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Greetings. We got back yesterday from a week in Bonaire and thought I'd share the one truly useful thing I learned. Every dive shop I tried was sold out of the de facto dive guide by Susan Porter. I eventually found a stack of them in a souvenir shop. If you're standing in front of the...

My kids (23 to 26 YO) went last week and had a blast.

PADI Tec pretty much demands redundant bouyancy, and I don't think they mean a lift bag. I went with double 120ft3 steels, with an LPI on each post. I like the 120s because I'm tall and they fit the same tank bands as 80's. But you be you.

The valve on your pony should only be open if you're breathing from it, so having a free flowing regulator seems unlikely to me.

We love renting a condo at Residencias Reef and having the dive op (Deep Blue, in our case) pick us up at the pier. As the OP mentioned, it shortens the boat rides dramatically. I get sea sick, so that's a plus for me. (yes, even with medicines)

Thanks for the report. I leave in 11 days myself. Can hardly wait to splash.

With PADI, it came with TEC45 certification.

We got between 12 and 15 inches of rain in North Austin. Several of the little reserviors here are filled up to near their bridges, about 40 feet above normal. I'm sure that the ensuing swamp is full of little "fire ant islands" too.

I don't know anything about the currency change, but we're going on Dec. 26th. Is that in time? I'm near Parmer and 620. We're actually staying in Belnem, so we're just down the road from the donkeys even if the box is full again.

It's been said before - it is mostly personal preference. My wife and I have done both, at Bellafonte (Belnem) with a pier and Tropicana Fun without. Both have advantages and disadvantages. We never dove the private pier at Bellafonte, though I snorkeled it. The water is accessed by a...

Well, my wife and I will be there the week between Christmas and New Years. It will be our third trip. I'm already doing the diving research. This is not a paid advertisement, but Susan Porter has released the updated 6th edition of "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy". I ordered one yesterday...

I've never stayed at GRI, but I learned the hard way to lock every single lock on the doors and windows in your room. We omitted a single deadbolt (on a door with multiple locks) , and had an unwelcome visitor - who stole our camera from inside the waterproof case.

I have heard, though not from any lawyers, that no waiver of any kind will protect a dive operator (airline, etc.) from a lawsuit based on their negligence. Any truth in that? Any underwater lawyers out there with fact to backup/refute my fiction?

When I was there, I was told that the stolen tanks get ferried to Venezuela and sold as aluminum scrap. What a waste. In two trips, I've left basically nothing but tanks in the car/truck and had no problems. Our room was broken into, though. Depending on the dive shop, they'll let you...

The Henderson catalog has Medium Tall, Large Tall and Extra Large Tall. I searched "Henderson Size Chart" on Google and it took me to a good page at ScubaToys. I love my Henderson Hyperstretch 5mm. I had it customized locally because I'm 6'7".

I'm sure that everyone has their favorites, but if you are sticking to air and Nitrox within NDL, I've had great success with Oceanic. I have a Neo180nx, but I find their one-button user interface to be a giant pain. My 250 has a second button which makes things significantly better. I've...

Specifically regarding upgrading, buying adjustable fins is the way to go. I bought full foot fins, and they got used about twice. Then get some Innovative (brand) spring fin straps. ISC Catalog : Rubber Goods

I'd like a pair of 119 or 120cf tanks. The 7.25" ones. Can't remember which that is...

I bought a Zeagle Ranger BCD, which was nice, but what actually made it _work_ for me was the crotch strap. Best $20 that I ever spent. When I build a tech rig this spring, that may be the only accessory.

I went to Bonaire in December, and asked the dive shop (Dive Friends/Yellow Submarine) if they were a DIN or Yoke shop. They answered "International". I re-asked and they said that international equals yoke. I had never heard that, nor my LDS, until December 2009. This matters in Bonaire...