With the discussion on another thread of the Marine Park agents ACTUALLY checking for tags, I ask if any snorkelers have ever been checked?

As support of the Marine Park, I have purchased the tag for many years even when not required for a snorkeler. But I find it cumbersome to wear it as a necklace around my neck. I've NEVER worn it but kept it in my room.

Attaching it to a safety pin and wearing it on a swimsuit seems to be an alternative but then you have to change it to your various suits and wet-suit for night snorkeling. Any suggestions?

What about those curly Q bracelet things you sometimes see as a keychain? You can somehow attach it to that? If you have a snorkel vest that's an option or you can attach it, somehow, to your snorkel or mask.

This is a great question and I'm sure others will have more suggestions.

Hi Linda, Funny thing, we got checked for our marine tags twice, once when diving and then once when snorkeling. We have our dive tags on our bc's, so when they pulled up and we were snorkeling, alas, no tags, we explained it to them, they were the same two fellas we saw the day before when they checked our dive tags, they said no problem, but suggested that we keep the white paper slip in the glove box for the next time they check. So, that's what we did, and all was good.

While there in Jan. we saw them check snorkelers at least on 2 occasions. We wore ours as a necklace and had no problem.

I thought that snorkelers got some sort of lanyard....maybe that was for the first 50 or so.
Anyone with more current info?

We attach ours to a fin using the tie wrap.

George, didn't the tag just hang straight down, dangling and in the way of your vision?

Kobi, I'm a pretty strong swimmer and don't wear a vest. I've rebelled against attaching the tag to my mask or snorkel because of obscuring my vision. I want to see all I can see. Actually, in all my years, I've never seen any tags worn by a snorkeler. I guess some do, as noted by above posts.

Ray and Pam, I'm afraid I'll lose the tag when I unbuckle the strap. I'll have to take a closer look at my fins.

Thanks for the comments. Any more suggestions?

We carry a tiny waterproof box to put the tags in (without the straps), together with a credit card, some cash, and the house and car keys. Sounds like a big box, but it's only 10x5cm (4"x2"), and together with towels, water, and snorkeling gear that's all we carry, so we don't have to leave anything in the car, and next to nothing on the beach. The box has a strap attached to it, and I tie the end of that somewhere to whatever bathing trunks I'm wearing and then put the box somewhere inside the trunks. Usually I have a pocket to put it in, but if not, I put it anywhere that feels comfortable - I mean, hey, it's under water, so who cares? Men's wide bathing trunks are easier, of course, so usually I end up "carrying" the box, but sometimes my wife swims with the box, same method.

Alex

I just thought you were pleased to see me.

I think the bracelet method is the best Linda,or even on your ankle might work..what do you do with your room key when you snorkel??? you wear it right??? put it on that...
LOL Brian!!!!!

I think Marvin puts ours on our mask strap with the plastic ties he uses to 'lock' our luggage. They aren't in the way and after the first day, the mask doesn't have to be messed with.

And, we also keep the receipt for the tags in the glove box, just in case.

HTH - Bea

(Message edited by jonz on March 2, 2008)

LOL, Brian

I did forget to mention, but someone did further up this thread. When we dive we also use a small watertight box for car key, room key and a few bucks. (Those suckers are NEVER waterproof!!) I hang it around my neck and then cram it down the front top of my bathing suit I don't have a lot up TOP but it stays none the less LOL!

Linda, I am sure you'll get an idea that works for ya. Have a ball on your upcoming trip!!!!

thats true Bea.. if you have an open -<>- back mask strap you could put the tag there and it would be out of your site.. and probably not bother you..

Brian...lol...

Debbie, were you checked on your last trip? I wonder if they are doing a "sweep" to check for tags.

Linda, I think the wrist thingie sounds the best, or do like alex and stuff the box in your swimsuit...lol...

Brian, we should stop meeting like this, people might notice...

Linda, normally the tag on the lanyard would hang down but I wear a shirt and just tucked it in, no problem.

