First trip to Bonaire, first wide-angle zoom lens

I just returned from Bonaire, and took along my Tokina 10-17mm lens for the first time. It is a lot of fun to play with. Bonaire was a great place for wide angle (and macro). Anyway, here is a photo taken with the wide angle zoom.

Most all of the diving was good, but my favorite dives were the ones on Klein Bonaire. That is where this photo was taken.

I just returned from Bonaire, and took along my Tokina 10-17mm lens for the first time. It is a lot of fun to play with.

Steve

Interesting. I know what you mean about the sites being good on Klein but I liked them least personally because I was subject to boat diving and therefore a schedule etc. I really liked the freedom of the shore diving.

I head back in May and can't wait.

Cheers

Todd

What time in may Todd? I will be heading there on 29 to early june...

Interesting. I know what you mean about the sites being good on Klein but I liked them least personally because I was subject to boat diving and therefore a schedule etc. I really liked the freedom of the shore diving.

 

I head back in May and can't wait.

 

Cheers

 

Todd

Hi Todd,

You raise an excellent point about the relative merits of dives off of Bonaire versus those off of Klein Bonaire. The flexibility of shore diving cannot be beat. For my family, shore diving is difficult because my wife has a disability (trouble walking on uneven terrain or too many steps); so, all of our dives except our checkout dive were boat dives. However, it is worth noting that even for people who are restricted to boat dives, Bonaire is still an excellent dive destination. On our next trip to Bonaire, we will scope out which shore dives have the easiest entry, e.g., fewest steps to the site (so 1000 Steps is definitely out), most level terrain, etc. So, I have yet another excuse to return to Bonaire for another dive trip (as if I needed another).

Have a great trip in May.

Erwin

Erwin, That little 10-17 rocks doesn't it. Nice shot, I like the vertical format and the nice even light. I'm glad you enjoyed Bonaire. I'll be heading that way in June. Can you recommend a don't miss dive site?

 

Steve

Hey Steve,

I do not have a good answer to your question about don't miss sites. Many of the dive sites are similar, all very good. That is good news, in my opinion. It is hard to go wrong. On the other hand, I did not do the city pier, which many people rave about, particularly for a night dive. (That gives me something to look forward to on my next trip...)

I loved the wreck of the Hilma Hooker, and that is a dive that I would not miss. I did it as a boat dive, but I was told it was a nice accessible shore dive. If you dive nitrox, it is an ideal site for it because you get a lot more bottom time that way (most of the dive is between 65-90 fsw). It is my second favorite wreck dive, right behind the Rhone in the Virgin Islands. Finally, I did not dive Karpata or Rappel, but the people who did loved them. For wide angle, I thought that Klein Bonaire was best (although the sites along the main island of Bonaire would be great, too). For macro, a lot of the northern sites were excellent, but my favorite was Petrie's Pillar (most seahorses, turtles, flamingo tongues, shrimp hiding in anemones and other cool small stuff).

Have a great trip.

Erwin

We are there May 3 to 17th. So, I guess we miss you by a couple of weeks.