New Years in Bonaire!!

[sillygrendel]

You know you want to spend the New Year under water!

Myself and O-ring are planning a trip to Bonaire for New Years.

Leaving Monday, December 30
Returning Monday, January 6

(Monday - Monday because the airfare is much cheaper)

We figure that we can do 7 days of unlimited diving, car rental and a place to stay for less than $600. It'll be even cheaper if we get more people!!

Let either of us know ASAP...

Matt


Other discussion on this -- this thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/t18048/s.html)

[arcticcat]

Good choice.

My wife and I will be in bonaire starting dec 14 for about 3 weeks.

Staying at the black durgon inn.

Should see you there...

[O-ring]

We will be there from Dec 31st - Jan 10th and are staying at Happy Holiday Homes.

[scubagrl]

Hey O-ring...I PMd sillyg that I too will be in Bonaire for New Years....December 25-Jan 6. I've been lucky enough to experience a few Bonairian New Years.....you are in for a fabulous time. How about a midnight dive and a drink or several after........

[O-ring]

scubagrl once bubbled...
Hey O-ring...I PMd sillyg that I too will be in Bonaire for New Years....December 25-Jan 6. I've been lucky enough to experience a few Bonairian New Years.....you are in for a fabulous time. How about a midnight dive and a drink or several after........
Neither Matt nor I have ever been to Bonaire and we have no plans as of yet for New Years. We are staying at Happy Holiday Homes and are getting there rather late (around 9 pm) on the 31st.

How should we plan to hook up?

[O-ring]

Has a list of shore dives, descriptions, and a rating system...

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/ABC/index.htm

[O-ring]

I was starting to read them all and make a list of the ones I wanted to "definitely" hit...then I realized that we will be there long enough to do all the ones on the site.
:D

[scubagrl]

There are no bad dives in Bonaire.....some shore dives require a bit more work, just lugging equipment, but nothing too bad. Klein Bonaire has great sites as well, so make sure you jump on your dive shop's boat at least a couple of times. BTW, are you guys renting a car?

I told Matt that if you want me to grab a couple of tanks for you New Years Eve to just let me know. Perhaps I could guide your checkout dive that night! I suppose you'd probably prefer one during the day though.

For topside activities that night, I know quite a few people who are going to be in Bonaire for New Years....dinner/drinks at Lions Den is always a good choice......then perhaps a quick drive into town for a night of debauchery........

[O-ring]

scubagrl once bubbled...
There are no bad dives in Bonaire.....some shore dives require a bit more work, just lugging equipment, but nothing too bad. Klein Bonaire has great sites as well, so make sure you jump on your dive shop's boat at least a couple of times. BTW, are you guys renting a car?

I told Matt that if you want me to grab a couple of tanks for you New Years Eve to just let me know. Perhaps I could guide your checkout dive that night! I suppose you'd probably prefer one during the day though.

For topside activities that night, I know quite a few people who are going to be in Bonaire for New Years....dinner/drinks at Lions Den is always a good choice......then perhaps a quick drive into town for a night of debauchery........
We were wondering about how we were going to pull that off since the dive shop will be closed...can you lead a checkout dive? I thought we had to have a tag or something that we got from the "official" marine orientation or something? We are definitely in for a night dive...we both have big lights, so no problem there..

Yes, we are renting a car for the whole 10 days. I guess we just need to figure out how to get in touch with you once we get into Bonaire. Should we meet you somewhere at a certain time or call you?

Thanks again for all your help...looking forward to it immensely!

[scubagrl]

Yeah, you'll need a Marine Park tag to dive....duh, forgot that part! So you won't be able to dive until New Years Day, but that's not so bad, is it? As far as the checkout...I'm not sure what your diveshop's procedures are, but perhaps they'll require you to dive with a DM from their staff. I tend to just do the dive with the friends I'm with.

We'll arrange later how we'll hook-up....my condo does not have a phone, but you can always leave a message with the office...I'll PM either you or Matt with details later......

Getting excited already!!

[sillygrendel]

Clear, warm water, and fireworks and new people to hang out with...

This is going to be great!

[jepuskar]

I'm beyond jealous!!

Ok, time to start my own thread to find a group/someone.

Some people might meet me down there just to kick my arse. ;)

Time to buy another dive knife.... :)

[O-ring]

jepuskar once bubbled...
I'm beyond jealous!!

Ok, time to start my own thread to find a group/someone.

Some people might meet me down there just to kick my arse. ;)

Time to buy another dive knife.... :)
Now that would be funny...someone traveling all the way to Bonaire just to kick your arse...talk about determined.

Just get a pig sticker and wear it on your leg everywhere you go..oh, and hope you don't meet someone trained in knife defenses or a kali practicioner.

[jepuskar]

I wouldnt doubt someone coming down there to kick my butt.....cuz afterwards they could go diving and have a great time. :/

but, i posted my thread...im ready to get this started.

O-ring..your gonna love Bonaire.

[Natasha]

There is a BIG pot luck party at Jake and Linda's house on New Year's Day. {I met Jake at DEMA}
They are the owners of Bonaire Talk. They have a huge house right in front of the web cam.
They allow anyone to come as long as you bring a dish to share.
More into can be found on the www.bonairetalk.com web site.

[WreckWriter]

jepuskar once bubbled...
I wouldnt doubt someone coming down there to kick my butt.....cuz afterwards they could go diving and have a great time. :/

Don't take everything so seriously. I never travel to kick butts :)

If we ever meet I'll hope it will end up with sharing a couple beers rather than rolling around on the sidewalk!

