Well it was a beautiful sunny morning when we departed for Terminal 4, felt just like going to work for me. With a lot of jiggling about Astrid, Jen, Caz, Paul and myself had managed to squeeze all our bags into Paul’s taxi and were duly dropped at T 4. Paul charged back home with the cab and was bought back by his son half an hour late!! (Nothing unusual for Mr C I must add) This is where the adventure began in earnest. Two glorious weeks in the sun while my two intrepid student Rescue divers pondered what lay in store for them! Jenny and Mr Green who had decided that he would far rather go and watch his beloved Chelsea loose, which they did and, as I said it would end in tears, instead of joining Jenny run through the final bits of the course, would have some catching up to do in the first couple of days. Geoff had his final exam to tackle on the outbound flight was informed of this task which would keep him occupied doing both A & B versions for his cheek, football over diving! no chance.
As in KLM’s conditions at check in we had to pay £15 for the excess dive gear, Well what a result the nice guy responsible for our group waved the charge (Geoff thought Christmas had come early, Mr Kenny thought the same as he was chatting up the check in staff) and put all our bags through in one hit, Oh yes then Ms Busby arrived eyeing up the talent that was leading her through from the drop off point. KLM excelled themselves this trip and couldn’t have been more helpful. We duly arrived at Bonaire international after a short stop at Skipol, to change aircraft and to get Mr Kenny back from chatting up the crew. The heat the sun it was all there. With a pretty smooth transit through baggage and customs we were presented with one very small mini bus and a truck. Well it all fitted, just, and off we went for the five minute ride to the hotel. The room allocated to Astrid and myself was not quite up to standard and so we moved rooms, and after falling off the loo which was not secured to the floor in this room, we moved again. I think “Odd Job” in reception thought I was doing it for the fun of it, Any how we ended up with a beautiful room with the balcony over looking the sea!! Bonaire being five hours behind UK time most of us we using match sticks to keep our eyes open, but at 10pm (3am UK time) most of the group arrived at the restaurant for food and we offered the choice of the whole menu, good start! You could not have wanted a better choice as long as you liked Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream for pudding.
Day 1 we had free and decided to investigate the local shops and bars. Astrid found a fantastic Jeweller. You could hear the screams from his wallet and credit card as Gill had her pick. We left laden with goodies and £600 lighter but hey we were on holiday I kept telling my self so did Astrid. When Caz heard about the seahorse and dolphin jewellery there was nothing stopping her either. I should have been on a commission.
Day 2 we had our induction to diving and our first taste of Bonaire sea life. We were in our element as the Scuba Trust is renowned for. Unlimited shore diving and two boat dives every other day bliss. We all got onto the boat, Just, and went for a shakedown. I can still feel those Caribbean waters hitting the right spots! Then dinner, again a choice of anything on the menu plus specials. Guess what any flavour Ice cream as long as its Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. The evening meal they had a pasta night where nearly all the locals came in to eat so you took your turn in the que, (Strange state of affairs for a hotel) . So Astrid Jen Paul and I went back to the other restaurant where most of the group were already tucking in to there choice of Ice cream, now what was the choice Susie!
The next day we were off out into the wild blue yonder and yes Gill spots a turtle and some else spotted a seahorse, but not me, still we had plenty of time to go. Ursula managed to fool every one that she was not a confident diver and would slow her buddy down so she joined our buddy group as most of you know I tend to fin rather slowly. Well she could be an Olympian swimmer with her doing somersaults in the water and shooting off at such a pace, You didn’t fool anyone! Well done.
That evening some of the group decided to do a night dive and came up with tales of turtles and larger specimens of sea life but no proof!!!
The following day we hired a vehicle and went off exploring the islands far reaches. Well the scenery was spectacular and the wildlife absolutely fantastic. Astrid Jenny Paul and I all tucked into our supplied pack lunches, Paul doesn’t know to this day that Jenny swapped all the things she didn’t like in hers, with her dads lunch that she did! Thought your secret was safe Jen didn’t you!
Next day and we were off again on the boat flying fish and yes we saw a baby turtle. Nothing spectacular to report but Mac was sure he could see something in the distance. Its no good asking Tony, Mac, he’ll agree with anything if your buying and the hotel did say they were going to have two bar stools named in your honour the pair of you. And with an ongoing water fight after the dives with Gill and a few other culprits, we know who you are, we returned to base for more food and yes the supply boats had arrived and there was Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream for pudding.
