Another question about boots... in Bonaire

[I'm a Dork Fish]

I've read MANY suggestions about using hard soled boots while shore diving in Bonaire.

I'd like to hear from those who went against the grain, and used the lighter soled boots instead.

Did you encounter any problems?

Thanks
Andrea

 

[tc_rain]

My nephew did and cut the heck out of his feet. He lasted 3 days before going into town and buying a pair of hard soled boots.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

Our LDS here keeps telling me that we don't need them. He said that he had 20 people on a trip with the exact boots we have and no one had any problems. I respect his opinion, but have seen just about everyone here say "get hard soled boots"

 

[tc_rain]

I guess a lot of it depends where you are diving too. If you are diving at the hotel reefs then you should be fine since they have piers and ladders but if you are diving elsewhere it may be pretty rough. You can always try the soft sole boots and if they don't work you can buy the hard soled boots in town. They are a little bit more then you would pay here in the US but not that much.

 

[DiverVince]

Our LDS here keeps telling me that we don't need them. He said that he had 20 people on a trip with the exact boots we have and no one had any problems. I respect his opinion, but have seen just about everyone here say "get hard soled boots"

Could the explanation be as simple as they all did boat diving or dove off a pier with steps?

Take it from the folks who dive Bonaire. If you plan on doing shore dives get a good pair of hard soled boots and open heel fins.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

To a certain extent, it depends on which sites you're diving and how careful you are entering/exiting the water. If you're a careful person, you probably won't have any issues with your current boots. If you're more on the klutzy side with poor balance and super-sensitive feet, then getting thick-soled boots might be a better idea.

A few years ago, we took 8 people to Bonaire. We dived all of the sites north and south of Kralendijk. Half of our group wore thin-soled rubbery boots (the kind used with open-heeled fins), and they didn't have any issues at all. YMMV.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[diversteve]

I used lighter boots all week...want to see my 4" scar?

Good treaded boots are as important as thickness IMO. There are plenty of sites where you can pick your way through the ironshore into the water. But a lot of them also have slippery ironshore/coral rubble just offshore. And often sea urchins.

Most of the sites shown here - Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands - have entry pictures so unless as suggested above you're only planning to dive the resorts - we mostly did after I shredded my leg the 3rd day at Angel City - I'd bring good boots. Oh and watch out for the holes in the offshore ironshore at Angel City...

 

[RICHinNC]

Hard sole for sure. Even with that....when we drove around the island and walked around taking pics.....a nasty thorn drove through my hard sole boot and about an inch into my foot. Rare I agree...but still....go hard sole.

 

[tc_rain]

good boots. this is what i used in bonaire and had 0 problems

Deep See 5mm Mens Manta Boot

 

[RJP]

I used ScubaPro Deltas, and wished I had something thicker. Bruised the ball of my left foot slipping on an entry.