By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2679) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:25 pm: |
4/4/05 Monday - I left Boston at 12 noon, close to on time, when I got to San Juan, AA announced that the flight crew had not arrived on island yet, so we would be delayed 2 hours. They lived up to their word and we arrived on Bon at 10:15……15 minutes after AB rental had closed. I resigned myself to begging Renee for a lift to the airport on Tuesday morning. On the flight with us was the Rincon Judo club, heading home after a meet. They took first place as a team and everyone was wearing medals! Needless to say the airport was filled with excited families……what a fun way to finally meet Bonaire! Listening to cheers, songs, and laughter!
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2680) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:27 pm: |
4/7/05 Thursday – OK….so today I had an extra day to roam, so I decided to go shopping. I had a wonderful time exploring Kaya Grande, and purchased some very nice clothing and souveniers. I also stumbled upon The Cinnamon Art Gallery, so I went in and met Linda, (what a wonderful lady!) and bought a very nice “oil sketch” of a Prikitchi (a portrait of Spirit). Unfortunately Jake is off island AGAIN so I probably won’t get a chance to meet him. I eventually had to stop for food, so I went to City Café and had the most wonderful Blue Marlin in a caper sauce! YUM!!! I took all of my stuff back to the house and then headed to the Wanna Dive rum punch party, downtown. I naturally gravitated to the only other non-Dutch speakers and started chatting with them. Somehow we got to talking about Bas, and they very kindly pointed out that he was “right over there”
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2681) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:30 pm: |
4/9/05 Saturday – we ate breakfast at the house, then headed for “Oil Slick Leap”
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2682) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:55 pm: |
4/12/05 Tuesday – Mary and I are on our own again for this dive, we went to “Bari” Mary and I both tried the “yelling technique” on this dive (it doesn’t work) I tried to tell her she had a 4-5 ft spotted moray laying directly beneath her…and she tried to tell me she was staring at a Coronet fish!!!! It all worked out and we ended up using other techniques to attract the other ones attention…but I now HIGHLY recommend some piece of equipment you can use to get peoples attention! Towards the end of this dive, I scared the heck out of this poor flounder!
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13477) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:59 pm: |
LaDonna, sounds like you had a great trip! Are now a true Bonaire addict?
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2683) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 9:02 pm: |
4/14/05 Thursday - My last day of diving, we originally planned on doing “Cai” again, but the winds had kicked up, and Bas determined it wasn’t safe. So instead we chose to do “LaDania’s Leap to Karpata” (Of course Bas has started calling it “LaDonna’s Leap” but I take that as a compliment!!!)
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13478) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 9:03 pm: |
LaDonna...communication underwater...tank bangers! Kelly and I used them on our trip and they worked out great! This last time we forgot them, so I found when I wanted to get someones attention (particularly Dylon's when he wasn't paying attention) I took the little plastic ball that is at the end of the dump valve on the back of my BC and tapped it on my tank...worked pretty good in a pinch!
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2684) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 9:13 pm: |
Cynde....I am now a true Bon addict!!!
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By Cam (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #244) on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 9:57 pm: |
Great report!!! Great pics! Nice to see Gibi still has the flags up
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By The Ginocchio's @ Golden Reef Inn (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #706) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 12:29 am: |
LaDonna,
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #219) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 12:42 am: |
Great report LaDonna. Really made my PBD bad.
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By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #938) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 2:17 am: |
LaDonna - great report thanks for sharing your experiences.
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By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #935) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 6:47 am: |
Masha danki for the great report!
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1786) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 7:56 am: |
LaDonna, Thanks for your wonderful report.
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2685) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 8:08 am: |
Thanks, everybody! Being here does help that old PBD!
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By Elvira M. Bolanos (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1026) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:14 am: |
LaDonna, great report and pics. Seemed like you guys had lots of fun. Enjoyed watching you and Mary on the cams. So when is your next trip?
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By Cam (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #246) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:31 am: |
The pics are great! What is that flag to the left of the Clemson flag a Gibi's?
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2686) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:40 am: |
Cam, Do you mean the Colorado State flag, brought down by Linda and Al Stoltfus (sp?)??
