By Katie Udstuen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, October 16, 2010 - 11:20 pm: |
My husband can't dive because he has ear problems, but we both LOVE to snorkel. Will we enjoy Bonaire if we aren't divers?
|
By Diane Korzeniewski (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #119) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 5:49 am: |
Welcome. There is lots of reef close, some coral damage from storm, but fish diversity better than what I saw snorkelling Roatan. You will love it. We dive it and snorkel it. My husband also has ear problems.
|
By Jeff Kehnle (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 8:26 am: |
My wife is an avid snorkeler -- three to four hours a day, mostly right in front of our hotel. Every day is a new adventure for her. There are a number of very accessible locations around the island with easy entry and close-to-shore snorkelling. There is a good book available on snorkelling on Bonaire which describes those locations very well.
|
By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #926) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 9:00 am: |
You will love snorkeling on Bonaire.
|
By Katie Udstuen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 12:21 pm: |
Thank you so much for your responses! I'm getting so excited about Bonaire. I know from reading multiple posts on this board that you can snorkel from the shore at most points on the island. What resort would you recommend for excellent snorkeling in front of the hotel/resort?
|
By Remco van Reeuwijk (BonaireTalker - Post #17) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 1:45 pm: |
Hi Katie,
|
By Jeff Kehnle (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 2:07 pm: |
Hi, Katie
|
By Trevor Naylor (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #234) on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 2:12 pm: |
Hi I agree with Remco about the Woodwind. For me it is a must for snorkeling. Enjoy your trip.
|
By Remco van Reeuwijk (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 9:35 am: |
We used the 5th edition of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy by Susan Porter (the 6th edition is just out) and a Lonely Planet special Diving & Snorkeling Bonaire. A small book called Marine Pictolife Carabbean was helpfull to understand which fishes and turtles we had seen during our snorkeltrips. Don't worry though, all these books are available on Bonaire. You can buy them at several stores in the main street.
|
By Elizabeth Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #17) on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 4:28 pm: |
Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy is a great book to use when choosing snorkeling sites as Susan comments on whether there are interesting things in the shallows or not. Snorkeling is not as good as it was 10 years ago due to the storms, but there are plenty of gorgeous spots to explore. We love the drift snorkel up north from La Dania's Leap to Karpata. Lots of turtles on that one. Down south, Hidden Beach has dense corals and tons of fish with a ray or two. Doesn't matter where you stay---everything is close by.
|
By Diane Korzeniewski (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #121) on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 7:31 pm: |
One of our favorites for snorkelling (and diving) is Front Porch, just south of Sand Dollar. Also Andrea 1 and Karpata. Karpata in the am, before the waves kick up. sit on the pier, enter to R of pier.
|
By Susan Hopkins (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 8:01 pm: |
For something new, try www.tropicalsnorkeling.com and Galen & Nicole's new Bonaire Snorkeling Guide eBook. I was lucky enough to get hold a preview copy for our trip in August and found it very helpful and current. Their research trip was just this last spring. I have been a fan of their website for a long time, and was nipping at their heels for detailed information on snorkeling locations when they returned. They put it all in the book, and added more to their website.
|
By carey moluchi (BonaireTalker - Post #57) on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 2:49 am: |
I just took a look at the tropical snorkelling ebook and am impressed. My husband and I have done three month long trips to Bonaire, before and after one of the big storms that damaged the shallow corals. This ebook is up to date with information and helpful tips of where to snorkel now. With an upcoming trip this guide will be going with us. Of course we will do the Woodwind again because it is excellent and a guided snorkel with Renee for the first time as well.
|
By Patricia Shapiro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 2:53 pm: |
Neither of us dive - we both snorkel. We have been to Bonaire three times for two weeks each time and we love it. Wayaka II is fantastic - and the fish are right under your feet the moment you enter the water - another site we loved is # 52 - Tori's Reef. Both of these have a very easy entry - and so much to see!
|
By nestor kopko (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #164) on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 9:01 pm: |
Katie, welcome to BT. Delta flies to Bonaire via Atlanta on Saturday and Continental flies a red-eye from Houston and Newark on weekends. You could also fly to Curacao any day of the week with AA then catch a puddle jumper to Bonaire. This is our preferred method due to my wife's work schedule.
|
By nestor kopko (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #165) on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 9:03 pm: |
Katie, I forgot to mention you can also fly with Insel air from Miami
|
By Rene blokzijl (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 6:27 pm: |
I was in Bonaire in shallow light blue water snorkeling, and was run over by à diving boat who came back from à dive trip, i was hit at full speed, and could not hear THE enginesound of THE boat. There are no rules for boats or there captains, anyone of any age can steer à boat without any sort of exam.
|
By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3361) on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 6:39 pm: |
Rene..Sorry to hear about this!
|
By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3363) on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 7:00 pm: |
And here's another link for those who are contemplating renting a boat while on Bonaire.
|
By Rene blokzijl (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 7:11 pm: |
At THE Front of bachelors beach EEG Boulevard, snorkeling nearby THE buoy of à , both legs multiplefractures, bacteries in weaker parts, all muscles from my bottom till THE knee were cut, dont know yet what i Will be able to do, still hospitalisized!!!!! THE boat was at full speed when it run over me, i never stood THE change to do anything i did not hear it coming because of high speed of THE boat!!
|
By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #946) on Monday, December 27, 2010 - 3:44 am: |
I'm so sorry this has happened to you Rene.
|
By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3364) on Monday, December 27, 2010 - 7:21 am: |
Rene..I haven't heard anything of a recent accident. WHEN did this occur? Was this a rental boat or a commercial dive boat?
|
By Rene blokzijl (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, December 27, 2010 - 7:41 am: |
It happened 22 july 2010 it was à commercial dive boat of André Nahr.
|
By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #947) on Monday, December 27, 2010 - 8:55 am: |
My goodness!
|
By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3365) on Monday, December 27, 2010 - 4:06 pm: |
OK, I heard about that unfortunate incident when I was on island in Aug. Godspeed to you with your healing.
|
By Tom and Lydia Dodd (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, January 7, 2011 - 10:37 am: |
My wife and I have been going to Bonaire for more than 25 years. We only snorkel and settled on going to Bonaire years ago because it has good for snorkeling. Many other dive destination islands have nice sandy beaches with no coral and little fish diversity. To get to good snorkeling you need to get to the reef and this usually requires a boat. Bonaire has good snorkeling right from shore because most of Bonaire does NOT have a sandy beach.
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites