Bonaire

Bonaire

Having vague memories of swimming in Bonaire aged 5 and diving to the bottom in 20+ feet of crystal clear water. Eager to test this memory we arrive in Bonaire to attach out selves to a mooring in 30+ feet of water. It was still crystal clear...

We were moored no more than a few hundred metres from the commercial dock with cruise ships, tugs and cargo freighters yet still the water was some of the best we had seen in the Caribbean!

The bottom shelves from 130+ feet to 30feet. Half our yacht was in 130feet and the other in 30. The coral reef below us just incredible. Although i hate paying $10 USD per night for a mooring, i do appreciated that the reef is well protected and in good condition. With the exception of the occasional car tyre that seems to have rolled itself out to sea to become home to the occasional morey eel. 

Sally was off to the UK for a few weeks and the boys (Dave, Matt and Paul) were coming out from as far as South Africa to come and visit 'their mate with a yacht in the Caribbean'. 

Sally and I went snorkelling around the boat and ventured as far as the main dock. on our way there, we saw a 2 metre manta ray cruise past us. One of the larger creatures we had seen up close and personal so far. 

Soon Sally was off to UK and a few days later I was meeting the boys at the airport. For a week we chilled out, drank beers and caught up just like old times. Was good to see that time and distancecdo not change friendships. 

While the guys were out we went on a dive / snorkelling trip to Klein Bonaire. Paul and I diving and Dave and Matt enjoyed a snorkel around the dive boat. They seemed to see more from the surface than we did from 60 feet.

The next day we spent driving around the island seeing the sights. Including old Indian cave paintings, the slave huts and the salt dunes etc. We also went for a dive on the Salt Pier which was good viewing.

Having never done it before, we went deep sea fishing. It was more like reef fishing but dragging a number of lures over it.

We pulled in a good few fish including a nice sized Dorado which we invited to dinner.

For something different, Paul went door to door of some of the local restuarants to ask them if they would cook it for us. The Mona Lisa's head chef / owner was only too happy to do so and so we dined on our fresh caught Dorado. Always tastes better when you caught it yourself!

With the boys gone, i was back to being a single hander (albeit on a mooring not sailing). Soon our friends from Waka Irie arrived and many an evening spent sucking on cold beers and catching up after having not seen them for a month or two.

Waka Irie (Sietse and Jen) were entertaining Sietse mom and sister for 2 weeks. They also introduced me to Dolphin of Leith. A British flagged, Scottish made 28ft 108 year old gaff rigged fishing boat. What makes them even more incredible is that they are taking her to New Zealand. What makes it even BETTER, is that they have two kids on board ages 2 and 3. 

Sally returned and was loaded with goodies for the boat. She barely had space in her suitcase for undies on the return journey. Fortunately she does not need much by way of clothes in the tropics! 

With Sally and our new friends from Dolphin, we went on a tour of the island. I acted as tour guide having seen many of the sights already. 

Making the most of the diving deals on the island which give you unlimited air for a days diving, we took a few bottles (of air) and headed off on Orion to a wreck dive for the day. Great day out and a good dive on a sunk drug running boat the Hilda Hooker. 

After way too long in one place it was time to move on. Was great fun in Bonaire but new adventures called and so we set off West bound to Curacao.