Bonaire has long
been known as one of the diving "Meccas" of the
Caribbean. It has achieved this reputation through careful
conservation of some pretty impressive underwater resources. The
entire area surrounding Bonaire is a protected Marine Sanctuary
and, despite the massive influx of divers every year, the reefs
still remain relatively unspoiled.
I went to Bonaire in August, and found the island a joy. It is located about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The islands are considered part of the Netherland Antilles, and Dutch still seems to be the official language, although English is found everywhere. Bonaire, like Provo, is a dry island with little in the way of freshwater runoff. The people are friendly and the island offers a great deal of charm to the diver and non-diver alike. There is plenty to explore above water-especially if you are into bird watching. One end of the island offers a state park covered in cacti, with one of the largest colonies of pink flamingoes in the western hemisphere.
But the true charm of Bonaire is under water. The reef starts
right off shore and the majority of dive sites are easily
accessible from the beach. My dive buddy and I stayed at the Sand
Dollar Dive and Photo. We would wake in the morning, take the
two minute walk to the dock and dive shop, suit up and dive in. A
short swim to the reef and down to 
sixty feet and we were on a pretty decent reef with
fantastic marine life. Pelagics are rare but we were blessed with
turtles and a lone eagle ray. After the dive we would dry up
while sitting at the resorts restaurant, The Green Parrot,
located a short 10 second walk from the dive shop.
The rest of the trip was characterized by this type of convenience. Bonaire has set up an impressive system of dive markers along its main road. The road hugs the coast. We rented a small van, threw tanks in the back, stopped at the dive marker of our choice, suited up and minutes after an easy entry we were again surrounded by prolific fish life and impressive reefs. The diving was great, the value for your dollar even better. Bonaire deserves the reputation it has earned. To find out more about diving in Bonaire click HERE.
Any Comments? E-Mail Me At: divers_log@hotmail.com
Return To Main Page
Get your own Free Home Page