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Diving Bonaire: Diving Cai
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2007: Archives - 2007-01-01 to 2007-04-31: Diving Cai
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #427) on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 10:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've only done the east side by boat with Larry's Wild Side. I am interested in doing it as a shore dive through Photo Tours. I am 60 and have no problem swimming from shore to the Hilma Hooker, etc. How hard of a swim to Cai can I expect? I have a group on this trip that would love to dive that side, but the experience level of some causes me concern. All advice from Cai divers is appreciated.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5334) on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron, get ahold of Bas Tol, don't have his number handy but I think he's in the book. He does fabulous guided dives to the east coast, including Cai. He will stay well within your own personal comfort zone which put me at ease immediately.

I dove with him in Feb. every day for my dive trip ! He was awesome !! After every dive, I said, oh my god that was my best dive EVER . ha ha

He is very knowledgable and quite amusing. Just a charmer. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1946) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 4:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

ron,

you will have to cross some current going out and coming back...kinda need to make your air last if you want to have a long dive on the wall portion as well...

vis is not always good and there will be days you wonder why you wanted to do this dive...

but if you can hit it right, with Bas, it's worth it:-)

good luck!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5335) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 9:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes, Amen, Brother Bob.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John"Smack"Anderson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1325) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron,
You can email Bas at loonybin@bonairelive.com
He, like Kelly said, is great fun and really is the KING of east side dives from shore.IMO

Here is what you can expect:
Bas's plan utilizes the outgoing current and the incoming surge as an advantage. Riding the current out takes little effort and before you know it you are at the coral wall. Try counting the tarpon on the way(you will lose count for sure). Most likely you will turn south since the current usually comes from that direction. Not usually strong, but you do notice it(not difficult). You will then ride that current coming back. Then, turning west after you pass the outgoing current(channel), you will begin to ride the surge that will bring you back in. Again, using the energy of the water to do the work for you. Once close to shore, another turn parallel to shore will bring you to the same point where you entered. Bas will brief you on all this and he is very good at painting a mental picture for you. Remember to keep visual contact with him when the vis is low(going out and coming back), copy his technique, and all will be fine. Truly a great dive!

As far as experience level on this dive, I believe each individual has to determine for themselves what is and is not within their ability. I consider this dive intermediate at the least.

Hey, Bas! Did I get it right?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1453) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron, Bob is correct about the current going out, and particularly coming back in. I've only done Cai once (with Bas:-)) and coming back in we were crawling in over the current. I was the only one that had air left (besides Bas of course) and so he and I hung out with the lobsters for about 15 minutes once back in the bay. If it is strong like the day we went, coming back in you have to wait for the surge to help you, and then literally, grab rocks/etc (not coral) to help pull you along.

Kelly, how many times did you guys do Cai? I'm curious if the conditions vary quite a bit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5336) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I did two dives the same day, and Yana did it again (twice then, too, I think) on my no dive day. I only had 4 days of diving this trip !! We DID do some really really great dives w/ Bas on the west side though when Cai conditions weren't optimal.

To answer your question, Cynde, our Cai dives were 4 days apart, and the conditions were good both days. In between was questionable, and one day Bas said no way.

We had the surge too both times coming in but I never had to touch anything. I just did what Smack said and let the surge take me in. I just rode it out and it was GREAT ! I loved every second ! We told Bas we wanted to dive as much as we could on the tanks, and I think both (Cai) dives were an hour and a half. It was fantastic ! We did one dive with 'other Bas' that was almost two hours long !

I know his new spot is at Onima and I'd love to try that one, too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1458) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Smack and Martini were on the Cai dive with me. I think they had air left, but their buddies did not. We must have hit it on a bad day, as Bas was using the rocks to pull himself along as well coming back in. Vis was pretty bad, and we were in shallow water (maybe 4 feet), and I just kept kicking as hard as I could, and keeping my eyes on Bas' fins! lol!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5341) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's the great thing about diving with someone with the same air consumption rate as you. We came up after the loooong dive and my gauge was at "0". I've never done that !

