The Bonaire list

[scuba e]

Thanks to all for the boat dive info

Now, this is my fourth trip with a camera. First to Bonaire. Looks like we will be doing mostly shore diving.

Long term plan:

Quick scout of major sites. Then focus on certain areas. Macro and wide.

What do you all think you would start with? Any favorites?


Thanks,
E

 

[herman]

For first dives on Bonaire, I prefer to choose ones with very easy entries and exits. The first 2 that come to mind are Old Blue in the north and Windsock, just south of town. Both of these sites are very easy to dive both from entry/exit and navigation perspectives. Your first dive will have to be a "check out" dive at your dive shops house reef. This is nothing more than a dive at the house reef to check out your gear and weighting....no one will enter the water or watch you unless you ask for help. Reguardless of your dive site, don't overlook the shallow water at the shore, there are many macro photo oppertunities if you take the time to look around. If I had to choose one dive for macro, wide angle and surface level shots it would be Oil Slick Leap.

 

[dvrliz1]

For Macro I have a little secret place, well now it won't be....I found a HUGE nursery. Toris Reef, but don't go to the mooring line. Enter at the inlet, as soon as you leave the inlet take a left. In 15-20 ft of water you will find HUGE coral heads (careful, a lot have fire coral on it), but boy is it worth it!

Blennys, 6 different type of baby morays, spotted drums (adult and juvey) 6 different butterflies, and to much more to mention. surface lighting is great as the coral can come as close to 5 feet from the surface.....

Lovely....

Liz

 

[jghflash]

Another really good first dive is Front Porch. Very easy entry and a very simple dive. Some folks poo-poo it as a "junk dive" because it has a lot of individual mounds and isn't the normal Bonaire long, beautiful reef. I have made over 100 dives on Bonaire and it's the only single dive I have ever filled a 2 Gb memory card on. I had to start going back and deleting a few just to get the last shots.

 

[DeputyDan]

It's all good!

 

[robint]

driving around the island scouting sites is a waste of time and gas (especially at today's prices). Do your scouting at home using the "Shore diving made easy guide" by Susan Porter you can purchase online. Once you get this booklet, start making notes in it and then take it with you to Bonaire. The resorts usually have a map, or get one of the free ones at the airport, and you are set!

My favorites shore sites: Andrea II, Oil Slick Leap, Buddy's reef, Hilma Hooker, and Yellow Sub.
My favorite boat dives: Karpata and Rappel (on Bonaire) and any of the sites over at Klein.

All the dives sites on Bonaire are incredible, you can't have a boring dive there.

 

[diversteve]

It's all macro. Bari Reef and Salt Pier come to mind. Ask someone where the seahorses are currently. Town Pier at night with good strobes, the fire cup corals open up all over. Rappel and Forest(Klein) if you do get on a boat.