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Snorkeling Bonaire: Woodwind Snorkeling
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Woodwind Snorkeling
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #405) on Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 4:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We were on Island 1/8 to 1/22 and took 4 trips with Dee on the Woodwind. We have been sailing on the Woodwind for 16 years and this year was the very best ever. It seems impossible but Dee improves the trips every year. She has trained a great crew and now has 3 outstanding snorkel spots at Klein. Even dedicated divers on one of our trips commented how good the experience was and the competance of her staff. Alisha is a marine ecologist and can explain many details about marine life. JoJo is her Captain and his skill at the helm is superb. Andrea, a student was on break and assisted our trips. She is a champion wind surfer and very skilled in snorkeling and spotting sea life.

Finally, Suzanna, goes on every trip and is the best underwater photographer I have met. Her photos and video are available after every trip and worth the low cost. A video is only $30 and something you will treasure for years.

A trip on the Woodwind is a must for every visitor to Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3412) on Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 7:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Agreed!!! :)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By stuart slavin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #124) on Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 12:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glad you had a great time...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Knobler (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #181) on Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 5:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Every year we consider taking a trip on the Woodwind. We always take one trip with Renee as she is such a fantastic guide and it is a very personal experience to snorkel with her.

I am sure Dee and crew are also great as so many people have said in the past but I wonder about the size of their trips.

One of the best things about Bonaire is not diving/snorkeling with a herd of people.

We signed up for a trip on the Woodwind last year and bailed at the last minute b/c there were about 20-30 other people that were also about to take the trip. Now, when I initially reserved the trip with Ulf, he said that it would be a good day to do the trip as there were no cruise ships in town that day. I can't imagine how crowded it must get with additional guests. Is there even room for more people?

Is this the norm? Snorkeling with 20-30 other people is not my idea of fun. I would also wonder what kind of personal attention the crew is able to give such a large group.

Can someone please go into a little more detail about this trip? Do you separate into smaller groups? Is it just follow the leader?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna M. Leiss (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 5:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We went out on the Woodwind on Jan. 18th. There were about 16-18 people on the trip, and Dee broke us up into 3 separate groups, each with a guide. If you are an inexperienced snorkeller, which our friend is, Dee will take personal care of you and make sure that you are always OK. We were with Alicia, and we had a terrific time. Yes, you're in a bit of a mob some of the time, and you have to pay attention to the people around you or they'll swim right over the top of you. But if you hang back a little bit at the back of the group, you'll do OK. The guides make sure to point out everything of interest to everybody, not just the people at the front of the group. And lunch was FANTASTIC, even included dessert--brownie with fudge sauce and whipped cream! Yum. We bought Zsuzsanna's CD of the photos she took, and they're gorgeous. We haven't been out to Klein in several years and forgot just how amazing the corals are. Do it, you'll have a good time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Stauber (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Friday, January 28, 2011 - 11:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have to agree with Donna. We took the Woodwind last March. The boat was packed, but the service was great. We were in a group that had probably 12 -15 people, but had two guides (Dee was not one of them). It was crowded in the front of the group so I just hung back a bit. I could see what the guide in the front was pointing to so after everybody moved on I just went to that spot and had it pretty much to myself.
Also agree that the lunch was great.

 


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