Another terrific year at Capt. Don’s on Bonaire. 24 of us enjoyed clear blue skies, calm seas and crystal azure waters. We arrive Saturday morning and prepared for the 9am dive brief given by Roger. We were lucky to have Wilco and Roger as our boat and dive crew for the whole week.
This year we were treated to 12 boat dives along with a private boat for the GR8 Divn crew. The daily boats set out at 11:00 and 14:00 which gave us all time to splash in for morning, afternoon and night dives. Chau and Jim were on board for their first blue water diving. Congratulations to Kathy and Dan on reaching their personal century 100th dives!
Diving conditions could not have been better absolute calm seas with a constant 84 degree water temperature until you hit several shimmering thermo clines. Boat dive sites included Jeff Davis Memorial, Just a Nice Dive, Carl’s Hill, Rock Pile, Mi Dushi and Ron’s favorite Rappel. On Rappel we got in a little rodeo ladder riding. Of course the trip would not have been complete with out a visit to Hilma Hooker on Tuesday. The girl is showing great signs of life and some super purple tube sponges. We experienced some drift diving Bonaire style several afternoons on the house reef off the “Baby Dock”. Visibility on all dives was 100 foot plus making for some great silhouette pics. Special sightings this week included eagle rays, super male parrot fish, octopus, squid, frog fish, sea horses and juvenile trunk fish. Plenty of eels, parrots, goat fish, scorpion fish, trumpets, trunk fish and drums. Twilight and night dives brought out the tarpons and Bonnie got her first taste of lighting up a yummy treat for a lucky tarpon. The dawn dives as always displayed the abundance of critter starting their day in the living aquarium.
Surface interval activities included the traditional walks to the ice cream shop, visits to the butterfly farm, island site seeing and of course nights out for dinner. We dined this year at Mona Lisa, Patagonia and Will’s for fabulous eats. The Rum Runner at Capt Don’s menu was outstanding with some daily lunch favorites being the mushroom spinach dip, tuna salad and “Alan’s Greek Chicken Salad Sandwich” they considering renaming it “THE ALAN”. Always a delicious treat the wood fired pizzas. The trip would not have been complete without a 60 minute massage for only $45.
We can not say enough about the wonderful group on this trip easy going, fun and friendly. Our many thanks to all who joined us for yet another GR8 DIVN adventure!!!!!