As has been said here before, a week is really too short. But, when it's all you have, give it your all!

I stayed again at the Golden Reef Inn, in the studio apartments. It really is quite rural, as you can see by my yard full of visitors one afternoon





Dining: so many places, so little time. I repeated several of my favorites this time: Casablanca's (thanks Michael!!), Wil's tropical Grill, Pasa Bon (take out), and Lost Penguin. My only new food adventure (I know... need to get to more new places next year) this year was Bobbiejans. The ribs, chicken, and satay are awesome. I liked it so much, I went back the next night for take out.

Diving: Many new places this trip - 2 dives on Klein, Playa Leche, Ole Blue, Oil Slick, Salt City, Yellow Submarine, Carib Inn house reef (night dive - awesome!), Andrea 2, Bachelors Beach, Front Porch/Our Confidence, and "The Rock".

New critters I spotted this trip were many... I think the camera really slowed me down and got me looking more closely.

I love the goats Becky! Were you in the same unit? I love the Bachelor's Beach shot. That is going to be Kaytlyn's first dive in December.

Oops, second picture should be spotted cleaner shrimp, not spotted anemone shrimp.

Tribs - I was in unit C this time (right next to unit D which was last time's "home"). There must have been 25-30 goats that came through that afternoon... completely oblivious to me and my camera

New and exciting fish finds for me were:

Slender file fish!! (I know the first pic is out of focus... but I'm posting it anyway!)





Cherub fish


Bandtailed puffer

A camera slowed me down to the point that my dive buddy/wife said I was too slow for her. Then I made her my spotter and all is well!

A few more favorite fish shots:

Queen Angel


Longjaw Squirrel Fish


Yellow headed jaw fish


Honeycomb cowfish

I had fun looking for interesting corals/sponges and found these:

And one of my favorite shots - interestingly enough, was taken on my birthday

The chain won the battle!

dang... that wasn't the picture I wanted. Now to find the one it was supposed to be, hmmmmmm.

Ok, found it

Very nice! I can't wait to dive with you again now that you are a photographer. I won't feel guilty about slowing way down to play with a blenny. Great shots! More please....

Becky, great shots...I stared at your first shot of the 2 fighting eels for quite a while looking for the "other" eel and finally gave up and figured it was my bad "eyes" and moved on...then saw that you posted the wrong one..."whew"...lol!

Great pics btw...keep em coming...doesn't help PBD at all though

GREAT shots Becky - thanks for these. Glad you had a good time. And you're right - 1 week on Bonaire is NEVER enough.

Great pics, Becky! Thanks.

Becky those are awesome....more more please...

More, more. Nice pic's Becky.

Bachelor's Beach is such a nice dive ! We did it just as the sun was startng to set and lots of critters were coming out ... We've been back less than 4 days and in serious PBD. Denise

Becky - great shots! Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. A week goes by much too quickly.
Your underwater weeping willow is very cool
They're all good
Wouldn't mind seeing some more
Your goat friends are very cute
Thanks for posting


(Message edited by judytraff on October 16, 2006)

nice pics...the cherub fish looks like a real cutie;)

Wow, I'm flattered by all the compliments
I made the mistake of looking at Brian's trip report before writing mine and thought "I can't post my pictures after seeing his... mine are crap!" So thanks for the ego boost

I got to play peek-a-boo with a few cuties:

I chased some butterflies

That longsnout was an active little bugger, didn't want his pic taken. And I know the 4 spot should be a foureye... oops, fingers going faster than brain ;-)

One last artsy shot for the evening:



<sigh> I miss my/our island.

I miss my/our island too! Thanks for the pics. Now I am going to go put on my favorite Dive Bonaire t-shirt, my Bonaire bucket hat, make some tea in my lovely Bonaire Mug and start reading...Don't Stop the Carnival. If that doesn't help my PBD nothing will.

That is a great artsy shot!

Wow! Love your artsy shot, simply breathtaking!

What camera did you use, for the underwater and above? And what housing? and With or without a strobe? thanks Lydia

Great pics, Becky! Tribs, if it will help your PBD--we had 3.5 inches of rain this morning and my front yard is so flooded I can't get my car out!

Ok, never mind, it's still the best place to be, bar none.

Thanks everyone, it was "fun" to take a bizillion pictures and not have to worry about cost of developing (I'm finally a digital convert!)

Lydia, I used a Fuji E900 above and below, Ikelite housing, no strobe.

Jeanine... you have me beat... you have more Bonaire stuff than me

Alex... NOTHING helps the PBD except another trip, and that's not in the immediate forecast, darnit! But thanks for trying

Becky....LOVE the salt mounds picture! Simply stunning...could be a postcard for Bon!

Thanks for trying Alex...I guess you could always snorkel out of your drive way.

I admit it was a lame attempt .

Becky....Great composition on the salt shot..Wish I could say I took it. :>)

WOW, Becky! Thanks for the fantastic pictures! Thanks!

Becky nice pictures, I love the Salt mounds picture that is really good. Cherub Fish nice find, Queen Angel is nice and the wide angle shots such as Our Confidence are really nice.

Glad you had a great time and a great birthday on Bonaire.

Becky, that shot at the salt mound is simply outstanding. The reflection is beautiful. I just said to my wife that I would love to spend a full day just taking some really cool shots like that. Thanks for the inspiration.