Bonaire Bound in September

mempilot · 1st February 2008, 21:37

Well, the significant other booked us on a recreational trip to Bonaire in September. We will be part of a large group of OC divers staying at the Divebuddy Resort. I'm going to take the Meg and sneak off for a few 'side excursions' while I'm there.

Walt at Rec Tec is going to set me up with bottles, sorb, and gas. Cool thing is, they are right next door to Divebuddy Resort. It sucks that it's going to cost me quite a bit above and beyond the all-inclusive OC package price, but oh well. That is the cost of trying to be silent.

Any suggestions on rebreather diving Bonaire?

- travel?
- logistics?
- sites?
- what gear to leave behind?

**jepuskar** · 1st February 2008, 21:57

Hi Mem,

I think you mean Buddy Dive Resort. Very nice resort, my favorite. It's a shame this is an OC trip, I'm looking to go there around that time and am looking for a CCR buddy. But hey, significant others are just that.

I can only comment on the sites, but my fav part of the island is between The Lake and Red Slave dive sites. Easy entries, can exit just about anywhere too...so you dont need to nail your navigation.

I don't know what kind of dive profiles you plan on doing..anything technical ask Walt, but for dives above 100ft... Alice in Wonderland, Angel City, Invisibles, Atlantis, Margarate Bay, I suppose you are going to want to dive a wreck so Hilma Hooker ofcourse.

J

mempilot · 1st February 2008, 22:08

Quote: (Originally Posted by jepuskar)

It's a shame this is an OC trip, I'm looking to go there around that time and am looking for a CCR buddy. But hey, significant others are just that.

It's a group trip, but there is room for more. I'd love to have a Rebreather buddy on the trip, since I'm the only one that I know of. Come on down with us.

September 6th - 14th

Explorer · 1st February 2008, 22:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by mempilot)

It sucks that it's going to cost me quite a bit above and beyond the all-inclusive OC package price, but oh well. That is the cost of trying to be silent.

But the cost of BEING SILENT IS PRICELESS. It's worth it. Enjoy.

mempilot · 1st February 2008, 22:41

Quote: (Originally Posted by Explorer)

But the cost of BEING SILENT IS PRICELESS. It's worth it. Enjoy.

She paid for an OC package for both of us, so I have unlimited AL80 air fills coming!

**jstovall** · 1st February 2008, 23:46

Hey Mem,

I would second J's suggestions. The double reef system that starts at the Lake and goes all the way to the Light house is amazing diving. Not many OC divers get out to the outer double reef, and if they do they are not there long. Andrea I and II we found two frog fish the size of your hand. Difficult to find but got great video of them. If you are thinking of doing the Jammer, you have to use a guide, but i would vote against. Although we had a great safe dive with Walt, the hull is collapsed in on itself and there is just a Tubular hull with no penetration site. There is a large crack down midship, but we didn't attempt to squeeze in. If you have an a desire to go to the park, Playa Bartol and Playa Funchi are also great dives. The water can be kind of rough on entry and exit, but the vis is the best, and coral like carpet. Go early though
the roads are rough and its aways around, most of the park is oneway.

I am not sure when your plane arrives, But when we flew in last year on Continental at 5 am, we had to wait till 4 pm to get in our rooms and get the truck. Just FYI. Other than that the resort was ok, nice drive through tank pick-up.

As far as food, if you want to get away from the resort, Pasa Bon Pizza and Wills Tropical Grill our my hang outs. If you go to Wills, close to the supermarket downtown, Ask Will or Sue about the sign on the wall from the Texas Boys, "That Ain't Right". Good story. Hell, i might see if i can work out a trip during that time. Either way have a great time

James

jkaterenchuk · 2nd February 2008, 00:56

Find one of the long time dive masters that knows the east side of the island and is willing to take you there on their day off. Rarely do the boats go there as the trip is long and the seas are too rough for most of the recreational crowd when you round the end of the island. You can drive there and then do a significant walk (1/4 mile) to enter from shore.

The diving is exceptional compared to western side as you might expect since it does not get the volume of traffic. These are the secret dive sites of the local scuba population.

John

PCDiver · 2nd February 2008, 09:27

I'm a long time Bonaire fan as well. Certainly try to do the Lac Cai dive. Do a search for Lac Cai - Bonaire and you'll find plenty of info. This is not an easy dive.

A couple of years ago we did the Lac Cai crossing. This is a +2 hour dive, so excellent for rebreather. We even saw a huge tigershark which is very rare for Bonaire.

Have fun.

Peter

Check out video interviews with APD, CCR, DeltaP, Poseidon, GreenForce and others at Welcome to Submerge Productions

Ocean Explorer · 4th February 2008, 20:22

Be prepared for a hefty depature tax.