And on a slightly unrelated topic -- no one consumes air like Cam !!! lol !!

Sounds like your Cai experience was a little different from mine !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #428) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 6:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Being a California diver I know that the surge can be my friend, plus I just plain like it. Lots to see while going back and forth and back and forth and...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #429) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One thing I forgot to ask: Do any of you Cai divers bring a camera with you on those shore dives? Mine is in an Ike box with a DS125 strobe, and I am quite used to hanging on to it during entries and exits. I still should ask, though.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1469) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron, I brought mine, but I don't have a strobe. I think if you ask Bas in advance what conditions are like, that's the best bet. We dive California water often, and the surge and current at Cai the day we did it was probably one of the strongest I've encountered. The Tarpon pit is unfrigginbelievable, and the reef really is special. I say go for it!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1947) on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

bas will carry your camera for you over the "rough" parts:-)

(may help a little with air consumption)



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Priro (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 4:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've dived Cai about 15 times. First few I did with a friend but I've been doing it solo quite a bit the last few times.

My method is slightly different in that I travel out to the reef on the surface by kicking out at about a 45 degree angle from the conch piles. This way I start the dive on the reef proper and get more time.

I then spend about 30 minutes going south, then turn around spend some time turtle spotting on the sea fan plain above the reef then turn left after the channel to come back in.

Total dive times are usually 1hr 20 - 1 hr 40. You have to be good on your air though.

The conditions can be very variable. Viz can vary between good and awful. Its really the strength of the outgoing current that is the important variable. This can really vary between hardly at all and pretty strong. The good thing is there is no coral in the area you cross to come back in so you can hold onto the rocks to hold position when the surge is pushing you out.

Watch out for scorpionfish though - I've seen lots in and among these rocks.

Once you have crossed the rocks and dropped back into the channel you should have a really relaxed kick back in but viz will be pretty bad in this area.

As you cross under the channel before you turn back in keep a close eye out for eagle rays as they use the channel to come in and out to feed. I once saw a squadron of 15 here.

Also there is a very big grouper with a funny growth on its face just before you get to the channel on your way back in who will let you get pretty close and just past where you normally see him you can find some scarlet cleaner shrimp in a cleft in the wall.

All in all its a great dive but I would really recommend doing it with someone who knows the site first time out. After that if you are a reasonable experienced diver, with good air consumption, its fairly straightforward to do yourself.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Burnham - Blennylips Bonaire (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #127) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 7:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ditto on all the Bas recommendations! You will enjoy it so much more with a (competent, entertaining) guide (like Bas) who knows his/her way around the channel...it can be very confusing when the viz is down as it usually is.

A few months ago, I dove it with my friend visiting from the states...she's a very experienced diver. Short story is that conditions were bad and got worse during the dive. Just about when we got to the surge area on the way back in, she got very short on air and decided to go the rest of the way in on the surface. The waves were rolling in (scarily high!), but the surface current was pushing her out. Bas had just gotten out and saw her distress. He threw on his snorkel gear and swam out and towed her in...Potential bad end averted...thanks again Bas!

For Marcia and I, the main attraction is the Tarpon bowl and the trip to it, with the reef portion the icing on the cake. Here is how we do it with a little help from Google Earth:

Cai Map

We get in at the conch pile, amidst the small fishing boats.

We hug the "Nursery Wall" (scads of baby lobster, grunts, angelfish, etc) until we hit the drop into the tarpon bowl.

Here, we make the go/no go decision. If there is an outgoing current, this is where it starts to rip. Picture the weakest diver in your group fighting the current back. If uncomfortable, call the dive, or head over to the "Extra Air Return" area...the current here is usually not so bad and lots of interesting coral formations and schooling fish.

If conditions are okay, drop into the bowl and hope for tarpon! When viz is bad, it is very easy to get lost in here. Spinning and watching all the tarpon, its easy to lose your sense of direction. Before getting in, I take a reading of the sun's position. Then, in the bowl its easy to reorient yourself by the current sun position.

