Samur Snorkel

[pna]

Has anyone done this excursion in the last couple years.   All the reviews I find are very positive, but very old.  We are looking for a snorkel excursion in Bonaire in February.    Two of them I am interested via ship excursions won't take you if you are over 70.   Note:   I personally am in better shape than many 50 year olds, but nonetheless.....!   Woodwind has been full since August.   The only other two snorkel excursions via ship are Exclusive Sailboat which I can't imagine is really worth $130 but I could be wrong.   Please chime in if you have done it.   The other option is the Catamaraan which does the National Park not Klein Bonaire.

[mnamor]

I booked the Samur snorkel and was wondering myself if the boat had any facilities on it and also how you enter the water from the boat.

[M&T]

Too bad no one answered.  Did you go?  What was your experience?  Thanks 

[mnamor]

5 minutes ago, M&T said:

Too bad no one answered.  Did you go?  What was your experience?  Thanks 

We did not go yet.  We are booked for the middle of Feb.  Hopefully it will be great.

[M&T]

My trip is mid February too on Reflection.

[mnamor]

25 minutes ago, M&T said:

My trip is mid February too on Reflection.

We are on the Reflection B2B Feb8 & Feb 18. 

[EatonDoolittle]

I was on Samur some years ago. We did not like it at all.

I did a search of posts here, and unless things have changed, things are as reviewed...old boat (yes I get that it is historic) , rough shape, sitting on the wooden floor, climb into the Zodiac, climb up the side of the boat (no ladder, as I recall), and so on.

I do not recall if there are "facilities".

I do remember the captain blasting Pink Floyd, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I must say was unexpected on a boat in the southern islands filled with cruise ship passengers. 

 

There are many nicer and easier ways to drift snorkle the reefs, even the Water Taxi from in town was a better option, in my opinion. The one time I took it, the captain took us to the beach access area to drop our stuff, then we got back on the boat and he  took us up to the beginning of the drift area so we could easily swim back.  

 

OP...have you checked with Compass Sailing Bonaire? I've done Woodwind many times, but am considering Compass for my next trip in the fall just for a change. 

BTW, the national park is Klein Bonaire, all waters around both islands are protected.

 

The underwater world around Bonaire is just beautiful, I hope you all find a way to get out there. Even shore snorkeling from the Plaza Resort or others is better than any you will see anywhere in the Caribbean. 

If you go that way, bring water shoes, the entries can be rocky.

[mnamor]

5 minutes ago, EatonDoolittle said:

I was on Samur some years ago. We did not like it at all.

I did a search of posts here, and unless things have changed, things are as reviewed...old boat (yes I get that it is historic) , rough shape, sitting on the wooden floor, climb into the Zodiac, climb up the side of the boat (no ladder, as I recall), and so on.

I do not recall if there are "facilities".

I do remember the captain blasting Pink Floyd, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I must say was unexpected on a boat in the southern islands filled with cruise ship passengers. 

 

There are many nicer and easier ways to drift snorkle the reefs, even the Water Taxi from in town was a better option, in my opinion. The one time I took it, the captain took us to the beach access area to drop our stuff, then we got back on the boat and he  took us up to the beginning of the drift area so we could easily swim back.  

 

OP...have you checked with Compass Sailing Bonaire? I've done Woodwind many times, but am considering Compass for my next trip in the fall just for a change. 

BTW, the national park is Klein Bonaire, all waters around both islands are protected.

 

The underwater world around Bonaire is just beautiful, I hope you all find a way to get out there. Even shore snorkeling from the Plaza Resort or others is better than any you will see anywhere in the Caribbean. 

If you go that way, bring water shoes, the entries can be rocky.

Thank you so much for your insight on this excursion.  I was a little skeptical before we booked it since they never give enough information.  We will look again for another snorkel trip but we like to take the ship's excursions in case things go awry.

[pna]

Are thinking of cancelling and doing the Exclusive Sailboat.   In another post someone said it was a very small group, which would be great.   However the description says nobody in water with you, they just watch from the deck.

Edited January 30, 2019 by pna

[mnamor]

1 hour ago, pna said:

Are thinking of cancelling and doing the Exclusive Sailboat.   In another post someone said it was a very small group, which would be great.   However the description says nobody in water with you, they just watch from the deck.

We just cancelled the Samur snorkel trip.  Too much climbing up and down into and out of the boats.  We booked the Catamaran Scenic Sail tour at Marine Park istead.  Nowhere did it say there was snorkeling included until you actually clicked on it to read the description, otherwise we would have booked it originally.

[M&T]

Great.  Thanks for the information. 

[pna]

I cancelled Samur.  We are early 70s but in good physical shape and some of them don't allow those over 70.    Thinking of going for the Exclusive one.  We too take ship excursions.   Did try for Woodwind a while ago but they were booked in August.