Fins and booties for Bonaire?

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Fins and booties for Bonaire?

by Susan Hopkins
(Pasadena, CA)

I think I saw that you will be going to Bonaire for a visit. We will be going in August and have been putting a lot of thought into fins and booties that seem to be needed for snorkeling in Bonaire. Based on comfort, travel size and budget, what would you recomend? Can't wait to read about your trip. Bonaire looks amazing!

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Fins and booties for Bonaire?

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Jan 27, 2010
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Open Foot & Booties or Closed Foot Fins for Bonaire
by: Galen & Nicole

Susan, good question. I have been mulling that one over a bit. Bonaire snorkeling is all from the beach (very little boat trips needed). And the coral is supposed to come right up to the shore. And I have heard that the entrances are rocky (not sandy beach entrances). So ideally I think it would be good to have booties and open foot fins.

But the problem is open foot fins are generally heavy and bulky and not as good for traveling, compared to our simple closed foot fins. Two things I don't like. Plus, most of the folks I have seen who suggest you use booties and open fins are divers who are hauling along a lot of ungainly gear weight.

So although I think booties would be a good idea, I think we are just going to use what we have, and see how it goes (we enter the water barefoot, and put our closed foot fins on in deeper waters). We have done this in a lot of places, over rocky entrances and it has worked out OK. But it depends on how nimble and lightweight you are on your feet. You don't want to risk cutting your feet.

So we are going to feel it out and if it becomes a problem we will probably just rent some fins and booties while there.

And then we will report back to you before you go.

What have you heard about it?

Jan 30, 2010
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Local Experience in Bonaire
by: Galen & Nicole

Susan. While planning our trip I asked the question of a local snorkel guide in Bonaire (Renee) about the closed foot vs. open. I told her we used closed fins and asked what she suggests. Here is her response:

"I also use closed fins and if you have an old pair of flipflops just take a bungie cord with and hang it arround your waist when you enter."

http://www.infobonaire.com/reneesnorkeltrips/snorkel_trips.html

It is a good idea that I had never considered. Enter the water in the flip flops and put your fins on in the water.

Mar 02, 2010
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A possible solution
by: Susan Hopkins

Thank you. I was kinda thinking about the same thing with reef walker, popping a hole in then and attaching them somehow. That way we can walk comfortably in until it is deep enough to put on our fins.

Can't wait to hear about your trip. I am putting together my list of must snorkel: Lac bay south, Margate Bay, Tori's Reef, Cliff, Karpata, Wayaka III.

Mar 03, 2010
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Carabiner?
by: Anonymous

How about using a carabiner? Get a cheap and small aluminum carabiner, string your reef shoes through it, and attach it to your swimsuit or better yet a belt. We plan on taking a waterproof box that we keep our passports and other valuables in when we snorkel, and if you do a similar thing you can attach your shoes to that belt for that.

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Fins and booties for Bonaire?

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Fins and booties for Bonaire?