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Dive Review of Caribbean Gas Training - Benji Schaub in
Bonaire

Caribbean Gas Training - Benji Schaub, Nov, 2006,

by patricia harmon, oh, usa (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 3090.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments While we have been to Bonaire about ten times this was our first trip to the East “Wild” Side for diving and it is quite different from the calm and easy diving on the West Side. Benji Schaub is the owner of Caribbean Gas Training which he was in the process of starting when we dove with him in November 2006. He is very professional, highly knowledgeable and truly seems to want the divers to have the best dives possible.
Divers meet the boat at the harbor by the Harbor Village Resort. It is a rigid hull inflatable with a canopy and a metal interior with tank racks and two powerful outboards. The boat is so squared away that the captain personally puts a rubber boot on the end of each tank to prevent the tanks from making a banging noise on the racks when the sea gets rough. The trip to the East Side is about 45 minutes and the last 20 - 25 minutes can be bouncy in rougher seas.
Entry is by backward roll off the sides and there is a good ladder for exit. Benji led the dives and on the first dive we saw at least two turtles and a shark, which is not a usual sighting on Bonaire. The fish are larger on the East Side and although the viz is not as good as on the West Side, it is still very good. There is one-hour surface interval before the second dive and divers should bring their own water or snack if they wish.
The second dive was an exciting drift dive where again we saw a shark. For exit in the current we had to grab a line two at a time and be hauled to the boat. While two were on the line the others waited at the surface until the boat came around for them. This was not a problem and is part of the more challenging experience on that side of Bonaire. The dive profiles for the trip work best with nitrox but Benji can accommodate air divers as well.
The boat leaves about 8:30 AM and returns about 2PM so it's a full day. Besides the East Side this operation can also visit less-dived sites on the Southern tip of Bonaire such as Lighthouse and Red Slave which are on the way to the East Side. For experienced divers who want something different on Bonaire with a bit more challenge, Caribbean Gas Training is a great way to spend one day of a trip.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving All over Caribbean. Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Bonaire, Turks & Caicos, Belize, Bay Islands, Bahamas, Belize, Cozumel
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas surge
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions this was more challenging diving for Bonaire and one dive was a drift dive so we had to stay together as a group and enter and exit at near the same time.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 2 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments No dunk tanks or tables but this was a day boat to the East Side of Bonaire where it is much rougher seas than the West Side/
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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