GhostDakota
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Phoenixville, PA | Bethany, DE
My girlfriend and I went to Bonaire in July/August for an incredible week of diving. We stayed at Buddy Dive just north of Kralendijk. She had been there in the past, but this was my first time. This was my first time diving in the ocean since being certified for my OW course back in June of this year. Not only that, but it was also my first time ever leaving the US. I had a brilliant time. What a beautiful country, from north to south. I highly recommend it for anyone who has not been, especially if you dive!
These are just a few of the photos I took. If you want more, please ask. We dove: Buddy Reef, Windsock, Hilma Hooker, Boca Slagbaai, Sharon's Serenity, Keepsake, Carl's Hill, etc.
Photos were taken with my GoPro Hero2 HD, GoPro Dive Housing, $14 red filter (I am purchasing the Backscatter one), SeaLife mount, Intova Imini; Other photos with a SeaLife DC600 - handheld. Most of these are the underwater ones - above water to come later.
Photo of my rig:
Daytime octopus:
Coral:
My g/f:
Frogfish:
Wreck of the Hilma Hooker:
Some feeesh:
Bait ball!
I have a TON more photos I may post up later. What I learned on this trip is that I have to get CLOSER to my subjects with the GoPro camera. Wish it had a zoom, but hey, it worked great I think.
We went to the national park on the north end of the island for a cookout. The site is known as Boca Slagbaai. Great little bar with bar food, pink flamingos abound, and so much more. BEAUTIFUL location. Anyway, long story short... This was my last dive of the day. We hopped out into the water and headed north into the current. The current changed and REALLY started to suck us off of the reef. We kept our calm and were able to stay close. I saw this crazy cloud of bait fish.. known as a "bait ball" I was told. I swam toward it and hovered, taking video. The bait fish began to lift as Tarpon started to swim through. What an incredible sight - I can't believe what I saw and was able to record on video. It was such a fun, entertaining and incredible time.
The bait ball video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x9ayYVqwoQ
Sea turtles - two vids of these magnificent creatures...
Boca Slagbaai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cnyw_F_AW8
Windsock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUkw0SWCmk
Octopus - two vids as well of these guys:
Night diving - inking us - I guess we were too close?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bCL1CP80I
Daytime off of Buddy Reef:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkxn8hbcCw
The Hilma Hooker - 2 vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqxbVkA2k9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJwNo54mlso
Eels...
Two moray eels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7l-Nval48M
Large moray eel and an Angel fish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0nwHazi26Y
Does anyone else here dive?? If so, what's your favorite dive spot?
These are just a few of the photos I took. If you want more, please ask. We dove: Buddy Reef, Windsock, Hilma Hooker, Boca Slagbaai, Sharon's Serenity, Keepsake, Carl's Hill, etc.
Photos were taken with my GoPro Hero2 HD, GoPro Dive Housing, $14 red filter (I am purchasing the Backscatter one), SeaLife mount, Intova Imini; Other photos with a SeaLife DC600 - handheld. Most of these are the underwater ones - above water to come later.
Photo of my rig:

Daytime octopus:

Coral:

My g/f:

Frogfish:

Wreck of the Hilma Hooker:


Some feeesh:

Bait ball!

I have a TON more photos I may post up later. What I learned on this trip is that I have to get CLOSER to my subjects with the GoPro camera. Wish it had a zoom, but hey, it worked great I think.
We went to the national park on the north end of the island for a cookout. The site is known as Boca Slagbaai. Great little bar with bar food, pink flamingos abound, and so much more. BEAUTIFUL location. Anyway, long story short... This was my last dive of the day. We hopped out into the water and headed north into the current. The current changed and REALLY started to suck us off of the reef. We kept our calm and were able to stay close. I saw this crazy cloud of bait fish.. known as a "bait ball" I was told. I swam toward it and hovered, taking video. The bait fish began to lift as Tarpon started to swim through. What an incredible sight - I can't believe what I saw and was able to record on video. It was such a fun, entertaining and incredible time.
The bait ball video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x9ayYVqwoQ
Sea turtles - two vids of these magnificent creatures...
Boca Slagbaai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cnyw_F_AW8
Windsock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUkw0SWCmk
Octopus - two vids as well of these guys:
Night diving - inking us - I guess we were too close?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bCL1CP80I
Daytime off of Buddy Reef:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkxn8hbcCw
The Hilma Hooker - 2 vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqxbVkA2k9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJwNo54mlso
Eels...
Two moray eels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7l-Nval48M
Large moray eel and an Angel fish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0nwHazi26Y
Does anyone else here dive?? If so, what's your favorite dive spot?