Washington Slagbaai National Park by Boat?

[ShoeAddict]

Has any one recently been on the 3-tank boat dive trip to the Washington Slagbaai National Park run by Buddy Dive? What were your thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[RJP]

Haven't done the park by boat, but do love diving the park. Bring 3-4 tanks each, pack a lunch, get there when the park opens, and make a 1/2 day out of it!

Ray

 

[boat sju]

Nukove/Caral's Vision is another option worth checking out. You get a bit of the flavor of the park without the time commitment. (IMO anyway)

 

[SailNaked]

The Park Rocks, literally and figuratively.

Take tanks go, go go. last time I was there the boat at buddy was missing a motor and they were not running the 3 tank trip.

weather plays a role on the park more so than the rest but if the weather gods smile definitely go. also there is not a nice beach, some rocks to climb or stairs, but if you are healthy, then great.

 

[Doctorfish]

Check if Buddy's catamaran boat is running again. I went up there with them last year and it was a lovely day. Much easier to dive the park by boat then by truck.

 

[akirawut]

Check if Buddy's catamaran boat is running again. I went up there with them last year and it was a lovely day. Much easier to dive the park by boat then by truck.

Is it much easier? I didn't find driving around the picturesque park all that challenging. Go early, make a day of it, enjoy the park, do 2-3 dives, eat lunch at the restaurant, enjoy some beers. The park has lots to check out beyond the diving, it would be worth the trip even not diving, so why not do both?

Did the boat have a head? Cause if not... that's a long day.

 

[ShoeAddict]

Did the boat have a head? Cause if not... that's a long day.[/QUOTE]
I think that I read that somewhere. Can anyone confirm? I would be concerned if the boat did not have a head.

 

[Lead_carrier]

Did the boat have a head? Cause if not... that's a long day.

I never get narced, and I never pee in my wetsuit.

We didn't have the park dive option last November with Buddy's but we have done it and enjoyed the heck out of it. We were able to get to sites that you can't do from the shore. I'm hoping they have to ready to go soon.

 

[gypsyjim]

The last two years I have done a 3 tank boat trip to Washington Slagbaii on each trip to Bonaire.

The first time with buddy Dive, and then again last year threw the Plaza when I was the trip coordinator for the DNY group, and we set up our own group trip.

It was a fun dive both times, and I liked doing the dives by boat, because I was able to do a couple of dives later in the same afternoon because we were back in time to do so, which if we had gone by truck we would not have. Also, this last June bringing a large group up to shore dive W S Park from a bunch of trucks simply would just not have been practical.

 

[akirawut]

The last two years I have done a 3 tank boat trip to Washington Slagbaii on each trip to Bonaire.

The first time with buddy Dive, and then again last year threw the Plaza when I was the trip coordinator for the DNY group, and we set up our own group trip.

It was a fun dive both times, and I liked doing the dives by boat, because I was able to do a couple of dives later in the same afternoon because we were back in time to do so, which if we had gone by truck we would not have. Also, this last June bringing a large group up to shore dive W S Park from a bunch of trucks simply would just not have been practical.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the boat is a bad idea. And obviously in your situation with a big group it was about the only way to keep it manageable. I'm just saying don't be scared of driving through the park to dive, there's really nothing to it. And there are other benefits to driving through the park.