Bonaire De-Brief

 Bonaire 2024 De-brief

    I am trying to write more about our travels as a nice memory, to share with my readers if they want to do similar trips, and also for myself in the future when I prepare for the same trip, I can remember what's up (what did I pack that trip anyway?). This trip, for example, I was able to streamline my camera equipment so I brought less stuff even though my wife will continue to ask "did your underwater camera get bigger?" No, nope, no way, no idea what you're talking about! 

Where is Bonaire? 

It's a beautiful Island that is part of the Dutch Caribbean. Part of the ABC islands, it is known as a divers paradise with many shore diving options, its a place of freedom, with no schedules (unless you want one) and beautiful sunshine, it truly is a wonderful place to dive! It's a popular stop on some of the cruise ship lines. If you're a non-diver there are a few towns and activities to explore around the island although it does lack the topography of the other Caribbean islands. 

Where to stay

This is our second time to this beautiful island and we can't get enough of Buddy Dive resort. Your stay includes unlimited air fills and you can rent a vehicle to travel the island (I hope you know how to drive stick! Although automatic cars are an option they're more expensive and the majority of the fleet is manual transmission). It's no luxury resort however it's not a bad place to stay. There are other options as well: Check them out here! There are also airbnb options on the island, but you'll have to figure out the logistics of the car rental and SCUBA equipment/ air fills on your own! 

About the trip....

From the Dive log debrief of our 2025 trip 

Challenge #1 

I was so excited we got another shot at Bonaire. Some of the best photos people get are when they're familiar with their subject or reef. It allows you to really explore more when you've been to a certain location  multiple times. Underwater photography is my favorite thing and it helps when the water is 85 degrees and you're facing a tropical reef full of fish. So naturally, I was pumped to give Bonaire round II. Not everything went to plan however...I faced a few challenges this trip however, I came down with a mysterious illness (a cold? sinus infection? allergic reaction?) and it cost us a few days of diving. Luckily my wife is very flexible and we had a few very nice date days topside, it's never a bad place to be even if you're not diving. She's easy to please, one reason I married her! 

The days I was able to dive we started with a local guide to find sea horses, she found us about six individuals and I couldn't be more ecstatic about it. Everyone on the island says they haven't seen a frogfish, so I guess my frogfish dry spell continues (two in like 12 years, damn). Luckily I know a guy who can help me with that, I just gotta make it back to Florida one of these days. 

I was able to try out the macro to wide angle conversion lens that allowed me to shoot both macro and wide angle on the same dive! Very exciting stuff! Admittedly my dives felt very rushed because I didn't know how long my ears would let me equalize, I dove like every dive was my last for that trip. I don't feel like my photography was as magical as the first trip we did, but this was due to the relative lack of diving I was able to accomplish.

             A handsome longsnout seahorse hiding among the rope sponges. 

Challenge #2 

I was so excited to test out my Kraken KRL09s wide angle conversion lens. Even with all my testing prior to my trip my Tamron macro lens malfunctioned (they haven't updated their old lenses so communication issues with my Canon R5 occurred, the curse of modern technology). I was very frustrated however, photos still needed to be taken! I had to come up with some workarounds while I was there. Here is what I got:

Left: Shot with my wide angle conversion lens, I was able to frame this coral tree quite nicely in the sunlight. 

Super happy with how this photo came out! I only wish I was able to utilize this lens more! 

                                  A view of a soft coral growing on Salt Pier. 

Challenge #3

Our coveted and most favorite dive site Salt Pier was unavailable most of this trip. A ship was in dock for a few days, and then they were doing maintenance on the pier itself. We only had one good day to dive this site. It's our favorite spot because last year we saw at least five flamingo tongue there, one octopus, a boat load of bennies and I got one of my favorite shots of a trumpetfish ever from there. 

Successes from the trip: 

I had been focusing a ton on my physical fitness before the trip and it showed. I was very happy with my air consumption which was a personal goal. My wife will always kick my butt, she's like a fish evenjhough she grew up in Missouri! 

With Salt Pier being unavailable to us, what it did do was force us to explore other dive sites. We were NOT disappointed with places like 1,000 steps and dive sites like the invisibles. I found so many anemone shrimp at invisibles I was very pleased (this includes the squat anemone shrimp, a personal wishlist species). 

Another success was in teaching me flexibility and continuing to work on trouble shooting. We pivoted, still had a great time, soaked up some Caribbean sun. It won't be our last dive trip ever, so best you can do is enjoy it. 

Here were some of my favorite shots from this last trip:

These sharpness puffers were always chasing each other! 

This coney posed perfectly for this portrait

These snapper below salt pier gave me a great chance at new photography techniques. This is a rear curtain sync technique.

                           Feather worms are always really fun to photograph, they're so beautiful! 

At night the coral polyps are open and read for feeding. Gives really cool textures compared to daytime diving! 

Thanks for reading!