Bonaire by Cruise

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!

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)

What kind of transportation would be involved in this plan? Would he just
take a taxi to the rental shop and to the dive spots?


"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.

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@> wrote in message
news:4478488b.50745625@news....
> 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 .



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

"Okidiver" <okidiver@cox.net> wrote in message
news:q6vdg.33627$fG3.12590@dukeread09...
> 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...

Yikes! dude, you're not diving in New England. Many people dive with
nothing but a T shirt. I have. Now I wear a shortie wet suit which is more
than sufficient. I'd never even even dream of wearing gloves on any
caribbean dive, and I don't think they're even allowed in Bonaire. Booties
can make a rocky entrance easier, but are by no means a necessity.

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1148953104.384694.136600@g10g2000cwb. o...

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

I don't see why. I've dived there several times and never used nor needed
them.

Skeptic wrote:
> "-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
>
> > Finally, gloves are specifically allowed when diving on the wreck of
> > the Hilma .
>
> I don't see why. I've dived there several times and never used nor needed
> them.

Wrecks are equated to rusty metal, and most people believe that any cut
will thus always result in getting Lockjaw, unless everyone's Tetanus
Immunization onboard the whole diveboat is up to date.

Don't expect that an exception to a fairly irrational rule has to be
rational on its own.


-hh

Geez guys, didn't mean to alert the glove police here. I guess I should
have elaborated a bit:

"I've done the majority of my dives from shore"...probably a thousand on
Okinawa and a couple few on the north shore of Hawaii.

"Lots more stuff to consider"... like ironshore, dead coral, surf, rocks,
box jellyfish, "Habu" jellyfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, crown of thorns
starfish, and did I mention surf, etc... none of which you want to
touch/scrape yourself on, but if you're clumsy like me... We also had lots
of banded sea snakes, Lionfish, and you would see a Blue Ringed Octopus in
the tidals every once in a while, though no one ever had any problems with
those critters.

I guess my point is, wear the neoprene and gloves for protection. I put my
gloves away down in Cozumel to keep everyone happy, but I don't have to
advocate it.
--
Rapid Rick
"Just Dive, Baby"

"Skeptic" <bcs002bm> wrote in message
news:D9Zeg.9613$1i1.1576@attbi_s72...
>
> "Okidiver" <okidiver@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:q6vdg.33627$fG3.12590@dukeread09...
>> 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...
>
> Yikes! dude, you're not diving in New England. Many people dive with
> nothing but a T shirt. I have. Now I wear a shortie wet suit which is
> more than sufficient. I'd never even even dream of wearing gloves on any
> caribbean dive, and I don't think they're even allowed in Bonaire.
> Booties can make a rocky entrance easier, but are by no means a necessity.
>