1. This trip is a "double-header." Part A will leave Baltimore on Wednesday May 26, Part B will leave on Saturday May 29. Both will return on Saturday June 5. This gives 6 days of diving on the shorter trip, and 9 days of diving on the longer trip. We'll all be staying and diving together, no matter which trip you are on.

If you are thinking of buying some equipment, it's best not to do it at the last minute, because you might not get what you want, and you might not have a chance to try it out first at home in a pool.

In Bonaire you can expect water temperatures around 80-84, with the occasional excursion a degree or two higher or lower. Perfectly comfortable in just a lycra skin or a 0.5mm suit for a while at the higher temps, but even then if you are doing several dives each day you'll want a 2 or 3mm suit. I'm not a fan of shorties, because I like the abrasion protection of a full suit. If I had two lightweight full suits, I'd take them both, so I wouldn't always be putting on a wet wet suit! At the lower temps, some folks will want a vest as well, for the multiple dives, and some will wear a neoprene "beanie" or even a lycra or thin-neoprene full hood.

Advice on buying wetsuits: This is most folks' first purchase (after mask, fins, snorkel). You need one that fits and is not torn, so get your own. A 3mm full suit is an all-around suit: you can wear it with a vest or with a shorty over it for more warmth, add a hood, etc. I like a 2-3mm hooded vest: you don't need to push the hood up if you don't want it, and it is warmer when you do. If you get a bit cold, then your basic suit might be a "4-3," meaning 4mm in the torso, and 3mm in the legs and arms.

You should make sure your personal "life-support gear" (i.e., BC's and regs) are serviced before we depart; remember an annual maintenance is strongly recommended. Check with Splash.

Advice on buying BC's: You want one that fits. Jacket-style is more common, back-inflation style is often more comfortable. Many folks will make this their number 2 or 3 major purchase (wet suit is number 1).

Advice on regulators: All modern regulators are safe, and breathe fairly well for recreational dives in moderate conditions. If you plan to dive in very cold water, or do very strenuous dives, or dive in harsh environments, or plan technical diving, you will want to spend more and thus get more capability. Many folks will make this their number 3 or 2 major purchase (wet suit is number 1).

Computers are wonderful, especially for multiple dives a day, and once you dive with one you'll be hooked. Even a simple one is great, but one that can do Nitrox is worth the few extra dollars. Trying to dive on tables for multiple dives is difficult, and really limits your diving. A typical Bonaire dive day would be a boat dive to 60 or 80 feet, for 40-60 minutes, but of course only a part of the dive would be at the maximum depth. The computer doesn't mind, but the tables really limit the repetitive dives.

Advice on buying computers: They are all good; the more expensive ones offer more tricks, like allowing Nitrox, or computer-downloading, or being so small you can wear it as a wristwatch, or integrated with the air-pressure gauge so your computer can tell you when you are going to run out, etc. It can be mounted in your console, on your wrist, attached to your hose, or just hanging on a retractor. I like it on my wrist.

No chemical lights are allowed in Bonaire; if you haven't got a battery-light for your tank for night dives, please get one. Night divers should also have both a primary light and a small back-up light. You can buy all these things in Bonaire, but they are cheaper here. Take batteries. They are MUCH cheaper here, especially at COSTCO. But carry them home again when expended; they do not have much landfill space in Bonaire.

Advice on buying lights: Get your own; a few days of rentals will pay for one. The brightness of a light is roughly proportional to the number of batteries in it; the duration of the light is roughly proportional to the size of the batteries in it. So, a 4AA-cell light and a 4C-cell are about the same brightness, but the C-cell light will last longer. A 4 or 6 AA-cell light will stuff comfortably in your pocket, so is handy for day-dives too, to look under ledges and into moray eel mouths. A 4 C-cell light or bigger (e.g., 4 D-cell, or 8 C or D-cell) is a "primary" light, and probably only carried at night. Many folks will buy a AA-cell light for day dives, and use it as their backup for night dives, perhaps renting the primary for the occasional night dive. In Bonaire, we usually dive every night, sometimes twice (!), so your own primary light may be a good investment.

Bonaire is a great place for U/W photography.....lots of stuff to shoot, little current, clear water. Even inexpensive U/W cameras work well.

If you have or are getting any new major equipment (mask, BC, reg) I urge you to attend one or more of the pool sessions listed herein and get used to the new stuff here. You really don't want to jump off a boat in Bonaire and discover you don't know where the dump valve is on your BC!

Bring a spares kit: computer battery (if user changeable), mask strap, fin strap(s). Maybe some simple tools: screwdriver, adjustable wrench, allen keys.

Air Jamaica says you can check 2 bags, 70 pounds max each, 62 inches (height plus width plus length) each, and have one carry-on at 40 pounds max, 50 inches max. (I think a smaller carry-on is a good idea; less chance it will be taken from you and "gate-checked.") Many folks pack their critical stuff in their carry-on (prescription mask, computer, medicine, etc). NOTE: most standard duffel bags fit the 62 inch rule; most large dive bags are too big.

