If you are
going to Bonaire, you are going to dive. We had arranged a package
with the Sand Dollar Dive and Photo (on-site) for two boat dives a
day plus unlimited shore diving. If I were to go back, I might just
opt for shore diving. Sure, you cannot get out to Klein Bonaire
except by boat, but almost every other dive site is accessible from
shore. Besides, you cannot beat the freedom of shore diving.
The Sand Dollar
runs orientation first thing Sunday morning to get you familar with
their system. Everyone is assigned a number and all of the dive boats
are listed on a big board each day. To sign up for a boat, just put
your number on the board -- it's that simple. Just make sure that you
show up for any dive you sign up for. Tanks for shore/night diving
are reserved the same way.
We started with
a check-out dive off the pier at Sand Dollar. Everyone is asked to do
a check out dive to make sure that you're bouyancy is good. The
people of Bonaire are very concerned about the health of their reef
system and they don't want you crashing down on it because you are
overweighted. The reef off Sand Dollar (Bari Reef) is excellent
during the day and even better at night. There is a good sized snook
that follows behind night divers waiting for them to blind a small
fish with their lights so it can get an easy meal. The first time it
happens to you can be a bit alarming!
Bonaire is
about reef diving, not wreck diving. Nonetheless, the Hilma Hooker
wreck is very popular. It lies on it's side in a sand channel at a
depth of just about 100'. There are some really nice swim throughs
and good photo-ops. We encountered a huge school of horse-eye jacks
while we were there.
Our favorite
dive site was Aquarius. We did it as a shore dive. It was the site of
the giant sea life. We saw the worlds largest spiny lobster, a 5'
blue spotted coronetfish, and a loggerhead turtle.
Every dive on
the island was fantastic.
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