1st February 2008, 21:37	#1 (permalink)
mempilot Eric Stadtmueller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,708	Bonaire Bound in September Well, the significant other booked us on a recreational trip to Bonaire in September. We will be part of a large group of OC divers staying at the Divebuddy Resort. I'm going to take the Meg and sneak off for a few 'side excursions' while I'm there. Walt at Rec Tec is going to set me up with bottles, sorb, and gas. Cool thing is, they are right next door to Divebuddy Resort. It sucks that it's going to cost me quite a bit above and beyond the all-inclusive OC package price, but oh well. That is the cost of trying to be silent. Any suggestions on rebreather diving Bonaire? - travel? - logistics? - sites? - what gear to leave behind? __________________ Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"
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1st February 2008, 21:57	#2 (permalink)
jepuskar NA Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 397	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Hi Mem, I think you mean Buddy Dive Resort. Very nice resort, my favorite. It's a shame this is an OC trip, I'm looking to go there around that time and am looking for a CCR buddy. But hey, significant others are just that. I can only comment on the sites, but my fav part of the island is between The Lake and Red Slave dive sites. Easy entries, can exit just about anywhere too...so you dont need to nail your navigation. I don't know what kind of dive profiles you plan on doing..anything technical ask Walt, but for dives above 100ft... Alice in Wonderland, Angel City, Invisibles, Atlantis, Margarate Bay, I suppose you are going to want to dive a wreck so Hilma Hooker ofcourse. J
(Offline)

1st February 2008, 22:08	#3 (permalink)
mempilot Eric Stadtmueller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,708	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Quote: (Originally Posted by jepuskar) It's a shame this is an OC trip, I'm looking to go there around that time and am looking for a CCR buddy. But hey, significant others are just that. It's a group trip, but there is room for more. I'd love to have a Rebreather buddy on the trip, since I'm the only one that I know of. Come on down with us. September 6th - 14th __________________ Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"
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1st February 2008, 22:30	#4 (permalink)
Explorer I will teach you a..... Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 782	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Quote: (Originally Posted by mempilot) It sucks that it's going to cost me quite a bit above and beyond the all-inclusive OC package price, but oh well. That is the cost of trying to be silent. But the cost of *BEING SILENT IS PRICELESS. It's worth it. Enjoy. __________________ KONA COFFEE*
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1st February 2008, 22:41	#5 (permalink)
mempilot Eric Stadtmueller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,708	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Quote: (Originally Posted by Explorer) But the cost of *BEING SILENT IS PRICELESS. It's worth it. Enjoy. She paid for an OC package for both of us, so I have unlimited AL80 air fills coming! __________________ Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"*
(Offline)

1st February 2008, 23:46	#6 (permalink)
jstovall Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 55	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Hey Mem, I would second J's suggestions. The double reef system that starts at the Lake and goes all the way to the Light house is amazing diving. Not many OC divers get out to the outer double reef, and if they do they are not there long. Andrea I and II we found two frog fish the size of your hand. Difficult to find but got great video of them. If you are thinking of doing the Jammer, you have to use a guide, but i would vote against. Although we had a great safe dive with Walt, the hull is collapsed in on itself and there is just a Tubular hull with no penetration site. There is a large crack down midship, but we didn't attempt to squeeze in. If you have an a desire to go to the park, Playa Bartol and Playa Funchi are also great dives. The water can be kind of rough on entry and exit, but the vis is the best, and coral like carpet. Go early though the roads are rough and its aways around, most of the park is oneway. I am not sure when your plane arrives, But when we flew in last year on Continental at 5 am, we had to wait till 4 pm to get in our rooms and get the truck. Just FYI. Other than that the resort was ok, nice drive through tank pick-up. As far as food, if you want to get away from the resort, Pasa Bon Pizza and Wills Tropical Grill our my hang outs. If you go to Wills, close to the supermarket downtown, Ask Will or Sue about the sign on the wall from the Texas Boys, "That Ain't Right". Good story. Hell, i might see if i can work out a trip during that time. Either way have a great time James
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 00:56	#7 (permalink)
jkaterenchuk . Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lititz, PA Posts: 1,084	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Find one of the long time dive masters that knows the east side of the island and is willing to take you there on their day off. Rarely do the boats go there as the trip is long and the seas are too rough for most of the recreational crowd when you round the end of the island. You can drive there and then do a significant walk (1/4 mile) to enter from shore. The diving is exceptional compared to western side as you might expect since it does not get the volume of traffic. These are the secret dive sites of the local scuba population. John
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 09:27	#8 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,002	Re: Bonaire Bound in September I'm a long time Bonaire fan as well. Certainly try to do the Lac Cai dive. Do a search for Lac Cai - Bonaire and you'll find plenty of info. This is not an easy dive. A couple of years ago we did the Lac Cai crossing. This is a +2 hour dive, so excellent for rebreather. We even saw a huge tigershark which is very rare for Bonaire. Have fun. Peter Check out video interviews with APD, CCR, DeltaP, Poseidon, GreenForce and others at Welcome to Submerge Productions
(Online)

4th February 2008, 20:22	#9 (permalink)
Ocean Explorer New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Megalodon Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 6	Re: Bonaire Bound in September Be prepared for a hefty depature tax.
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