Double Hosers Explore Bonaire May 2014

[Robohips77]

Very nice. Well done!!

[luis]

The red hoses can be easily used as a back-up depth gauge.

This pictures were all taken at the same depth, but with different levels of light. Looking at the pictures it reminded of one of the stories of Captain Don.

Anyone that has spend much time in Bonaire has probably heard some of the stories about Captain Don. He was a pioneer in promoting diving as a tourist destination and the conservation of marine ecosystem. His vision helped create the marine conservation park in Bonaire (one of the first in the world) and has given Bonaire an economy that did not exist. Without diving tourism, Bonaire would have very little.

Captain Don's book is very entertaining and as the cover says: most of it, is probably true.

When he started diving in Bonaire he used a red ribbon as a depth gauge. When the color went from dark brown to black... it was too deep.

In the Bonaire museum (at the park entrance) they have Captain Don's early equipment. His DH regulator (I think it was a Dacor, but I can't remember), his mask, and the red ribbon attached to the side of his mask strap (his depth gauge).

[luis]

Here is a picture of a time line in the Bonaire museum. I took this picture in 2007.

This is some of Captain Don's early gear. The label on the bottom reads:
Captain Don's
First Regulator &
Depth Gauge
(Red Ribbon)

The display looks very strange. They just mounted the Dacor DH regulator on the pole below the mask.

[antique diver]

Well, Captain Don may have used that way once while under the influence.

[luis]

Some more pictures




















This was a night dive.
Taking pictures of moving tarpons is as easy as taking pictures of a moving mirror. I saw about eight of them and some probably 6 ft long.










Christine looking through a magnifying lens.


















Allan
















Buddy Dive

[luis]

Well, Captain Don may have used that way once while under the influence.

After reading some of his stories, I would say that is a possibility.

[antique diver]

We were there in 1983 shooting Scuba World episodes on Bonaire Diving, and dove with him for a couple of days. Also partied there a couple of nights. He was having a lot of fun at the nighttime beach barbeques, and best I remember we were all feeling no pain (until the next morning on the dive boat). He was quite a character and fit right in with our rowdy group.

[luis]

Dancing squids in Bonaire (mating dance?).

This is a 6- 1/2 minute video. Notice at around 5 -1/2 minutes.

https://vimeo.com/96443794

[Superlite]

Interestingly, the response is more from other divers. "Wow, I never saw one of those". "Is it old?" However when you offer to allow them to use one, the response is usually, thanks, but no thanks. The dive ops could care less what gear you use. This time one of the DMs tried an Argonaut. Usually they are so busy that they don't have much time to try the regs. We have learned to not make a deal out of the gear you use. Just set-up like you know what you are doing and nobody cares.

Divemaster/boat captain Yago from Spain trying the Argonaut

I have been expected to dive vintage as the guys in Panama City Dive Center like seeing the "Old School" gear I prefer using. All the captains on the boats I usually dive from like seeing the questions asked when they see students asking about my Royal w/Phoenix. In fact there is a lot of inquiries about vintage gear from the younger group of divers.