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Trip Reports: Fran and Jim's Wonderful vacation part 2
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2006-08-31 to 2006-12-31: Fran and Jim's Wonderful vacation part 2
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Reilly (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 8:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The last three days we rented a truck from AB Carrental and dove Angle City, from which we got to the Hilma Hooker; Invisibles; Windsock; and, a wonderful unmarked site south of Salt Pier where the ocean had created a smooth sandy beach for us to use. Eagle rays, turtles, perfect reef conditions and schools of fish. Only in Bonaire do we see so many fish! However we were not so impressed with all the old beer bottles and damaged coral we saw on our first, and perhaps last dive, at Bari Reef. After all the good dive reports we read, we were both surprised and quite disappointed. However, even in this location, one could see signs that things were improving as we saw lots of new sponges beginning to cover damaged sections. The truck also increased our dining options. Dinner at Capt' Don's is very nice, very reasonably priced and Fran likes their pizza. We also enjoyed dinner at Lion's Den at Buddies, and enjoyed lunch at the Wind Surfing place in Luc Bay where we found cooling breezes, great sandwiches, ice-cold beer and soda and the one of the best view on the island. Plus we just love their use of natural materials (drift wood) to make their outdoor seating area - terrific and relaxing.

We were very pleased with our accommodations at the Divi Flamingo. We've stayed there before and continue to notice improvements in the service and general appearance. On previous trips we've had things that broke or did not work. We'd report them and they would still be broken when we left. Not this time! Our AC was not working properly and it was promptly fixed and worked perfectly the rest of the week. We lost hot water and the maintenance man was at our door before I got back from the desk to request assistance and the water was hot within 30 minutes. Great! There is a new beach bar and a connecting walkway to the dive shop, a new dock - perfect for early morning swimmers, and our room had a new sliding glass window to the oceanfront balcony. (I remember fighting with the old ones, it was not pretty.)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Reilly (BonaireTalker - Post #23) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 8:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

End of the story

We were very fortunate and the weather during our vacation was perfect - a drop of rain one or two mornings then sun for the rest of the day. We also were privileged to meet some other divers: Ryan and Mary from Ohio, and Paul and Marie from New England. We dived until we could dive no more and then we flew home.

Boarding our Continental flight in Curacao, the skies opened and when we landed in Newark we found that again our luggage was dripping wet, except this time it was not so amusing. Our dog was glad to see us when we got home, and it was good in a way to be home, but in our minds we were dreaming of our next trip to Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Reilly (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 8:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our photos can be seen at

http://picasaweb.google.com/james.reilly4/BonaireOct20061.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John"Smack"Anderson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1225) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 8:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the report and pics, James!

I don't like hearing about the trash at Bari. Some one should set up a cleanup dive and get that stuff where it belongs. Many hands makes for light work.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7884) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 9:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James again Thanks so much for a wonderful report I bet that you now have PBD and we know the only way to cure that is to book your next Bonaire Vacation!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Connie (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 10:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report and pictures! We're staying at the Divi in January, so I appreciate the info. Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By marge karalis (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #208) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 11:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wonderful pictures. Enjoyed them very much. Thanks for posting.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James T. McPeak (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #423) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 1:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great pictures. In one month I'll be standing and swimming and diving right at those spots. Thanks for getting me ready.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Judy Trafford (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2687) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 4:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James - thanks for the great report!
And the beautiful pic's. Like the turtle & French Angelfish & the Spotted Eagle Ray - great shots
Thanks for sharing

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #484) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 5:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James,

Enjoyed your report and pics. We're looking forward to having our own to post soon.

David

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn (GH) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #275) on Sunday, November 26, 2006 - 11:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, thanks for the report. Trash at Bari? That is one of my favorite sites. Where was the trash? In what way was the reef damaged?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1585) on Monday, November 27, 2006 - 1:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Fran and Jim,
Nice trip report. The first resort we stayed at as newly certified divers was at the Divi. Your photos brought back lots of memories.
Thanks,
Mare

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martha (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Monday, November 27, 2006 - 2:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, I thoroughly enjoyed your trip report and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lisa Barclay (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1284) on Monday, November 27, 2006 - 8:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

James, loved the report and your pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4704) on Monday, November 27, 2006 - 8:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nice report and pictures, James. Thanks for taking the time to post. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Reilly (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Monday, November 27, 2006 - 9:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello all:

Thanks to all of you for your very nice comments. I must come clean - Fran took all the UW shots. My favorite is the three shot series with the spotted moray. She is much braver than I am. I like my sea creatures a bit further away from me, especially when they are not so friendly.

Jim

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James T. McPeak (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #425) on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 7:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jim, that's why God invented telescopic lenses. LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1755) on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 8:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

yeah really, i don't think the camera/housing warrantly covers eel bites

nice pics though,

;)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mara Mara on the wall (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1427) on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 5:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James - great pics and report. One question - the sunset picture - what is going in front of the boat? It seems to be making a wake. And if it were current then the boat would be parallel to the shore too - unless the boat is leaving for a night dive.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ron benner (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Sunday, December 3, 2006 - 8:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

also saw the bottles at bari. i'd be open to a clean-up dive next time i'm there. hope to get down to bon. again next year.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #716) on Sunday, December 3, 2006 - 10:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

In most cases the bottles on the bottom have critters inside them. If you pick up bottles make sure they are empty. We always pick up trash when diving and I find that some have living things in them and leave it be... Ron

FISH

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Moderator) (Moderator - Post #375) on Sunday, December 3, 2006 - 5:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

James and I have exchanged a few emails, in regard to the trash at Bari. I had a friend on island dive the site last week, and the bottles have been there for a LONG time, and as Ron said, most have creatures living in them. I regularly pick up trash when I'm diving, but make sure there is no life living in the bottles/cans, etc. As far as reef damage, there has been no reef damage at Bari. Most likely what James was talking about is the rubble from Lenny heading out to the drop off, and coral bleaching from last summer (which I saw at several sites on island myself last July).

 


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