Wind Waves And Shore Entry

[Scared Silly]

We just returned from a week of blowing bubbles and found that on this trip the wind was stronger than on our first trip in Nov 2012. We managed to dive the Lighthouse with a very moderate wave action. But on the Cliff we got slapped down on the entry. We exited much more gracefully.

IMHO the biggest issue is not so much the wave action but the uneven terrain underfoot. One can be hit with a wave and be moved about but resetting your foot can be problematic. That is what got both my wife and I at the Cliff.

Tursiops, gave some excellent advice about watching the waves. They come in sets with lulls in between. We typically entered with me in front, holding my wives hand, blocking in the incoming waves. We would move into the water and wait for the lull and then go further out.

 

[AdivingBel]

Were you doing your entry/exit for the Cliff at DF Hamlet or were you entering in front of the Hamlet condos? We stayed at a very nice condo in Hamlet but after one entry/exit in front, we went to the DF shop where there were steps down to the water and a nice rock out-cropping to use for balance. Since it was our house reef, we dived it several times and had a blast. The DF shop was handy for rinse tanks and an outdoor shower (our condo had these as well, but the entry/exit was so much easier at DF we used their facilities since we were there).

 

[Scared Silly]

Were you doing your entry/exit for the Cliff at DF Hamlet or were you entering in front of the Hamlet condos?

We entered via the steps at the DF shop. We did not use the rock outcropping but were perhaps 10-15 feet away where we thought the entry was a bit better. That said the Cliff is a nice site and would be a fun night dive.

 

[DustyC]

We entered via the steps at the DF shop. We did not use the rock outcropping but were perhaps 10-15 feet away where we thought the entry was a bit better. That said the Cliff is a nice site and would be a fun night dive.

It's a great night dive. We stayed in Hamlet in December and I did several night dives on it

 

[gert7to3]

A strong second for the BSDME book. You can shift your diving rather easily on Bonaire to avoid surge. Prevailing winds are the trade winds from the east. They kick up waves on the windward side of the island, but flatten the seas on the west side. The most common dive sites are located along an arc on the leeward side of the island. Even if passing frontal systems, which generally stay off to the east, pump waves down from the northwest, you can usually put some part of the island between yourself and the prevailing direction of the waves. Slightly changing your selected dive site can change the character of the waves breaking on shore.

 

[JohnN]

We were in Bonaire in April and loved it....well except for the waves crashing into us. When are the waves the smallest? Even "easy" sites were hard for us to get in and out. So many dive sites that we really wanted to do scared us when we saw the entrance. Yes we had the Bonaire shore diving book, yes we scouted entry before we tried, yes we tried to watch others (who also got knocked over. Did we go at a bad time for wave action? There were no major storms happening around. We are not beginner divers, we range from 48 to 57, all in good shape and fit. Least experienced diver has 300+ dives and we all have been diving for 20+ years. Was if freak that time of the year? Was it just a bad time in general to go? I wanted to ask when the best time to go was but needed to explain why. We are wanting to go back but don't want to miss sites again because of the entry. Thanks Bill

. . or dive on Curacao. Beautiful white sand beaches, no waves, just a little longer swim-out

 

[wildbill9]

We had BSME, we first tried the easy entries and it was still tough. When we looked at the more difficult entries we tapped out. We scouted out entry before getting in. The footing with the wave action was the problem. Well diving was so good we are talking about going back! Thanks for the input

 

[Kharon]

A trick I learned on Bonaire (after flubbing around on several shore entries). Watch the waves and count. Usually there will be a pattern of increasing wave height with several much smaller waves following the largest. Once you figure out the pattern you wait for the largest and then enter as it's receeding. Quickly go out far enough to float (chest high) and put your fins on.

 

[oldschoolto]

Shore diving is all about taking the time to scout out the place... You move 2- 3 feet , Even 1 foot some times and it goes from hard to easy... I always do these things when at a new site...
1: Watch the water....
2: Talk to a local or diver with experience at the site...
3: Walk in without tank or fins to test footing....
4: Pick a enter spot and sometimes a different EXIT spot...
5: Make the decision to dive it or wait for a better day...

And sometimes all it takes is looking at the waves as we drive by to call it and look for a better spot, That one thing I love about Bonaire... You can always find a site to dive everyday....

Jim.....

 

[Reidkon]

Excellent advice, especially #3. We always do a rehearsal entry, except for Cliff which is a straight forward entry and we have done it so many times.
I would also add, watch other divers as they enter and exit.

Shore diving is all about taking the time to scout out the place... You move 2- 3 feet , Even 1 foot some times and it goes from hard to easy... I always do these things when at a new site...
1: Watch the water....
2: Talk to a local or diver with experience at the site...
3: Walk in without tank or fins to test footing....
4: Pick a enter spot and sometimes a different EXIT spot...
5: Make the decision to dive it or wait for a better day...

And sometimes all it takes is looking at the waves as we drive by to call it and look for a better spot, That one thing I love about Bonaire... You can always find a site to dive everyday....

Jim.....