Diving in Bonaire?

Hi all,

I am slowly getting ready for a trip to Bonaire at the end of April. Yes, I am quite aware of the potential "hazards" lurking at the Puerto Rico airport. What I am interested in having you comment on, however, is Bonaire itself. We will be staying at Buddy Dive. What dive sites, in your opinion are must-dives? What lens should I be set up with for each of these must-dives? FYI, I am shooting a D200 in SEa & Sea housing with an asortment of lenses and ports...

Thanks for your help!!!

GG

Hi all,

 

I am slowly getting ready for a trip to Bonaire at the end of April. Yes, I am quite aware of the potential "hazards" lurking at the Puerto Rico airport. What I am interested in having you comment on, however, is Bonaire itself. We will be staying at Buddy Dive. What dive sites, in your opinion are must-dives? What lens should I be set up with for each of these must-dives? FYI, I am shooting a D200 in SEa & Sea housing with an asortment of lenses and ports...

 

Thanks for your help!!!

 

GG

There are many fine dive sites at Bonaire. It can vary, too. I've dived "Something Special" when it wasn't, and again when it was very, very nice. It can depend on what's there at the time. Don't overlook the boat dives from Buddy Dive. Although Bonaire may be the shore diving capital of the world, most sites can be accessed by boat, and the entry and exit is easier. Take 1000 Steps, or Oil Slick, for example. Boat is the only way to dive the sites at Klein Bonaire. Also, the diving right at Buddy's reef is nice and you just walk down the steps from the dock to the water.

Do a night dive when you can. I'm not nuts about Town Pier, though. Lots of Orange Cup coral and morays, but you dive over junk - discarded tires, etc. Not my cup of tea.

This is what I can tell you about lens choice. If you have your WA lens on, you will see seahorses and frogfish. If you have your macro lens on, it will be giant coral formations. There are some sites where you will want your WA lens. Karpata is one. It is a nice site, too. Also, Rappel. Hilma Hooker would be WA.

More famous sites include Salt Pier (shore entry) and 1000 Steps. I've liked Petrie's Pillar, Karpata, Something Special, Barcaderas, Capt. Don's & Sampler (Klein Bonarie) among others. The Hilma Hooker is a wreck in 100' of water that is worth doing once, and is an easier boat dive than shore dive.

There aren't many sites on Bonaire that aren't enjoyable. Have a good time.

Bring booties with a heavy shoe sole. We had our tropical weight booties and our feet got pretty sore walking over all the coral and hard rock. Best dive sites tend to be the farther north or south you go, it becomes a matter of how much current and chop you can deal with. We thought Town Pier was very interesting, shows you life can thrive in any conditions. If we go again we will book two dives at Salt Pier and Town Pier. Salt Pier is a fun day dive and I think it would be great at night.

If you have time to burn here are a trip report, gallery and slide show.

Trip report

http://www.aquabluedreams.com/Bontrnew.htm

Slide show

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.h...07605&alb=0

Gallery

http://www.aquabluedreams.com/bonairegallery.htm

What dive sites, in your opinion are must-dives?

The salt pier is my favorite dive. Last time I was there you had to 'sign up' to dive it a day in advance and get permission from a Bonaire security agency (done by the dive shop when you sign up) but don't let that stop you. We got permission both times we asked and it was terrific. The pier is incredibly photogenic...and look for reef squid in the vicinity.

Martin and all,

Thanks so much for your input! Nice trip report, Martin! Lots of very helpfull input, for sure. I have printed out your responses and will add them to my log book for reference, once there. I am furthermore hoping that others will weigh in as well. Advice such as to bring sturdy dive booties will help us get the most out of this trip. Thanks!

GG

Its been a few years, but the sites that were more to the north, 1000 steps for example are much harder to get to due to the long and difficult walk to the water and more difficult entries, these sites were not dove as much and were in excellent condition. The difficult entries are worth the trouble.

Be aware, do not leave anything in your car when you dive, when you get back, it will not be there. If you lock the car, they will bust the windows to get in.

You can try doing a "search" over "bonaire" as a topic here on wetpixel, ther will be a lot of info about it. When you get out to eat, plan your meals with time, service is really on "island time", southest dive sites are famous fot big fauna such mantas and reef sharks. Bring all the lens you want, you´ll find out that you can use them all.

1.000 steps and karpata have stairs to entry point, but are worth it. Lots of sea turtles there also.

I have been to Bonaire more than 20 times so it's kind of needless to say it's my favorite dive island. Not because the diving is the absolute best you can find but because of the overall experience. Here's a list, in no particular order, of my favorite dives.

Lighthouse

Red Slave

Margate Bay

Alice in Wonderland (far side of the second reef)

Salt Pier

Invisibles

Town Pier

Something Special

Small Wall

Oil Slick Leap

Jeff Davis Reef

1000 Steps

Rappell

La Dania's Leap

Karpata

Windjammer (now off limits)

White/Blue Hole

I didn't include any sites on Klien Bonaire or Washington Park because my favorite's there were heavily damaged by Hurricane Lenny in 1999 but they may be recovering. An interesting dive is the drift from La dania's to Karpata.....a lot of fun and a great dive....inquire locally for the exact directions.

I like to split my dives pretty much evenly between boat and shore dives. I like the convenience of boat dives and the lack of sand in my o-rings from shore entries. I enjoy the shore dives for what they don't have: divemasters and lots of other divers.

As others have pointed out, don't take anything in your vehicle that you don't intend to take underwater.

Have a great trip.

Thanks all for your wonderful recommendations! I have printed out this entire thread and will share it with our group. I am counting the days until our trip! Bonaire - here we come!!!

What do you like?

The "Hilma Hooker" is either a boring lump of steel or a fascinating wreck being colonised by sponges and corals, patrolled by tarpon: "Cliff", next door to Buddy Dive at Captain Don's is a rather small wall, or the home to a never-ending supply of small critters, etc etc.

Examples:

Salt Pier

Rappel

Buddy Dive

Hilma Hooker

Cliff

Tim

B)

Tim,

The water is clear and warm. Need I say more? The critters, coral, wrecks, and piers are icing on the cake! (~; At this point in time I am going through a serious case of Spring fever. Thankfully, I'll be diving Monterey this coming weekend, even though predicted conditions are marginal at best. And then there is the 48 degree water... Bonaire can't get here soon enough!!! (~;

GG