We then head towards Sorobon along the outer edge of the bowl for maybe 50 yards or so and then head over the top towards the reef. Your sense of direction is critical here. The first time someone took us to Cai, she got it wrong and we spent nearly 20 minutes trying to find the reef! It should take 5 minutes max.

We then continue towards Sorobon along the reef dropoff until we're about at 1/2 air left and the turn around. Watch for rays, turtles, and some of the few Nassau Groupers we see around Bonaire.

If conditions are poor (surge/current), go past the channel entrance (about where the boat is in the image) and the cave and then up and over into the 15 feet deep rocky flats where you can crawl your way back.

If conditions are good, we either retrace the way out, or head up into the "Extra Air" area. This area is worth a dive on its own...

Before you get out at the conch pile area, go just a tad further to the little wreck. There are most always baby lobsters hiding under the edge...cute!

Here are some videos of the dive:

Cai Channel at its best (flash video, click image to play):
2005-12-28 Cai Channel

Two more Cai videos. Right-click image to save these windows media files to your hard drive.

Conditions were pretty good here too:
Cai Channel with Stan Eker

Not much current, but poor viz:
Cai Channel with the Gypsy Divers

Thats my take, but I could be wrong...corrections, modifications, elaborations, alternatives welcome!

Roger

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1470) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post


quote:

The good thing is there is no coral in the area you cross to come back in so you can hold onto the rocks to hold position when the surge is pushing you out.




quote:

The waves were rolling in (scarily high!)




Ah...those were the conditions the day we did Cai...lol!

Mark, welcome out of lurk mode and nice first post:-)

Roger, nice videos! Since Tarpon are my favorite, I absolutely LOVED the tarpon pit. The other thing I noticed is that the fish are bigger on the reef. Same fish you see on the leeward side, but just bigger. We spent some time by the little boat at the end and I could not believe all the lobsters (I hope some lobster killer doesn't read this and decide to go there and nab them:-()

Bas, he is a hell of a guy:-)

(Message edited by cyndelee on April 13, 2007)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill and Donna Goodwin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #277) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Roger - thanks for the most definitive description of how/where/when to dive Cai. Clear, appropriate detail, enthusiastic, not exaggerated - excellent job and we appreciate it!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5342) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh wow Roger, I just LOVE your videos !! I am reliving my Cai dives right now... wowww....

Barbara said she had such a great time with you and Marcia this time. I MUST book with you my next trip !!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matt M. (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Roger, thanks a ton!

Last year, I went to Cai one time, saw the waves and dropped plans to dive - since I was not sure where to go anyway. Your description is clear, and in July, I shall return then dive for sure :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1472) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 10:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Matt, I would strongly recommend hiring a guide your first time. Seriously, when you get down there if vis is bad, or even moderate, it can be confusing. JMHO of course:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5343) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sounds like I had ideal conditions on my dives there .. I was l-u-c-k-y !! I don't know how well I would like it if it was "rock grabbing" current... wow I would probably freak out. lol.

Roger that was the best description of diving at Cai I've ever read. Reading it was like doing it all over again.

The tarpon pit was definitely a highlight, but my fav was the spotted eagle rays... they were soooo graceful and awesome. But I did all my dives while I was there with at least one of the Bas's... so the smaller things on the west side were spectacular also... I saw 4 seahorses on one dive !! Wait I think I am OFF TOPIC ! Sorry ! :-)
But I am just reliving this whole thing right now.... sigh....

I highly recommend doing these dives if conditions permit and you are able.

I know Babs has done some amazing dives this trip with Roger and BOTH Bas's and I absolutely positively cannot wait for her trip report !!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matt M. (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

vis? what is vis? :-)

I'm used to poor conditions. Have a look: http://tinyurl.com/2uyqru
http://tinyurl.com/2lsu6t

Compass is your best friend.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Johnny"Billy Bo Smack"Anderson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1327) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

First and foremost, this is in no way a criticism to Rogers dive plan or his ability.

