Six Things you need to know about shore diving in Bonaire

As you know, I just returned from a wonderful week of shore diving in one of the Caribbean’s premier spots, Bonaire.  I love shore diving for the freedom it affords: start your dive when you want, stay as long as your air and decompression model allows, and stretch your dive planning skills.  However, since most divers traveling to the Caribbean only dive from boats, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I’ve learned about shore diving in Bonaire.

Number 1

Get a good pair of booties. Bonaire’s shore line is composed of coral rubble overlying a volcanic base.  With the weight of your tank and gear, it can be especially painful to on the feet.  You want something that will not only protect your feet on the terrain, but give you good traction on unstable ground.  Though not many entrances were thick with sea urchins, a thick soled bootie will give added protection from spines that you could accidentally step on.  Remember that if you change booties, though, especially to something a bit more substantial than you had, you need to make sure that they will still fit into your fins.

Everyone like good booties!

Number 2
Study a good guide book before going to familiarize yourself with the sites.  Look for a book that not only describes the site, but rates the ease of entry, the suitableness for snorkeling, current and other environmental conditions. Some areas, such as the south end of the island, have strong currents and the force with which the waves hit the shore makes the entry quite tricky.  Many of the entrances are a short walk from where you will park your truck, but others require a long walk down (and later up) stairs.  Some sites have easy entries, but the exit is a bit challenging.  At Oil Slick Leap, for example, the entry is a fun giant stride off the side of the island, but to get out, you need to climb a ladder. If you have a camera or heavy weights, you may want to enlist the help of your buddy and make the exit in several trips.  Don’t forget that many of the resorts have nice docks or ladders that provide easy access to their “house reefs,” so if you are not confident walking into the surf and dealing with waves, explore these sites.  You will have just as much fun.

Number 3
Check your air!  Before even leaving the dive shop verify that your tank is full. Many (less experienced) divers forget that once the tank has been used, the cap should not be replaced, so it is folly to assume that the tank is full because the cap is in place.  You do not want to get all the way to the north end of the island to discover you have only 1500psi for your whole dive.  Check that your air is on before entering the water.  This is easy to do: simply take a breath from your regulator while looking at the pressure gauge.  The needle will not move if the air is on.  Check your air often during the dive.  There is no DM there reminding you to monitor your pressure and everyone knows how easy it is to lose track of time when you are in sensory overload from all the wonderful marine life you are seeing.
Number 4
Once you arrive at your chosen dive site, take a look at the entry and plan the best path to enter. Then, walk in with your regulator in your mouth, especially if the surf is rough.  Waves often come in threes, a big wave followed by two smaller ones.  By keeping an eye on the wave action, you should be able to anticipate it, but if you get distracted, you could easily be swept off your feet, with waves rushing over you.  If your regulator is in your mouth, you can take your time to right yourself without fearing that you can’t breathe.  Occasionally it is best to get out just deep enough to float above the rocks and coral, then lie in the water and snorkel out to deeper water.  Don your fins as soon as is feasible.  

Number 5

Buddies must help each other with entries and exits.  Scope out all entrances with your buddy to determine the best route to take.  Look for a sandy channel between rocks.  Walk in together and help each other get fins on in water that is waist deep or deeper.  If you have cameras, one of you can gear up and get into the water with the help of the other. Then bring the camera out to the diver already in the water.  The second diver then gears up and walks in.  Upon the exit do the reverse.

Number 6

Look back at your exit point.  Bonaire has sites all along its shoreline and especially if there is a current at all, you could end up exiting by a site further down from where you entered.  That will result in a long walk in all your gear in order to get back to your truck.  Look for landmarks, such as a “Cargill” sign, or the slave huts or stacked beach debris.  When doing night dives, you can place two lights, one shallower than the other.  When returning, look for the lights and align yourself so the lights appear one on top of the other.  This will mark the direction you must take to exit exactly where you entered!

Even though Bonaire is known for its shore diving, you can still make arrangements to dive this island from a boat if schlepping your own gear does not appeal to you.  In fact, many sites, such as those around Klein Bonaire are only accessible by boat.  The bottom line is,  Bonaire offers something for every kind of diver and is an island not to be missed.

Next week Mike will impart his wisdom about scuba cylinders in “Tanks for the Memories”. As always feel free to follow the blog, share us on Facebook or tweet us out to your friends. Until next time, cheers!