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What is it really like to dive the wild
waters of Bonaire? Imagine it all while reading this narrative describing a day of diving with
DUI Instructor Benji!
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Our guests decided they were ready for a new
experience, and physically and mentally prepared for what they
imagined would lay ahead. After contacting Benji of Caribbean
Gas Training, they met about an hour later to discuss the next
days dive options. Should they go north, south or east; what
should they expect in terms of a different reef structure and
marine life; what might the sea conditions and currents be like,
and other considerations necessary to match the divers interests
and capabilities with the more challenging environs of
Bonaire's. |
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On the morning of the dive they meet at 7:45 and
settle on going north to explore the area around Malmok Point,
as the weather conditions are somewhat calmer than normal. Benji
tells them to expect large animals and pristine reefs, but also
clarifies that there were no guarantees since the divers will be
going into an area that is quite likely previously uncharted
territory.
They arrive at the Harbour Village Marina and are met by Capt.
Menno, an experienced dive instructor who is fiercely safety
conscious, but also a lot of fun. Tanks are loaded and set up,
gear is stowed, and they are off. Heading north they pass
Karpata, and approach BOPEC. |
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On the morning of the dive they
meet at 7:45 and settle on going north to explore the area
around Malmok Point, as the weather conditions are somewhat
calmer than normal. Benji tells them to expect large animals and
pristine reefs, but also clarifies that there were no guarantees
since the divers will be going into an area that is quite likely
previously uncharted territory.
They arrive at the Harbour Village Marina and are
met by Capt. Menno, an experienced dive instructor who is
fiercely safety conscious, but also a lot of fun. Tanks are
loaded and set up, gear is stowed, and they are off. Heading
north they pass Karpata, and approach BOPEC. |
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Things get pretty rough around the Windjammer dive site
and the BOPEC oil terminal; because the wind has the longest fetch here to
kick up chop, but the boat handles extremely well, as it was built to
withstand much more chop than this. Benji reassures the divers beforehand that
the limiting factor will always be the divers, not the boat! They continue
past the beautiful cliffs of Nukove, Playa Frans and then on to
Slagbaai/Washington Park where the old plantations colonial houses are visible
on the beach. Throughout the journey, Benji entertains the divers with
background information and the history of the island and the Park, as well as
his past memories of dive stories in this area. |
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Roughly around Boca Bartol, just before reaching
the northernmost point of the island, equipment is donned the
divers make final preparations for the dive. The plan calls for
the establishment of limits, which the team is expected to stay
within: 50 min. max dive time, 70’ max depth. Due to the
remoteness of the dive, everyone is breathing Nitrox 32 for
extra safety. After 50 minutes, the plan calls for an ascent to
15’, at which time Benji will deploy a marker buoy to let the
boat know where they are. He uses a 6’ tall surface marker
so the boat will see us even in the highest swells. The ascent
profile will account for the almost square bottom profile by
including a series of deep stops which Benji times for the
divers. |
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Capt. Menno takes the boat around Malmok Point,
and the divers realize the land north of them is Puerto Rico!!
The roaring waves crashing into the iron shore cliffs here are
huge but the inflatable gently rides the swells. The excitement
builds as Capt. Menno keeps the boat at a safe distance from the
coast though, and Benji looks into the water below and concludes
from earlier shore dives in this area (wow!) that it looks to be
around 65’ of water. |
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The divers all do a backward roll in rapid succession, while
Capt. Menno keeps the boat on the spot. Once the divers are all
in, he backs the boat away to a distance of about 30m and begins
his vigilant watch of the divers, who begin their planned
descent.
Their first impressions are: vastness, panoramic, rugged, far
side of the moon, desert. There are barrel sponges the size of
small cars on the rugged, seaweed encrusted rock plateau they’re
looking onto. No sand, no reef, quite a little bit of current
into the right direction (good!) and really nice visibility.
They have the feeling that anything could swim by at any time.
After about 7 minutes of gently drifting over
this area, a shadow appears to their right. Benji motions the
divers to follow him, and there’s a wonderful high-profile patch
reef at about 75’, where they see a giant slipper lobster
strolling by, seemingly guarded by a huge Yellowfin and Nassau
groupers. The coral is completely pristine; they cannot see any
damage on this reef whatsoever. No wonder, since Benji has
suggested that this may be the first time anyone has seen this
area since the times of Capt. Don’s first explorations with the
dives that led to the establishment of the Marine Park in the
70’s. |
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The coral profile is somewhat lower here than on
the West Coast, since there’s usually plenty of water movement
which flattens the growth profile of the Star Coral somewhat.
Still, this reef rises about 10’ above the plateau, and behind
it, towards the open sea, they see a massive drop-off that
plunges into great depths. Benji estimates a depth of 250’-300’,
which he has mentioned he hopes to explore one day.
After 10 minutes go by, another ridge-like patch reef appears,
which gradually gives way to a completely developed reef that
covers the whole area as far as they can see. |
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They are 30 minutes into the dive when Benji
grunts excitedly, and points into the blue ahead of them to the
single largest Green Turtle they have ever seen. |
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Benji executes this dive like clockwork, with
Inspiring Precision (true to the company motto!), and after
exactly 50 min. it is time to ascend. He deploys the spool and
surface marker, and after a few moments they hear the engines of
the inflatable engage and are reassured once again, that they
are in good hands.
The ascent in the blue is petty challenging, but since using
Benji and their depth gauges as references, it becomes an
adventure in itself. The boat is right there upon surfacing, and
everyone bursts into excited chatter about the dive long before
they are even back on board. |
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With the ladder locked securely in place and
expert directions being offered by Capt. Menno, getting back on
board is a breeze. At the same time they realize that Benji was
spot-on in his discussion and assessment of their physical
abilities, as not everyone would have been physically fit enough
to have made this exit comfortably.
Back on the boat, they’re greeted by a jealous captain, who’s
being an expert and enthusiastic diver himself, has had to sit
on the boat watching the others explore. But he’s a good sport
and shows the divers the GPS coordinates he has sampled. Since
he knows exactly where they went in and surfaced, he can now
either completely reproduce this dive or modify it, whatever is
needed for his future trips.
After everyone is dried off and the gear is prepared for the
next dive, Capt. Menno breaks out the fruit, he’s brought some
delicious watermelon and orange slices. Everyone gets rested and
rehydrated, and before they know it, it is time to head out for
their second dive!
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For more information on diving the
north or east coasts, divers are urged to contact Benji in
advance at
benji@caribbeangastraining.com
or visit his web site at
http://www.caribbeangastraining.com |
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Reservations: 1-800-382-1094
Email:
Denlaman@diveres.com |
Den Laman Condominiums
Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot 77 Bonaire, Netherlands, Antilles
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On Bonaire: 599-717-1700
Email: info@denlaman.com |
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Copyright (c) Den Laman Condominiums. All Rights reserved. |
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