First Leg: Bonaire July 4-11, 2009

Resorts: 16 divers and 1 snorkeler stayed at Captain Don's Habitat Bonaire. Food at "Rum Runners" improved a lot, but the service was not consistent. Their cottages had been renovated nicely, and Jack, the manager told me that the Ocean View rooms are next to be renovated.

Dive Sites: 'Windsock' had 1 frogfish and 1 seahorse. 'Something Special' had 3 frogfish and 2 seahorses. There were seahorses at 'Leonora's Reef' and 'Petries Pillar'. A night dive at Salt Pier was great with tons of Basket stars, a Slipper lobster, Orange cup corals, sleeping fish and shrimps and crabs. The town pier was off limit at the moment.

Water temperature: 81F (27C)

Dive master Lutty knew where about for frogfish and seahorses. He used to teach underwater photography at Divi, and he enjoys taking photos underwater on his own time. He was always helpful and we all loved to dive with him! One of the diver in the group became sick, and on the 5th day he was diagnosed with DCS. Apparently he got it from his check-out dive. He had fatigue, light headache and upset stomach as symptoms. The doctor told him that it was probably caused by the dehydration and fatigue from the flight. After 6 hr chamber treatment, he was released and had no further symptoms. Any sickness needs to be treated as DCS regardless the dive profile. It was an eye opener for Ben and I.

Papa dock at Captain Don's

Group: Bill and Mari Conaway, Brett Walker, Megan Clarey, Brian Ladd, Richard Moore, Kyoko Takayama, Marialice Kern, Glenn Spoerl, Peggy Castello, Doug Sweeney, Ben Odegard, Andy Ip, Lutty, & Lori Harvey. Photo taken by Rod Chin. Missing Sako Hara & Sydney Spoerl.

2nd Leg: Curacao July 11-18, 2009

Resorts: Sunset Water Beach Resort was the first one we stayed, and Glenn and Marialice stayed there for a week. We had lots of complaints, but it no longer matters because they closed their door on July 18, 2009. Glenn and Marialice were the last guests to dive with them. There is always the first.

Lodge Kura Hulanda was perfect. Our garden view standard room was not big, but pretty and clean. It has a beautiful landscape with lots of birds, a nice pool, beach, dive shop and pier, a library, wifi connection, laundry facility, a meeting room, a gym, 3 restaurants and a full bar.

Dive Sites: We stayed south west end of the island. It is calm like Bonaire and coral reefs were the healthiest we have ever seen in Caribbean. Especially 'Watamura' was amazing with huge corals one after another. There were not many big fish because of overfishing exception of Kura Hulanda's house reef 'Alice in Wonderland'. Reefs are very similar to Bonaire starting 15-30 ft. Seahorses and frogfish are there even though we did not see them. We have heard of occasional hammerhead sharks, and recently 2 mantas just visited the area. We were told that September to October is the time possibly to dive north side of the island for bigger creatures, but it is weather permitted and only for advanced.

Dive operation Ocean Encounter West was impressive. Manager Bryan loves his job, and the captain Tiki knows his ocean. Toni was a guest dive master from Utila, and she impressed us how much she could find and know. She was hired while we were there. and we are looking forward to dive with her again.

Water Temperature: 81-82 F (27-28 C)