I always seem to end up with 3 bags: one for dive gear, one for photographic gear, and one for personal stuff.

In general, do NOT lock your bags because airport security will probably cut your locks off. Many folks will use little cable ties to secure their bag-zippers against pilfering. A nail clipper can be carried to get your bags open upon arrival. If TSA needs to cut the cable tie, they will replace it. You can also get for about $10 each special combination locks that TSA can open with a special key; these probably will NOT work when we exit Bonaire!

Don't bring too much! Buddy Dive has a washer and dryer available to guests, tee shirts and shorts are the most common dress, dress-up means a shirt with a collar, etc. You will want to buy a tee-shirt or two, so save room.

Ellie wears light-weight long pants at night for mosquito protection. Mel toughs it out with shorts and sandals from BWI to BWI.

Two swim suits is really nice; that way one is probably dry when you put it on.

The basic plan is to offer the Open Water certification dives during the first two days of the long trip, i.e. on Thursday and Friday, May 27 and 28. However, if someone can only participate in the one week trip, beginning May 29, we would offer the certification dives on Sunday and Monday, May 30 and 31.

Advanced Open Water (AOW) ($150)
We do not need to do any classroom work in advance for this course, but you should get the Adventures in Diving manual, read the appropriate chapters and do the related Knowledge Reviews. The mandatory Adventure Dives are Deep and Navigation; there are three additional elective dives, for example Underwater Naturalist, Night, and Peak Performance Buoyancy are typical in Bonaire. If you already have any diving specialty certifications (for example, Fish ID), that will count as one or more of the 5 dives needed.

NOTE: AOW is a required rating for entry to the Rescue Diver class, or for Master Scuba Diver, or for the specialties in Cavern, Ice, Rebreathers, and Search and Recovery. Some dive operations will not take you on a deep dive (greater than 60 feet) unless you can show an AOW card.

Nitrox ($135)
Nitrox ("Enriched Air Diver") has about 4-hours of classroom work (book-work, hands-on oxygen analysis, final exam); you need to study the book in advance, especially the tables. After two Nitrox dives in Bonaire, you are certified; the specialty counts toward Master Scuba Diver. If you want to do Nitrox and are from out of town, you can do the classroom stuff wherever you are with your local PADI shop and bring a "referral" to Bonaire for the two dives. Nitrox allows you to increase your bottom times, or to keep the same bottom times and reduce your nitrogen uptake. Some people (I'm one!) say you are less tired after diving on Nitrox. Buddy Dive offers unlimited Nitrox usage for $99 a week, which is a really good price.

Coral Reef Identification ($85)
The Coral Reef Identification course is a new distinctive specialty planned for about 2 hours of classroom work, plus two dives in Bonaire. I am developing this course in collaboration with the folks at Buddy Dive. It is not finished, and will need PADI approval before I can offer it. The Coral Reef Conservation course will be a prerequisite, as will some experience in night diving. We'll look at the most common corals in the Caribbean, find and identify them during the day, and then go back to the same corals at night to see them feeding.

Underwater Naturalist ($85)
We do not need to do any classroom work in advance for this course, but you should get the Adventures in Diving manual, read the Underwater Naturalist chapter and do the Knowledge Review. Two dives are required. If you had Underwater Naturalist as one of your AOW dives (log page record needs to be shown) then just one more dive is needed and no Knowledge Review.

Deep ($135)
This is a four-dive specialty, but you've already done one for your AOW. You must have already had at least three other Adventure Dives before doing this specialty; AOW is the usual prereq. The full course includes experience with nitrogen narcosis, emergency breathing equipment, effects of pressure and color-loss, navigation at depth, and emergency decompression stops. There is a PADI manual that should be obtained and read in advance. Bonaire is a great place for this specialty.

Night ($85)
This is a three-dive specialty. You learn equipment needs and setup, use of lights, underwater signals, how to read your gauges and use your compass at night, the difference between the day-reef and the night-reef, and what happens if you turn your light off for a few minutes. Bonaire is an excellent place to do night diving; there are no big scary creatures (except the occasional moray out swimming around), and little current. You'll also meet Charlie, the 6-foot tarpon who likes to play in your light beam….

Navigation ($135)
This is a three-dive specialty, but you've already done one for your AOW. You learn how to really use your compass, and how to navigate without one too. The final dive includes a "treasure hunt" where you swim a specified distance and direction to find a slate that has the next distance-direction marked on it, and so on.

Underwater Photography ($185)
This is a two-dive specialty, plus classroom work, plus a review session with the instructor after you get your pictures back from each dive. Splash may loan a simple camera at no cost if you take this course; this is being negotiated. You learn the basics of photography including equipment, composition, and lighting, the special aspects of doing it underwater, how to take care of your equipment, and how not to take pictures of the south end of a fish that is swimming north.