Roger, your story reminded me of one point I neglected to add. Cai can be very difficult when conditions are bad or potentially dangerous. I know I have not yet gained the experience to dive that site without a local guide, which is why I rely on his experience to determine if the conditions are acceptable and his ability to alter the dive plan to match the conditions for a given day. He is a safety factor that I respect and learn from each and every time I dive with him. Three planned dives there in recent trips were called by Bas for such conditions that I do not yet have the experience to determine on my own. When he says NO, he KNOWS! I don't. Head to another site. One cannot substitute for experience. M2C

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Burnham - Blennylips Bonaire (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #128) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 11:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Billy Bo Smack: Totally agree, well said. I've called more than a few dives there as well. Our trouble was due to poor planning and execution compounded by worsening conditions during the dive. I am more wary now.

A couple of things I meant to add, but got bit by the 10 minute rule (10? why not 8, or 11 or 13.5???):

If there are fishermen around, we sometimes give one of them 25 NAF to keep an eye out for us on the surface and give aid if needed.

Tide tables are useless for figuring out the optimum time to dive at Cai. Seems to me the conditions are more due to the wind piling water up in the bay that then finds its way out through the channel.

Generally, the earlier in the day the better.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5344) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 12:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's a good idea, Roger, about the fisherman helping if needed. That certainly is good planning. I hope I have the pleasure of meeting and diving with you on my next trip. Babs sings your praises ! :-)

I was very sorry to miss diving there on my second dive day, but when Bas says no... well the answer is NO ! LOL!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2559) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 3:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sure do hope that anyone who dives there has a well seasoned guide who knows their way..It sounds like a very difficult dive to say the least and not something that should be undertaken lightly.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1950) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 7:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

roger does a good job with the tarpons...

beyond the tarpons, on the wall, there are some photo opportunities:-)

grouper

good luck ron!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1951) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 8:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

two more (from birthday dive '04 :-))

lac1
lac2

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1952) on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 8:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

funny reminder,

i ran out of air on that dive...had to share with bas...mr. john p. walig carried the camera in

hi john!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert (BonaireTalker - Post #33) on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 2:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is the tarpon Bowl a safe dive for intermediate divers to do with out a guide? If we do not head out to the reef?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Burnham - Blennylips Bonaire (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #129) on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robert, It can be if everything is perfect, but most Cai dives involve poor viz and/or strong currents. Add in the circular nature of the bowl and it can become very difficult to know where you are and the direction for return. I've only been in the bowl once where you could see across it in all directions.

Fighting a current back in can be even more problematic as the bottom is sandy/loose rubble and there is nothing to grab onto. Often the surface wind/current will push you into shore, but not always! It is not uncommon to have surface currents different than those at depth.

There really is a lot of specialized knowledge about diving the Cai Channel. Get a local guide for the first dive or two. Pick their brain for details. Then judge if you think you are capable.

It really will be more safe and fun that way.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By BeckyBarb on Bon (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11619) on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 5:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

HAHA, I have four more freakin' hours to read all these threads from my pirated connection in the Houston airport on my way home from an incredible trip! Great snapshot Roger..Bas explained the different patterns to me with a very similar map drawn on the beach, depending on the conditions of the day, of course! :-) I think what amazed me the most is his ability to read the currents and use them to work for you, both in and out! An hour and a half is definitely do-able that way!
My second dive proved to have poorer viz on the way out but was still awesome! Loved the way the tarpon appeared and disappeared in the foglike water. OMG, I'm not even home and my PBD is kicking in.......
Ron, final word, definitely do Cai with Bas Tol if you can get a spot (he's pretty well booked through early May).
And for a nicely paced, west side dive with a video, contact Roger (Salt Pier has been awesome each time I've done that with him & Marcia).

(Message edited by babsoleary on April 14, 2007)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Prior (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 4:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here are a couple of photos that I have taken at Cai.

The first one shows the big grouper with funny growth that I have seen several times.

The second one is an albino turtle that I have also seen a couple of times there.

Grouper

Turtle

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Prior (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 4:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And one more from Cai.

EagleRay

 


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