looking for good shore diving holiday with solo diving ok

I'm considering going to bonaire to work on my u/w photography where I
can dive without the worry of buddies or keeping up with the group. I
have several hundred dives in and generally tend to get some space
whilst diving but want to really concentrate on my photos whilst
diving safely first of course. My partner does not dive and she has
been really good this year, we have done three trips to the red sea
this year two weeks at a time but this means getting up early every
morning travelling by bus with all our gear and only getting two dives
in some days and the whole day is written off leaving no time for any
sort of holiday time for my wife. Would like somewhere similar to
captain dons setup where you can dive when it suits you and you don't
have to spend all day tied up by diving. Would really appriciate any
suggestions

kev moore

On Sun, 06 Jul 2003 16:05:49 +0100, speedburn
<audioman111@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I'm considering going to bonaire to work on my u/w photography where I
>can dive without the worry of buddies or keeping up with the group. I
>have several hundred dives in and generally tend to get some space
>whilst diving but want to really concentrate on my photos whilst
>diving safely first of course. My partner does not dive and she has
>been really good this year, we have done three trips to the red sea
>this year two weeks at a time but this means getting up early every
>morning travelling by bus with all our gear and only getting two dives
>in some days and the whole day is written off leaving no time for any
>sort of holiday time for my wife. Would like somewhere similar to
>captain dons setup where you can dive when it suits you and you don't
>have to spend all day tied up by diving. Would really appriciate any
>suggestions

It's been 8 years, but I went to Bonaire for similar reasons (shore
diving, solo diving, when I want) and thoroughly enjoyed it. In
fact, went 3 times. We stayed at Capt Dons and I would recommend it.
But it has been some time - perhaps a more recent traveler would
comment.

My only problem with Bonaire was the travel - from the States it was a
nightmare of lost luggage, delayed/cancelled planes, etc. Problem
centered around ALM's near-monopoly on flights and their inability to
keep planes flying. I haven't heard much about that lately, so
hopefully those problems have been resolved.

-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

any of the resorts in bonaire will satisfy your needs...also dont
overlook Curacaou..the shore diving is almost as good as bonaire and
there might be more for your non-diving partner to do...both locations
are now easy to get too and will fill the bill...we were in both last
year and are heading back to bonaire in nov. Jim

speedburn wrote:

>I'm considering going to bonaire to work on my u/w photography where I
>can dive without the worry of buddies or keeping up with the group. I
>have several hundred dives in and generally tend to get some space
>whilst diving but want to really concentrate on my photos whilst
>diving safely first of course. My partner does not dive and she has
>been really good this year, we have done three trips to the red sea
>this year two weeks at a time but this means getting up early every
>morning travelling by bus with all our gear and only getting two dives
>in some days and the whole day is written off leaving no time for any
>sort of holiday time for my wife. Would like somewhere similar to
>captain dons setup where you can dive when it suits you and you don't
>have to spend all day tied up by diving. Would really appriciate any
>suggestions
>
>kev moore
>
>

"HW "Skip" Weldon" <skip5700@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:08hggvkfoflocs2n5i75rmaflp87odkqbk@4ax.com...

> My only problem with Bonaire was the travel - from the States it was a
> nightmare of lost luggage, delayed/cancelled planes, etc. Problem
> centered around ALM's near-monopoly on flights and their inability to
> keep planes flying. I haven't heard much about that lately, so
> hopefully those problems have been resolved.

We're taking Air Jamaica in December. L.A. - Montego Bay - Bonaire (and
return). I hope it works out OK.

Try Captain Don's Curacao -- they actually encouraged me to solo dive!
Great reef, too.

Brent

My partner does not dive and she has
> been really good this year, we have done three trips to the red sea
> this year two weeks at a time but this means getting up early every
> morning travelling by bus with all our gear and only getting two dives
> in some days and the whole day is written off leaving no time for any
> sort of holiday time for my wife.

Hi Kev,

If you go to the Red Sea again i can recomend Red Sea diving safari in Marsa
Alam, Egypt. Here you can dive when YOU want it and as many dives a day you
want.

Your gear are stores right at the beach with 24 hour supervision, and if you
don´t want to swim out evertime, you can use the Zodiacs for free (they got
6 of them).

I have just been downthere for 2 weeks, and can´t wait to come back again.

You can see the details on http://www.redsea-divingsafari.com/


--
See You,
Peter

www.dacor.dk -The site where divers meet. We have a large gallery, dive
related news and messageboard.