For any and all training: alert me first to your interests, and then call Splash and sign up with them. I'll tell them to have it available for you to register in.

You do NOT have to leave from BWI; the trip price is the same from any East coast Air Jamaica city, for example Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta. Contact me and/or Splash ASAP if you are interested in the trip but do NOT want to fly from Baltimore, because we will need to see if seats are available for you. Our block of seats for the trip is all from BWI.

The phones are manned 24h, so an emergency call can get through if needed.

There are phones in each room with long-distance access for calling out.

Email access is available at the Buddy Dive front desk; access by purchasing a "time card."

A hyperbaric chamber is on Bonaire, at the local hospital, staffed by physicians.

The Ramada Inn near BWI has a "Park, Stay, and Fly" package for $89 plus tax: 1 night stay, shuttle to/from airport, 2 weeks free parking, continental breakfast. Call 410-712-4302. Long-term parking at BWI is $7/day times 8 days = $56, so the Ramada feels like it cost $33. Also, at our Pre-Trip meeting, you might be able to arrange car pools.

The condos mostly have power outlets for normal two-blade US plugs, the old kind. You should bring an adaptor if you have a modern grounded (third round pin) plug you will be using. Power is 110v 50hz, not 60hz, so some appliances might run a little slower/hotter.

Housing is in multi-floor condos; we have (U.S. language) the second (living room, kitchen) and third floors (bedrooms). They are walk-up.

You can get photo-processing (one day) in Bonaire, but it's a bit expensive. No Kodak Sea-Processing. Film is available but expensive; bring what you need.

Pack sunscreen and bug repellent (mosquitoes likely at the evening al fresco dining).

Boat Dives

Our package comes with 1 boat dive per day, which you can take when you wish. For example, three 2-tank trips on a one-week trip with 6 diving days.

For an additional $89 (paid there to Buddy Dive), you can get 11 boat dives total. That is a heck of a good deal; the marginal cost of the additional 5 dives is just $18 each. You can also go a la carte, at $24 per dive beyond the 6 in the package. A night boat dive is an extra $10.50.

Some folks like to do a lot of boat diving (couldn't be easier, and the only way to get to Klein Bonaire dive sites). Others like to do a lot of shore diving; you are on your own, set your own schedule, lots of variety.

There are three boat-departure times a day, generally, at 8:30 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., so you have lots of flexibility. In the past, our groups have stuck together on the same boat, and used the 8:30 departure time for our morning dives. This makes the rest of the day free for shore diving excursions.

I'm arranging a schedule with the dive shop for our boat-dive schedule. I'm allowing for the last boat trip to be a two-tank trip, and for one day to have no boat dives pre-scheduled. You can always go on more boat dives by paying the extra cost.

The schedule I'm arranging looks like this:

Wednesday evening (arrival day): diving may be possible at extra cost
Thursday afternoon: 1-tank trip
Friday morning: 1-tank trip
Saturday morning (Trip B arrival day; diving may be possible at extra cost): 1-tank trip
Sunday afternoon: 1-tank trip
Monday morning: 1-tank trip
Tuesday morning: 1-tank trip
Wednesday: no scheduled boat dives
Thursday morning: 1-tank trip to Hilma Hooker wreck
Friday morning: 2-tank trip to the far north
Friday afternoon: no diving

Dive Site Preview

Five dives a day is not unusual in Bonaire (2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, one at night) and really weird people (we may have some on our trip!) might do 6 or 7 on some days. You can see why Nitrox is desirable....

Full payment is due to Splash 60 days in advance of the trip, to hold the air reservations. Cancellations after the full-payment date will lose a portion of the deposit; cancellations within 30 days of the trip will lose the entire deposit.

Single bedroom accommodations may be available at an extra cost; check with me or splash ASAP.

Extra fees and costs, not covered by the basic trip price, are:

• $10 Bonaire Marine Park fee, good for the entire calendar year **required**
• $20 exit tax at the aiport; exit ticket can be purchased at time of entry, for convenience **required**
• lunches and dinners (allow at least $10 and $20 each if eating out; supplies can be purchased and can be cooked in the apartments)
• gratuities for the divemasters and boat captains (this is done once, at the end of the trip, as one gratuity to the diveshop which they then distribute; typically this is $50-100 per diver per week, plus any special tips you want to give quietly and directly to someone you especially want to recognize and thank)
• extra boat trips ($24 each over the basic package of one per day); night boat trips are $34 each, or $10 extra if one of the day trips are traded in (special: an 11-trip package is $89 more than the standard 6-trip package)
• Nitrox at $8/tank, $20/day, or $99 for 6-days unlimited It is scaled up proportionally for longer trips.
• Rental equipment
• Souvenirs
• Polar (the local beer, from Venezuela)