Bonaire??

[eelpout]

Does anybody know anything about the caves in Bonaire? I tried a search and nothing came up. I was there in 1991 and the guys in the condo next to me had scooters and were cave diving on the island. Any information would be appreciattted.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

[FW]

The only true caves are inside of archaeological sites, and diving is by permit only. There is at least one "sea cave", actually just a small cavern.

[skip]

I don't ever like disagreeing with Forrest, but I must....

Bonaire has 204 known caves; the island is swiss cheese. I've been in two of them. I've talked with natives about the NSS/CDS sponsored trip there back in the late 80's and have seen the dive report....maybe I can find it again. They left line and arrows. The project "mission statement" states they were to explore area caves and determine the feasibility of starting cave diving training in Bonaire.

All the caves are dry, until you get into them and then they all are wet. Fresh water, about 80 degrees, and clear as a bell. No known cave life. No food in there. Very little silt too. They were all once above water, so are full of those long skinny things, very fragile. And very beautiful. Some are narrow passages, dark tunnels, and then big rooms....

One is 100 feet of dry caving (depth underground), then a pool, and a passage that takes you to 100 feet depth in fresh water, where you meet a salt water haloclyn. Below the white froth/cloud, you will find tropical fish swimming around....and that's as far as anyone has gone so far.

One cave, wet/dry (walking and snorkle), goes on for a mile and comes to a stairway that goes up into a house. The owners use the cave as their basement.

In Bonaire, the natives have long believed (and still do), that ghosts live in the caves. They warn their children not to go there. The story is that if you go into a cave a ghost will jump on your back and you will bring the invisible spook out with you (if you get out). For seven years, the ghost on your back, will make your life hell. So stay out of them caves!

I'm planning on a return trip in October for one week. I have a cave diving guide with 9 years of experience in Bonaire caves and the objective is to push the cave with the haloclyn out to the sea (follow the fish), if possible. If interested in going along, pm me.

-skip

PS: If you Yahoo "Bonaire Cave Diving" you should find the url to the NSS/CDS dive report from the 80's. I did. I think I saved a copy too, so if you can't find it, pm me, and I'll send it to you.

[Anna]

Does anybody know anything about the caves in Bonaire? I tried a search and nothing came up. I was there in 1991 and the guys in the condo next to me had scooters and were cave diving on the island. Any information would be appreciattted.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

I did a guided cave snorkling trip whan I was there (just couldn't resist). The locals are very protective of their caves. There are no markings to find them on your own, only cerified guides are entilted to take people there. And even they have to live with restrictions such as which guide gets to take people to the caves on which day. My guide didn't think there is any guide certified to dive in those caves. And it's only sumps, anyway.

Looks like Skp found a way in? Sounds like a cool opportunity.

Here is the link I found to that 1988 CDS project.
http://www.nsscds.com/bonaire1.htm


Anna

[skip]

I have not been able to reply by pm to anyone the last couple of days, so please realize it's not me! I can read pm's, just can't reply to them (get a "debug" error).

email psyskip@mtsu.edu from your email and I can then reply, or when the forum is fixed I'll pm you back.


Also, Anna is right about the protection of the caves, and Forrest is right about the archeology side of things. The guides are registered, and some (well, at least one) is permitted to cave dive. I did not mean to make it sound like Bonaire caves were easy in any way. They are very fragile systems with limited access. They are sumps. None gush water outside - all waters begin well inside and pretty deep down. You are hauling gear sump-style way before you ever get wet.

And it's not easy, thecaves are nothing but small holes in sharp-edged limestone rock that require rope descents, long walks amongst more sharp rock and some darn small crawl spaces. When you do get to the water it's a major relief and a welcome cool down. Bonaire caves are hot. 100+ degrees. They have no air flow and are full of bat guano.

Bats are protected on Bonaire, and thus the caves with bats are off limits to all visitors, even locals, except for one bat-cave open to tourists with a guide.

-skip

[Joe D]

When you do get to the water it's a major relief and a welcome cool down. Bonaire caves are hot. 100+ degrees. They have no air flow and are full of bat guano.

Bats are protected on Bonaire, and thus the caves with bats are off limits to all visitors, even locals, except for one bat-cave open to tourists with a guide.

-skip

Actually it's not much of a cool down. When I dove Mailbox in January the water temp was a refreshing 92 degrees.

As for the caves with bats they're definitely off limits!!!! There are four types of barrel cactus on the island that require the bats to pollinate. The concern is that if people disturb the bats they could take the short three hour flight to South America and not return. Since these cactus are critical to the overall food chain the consequences would be devastating.

[Anna]

As for the caves with bats they're definitely off limits!!!! There are four types of barrel cactus on the island that require the bats to pollinate. The concern is that if people disturb the bats they could take the short three hour flight to South America and not return. Since these cactus are critical to the overall food chain the consequences would be devastating.

Gotta admire conservation efforts in Bonaire and how well they understand their eco-system. I love Bonaire.

Anna

[billb]

does bonaire have deep dropoffs that can be dove from shore?

how deep and any trimix?

[Joe D]

does bonaire have deep dropoffs that can be dove from shore?

how deep and any trimix?

Yes, you might want to drop Walt a line.

Walt Stark
Rec Tek Scuba
Bonaire, N.A.

Phone: 599-780-6537
email: info@rectekscuba.com
Web Site: www.rectekscuba.com