Another way would be to use a brass split-ring to attach the tag to a plastic spring-snap hook. The combo can be moved to something being worn, diving or snorkeling.

Thanks, again, for the suggestions. I'll probably just stick it on my wrist key bracelet, like Freddie suggested. The teenage girls can do the same.

It is nice to know beforehand that they are actually checking for tags this year. Thanks for the warning from those that experienced the checks.

Debbie, hope you arrived home safely.

Hey, you could make an earring out of it. Wouldn't that be cool, start a new fad.

check out this...we have used for the past 3 years!
http://www.marine-products.com/gear/dry_paks/kwik-tek_dry_pack_alligator_wallet_4_x_4.jsp


(Message edited by therog on March 3, 2008)

So I took Kobi's advice and bought these...

At Capt Don's, our keys are on similar bracelets. But I thought the girls would rather not have the Marine Tag hanging with their room key. So this way we will keep our Tags with our snorkel gear. I think this will be a great solution.

Those are what I was trying to describe LOL! Didn't do a good job articulating it though hee hee!

Good luck and have a wonderful, safe trip!

For new Bonaire travelers....

This is what you purchase. It is designed to be worn around your neck. We now have many other suggestions from snorkelers to snorkelers. It can be tucked into your suit, carried in a small box, worn on your fins, attached to your mask and I'll try the bracelet in 11 days!!!


BT is always full of useful information.

Thank you Linda,
I knew I saw something like that on island.
Mare

What happens if you get caught without one?

If you get caught without one, which we did back in January, the rangers take down your name(s) and address of where you are staying. Not sure if they actually do a followup or not (these particular rangers didn't), but from now on we'll make sure we have ours with us, if not on a lanyard then in our gear bag.

<What happens if you get caught without one

I think the penalty is 30 days of hard labor at Cargill down south loading salt onto the tankers. However, the accommodations (oceanfront) down there are free.

Besides being their regulation, it's a great way to help support the beautiful reefs that we enjoy. Many of us bought tags before it was a requirement for snorkelers.

Diving or snorkeling without a BNMP tag CAN get you a fine and your gear confiscated. A visit to the Magistrate to pay the fine and another to the STINAPA office to collect your gear afterwards is not how anyone would want to spend their time.:-)

My suggestion would be for divers to attend their orientation and everyone buy the BNMP diver or nature tag.

goodnight all
es

We attached our tags to our wetsuit zipper pulls using the removable string piece from last year's lanyard. Could have used a cable tie.

Our host at Black Durgon Inn said lanyards are no longer being provided. Is this true? Since we had brought last year's lanyards, we would have declined new ones, even if we had decided to use them, but it seemed like a nice touch for first-timers.

David

We attached them to our mask strap on the side or back of the strap. They came with a plastic tie so we didn't have to undo the mask strap to put it on. Just clipped it around the strap on the side and it worked great considering we went in and out of the water at least 8 to 12 times a day. Never got in the way though. Coming out in 18 days for two weeks woo hoo

The lanyard was provided for snorkelers only. Divers were provided with a tie strap for there bcd... Ron

Hey Ron are those lanyards new because they didn't have them last March of 08, we just got the tag with the plastic tie (but once you put it on it stays), so we just put it on our mask. But it didn't get in the way at all!

Hi All
When we were there in Aug '08, we were not offered the lanyards, however we had brought zipties with us and (as we were only snorkeling) we attached them to our u/w camera housing. We were never in the water w/o our cameras! Will have to figure out where to put it this time, because I am taking o/w course with Wannadive. Somehow I think that camera of mine will not be with me the whole time!

Take off 2 weeks from tomorrow...WHOO HOO!

Hi Ruth, you should have a D ring someplace on your BCD that you can hang yours.. I have a few hanging on my BCD kinda like ski lift tickets where you have been ...

Thanks Freddie! Glad to have found you for input! I'm sure as our time gets closer for departure I will have more questions!

Denise, we went to the park in Oct/08, and some people bought their snorkel tags with the lanyards. The first time I have seen them... Ron