


If you haven't read this Bonaire trip report yet, it's a must read. Check out the photo of the school of smooth trunkfish (I will be in fish heavan if we come upon this! Forget the reg, I'm just gonna breathe through a REALLY long straw so I can stay down forever. I want to reincarnate as a trunkfish...)

http://www.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=1600

 

[Natasha]

That is a very good trip report. And his Pics are fantastic.
He pointed out that the dive shop will use a golf cart to bring your stuff from the shop to the shore dive. True, they have no problem doing this.
Although if you take your gear back to your room, it's not very far to the shore at all.
I will be offering 3 group dinners. It will all be on the itinerary you will see soon. In the report he mentioned the resturants we will offer. The first dinner though is not at a restaurant, but on the beach. It will be the BBQ at the Plaza Resort and it's offerend at 7:00PM on the day we arrive, only.
This has been prepaid, so I hope everyone will make it!
It's optional of course, but it is fun to all dine together.

 

[Denton]

Very nice dive report. Luciano was my AOW instructor. That guy is fantastic (he only had a few over 3,000 dives 1.5 years ago).

Natasha's comment about taking gear to your room is important. There is a marina behind the main part of the hotel where the dive shop and dive boats are (protected from waves etc.). They have a dive gear storage/wash area right there at the boats BUT it's locked at night. If you plan a late or early dive you must take your gear to your room. Not a big deal.

Sorry Mark, my "secret body surfing spot" is hard to get to before sunrise. I'll be lucky to find it again in full daylight. I was also planning for it to be me and all the single women, just don't tell them that's my plan. HA! I still crack myself up.

Sunshinefish, I'm no expert (nope, not even on TV) but I do know that whatever camera you choose the most important thing is light. The MM IIex is a very nice camera (not as good as the Nikonos, but much cheaper) but the strobe makes all the difference. I have the 50 TTL strobe and it works very well for me. Check out a used one (ebay?), but make sure it's never been flooded. If you're serious about it look for a used Nikonos. They are tough to beat. P.S. I like the new pic. Beats getting your leg bit off by a turtle!

Natasha, are you going to start your room on fire again? Oops, should I have not mentioned that? We don't want to scare your clients away!

Back to Mark, don't be embarassed by the quarry diving. I dove a quarry with Dave (of Dave and Susanne) where we all lost our buddies on the decent. We surfaced within 8 feet of one another. That's how muddy it was. By the way, the vis in Bonaire is usually a little better than that.

Enough for tonight,

Denton
(I hate re-reading my posts and finding all the typos. I should take English as a second language 'cuz it sure didn't work the first time.)

 

[Inspector#2]

arty: BBQ at 7pm? Save a couple dogs for the late arrivals!


I will bring a camera but it's the el cheapo Sea and Sea. Still trying to learn how to use it.

What should we bring for wetsuits? How thick?

Dave

 

[sea nmf]

Sunshine fish -

If you have not used an u/w camera before, you may want to try it before you purchase. If you check out the Toucan Diving website, they have camera for rent for 1/2 day and up. Just a thought.

Denton-

I have not had luck photographing tarpon because of their super reflective scales. If I attempt them again, I'm hoping for close to the surface so I can use ambient light. But tarpon are not enough for me to haul the wide angle down. Besides, you want to see a whale shark, right?

-becky

 

[Denton]

Dave (and Jerri),
Current water temp is 80.6 F (27 C).

Check out http://www.bonairewebcams.com/BonaireReefCam.php

I prefer a 3mm shorty but get a bit cold below 78 F (Yeah say it, I'm a wimp).

Denton

PS. In your pic, it looks like a 22 cal, was it loaded? I can imagine a shotgun (duck hunting from a boat) but a rifle?!

 

[Natasha]

Denton:
Thanks for helping me spill my morning coffee all over the computer, from laughing. I can usually do it all by myself, from just plain clumsiness between, answering phone calls and the computer. (Hard to do two things the older you get)
DaveH:
What time to do you come in? You and Sandy are the only two tickets I did not do.
The BBQ is put on by the resort. There is not a hot dog insight.
This a 39.00 value BBQ. It is very fancy with really awesome food. Maybe Denton can fill in here
They start it on the beach behind the resort at 7PM, It goes on until maybe 9. Right Denton? (Since Denton is 5 years younger then me, his memory is much better)

PS I emailed Toucan about the night dive price. I'll post it soon.