Bonaire Dive Week

December 5–12, 2026 · Photography-focused shore-diving plan

Base: Punt Vierkant 17, Kralendijk · Tank provider: VIP Diving · Flight home: Dec. 12

This is a conservative planning document, not a substitute for your computer, tables, gas plan, buddy/team plan, current conditions, or the local site briefing. Depths, times and GPS points are planning targets; verify the exact entry/exit and current conditions with VIP Diving before each dive.

The schedule uses Nitrox 32% as a planning assumption. Analyze every cylinder yourself and plan from the actual analyzed mix. Do not treat the listed MOD as a permission to dive that depth.

Dive Planning Rules & Photography Setup

  1. Gas: Nitrox 32% is a planning assumption only. Analyze each cylinder and set the actual mix in your Shearwater. A 32% MOD at 1.4 PO₂ is about 111 ft / 34 m; choose a more conservative working depth as appropriate.
  2. Computer: Follow your Shearwater's decompression model and limits. The planned times above are not decompression-table prescriptions.
  3. Surface intervals: These are deliberately generous planning intervals for repetitive recreational diving. Extend them whenever the computer, workload, conditions, or team needs it.
  4. Third dives: Treat them as optional. If the first two dives are longer/deeper than planned, drop the third rather than forcing the schedule.
  5. Night dives: Keep them shallow and make them the final dive of the day. VIP Diving lists guided night dives and night-diving options.
  6. Navigation: Carry a compass and confirm the entry/exit, reef direction, current and bailout plan at the site. Local shore-diving guidance commonly uses the reef slope and compass heading back toward shore; don't rely on GPS alone underwater.
  7. Truck: Do not leave valuables visible in the vehicle. Keep the dive truck organized for fast tank swaps and camera handling.
  8. Camera: For the 100mm Macro GM, start around f/11–f/16 and adjust based on subject size, strobe position and desired depth of field. For wide angle, f/8–f/11 is a useful starting range. Use shutter speed to control ambient light and strobes for subject exposure.
  9. Housing: Because you're using the Marelux housing, avoid opening it unnecessarily between dives. If changing lenses/ports, do it in a clean, dry environment and repeat the vacuum/leak check.
  10. Flight: Friday is intentionally a full no-diving day before Saturday's flight. Follow the most conservative guidance from your dive computer, training agency and airline if it is more restrictive.

VIP Diving Reference

J.A. Abraham Blvd 77, Bonaire • Open 7 days, 8 AM–5 PM. VIP lists unlimited-air packages and single air/Nitrox tanks, and offers guided shore and night dives.