THUMP! THUMP! I just got hit in the head two times. My first thought was that a kite boarder had run over me. We had just put in the water at an unmarked entry point south of Margate Bay and north of Atlantis, and were in the shallows moving towards the reef drop off.

I quickly checked my depth gauge; 18 feet. Couldn't have been a kite board. Of course all this internal diagnosis took almost two seconds. What hit me? Last I knew, Leslie was on my right side, so I rolled right to see if she saw what hit me. Leslie was no where to be seen. Hmmm. I rolled left and instantly realized what had happened.

Leslie WAS on my right, but when she spotted the eagle ray off my left flank, she kicked me in the head passing over me to give chase to the ray...... The buddy system: same day, same ocean.

Surprisingly, this was a different eagle ray from the one we saw yesterday. The one yesterday had a much longer tail. We also noticed that the one yesterday had some sort of sore or something on its left eye. This one did not. So, two eagle rays on two subsequent days. To coin a phrase from Eric Cartman: "Sweeeeeet".

On that dive, we also saw a baby spotted drum. Leslie blew 200 PSI getting "just the right" shot. Actually, it turned out very nice.

This was a very nice dive. We had intended to do Margate Bay, but there were a ton of trucks already there. We just drove down the road a little and found a spot to put in.

In the shallows on the way back, we came across probably the biggest baracuda I have ever seen. I swear, this thing was as big as Leslie herself! The head on it was monsterous. And it wasn't a bit afraid or intimidated by us; he made that quite evident by his posture. I was going to go around behind it while Leslie took some pictures. But even underwater, I could understand that Leslie didn't want anything to do with it. She snapped one picture and we just kept going. In a way, I agree with her. Any fish that big that eats meat is probably not one to annoy or bother. I will refer to it in the future as Mr. Barracuda.

We then dove Aquarius. I have never done this dive. It is probably one of the easiest entries on the island. You can't see it from the road, but there is a 20 feet patch where it looks like someone blew the rocks out and replaced it with sand! You walk out the sand - no rocks to trip over either - put on your fins and cruise. No rocks, moss, urchins, ect., like most other entries. Nice dive. Again, very predictable- but that's what we love about Bonaire.

Our third dive was Oil Slick Leap. Use to be this was a very "undived" dive. Now it seems that everytime we pass by we see about eight trucks...... we dove it anyway. I love that dive. Love the entry, love looking for seahorses (found one once!), love the cave behind the ladder, and I love the exit. Fantastic Dive!!!!

Leslie opted for my spectacular eggs and ham this morning. She's a smart women with very good taste. Lunch was just leftovers and a nap.

We had planned to just have some salad or something for dinner. But on the way back from Oil Slick, salad just didn't sound fulfilling. Out of the blue, I suggested Casablanca. And out of the blue, Leslie agreed. So Casablanca it was.

A mixed grill for two and a couple of Brights each, and we have leftovers for two more nights. If this keeps up, we'll have more leftovers than we have nights remaining :-)

I promise we WILL post some pictures. Like any ecentric artist, Leslie is particular about what she will release for posting. I haven't even seen all the pictures yet. I promise as soon as she "signs off" on a few, I will post them.

One last thing tonight. There has been some discussion on this forum regarding the Kite Boarders. Well, I am going to post my comments based on what I saw today, and in some part, what I have seen in the last three days. Not a big data sample, but I feel strongly about this after today's first dive.

I absolutely believe that a diver or snorkeler WILL be hurt by a boarder. During our dive - the one where we put in south of Margate Bay - I saw a boarder go over us multiple times. Now, that in itself is not an issue, assuming they were staying within their " boundaries" whatever those may be. However, while we were packing the truck after our dive, I saw a boarder go past us heading north. He went all the way north of Margate Bay before turning around and heading back. And all of this was in the shallows. Remember when I said their were "tons" of trucks at Margate Bay? Well, thank goodness none of those divers were in the shallows or about to surface.

I believe the kite boarders will collapse under their own arrogance and uncaring behavior. Now, this IS based on just one boarder's carelessness, but one is all it takes. The diving industry is too important to Bonaire, and if divers are afraid of being hurt by boarders, the boarders will be gotten rid of. They need to police themselves and make sure all of their participants abide by whatever rules and procedures are put forth. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time.

Boarding in the shallows should be - and is -unacceptable. When someone does this, they put me and mine at risk. I doubt very much that hitting a diver/snoreler will physically hurt the boarder.

It's a big ocean with lots of room for everyone to play. But economics will play a part. Divers will economically outweigh the boarders when a diver gets hurt. If they want a place to play, they need to understand AND ABIDE BY the ground rules. From what I have seen, that is not happening. Just my opinion.....

Thanks for all your support. I am having a blast! Hopefully some great things will happen tomorrow so I have some fun things to tell you about! I enjoy the fact that, right now at least, all of you are living vicariously through us. Unfortunately, it is only our "15 minutes". In as unfairly short amount of time, it will come to an end and WE will be reading about others' great adventures on the ever intriguing, always addicting, island of Bonaire.

Until them, sleep tight, keep the faith, and plan your next trip.

Dave & Leslie

Dave...Well stated & enjoy reading your daily postings..Now get out, get a little sun & do some more dives.

hi Dave,
its not only the us that follows yours adventure's
love your reports in rotterdam/holland.

Who would have known my boss was so eloquent. The man amazes me----sometimes. Oh and yes it is lunchtime boss!!!! (which I am eating at my puter station--such dedication LOL) cya soon and keep the stories coming. Three more days. Your ever faithful employee. Jay

Love the reports Dave -- and looking forward to the pics once they are just 'right'!
Thanks for your time

The statement made was it is a big ocean, etc. I am not a boarder, never tried it, but I am a diver and been to Bonaire a lot of times.

I have been to the area the boarders are using and have seen and have taken a lot of pics of them and have seen them close to shore. I believe they have as much right to do their boardering as we have in diving. the boarders are trying to stay in one area and I think as divers we can move either south or north to avoid the area they are using. I would be pissed if they used the entire west side but they do not. We have the rest of the island to use - give them a break let them have a stretch of area.
Turn the tables around what if the that side of the island was WAY back when first used only for boarders and then we divers started to use just recently. Who would be complaining about who then. It would be the boarders complaining about us!

Sue,

You didn't read my opinion thoroughly.....

In reality, there are no "rights" to board or to dive - it is all based on privileges. We are granted privileges. The Bonaire government can yank those privileges away from us at any time. They can also modify, amend, or grant additional ones as they see fit.

My issue is that when I see a boarder go from Atlantis all the way north of Margate Bay all in the shallows, then I have to believe that this person is NOT trying to stay in a defined area. I also have to assume that this person has no concern for the safety of divers or snorkelers in the area.

If he wants to board the entire west coast, but stay in the deep, then I don't really have a problem with it. But that is not what is happening.

And don't talk about "What ifs", they mean nothing. The fact is that divers ARE the prevalent user of the west side. The boarders are new comers - they will have to make due.

Again, two things: if something is not done to define certain procedures and areas for boarders, a diver, snorkeler, or swimmer will be seriously injured. The borders need to police themselves and make sure one or two rogue boarders don't ruin it for all of them.

Second thing is that the diving community far out weighs the boarding community in economic strength. There are hundreds and hundreds of divers visit Bonaire every week. In my five days so far on the island, I have counted no more than six kites in the air at any given time. Those are pretty overwhelming odds.

Again, I think boarding is fine, and I have no problem with it. I just don't want to see someone get hurt. The destiny of the boarders is in their own hands - they can make it or they can break it.

Dave.