Washington Park dive sites?

[gypsyjim]

We will be visiting Bonaire again in 4 days. In 5 or 6 trips to Bonaire we have yet to dive any site in Washington Slaagbai National Park, and I would like to explore this area some on this trip on at least one day, I think.

Does anyone have recommendations and current information on diving on the north end? We are bringing my brother and his family to Bonaire for their first visit (and the nephew's OW certification dives).

I was shocked at the damage to Oil Slick when we were there this last Jan, and spent most of our time diving further south. Was the park severely damaged by the storm in the same way as Oil slick?

 

[gypsyjim]

Seems I misspelled the name of Washington Park. Found it listed as both Slaagbai and as Slagbaai, but the latter seems to be correct. Sorry.

 

[DiveMaven]

PM ScubaMickey. She and her husband spent a day diving in the park a couple of weeks ago.

My husband and I were going to dive up there this year, but after seeing the damage to the northern sites, we decided to not do it. Then we did the short-route sight seeing drive on our last day and were double glad we had decided not to dive in the park...rough road, long drive.

 

[gypsyjim]

Rough road and long day have always been the stumbling block, even beofre Omar. Thanks.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I was there in January and enjoyed the experience. I did a dive at the site located right off the old sheep station. It was a solo dive due to my buddy forgetting his regs. It was also one of my deepest dives. I wouldn't call it spectacular but it was worth the drive rough road and all. The effort to get there made it more memorable if that makes any sense. The sheep station is worth a five minute tour as is the museum at the entrance to the park. I would recommend it for an afternoon adventure.

 

[RJP]

My buddy and I did Playa Bengi and Bise Morto and enjoyed them both. Bise Morto require lowering gear and climbing down some rocks - maybe 20 feet. Nothing terribly difficult, but if you were unsure on your feet or not as strong as the average diver it might be a bit of a challenge.

Boca Slagbaai looked like a nice beach - probably a good site for a lunch surface interval and then a dive. I think they might even have bathroom facilities there.

I'm a big "dive the park" proponent, and think everyone should allocate the better part of a day for heading up that way. Tips:

• Head out early and get to the park right when it opens; the slow, one-way road means a two-three hour ride even if you DON'T stop to dive
• Bring plenty of drinks and whatever food you want; there's nowhere to buy anything in the park
• Bring at least 3 tanks per diver; unlike every other site in Bonaire, you can't run back to your resort for more gas during your surface interval

 

[gypsyjim]

The full day, rough road issue has been a hurdle to my getting to dive the north end for several years now. I am always the driver, but I try to please my group. This year my family buddy group has had a lot more experience diving the southern sites for 5 years, and I am bringing an entirely new foursome (my brother's crew), who have never been to Bonaire at all. So I'll have new victims and a couple of vehicles.
I am lobbying hard for Washington Park this trip, but no matter where everyone else wants to go, it's hard to match Bonaire diving. It is all good diving.
This year my brother and I are also planning on giving our sons sailboard experiences for their 16th birthdays (BD's 2 days apart, while we are there!), so I've already lost one day, but hey, it's another Bonaire experience.

 

[StreetDoctor]

Was there last month, not very impressed with the diving in the park although we did have a lot of fun on the surface there and the beach area at boca slagbaai is very nice. We dove boca slagbaai and wayaka III.

 

[Drewpy]

Jim,
I have only been there on a offgassing day before departure..did some snorkeling which was nice but I was glad I didnt haul the gear.I spoke to several other divers along the route and they said it was just so-so..? I love it up there, there are many nice places to hang and enjoy some tranquility,but I think I would rather do the east side. I did see some large snook while snorkeling which I have never encountered elswhere on the isle?

Have a great trip!!
Drew

 

[driftin' by]

In February, we got a late start and only had time to do 1 site which was Wayaka II. I was pleased with the diving and only disappointed that we didn't get in more dives considering the amount of effort it took to get there. I highly recommend getting an early start arriving as soon as the gates open. Ditto on taking 3 tanks per diver as well. It was a beautiful park and I'm glad we got to see it. Compared to the northern sites outside of the park, I thought Wayaka II was relatively pristine both in terms of wear and tear by divers and damaged by Omar. A tip we received from a fellow diver at Buddy's was NOT to go on Friday as it gets very, very busy with other divers spending their off-gas day there usually resulting in a long slow convoy of trucks going through the park. Made sense to us with Saturday's being a popular arrival/departure day on the island.