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By Lisa Barclay (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #615) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:43 am: |
LaDonna, thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with us. I really enjoyed the pictures also.
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By Cecil Berry (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3997) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:50 am: |
Great report, LaDonna. The diving is only a little better than the Nubble, right?
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2688) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:53 am: |
Cecil.....since I don't have a dry suit and don't have the guts to use just a wet suit....I have never dove at the Nubble....so I'll just take your word for it!!!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1369) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 11:12 am: |
Great report LaDonna!!!
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By John and Carol Collins (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 1:00 pm: |
Loved your report LaDonna. It made me feel like I was having a fun time right along with you. Wonderful pictures too.
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By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3907) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 2:00 pm: |
LaDonna - what wonderful memories!!! I wish you could get down there again this year when I am back on the island!!
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2712) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 2:10 pm: |
Mary, I was really hoping to swing October, when I remembered my niece is coming to visit me from about Oct 28-Nov 4 Now we are talking either Feb or April!
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By Elvira M. Bolanos (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1036) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 2:41 pm: |
LaDonna, great report - enjoyed the pics. I felt like I was there with you reading the report. So glad you guys had fun!!!!
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1788) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 2:56 pm: |
LaDonna, you poor blonde girl. I can see by your post above that you have not yet received the 2005 October page to your calender yet. I am heading to the post office right now with an extra October page for you.
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2713) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 3:00 pm: |
Tom....guess I should have stated that I was trying to get "on-island" at the same time Mary was there......therefore my nieces visit is a problem But the more I think about it, what time are you and the gang down there????? I may just have to mooch off of you instead!!!!
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2714) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 3:01 pm: |
Tom...also...FYI...have you set aside 7/24 for a BBQ yet????
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1789) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 3:04 pm: |
Smack and I have tickets for October 11-26. Come on down:-{)}
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By LaDonna Pride (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2715) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 3:10 pm: |
If there is ANY possible way for me to squeeze out another two weeks this year....I'll be there.
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By Mark Degan (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
LaDonna,
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13486) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 6:17 pm: |
LaDonna, Martin showed us the "shortcut" coming back from Ole Blue too...it was a beautiful view too (and shorter than going all the way around Rincon ;-)
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By Babs (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8382) on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 11:45 pm: |
LaDonna, great report! You really made the rounds! Bet you can't wait to get back!
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By Debbie Babcock (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1478) on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 12:50 pm: |
LaDonna,
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By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7807) on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 8:37 pm: |
I loved your report and your pics!!!!
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By Annie B. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13362) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 10:56 am: |
LaDonna. I finally got here to read your report, and what an excellent one it is too, made me feel as if I was seeing everything for myself. I am really glad you ladies had so much fun together.
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By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #162) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 3:18 pm: |
we tried the yelling technique too without much success. we have tank bangers but they wear out and break...maybe due to salt water and sunlight. instead of continuing to replace them at about $7.50 each we have rattlers. got them at phototours in town for about $26. yeah, the initial cost is high but they'll outlast a lot of tank bangers. and they are easy to hear underwater.
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By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #119) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 3:49 pm: |
Here is a cheap and effective underwater noise maker. Get a 3/4 X three inch PVC nipple, threaded on both end. On one end put a PVC threaded cap. Inside put whatever metal scrap that just fits. An old socket works fine. On the other end put a 3/4 brass cap. You're done.
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By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6115) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 3:51 pm: |
we use a carabina or a brass dog clip to signal each other...banged on the tank it is most effective
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By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #774) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 4:18 pm: |
Thanks for the trip report LaDonna, is Mary going to do her own trip report? (HINT HINT!)
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By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2165) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 5:13 pm: |
If you have that much trouble getting your buddies attention, then your buddy needs to pay more attention to you, and you need to be closer to each other. Sound making devices are GREAT fro scaring away the fish. Such devices should be for emergency use only, IMNSHO
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By Cheryl B (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #184) on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 7:34 pm: |
For cheap tank bangers, go to the camping department at walmart. They have bungie-cord things with a rubber ball on them - they are used to tie tarps down. A package of 4 is about $2.
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