I'm in love with Bonaire!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

The scuba is incredible. You can shore dive right off the dock to a reef about 20 yards out with a drop to 60 feet. I have never seen such amazing coral and a plethora of fishes. It's like the free snorkeling outside Morritts. That easy and UNLIMITED. There are boat dives too. I did a 2 tank yesterday. Awesome even though overcast. We seem to have sun this morning.

I will post more later but am meeting another couple to go off site for 2 shore dives this morning and I have to go get my gear to load in their truck.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Sounds like paradise! Enjoy.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

So how would it be for your snorkeling buddies. Happymum, irenelf and me?????

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I may never come home. we did these 2 shore dives today:

I am not a wreck dive lover but The Hilma Hooker is located between two (2!) very lively reefs and has a lot of growth and life. There were 2 very large green eels at about 96 feet living in the boat. We didn't go in but went completely around the boat. Tarpon down there make the one's under the dock in GCM look like sardines. I could have spent hours down there. May need the nitrox certification. LOL

Hilma Hooker
This internationally known wreck dive is located near the beginning of the double reef system. Access is available from boat or shore. If you’re diving from shore, you’ll find the shallows full of fish. Plus, see how corals have developed on this site which was created in 1984. This encrusted freighter lies at 60-100 feet (18-30 meters) where you’ll find many photo opportunities since the ship is home to lots of marine life.

and

This one has a sandy entrance, lots of marine life all the way out to the end of the pier where there is a drop over the reef to 80 feet. Tons of incredible fish. Unfortunately we spotted 2 lion fish, my first of the trip. Saw 2 very ugly large scorpion fish but they have the most beautiful butterfly colored fins.... I saw what I think was a very large spotted drum but the more experienced diver said it wasn't. I'll try to find out what it really was. I understand this is a fabulous night dive.


Salt Pier
You’ll find excellent wide angle opportunities here with lots of growth on pilings and schooling fish under the shadow of the pier. Depth range is 40 to 70 feet (12-21 meters). Access is available from boat or shore but if diving from shore you must get prior permission. You should be able to do this through one of the local dive shops but check first in case rules have changed.

I might just might try a simple night dive tomorrow or Thursday.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

So how would it be for your snorkeling buddies. Happymum, irenelf and me?????

There are tons of snorkeling opportunities, the dives we did today had great "safety stop" corals at 15 to 20 feet but I think if you don't scuba dive don't bother. There is really NOTHING to do other than dive. The vehicles are all manual. The prices for lodging/food/drinks are quite reasonable for an island, nowhere near Aruba prices and based on USD. The locals are very nice from my limited interaction with them.

Town is cute but if there is no cruise ship very, very quiet.

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

wow, I want to go, sounds like fun !!! Where are you staying in Bonaire ?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I am staying at Buddy Dive. It was an exchange I picked up about 2 years ago directly after getting my open water.

The universe is taking care of yours truly because with around 30 dives, and the fact I have only done full service diving since I got my certification, says I should be miserable or drowned by now. You do an orientation here, pick up gear if needed and you are on your own. They send down a dive leader with the boats.

I can get lost in a supermarket.

I met a lovely couple from New Hampshire who have adopted me, shown me the ropes of set-up and break down, took me with them on my first 2 on-site shore dives and have continued to invite me off premise diving with them. The husband is a dive instructor and says I have a good quiet way of going once I settle in. That's the zen part. I use less air than he does.

Several of the people from the boat said I was welcome to dive with them if they were going out when I come down to the docks but I am truly blessed with the situation I have found myself in.

I expect I will achieve "barely competent" status by the end of the week.

We are going to dive the National Park this morning, see flamingos!!! and shore dive from the sandy beach area.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Sounds like HEAVEN. DW would agree that there's nothing to do there but dive, also that you need to be competent (and strong) to deal with the shore diving. Which you now will be!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

We did touristy stuff and went through the National Park, saw Flamingos, light houses, etc. last stop at the last beach we dove because easy sand entry/exit. Everything else was hauling stuff down cliffs ( and up on the return) or ridiculously rocky and waves.

The 3 of us swim out to the reef and go down to about 60 feet. We find those crazy cleaner shrimp and the silly looking spiders, big porcupine puffer. A nice dive. Any day below water right?

All of sudden this HUGE swarm 3000, 5000? of mackerel swims over us, under us, constantly in motion around us. It's like being in a tornado of mackerel!!! Most amazing thing I have ever experienced. Big tuna behind them. It felt like it had to have gone on for 10 minutes but was probably 4 or 5.

On the way in we swam up with a platter sized sea turtle.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

You are making me want to go there. NOW

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We did touristy stuff and went through the National Park, saw Flamingos, light houses, etc. last stop at the last beach we dove because easy sand entry/exit. Everything else was hauling stuff down cliffs ( and up on the return) or ridiculously rocky and waves.

The 3 of us swim out to the reef and go down to about 60 feet. We find those crazy cleaner shrimp and the silly looking spiders, big porcupine puffer. A nice dive. Any day below water right?

All of sudden this HUGE swarm 3000, 5000? of mackerel swims over us, under us, constantly in motion around us. It's like being in a tornado of mackerel!!! Most amazing thing I have ever experienced. Big tuna behind them. It felt like it had to have gone on for 10 minutes but was probably 4 or 5.

On the way in we swam up with a platter sized sea turtle.

What an experience!!!!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Amazing experience. Glad you are enjoying. I don't know how the heck you carry that equipment from the shore. You must be VERY strong!

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

wow, wow, wow..... The bait ball with tuna. Maybe you will get to see a marlin or sailfish chasing the mackerel. The tuna chase is too cool you lucky diver.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Amazing experience. Glad you are enjoying. I don't know how the heck you carry that equipment from the shore. You must be VERY strong!

No one said I was doing this gracefully. The first 2 were on my hands and knees struggling out of the primordial ooze exits. Yesterday the judges would have probably given me a 6 because I exited upright with my gear.

wow, wow, wow..... The bait ball with tuna. Maybe you will get to see a marlin or sailfish chasing the mackerel. The tuna chase is too cool you lucky diver.

Bait ball sounds more threatening and looks it if you do the youtube search. That is exactly what it was though.

Thankfully was not there for the feeding frenzy part. Maybe the rest of the hunters hadn't shown up yet.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

and even more adventures.

My first night dive!

If I hadn't been diving all week with these two I think the nervous me would have won the argument with the "you may never get this opportunity again" me. So glad I went. We saw eels and lobster, some really cool tree shaped anenomies, white sea urchin and were accompanied by Charlie the resident house reef tarpon. 45 minutes flew by and we all 3 came up with over 1000psi.

I've taken huge steps towards being a "diver" instead of a "passenger" this week. I even assembled everything the last 2 times, correctly without over thinking it. I have a long way to go but I cannot see how this could have worked out any better. Karma.

Last full day tomorrow, I think we are going to do 2 more off-site shore dives. It is hard to grasp that I have been diving all week and have been on a boat once.