Time was slipping by so quickly and no sooner had we arrived the first week had slipped by.
The Pink Goddess Lydia, Andy, Chris and his wife arrived to cheers from all those gathered around the bar, well as close as we could get with Mac and Tony already in situ. Gill now in her element having adopted the hotel cat!!!! I am surprised Gill didn’t have a supply of catfood with her.
The following day it was off to exploring again and despite the advise the hire companies give about not leaving any valuables about Jimbo had his well hidden wallet, camera case and vehicle keys taken. They were obviously watching you guy’s as you went into the water. Still these things happen any how after finally getting a spare set of keys brought out for the vehicle the party joined us at the bar, while the maintenance staff drilled the safe lock out of Gills room safe.
Then it was off for a bit of mangrove canoeing. And yes we remembered to take the mossy spray (not). Mr I’ve done this before Gill, Mr C and Jen, “did you remember to bring my water Jennifer“ duo, and Caz scared out of her whit’s (I have the photo’s to prove it) with Mr Cool Davenport, & following up the rear Ursula and Dave ( Yes Ursula we know who was doing all the paddling I‘ll show you the photo‘s Dave). Well after a rather sensible departure heading off into the wild mangroves, the Scuba Trust got up to its usual antics and the race was on by fair means or fowl. Funny how we were all soaked within 15minutes yet certain people remained dry! It mattered not as half way into the tour we all went for a snorkel, part of the tour, it was soon time to turn around and head for home before the mosquitoes came out for their evening meal, No Chance, Paul was obviously the most succulent of us all by the number of bites. Well after getting stuck on one or two sand banks we all arrived back safe and sound and all very much wiser as to the workings of the mangrove swamps.
I think it was shortly after our return back to base we found the safe and rental car keys wrapped up in a towel, After having had the safe lock drilled and replacement keys supplied!!!!
The next day it was off on the boat to explore more of the island and after two more excellent dives we headed back for Lunch and more Ice cream. Mac was sure he had seen something yet again in the distance! Well we were just about to have him committed when shouts went up and we were surrounded by the largest pod of Dolphins I have ever seen. They stayed with us for what seemed like hours a perfect end to a mornings diving.
That evening I finally got the thumbs up from Astrid that she would do her first night dive. But only because Gill had virtually guaranteed that there would be a turtle around the wreck of an old upturned boat , of course it would be there I promised. Cheers Gill!!! Well Gill, you got the time wrong, it was there early and yes we saw it along with a green moray several lobster and a determined Barracuda. Also the ever present 2-3 metre Tarpons, do night dives get any better? So Paul, Jen and Astrid all became seasoned night divers, well done guys not so scary is it!
Well finally the big day came for Geoff and Jenny to perform, what can I say! What could any one say. Poor Gill volunteered (well nearly, coerced would be more correct) but hey they survived somehow. Geoff was like a coiled spring ready to go and Jenny was hyperventilating worrying about what might happen in the scenarios. Well it all kicked off big time and to both their credits we now have two capable Rescue divers, Just remember guys you could have that type of incident!!! And my thanks to all those who helped and hindered, Hitchcock would have been proud! Well Alice now you know what to expect when your time comes. Good luck.
The next day it was off Shore diving at the far end of the Island. One of land marks and most amazing sites were the Pink, Blue and White salt mounds piled high like the pyramids, Bonaire’s main export product. unforgettable. On the unforgettable side of things, Ron should have been awarded a prize for his outstanding effort, with John & Chris’s technical help (not) in getting his kite to rise all of two foot before dive bombing the poor victims in the pool! And taking it on the boat the next day and even with a full head of steam, not getting much higher before davey Jones’s locker had an edition to it stock!!!!
The Bits that I know you are all eager to hear about, who had a holiday romance, who forgot their weights, who forgot their fins, who went down with their snorkel still in and who forgot to turn their air on and went down to nearly 5 metres before realising ( yes you really can go down that deep on what’s in the hoses) . And before any of you bright sparks start adding captions to the photo of Mr C and myself we had just finished clearing up Susie’s mishap! Bet her mum doesn’t know she gets so drunk that she can’t hold her drink, literally , We love you Susie just as you are!!! Did you ever get his phone number!!! Well that’s all folks and no I am not going to dish the dirt YET.
A big thanks to all the helpers for your help getting people ready to dive each day and Nurse Debs what would we do without you and anybody that I have missed mentioning it’s the age and grey hair!!!
That’s it folks its off to Tabba next with the biggest group yet!
