Bonaire by Cruise

Jac wrote:
> I was in Bonaire this past November and the Marine Park Fee has
> increased to $25 but it's definately worth it. We stayed at Divi
> Flamingo and used there shop and I would recommend it. They have a good
> shop and a decent house reef right there.

IIRC, the house reef has a couple of interesting residents, plus being
that its in the south, there is a "hard bottom" at the end of the
sloping reef at around 130fsw. As such, its also a reasonably safe
reef to dive on either with a buddy or solo (if one is so inclined).
Beyond the drop-off, there's some deepwater 'spot' reef formations over
sand.

> If you want to head north and go into town, there is a shop off
> the CyberCafe resturant. It was small but I did notice that they
> offer dive trips and services.

I vaguely recall this place ... a little one story place. I think when
I was last there, they were offering technical dives with rebreathers?


FWIW, I know that there's generally included meals on the cruise ships,
but there had been the "Blue Moon" right along the waterfront here that
serves a nice dinner. Further up into town and off the water a couple
of blocks, there was the "Swiss Chalet", which offers up a good rösti
(a regional Swiss dish, which shouldn't ever be compared to American
hash browns); you might want to consider them for lunch, as its IMO
hard to find good Swiss cuisine in the Western Hemisphere:

http://www.bonairedining.com/swisschalet/


-hh

Bonaire is a WONDERFUL place to go/dive. We are going back for the 4th time
in three weeks.

No need to book on the ship. The ship docks right in downtown. Both of you
can go to Harbour Village. He can dive right off their pier. The diving is
very easy shore diving. My first time I was a bit anxious because I had
only done boat diving. I'd be happy to send you a map or other brochures if
you would like.




"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1148583809.435919.312950@j33g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

Jac wrote:
> I was in Bonaire this past November and the Marine Park Fee has
> increased to $25 but it's definately worth it. We stayed at Divi
> Flamingo and used there shop and I would recommend it. They have a good
> shop and a decent house reef right there.

IIRC, the house reef has a couple of interesting residents, plus being
that its in the south, there is a "hard bottom" at the end of the
sloping reef at around 130fsw. As such, its also a reasonably safe
reef to dive on either with a buddy or solo (if one is so inclined).
Beyond the drop-off, there's some deepwater 'spot' reef formations over
sand.

> If you want to head north and go into town, there is a shop off
> the CyberCafe resturant. It was small but I did notice that they
> offer dive trips and services.

I vaguely recall this place ... a little one story place. I think when
I was last there, they were offering technical dives with rebreathers?


FWIW, I know that there's generally included meals on the cruise ships,
but there had been the "Blue Moon" right along the waterfront here that
serves a nice dinner. Further up into town and off the water a couple
of blocks, there was the "Swiss Chalet", which offers up a good rösti
(a regional Swiss dish, which shouldn't ever be compared to American
hash browns); you might want to consider them for lunch, as its IMO
hard to find good Swiss cuisine in the Western Hemisphere:

http://www.bonairedining.com/swisschalet/


-hh

Agree with the first post.

You can go down to the oil tanks....or you can go to the reef at sorobon!!
where the lagoon meets the ocean....or you can...hell walk into the water
near the slave huts...either the white ones or the pink ones.....and go it
200 feet and your in 800 feet of water!!!

anyway....dont go to the north light house there you will die if you
dive....otherwise have fun....and go to sorobon beach resort while you are
there and take off your clothes!!
"Joe English" <joeenglish2@wisperhome.com> wrote in message
news:4474752a$0$8606$ec3e2dad@news.usenetmonster.c om...
> Caribbean Girl wrote:
>> We sail there in November. We've never been there. My husband is mostly
>> interested in the off shore diving. I'll probably do an excursion to the
>> Harbour Village Resort while he dives. The cruise line doesn't seem to
>> offer an off shore diving package. Does anyone have any suggestions?
>> Can we all just go to the Harbour Village by cab and maybe find a dive
>> shop that will allow him to do the diving nearby?
>>
>> All suggestions are appreciated!
>>
>>
>>
> Bonaire is well known for its shore diving - my advice would be to not
> book thru the boat - if he has his gear go to a dive shop rent a couple of
> tanks and dive - he can probably get in 3 - 4 dives depending how long you
> are in Bonaire.
>
> Doesn't need a boat - just gear and tanks (you can rent the gear too)

I've done the majority of my dives from shore. Lots more stuff to
consider...I recommend a good robust set of booties (the best I've seen are
felt bottomed), a full wetsuit, snorkel, and gloves. Rocks, reef, surf, and
surface swims, ya see...

Boat diving can spoil you if ya aren't careful--nothing wrong with being
spoiled though

--
Rapid Rick
"Just dive, baby"

"ginmill01" <ginmill01@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Snsdg.87698$TK1.6326@fed1read06...

My first time I was a bit anxious because I had
> only done boat diving.

["Followup-To:" header set to rec.travel.caribbean.]
On Thu, 25 May 2006 23:03:37 -0500, Okidiver wrote:
> I've done the majority of my dives from shore. Lots more stuff to
> consider...I recommend a good robust set of booties (the best I've seen are
> felt bottomed), a full wetsuit, snorkel, and gloves.

Gloves are *not* allowed in Bonaire diving. The entire shoreline of the
island out to something like 100M is a marine park. Too many yayhoos
use gloves to hang onto the coral while harassing the sea life.
You are not permitted to remove _anything_ - dead or alive - from the
marine park.

Jonesy -- 2 weeks in Bonaire every year since 1995.
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
38.24N 104.55W | @ config.com | Jonesy | OS/2
*** Killfiling google posts: <http//jonz.net/ng.htm>

The Marine Tag is 25.00 USD and easy to get when he gets his tanks. The
price is well worth it considering the amount of time spent in reef
management, preserving the precious marine eco system..heck you can
swim in the harbour here..incredible..

Annie
www.bonairecaribbean.com

On Thu, 25 May 2006 23:03:37 -0500, "Okidiver" <okidiver@cox.net>
wrote:

>I've done the majority of my dives from shore. Lots more stuff to
>consider...I recommend a good robust set of booties (the best I've seen are
>felt bottomed), a full wetsuit, snorkel, and gloves. Rocks, reef, surf, and
>surface swims, ya see...
>
>Boat diving can spoil you if ya aren't careful--nothing wrong with being
>spoiled though
>
>--
>Rapid Rick
>"Just dive, baby"
>
>"ginmill01" <ginmill01@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:Snsdg.87698$TK1.6326@fed1read06...
>
> My first time I was a bit anxious because I had
>> only done boat diving.
>
>
Dive gloves are prohibited in Bonaire

Is the Budget car rental near the pier?


<nb318@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148730697.874336.222070@j33g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I live in Bonaire so here are my recommendations.
>
> Rent a truck with Budget stopt at ANY dive shop for tanks, and go with
> him..drive north to the shore sites and bring a book and chill, take in
> the scenery or snorkel. 1000 Steps and Karpata are good shore dives.
> Keep going north to Gotomeer to shoot some footage of the flamingos.
> Stop in Rincon for lunch. If you like to try local food, Rose Inn is a
> must for goat (Gabritu). There is a shake place on the way to
> Kralendijk called Lo Me Sae or something like that...stop for sure..on
> the way stop at Onima to see the wild East coast, to see the Indian
> Engravings and maybe stop for a wild landsailing session. In town there
> are a few shops but nothing to write home about..I would keep going
> thru town and head to Sorobon passing more donkeys. See the windsurf
> scene if it is windy and have a drink at Hang Out Bar or The Place.
> Drive along the coast seeing the Slave Huts, the salt pans and hills of
> salt at Cargil. Shore dive over there at Hilma Hooker. Then return the
> truck and call it a day..
>
> Annie
> www.bonairecaribbean.com
>
> Caribbean Girl wrote:
>> We sail there in November. We've never been there. My husband is mostly
>> interested in the off shore diving. I'll probably do an excursion to the
>> Harbour Village Resort while he dives. The cruise line doesn't seem to
>> offer an off shore diving package. Does anyone have any suggestions?
>> Can
>> we all just go to the Harbour Village by cab and maybe find a dive shop
>> that
>> will allow him to do the diving nearby?
>>
>> All suggestions are appreciated!
>

That is right NO GLOVES UNLESS YOU HAVE A DR PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICAL
REASON!!!!! Plus, the water is about 80* so you don't need them.

Shore diving is great, however, if you are there for one day, both of you
can go to the Plaza and Mr can do a boat dive while Mrs does her resort
thing.



"Rod" <log_dog@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:4478488b.50745625@news.verizon.net...
> On Thu, 25 May 2006 23:03:37 -0500, "Okidiver" <okidiver@cox.net>
> wrote:
>
>>I've done the majority of my dives from shore. Lots more stuff to
>>consider...I recommend a good robust set of booties (the best I've seen
>>are
>>felt bottomed), a full wetsuit, snorkel, and gloves. Rocks, reef, surf,
>>and
>>surface swims, ya see...
>>
>>Boat diving can spoil you if ya aren't careful--nothing wrong with being
>>spoiled though
>>
>>--
>>Rapid Rick
>>"Just dive, baby"
>>
>>"ginmill01" <ginmill01@cox.net> wrote in message
>>news:Snsdg.87698$TK1.6326@fed1read06...
>>
>> My first time I was a bit anxious because I had
>>> only done boat diving.
>>
>>
> Dive gloves are prohibited in Bonaire

ginmill01 wrote:
> That is right NO GLOVES UNLESS YOU HAVE A DR PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICAL
> REASON!!!!! Plus, the water is about 80* so you don't need them.



Yes, it is true that there's a >>general<< glove prohibition.

But, egads, use some common sense.



Just keep in mind the general intent of the Bonaire Marine Park's
briefing and guided dive (that is supposed to accompany the Marine Park
purchase): it is fundimentally to make you aware of your damage
potential and to try to prevent you from being a reef-crasher by
fostering good buoyancy control skills and a generally hands-off
attitude.


For example, some shore dive site have ironshore formations which
merits protecting the hands from laceration, just like those feet for
which people recommend hard booties. Sometimes its hard to tell before
getting in.

There's also some sites that have very shallow passages through
(sometimes fire) coral, and a brief purposeful touch-down due to surge
will cause significantly less reef damage than a full blown body crash
because you refused to fingertip-touch. "Karpata" was one such
example; I'm not sure if it still is.

Similarly, if you go on a boat dive and your dive skills are such that
you rely on using a down line, you do have to watch out for stinging
hydroids on the fixed mooring lines if the diveboat lacks a temporary
drop line.

Finally, gloves are specifically allowed when diving on the wreck of
the Hilma Hooker.



If you think you might need a pair of gloves, just keep them in your BC
pocket as much as possible, until you know for sure that you can do
without. Unless you go waving them around during a pre-dive, you're
not likely to get a TSA pat-down, especially if its a self-guided shore
dive. If you're on a diveboat, gloves are IMO not going to be required
unless the boat doesn't use a drop line (and you need one), which is
information usually covered in the pre-dive briefing; plan accordingly.


-hh