Uepi resort on the Solomons would fit that description. Wonderful diving
off the front dock, go in at your leisure. That spot puts you right at
the edge of the entrace of the lagoon pass, which means some current, but
not bad and the schools of fish are all lined up like regiments.
Wonderful vis. also and pretty corals, like stands of dendrophilia (green
stag horn coral) of a variety that you would only find in the Western
Pacific.

speedburn wrote:

> I'm considering going to bonaire to work on my u/w photography where I
> can dive without the worry of buddies or keeping up with the group. I
> have several hundred dives in and generally tend to get some space
> whilst diving but want to really concentrate on my photos whilst
> diving safely first of course. My partner does not dive and she has
> been really good this year, we have done three trips to the red sea
> this year two weeks at a time but this means getting up early every
> morning travelling by bus with all our gear and only getting two dives
> in some days and the whole day is written off leaving no time for any
> sort of holiday time for my wife. Would like somewhere similar to
> captain dons setup where you can dive when it suits you and you don't
> have to spend all day tied up by diving. Would really appriciate any
> suggestions
>
> kev moore

On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:15:27 -0600, "Moth To A Flame"
<flameforamoth@hotmail.com> wrote:

>We spend a couple weeks during Christmas/New Year on Bonaire ever year and I
>think AJ is your best bet. We flew it last year and found it far better than
>ALM/DCE or American Eagle. 1st class was a steal at $ 1,200.00 (from ATL).
>MB is a better stop than Curacao if for no reason other than not being
>exposed to the notorious Curacao ground crews and luggage issues. It's
>airport is a bit nicer and definately more comfortable if you wait out your
>stop in the shopping, rather than concourse area.

Nice report. Thanks. How about Captain Don's - is it still a good
place to stay for shore diving? Anything you like better? ("Better"
means good shore diving at the resort, good restaurant, and
comfortable accomodations.)


-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

"HW "Skip" Weldon" <skip5700@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ajijgv4a12hrao2j70fhskcffaemseh7dg@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:15:27 -0600, "Moth To A Flame"
> <flameforamoth@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >We spend a couple weeks during Christmas/New Year on Bonaire ever year
and I
> >think AJ is your best bet. We flew it last year and found it far better
than
> >ALM/DCE or American Eagle. 1st class was a steal at $ 1,200.00 (from
ATL).
> >MB is a better stop than Curacao if for no reason other than not being
> >exposed to the notorious Curacao ground crews and luggage issues. It's
> >airport is a bit nicer and definately more comfortable if you wait out
your
> >stop in the shopping, rather than concourse area.
>
> Nice report. Thanks. How about Captain Don's - is it still a good
> place to stay for shore diving?

As far as shore diving goes anyplace on Bonaire is great for that. All the
sites are easily accessed and it really doesn't matter where you stay.
Myself, I like a smaller "resort" or property and so no longer use Plaza,
Buddies or Capt Don's. Each year Bonaire has a couple more smaller
properties for people like us. We will be staying at Belmar again this year.
It's a marvelous little 14 unit condo complex with each unit oceanfront. It
has, in my opinion, the best resort dive on the island...probably because so
few people actually dive it. There is a new one just down the road from
Belmar called "Bellefonte". I stopped in and did a quick look at it during
our last visit, but didn't explore it enough to recommend it to anyone.
Looked quite nice though from what I did see, but I didn't have a chance to
inquire about dive operations.

> Anything you like better? ("Better"
> means good shore diving at the resort, good restaurant, and
> comfortable accomodations.)

Ya know, lots of people are happy with Habitat and Plaza. Of the two my
choice would be Capt. Don's place (of course he has no ownership in it
anymore)because it has fewer people. I drive up there for Ernst to process
my film, and people are happy and having a good time. Nice atmosphere, good
accommodations, oceanfront bar, removed from whatever hustle and bustle
Bonaire does have (and unlike Plaza doesn't create it's own hustle and
bustle)..and they've got very good dive boats. Baby Dock is still for divers
only so their shore dive is easily accessible day or night. I believe for a
"resort" recommendation Habitat is a good one.

None of the resorts have good restaurants, really. Green Parrot at Sand
Dollar was the last that could have made that claim. My favorites, like many
others, are Rains Fishes, Capriccio's and Mona Lisa, though I think
Richard's is the most over-rated restaurant I have ever spent money at (but
the beauty of the setting cannot be denied). I like to get a condo and cook
some nights and then visit restaurants in town other nights. There is really
a good selection of eateries for such a small island and the warehouse
grocery is top notch.

I would be certain to book some boats for Klein diving. It really shouldn't
be missed. Also, while people will obviously suggest the more famous shore
dives on Bonaire, don't miss places like Oil Slick and Angel City. Angel
City in particular is fishy and wild with critters and far enough south that
we often dive it alone.