Tom

[jepuskar]

Wouldn't doubt that at all....in fact you could meet me on the street and never in a million years would you think I am the mean dude from scubaboard. ;)

I am a very laid back individual who is all about having fun and laughing. As a diver, I am very safety oriented and always check on my buddy..constantly. I am hooked on diving and soo far about 99% of the people I have met while diving have been really cool people.

Something about the people in this sport/hobby/profession.....everyone is willing to give helpful advice and look out for one another. It's an awesome family.

Jason

[arcticcat]

Could we meet up down there?

Do a dive or 2 then lunch.

I do like night dives.

Its our 1st time to bonaire. Did cozumel last year. Its the fredom of the shore diving that's got me counting the days.

Sharon wants to do a nitrox course when there. I've got mine.

Some days I'll want an extra dive or 2 more than Sharon so another safe diving buddy would be great.

We have wheels booked.

[O-ring]

arcticcat once bubbled...
Could we meet up down there?

Do a dive or 2 then lunch.

I do like night dives.

Its our 1st time to bonaire. Did cozumel last year. Its the fredom of the shore diving that's got me counting the days.

Sharon wants to do a nitrox course when there. I've got mine.

Some days I'll want an extra dive or 2 more than Sharon so another safe diving buddy would be great.

We have wheels booked.
The more the merrier! What are the dates of your stay?

[arcticcat]

Arrive dec 14 02.
lots of diving
relaxing
exploring
good food
good beer
beaches


Depart jan 7.

[jepuskar]

Now thats a stay!! I need to quit checking this thread...im getting depressed!!!

[scubagrl]

Awwww, it's okay Jepuskar.....I'm sure we'll all file a trip report when we get back....

Or you could get your arse down there for New Years....it's going to be wild........

[jepuskar]

Geez, scubagrl..you sure now how to kick a man when he is at 130 feet dont ya?

I can't make it for New Years, so maybe you can redeem yourself and tell me a good way to find someone to go with.

My dive buddy was my girlfriend, but she left me because she said my regulator hose wasn't long enough....so I'm a free man and in need of a buddy in Bonaire.

I have posted my needs on here and Bonairetalk.com, but I don't think thats the way to go. I asked my LDS for some help and ofcourse they are interested in pushing the trips they have going on...so im up for ideas.

Ofcourse, I could always go alone and just buddy up down there, but i dont wanna miss any dives because nobody is around.

ugh...

:)

[O-ring]

The trip is getting close! We leave in 13 days! Everyone that posted still going and planning on meeting up? Wanna talk logistics?

[o2 clean]

in spirit. ;-0

[scubagrl]

....I'm still on..........in one week I should be close to landing at Flamingo Airport! I'll pm you guys with my digits......

Can I get a WOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?!!!?!?

[scubagrl]

Jepuskar, are you coming?? I mean coming with. I'm sure the Bonairians would love another taste of the Troll!!

[O-ring]

scubagrl once bubbled...
Jepuskar, are you coming?? I mean coming with. I'm sure the Bonairians would love another taste of the Troll!!
...the Bonaireians won't let him back on the island...they said after his last visit all the toilets wouldn't flush and the donkeys were pregnant...

[scubagrl]

LMAO :laugh:

[sillygrendel]

Time to get out of the slush and into the sun!!!!!!!

[O-ring]

I don't do any underwater photography, but I usually take a digital camera on the boats/shore dives/whatever to take pics of the area and a group photo of my dive group. Given that I can't take it underwater and I am supposed to leave the car unlocked, should I skip this in Bonaire? Should I just take a disposable in the car or is that likely to get pilfered too? Right now I am thinking that the smart move would be to leave all my own cameras at home and get a couple disposables.

Thanks

[herman]

There is no problem taking it on the boats, I would not worry at all about the DM's or Captains. I would however take it in some sort of dry bag (big zip lock baggie) just to keep it dry. You can leave the equipment with the frount office or if it's small enough in the room safe when diving. I have a big pelican case so I just lock it inside that. I think a disposable would be safe in the truck. You can also use this trick. Make sure no one is watching and just put it under a nearby rock. Another way to protect your stuff is to dive by the Pink Dive Bus. There is a big pink dive bus that goes to a different site each day and sets up. They have lockers that you can get(rent?) and they will watch your stuff for you. They also have cold drinks and food. They have a web site but I don't have the address.
You can always go back and shoot the shore dive sites on your last day....no diving 24 hrs before flying, remember.

[herman]

Here is the link http://www.bonphototours.com/webenglish/duikbus.htm

[O-ring]

herman once bubbled...
There is no problem taking it on the boats, I would not worry at all about the DM's or Captains. I would however take it in some sort of dry bag (big zip lock baggie) just to keep it dry. You can leave the equipment with the frount office or if it's small enough in the room safe when diving. I have a big pelican case so I just lock it inside that. I think a disposable would be safe in the truck. You can also use this trick. Make sure no one is watching and just put it under a nearby rock. Another way to protect your stuff is to dive by the Pink Dive Bus. There is a big pink dive bus that goes to a different site each day and sets up. They have lockers that you can get(rent?) and they will watch your stuff for you. They also have cold drinks and food. They have a web site but I don't have the address.
You can always go back and shoot the shore dive sites on your last day....no diving 24 hrs before flying, remember.
...for the info and the link. We will use that as an option in case we have something of value in the car. One last question...what about a nice mesh backpack? If I bring that with me to haul my gear, will it be gone when I come up? What do you haul gear in while on Bonaire? I guess I could use a grocery bag or trash bag to get it from the room to the car instead if the bag is likely to get stolen..

[herman]

A cheap mesh bags works as good as anything. they are light, cheap, not likely to get stole and easy to pack. You can also use the bring home groceries from the store....paper bags cost you extra.