OK here are a few questions that I'd like you to tell me about the following picture....



a.) What is it? (there'll be no prizes for saying damselfish)
b.) Where was it taken?
c.) Why is it virtually impossible to make out the wording?
d.) Does it still look like this? (this shot was taken five weeks ago)

Once I receive an answer to d.) that pleases me, I'll proceed with Chapter 13 (unlucky for some, they say).

Andy Hi,
The plaque is still in the same condition, or at least it was 2 weeks ago. I also had a hard time trying to figure out what it said.. The plaque is under a dive flag that is easily accessed from Capt. Dons. To the left of the plaque we found a beautiful orange seahorse and a green frog fish. Hope others can answer the rest of the questions. I was told it was a plaque to commemorate the divers or sailors that were lost in the area. Could be wrong about that however, but it sounds good. Happy holidays and keep the saga alive.
Freddie

Jack Chalk would know the exact wording on the plaque. If I remember the story right - it is a tribute to Captain Don presented by the Boston Sea Rovers. Jack maintains the dive flag and the plaque. When a lot of the Sea Rovers are visiting Bonaire, we generally do a dive to the plaque.

The monument is Don's 'tribute to the pioneers who have gone before' us in diving, living and dead as I remember it--the wording doesn't specify. The Sea Rover involvement was that George Buckley (and Frank Fennel?) was instrumental in getting the bronze plaque cast in Boston and taking it to Bonaire, and because Don is a specially good friend and Sea Rover Diver of the Year in 1984 for his work that led to the founding of the Bonaire Marine Park et al. It has been there for over 15 years (and so has eroded some); Jack C. told me it was cleaned up and a new flag pole and flag installed for the Habitat 25 year celebration this year.

My reading is ' A TRIBUTE TO THE UNDERWATER PIONEERS AND EXPLORERS WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US'

Sounds good. I knew mine was not an exact quote.

That sounds right - I had remembered it as "A tribute to all those who had gone before us", but that doesn't fit the oxidation blobs in the photo above.

Jake
(also a Boston Sea Rover, just like Glen, Linda, and Jack on this board :-) )

PS Glen - saw Bill O'Malley this morning on the flight to San Juan - he was on Bonaire for a rep meeting. Linda - Bill sends his regards.

Well, I guess we're making some progress. But I still haven't got what I'm looking for.

Does "Mark McGuire" have anything to do with it?

Andy

You should publish a book on your dive adventures. Compared to your trips most of our trips seem uneventful (but only after reading your trip reports).
Is it important for the next chapter to have a winner in your contest?? Since we were there at the same time, I guess my answer wouldn't count.
Hope someone gets it right so we can see your next chapter.

d.) Yes.

Thanks Ellen.

Not unless he’s the slothenly s o b employed by Jack to housekeep “his” reef, Dave.

Please…. Don’t force me to post pictures of the barely recognizable dive flag & pole, the broken training hoop & the accumulating domestic rubbish.

Ok, Andy. After schlepping all my dive gear over to Cliff in search of the answer to your question, muttering under my breath the whole way there, I expect chapter 13 to appear forthwith. You will be forgiven though as I had a very enjoyable dive flirting with a tiger grouper at the bottom of the wall at Cliff and then a large green moray eel and 2 lobsters that were standing guard by La Machacha. The fireworms there are absolutely monstrous! The biggest I've ever seen. What are you feeding them Jack? I hope everyone appreciates my hard work to keep the muse musing.

Sorry, that should be La Machaca.

Are we there yet??? Please, please....Carole

Morning Ellen. It's coming.
The delay is caused by the struggle I'm having with my concience over it's content, which is likely to ruffle a few feathers.
Perhaps I'll leave it until pm Xmas Day when those most likely to be offended will be stuffed with turkey (whos feathers will have been more than ruffled) & less likely to be inclined towards aggression.
Also of course, it will allow them another couple of days to get things back in order at the site above & post the confirming pics for all to see.
If you've got a few minutes to spare, give a little recognition to Judys most recent trip report. She deserves it & everyone else appears to be out on a last pre Xmas shopping spree or drinking binge.
Me? I have to venture out into the blizzard which has just engulfed our neck of the woods, to find my shovel.

You'll have gathered by now that the the answer I'm looking for to question d.) is "No"

Not "THE" shovel???!! Carole

Yep.