I have been reading this interesting forum to learn a bit more about the place I plan to visit end of May. This will my first visit to BON and have been three times before in Cozumel and one in Belize. I am coming with some friend divers, and there was a discussion among us on whether to favor the boat diving or the shore diving. The argument was that in boat diving, divers normally go to sites not accessible from shore, and therefore, less susceptible to damage as divers are always guided by a DM. On the other hand, my other friend argumented that if divers like some we saw in Cozumel, barely being able to control buoyancy and stay off the corals, or those that believe that because they don't know how to hover still swimming against current while taking a photo, just grab the corals... then in Bonaire, with no DMs to watch what you are doing, you can imagine the enormous damage...

Well, personally I am not so sure, as I have read so many great reports form Bonaire, the third time that wins the top 100 in SD, I definitively want to dive it... and I have the feeling that shore diving should be the main diving and leave the boat dives only for Klein Bon. Am I right?

So, what is the opinion from those of you that keep coming back to Bonaire? What do you prefer, the boat dive sites or the shore ones? (assuming the boat ride is not part of the discussion, but just the reef).

Thank you in advance,
Peter from Chile

P.S> One further question: I haven't been able to figure out if Bonaire is pronounced the french way or the spanish way... if you know what I mean.

THIS THREAD HAS BEEN MOVED TO DIVING BONAIRE BY THE MODERATORS

I would recommend a mix of boat and shore diving. The boats will take you to Klein Bonaire and the shore diving will be your choice and timing.

Most of the divers who take the trouble to go to Bonaire have a decent respect for the reef and will stay off of the bottom. The boat diving on Bonaire is not herded, you can go with the DM or dive on your own. They just want you to watch your depth and time as a safety and courtesy factor. The only time a DM will insist that some one goes with them is when a pattern of bad diving is seen. People have been denied access to boats and tanks for really idiotic behavior.

Bonaire is an English version of the island's real name Bonieru. We gringos say Bo nair, which may be right or wrong.

Peter, I'm on the shore diving only side. Bonaire is very special in this way, almost all the sites can be dove from shore. The big advantage to shore diving is you get to go where and when you choose. Go here for the dive sites.

The shore diving on Bonaire does get any easier, you back the truck up the water, sit on the tail gate to suit up and then take a few steps into the water. The wall will be a short swim over coral flats which is where you do your safety stop, on the way back.

Either way, you will love it.

My preference is for shore dives. With the exception of Klien Bonaire, a small island a mile off shore, 90-955% of the rest of the sites that the boats go to are easily accessible from shore. I like being able to be totally on my own schedule and dive plan. I can dive a spot at whatever time I like or as many times as I like. My average dive on Bonaire is 75 minutes and has gone as long as 95. Of the boat dives I have done, there was a DM in the water but we usually go our own way at our own pace. There are very few "hand held" dives on Bonaire.

And Welcome to the board Pete

My first trip to Bonaire, the wife and I had set up for 1 boat dive a day for 10 day trip. We ended up missing more than half of them because we enjoyed the pure pleasure of the "Diving Freedom" that Bonaire allows shore divers. Now we just purchase boat dives when we want them.

Aquaman

My vote is also for shore diving. Most of the sites are accessible from shore, and as others have said the freedom from schedules and relaxed pace of shore diving is one of the unique features of Bonaire. Take a trip or two to Klein Bonaire. Perhaps do an East Side boat dive. Otherwise I'd stick to shore diving. NB: not all dive operators limit their boat dives to "boat only" sites, so check this before you book.

I have not seen an appreciable difference in the health of the reefs between boat only and shore-accessible sites. The level of competence of divers on Bonaire is on average higher than other places I've dived as almost all the divers are on a dedicated dive trip, not many cruise-ship/resort course divers. Certainly some glaring exceptions to this rule though.

Have a great trip!

David

I was there just last year and did only shore dives. I really didn't recall any broken coral to speak of. I was at Maui this last summer and it was aweful. I cannot imagine boat dives being easier or better. ditto on the comment about backing the truck up to the water, getting your gear on from the tailgate and "falling" in! Our dive profile (there were 4 of us) was the same for ever dive! Head straigt out from shore (can't remember the compass heading but is was one of the point on the compass - South?) hang a right at the reef edge, travel through 1/2 our gas, turn around and follow the reef back at a shallower depth and go back to shore. Absolutely no brainer! The only one that took less work was a drift dive from La Dania's Leap to Karpata. Here is my pics from the trip - see for yourself.

http://www.allenhost.com/gallery/IndianaJoeBonaire2004

Try a boat dive and post your experience. Gotta say one thing - I highly recommend taking the Naturalist course from the guy at the dive shop next to Sand Dollar - best 3 hrs I spent the entire trip! Bari Reef is great as well.

Bon Bini

Thanks to all of you for answering!! It has been very helpful. I will definitively do both, boat and shore dives... but probably much more shore ones.

Joseph, thanks for sharing the photos, they are great, both the under and above water... It is funny, we have the same Olympus camera... though I miss the external strobe you have... ;-)

I have some pictures too of my previous trips to Cozumel and Belize with my daughters, you can find them here:
http://www.pbase.com/psinclai/

Thanks again to all,
Peter

Peter, please be aware of the marine park rules related to touching and harassing fish. I looked at your website, and there are lots of pictures of people touching fishes, and a picture of a puffer all blown up. NONE of those things are allowed in Bonaire.

William, you are right and I accept the criticism. However, those events happened in Cozumel and Belize, where the DMs guiding the group, pick the fish up and pass it to you for holding it... I admit that it is not a good practice, but in the case of Belize and the nurse sharks, you could see they were quite used to it as they kept following us all the dive... and let you hold them without showing any fear or alike. To be honest, my daughter will never forget that moment she could hold the shark... In the case of the puffer, that was harassing... it is clear that it was inflated from fear. My indulgence permitted it... I am sorry.

I hope you enjoyed the rest of the pics. :-)

Wherever you go, do as the locals... and old wise saying, so I'll make sure no one in my group will touch anything in Bonaire. And I can assure you that I am very concerned on taking care of the corals. In all those pictures from Cozumel, I never grabbed a coral for shooting them. I know how to stay still under a current.

cheers,
Peter

P.S. I am glad that at least this problem triggered you to participate in this excellent forum.