Bonaire Discover Scuba or Snorkeling?

[archdelux]

Hi,

 

I have a dilemma that I was hoping you guys could help me with. I did a Discover Scuba course in Hawaii about a year ago and did two dives. However, I never got certified and so if I want to dive again, I will have to to the course all over again.

 

My ship will be in port from 7am - 1pm, and so we dont have a lot of time in Bonaire. I was wondering if you think it will be worth it to do the discover scuba (which will leave me maybe an hour max to snorkel elsewhere) or should I just snorkel independently (or take a snorkeling tour)? I don't want to miss out on the 'best snorkeling/scuba in the caribbean'... will I miss out if I don't scuba, or will I miss out more if I spend a bulk of my time training for scuba while missing snorkeling?

 

Thanks!

[islandwoman]

You've already done Discover Scuba. IMHO, you have nothing to gain by doing it again. If you have time, your best option would be to get certified before you go.

 

If you can't get fully certified before your cruise, maybe you can at least do the classroom and pool work and then arrange to do one or two of your open water dives in Bonaire. Your local PADI dive shop should be able to arrange this. In Bonaire, you can easily walk from the cruise ship dock to the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort. Their dive shop is PADI and they offer referral dives. http://www.diviflamingo.com/DiviFlamingo/bonaire-scuba-diving-instructions.html

 

I agree that Bonaire has the best diving in the Caribbean - the best shore diving. But they also have really great snorkeling.

 

 

 

[Islandbear]

Try to get certfied before you go by a local dive shop.

 

If you can't don't waste a day in Bonaire in class. Strap on the fins, don the mask and snorkel. You are in the best overall snorkeling location in the world. Don't miss a minute of the fun! :D