Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Golden Reef Inn Launches New Web Site

Golden Reef Inn has just announced that they have launched a new, renovated web site with the goal of having it be more user-friendly for their guests.

The website is full of new pictures of the Golden Reef Inn property and their accommodations.  Visitors can also view room rates, packages, as well as specials that the property is currently offering.  Via an on-line translator, the site can be viewed in many different languages, such as Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, or more.

Using the new highlighted menu bar, visitors will be able to make direct inquiries or book on-line.  The new Links page provides information that will help visitors to Bonaire learn more about the island or find other activities to plan during their vacation.

To view the new web site, click here.  (Source:  Golden Reef Inn)

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

CIEE Bonaire Announces Next Public Lecture

CIEE Bonaire will hold its next public presentation on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 when Dr. Aileen N. C. Morse discusses, “Larval ‘Flypapers’:  Universal Tools for Coral Recruitment Projects First Developed on Bonaire.”

Dr. Morse is from the Marine Biotechnology Center at the University of California Santa Barbara.  The presentation will take place at 7:00 PM at the CIEE Research Station located at Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot #26.  Everyone is invited and admission is free.  (Source:  CIEE Bonaire)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Dive Friends Bonaire Announces Next Instructor Development Course (IDC)

Dive Friends Bonaire is pleased to announce their next Instructor Development Course (IDC) will begin on November 22nd and continue through November 30th, 2010. The Instructor Exam conducted by PADI will immediately follow on December 1st and 2nd.

Dive Friends will be offering the new E-Learning option for this IDC, which allows candidates to save time and travel expenses by taking advantage of home-study methods.  They then may report to the IDC on the third day (November 24th, 2010), for completion of the program with Dive Friend’s course director.

E-Learning is easy; all candidates must do is login to PADI’s web site at www.padi.com and click on E-Learning.  Enter the dive center’s number, and follow instructions. PADI’s cost for E-Learning is $320.00 per candidate.

Once all candidates are on Bonaire and in sessions together, the new IDC format will focus upon workshops and interaction, while utilizing the new PADI Guide to Teaching.

Concurrent with the IDC course, Dive Friends Bonaire will also offer Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor, Staff Instructor, and an option for Staff Instructor with an internship at the dive facility.  Costs for these courses are:

· Full IDC (no E-Learning), $1,115.00
· E-Learning IDC, $999.00
· Emergency First Response Instructor, $250.00
· Staff Instructor, $599.00 (five specialties)

All candidates are also eligible for two days of free unlimited tanks for shore diving after the IDC.

Additionally, for those who would like to attain the professional rating of Instructor, but do not yet have a Divemaster rating, Dive Friends Bonaire offers a Divemaster Internship for $799.00, which can be done prior to the IDC.

All rates are in U.S. Dollars; books and PADI’s fees are additional.

Dive Friends Bonaire can assist with on-island arrangements, including special IDC rates for accommodations and/or vehicle rentals.  Those interested in participating in the IDC may visit http://www.dive-friends-bonaire.com/idc.html for additional information, or contact Dive Friends Bonaire directly by email at info@dive-friends-bonaire.com for pricing and eligibility requirements and discounted rates for accommodations.

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention.  Two retail stores are available in Kralendijk, in addition to four diving facilities.  For additional information about all their services, visit their web site at www.dive-friends-bonaire.com, or e-mail: info@dive-friends-bonaire.com. (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Enjoy a Taste of Bonaire on Friday, August 27, 2010

To officially close the end of Celebrate Our Planet week, the island will be hosting a food festival, Taste of Bonaire, on Friday, August 27, 2010.

The event will take place in Wilhelmina Park in Kralendijk from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  This is a popular cultural event focusing on food, music, handicrafts, and a lot of fun.  All are invited to attend the evening’s event, when everyone can enjoy small plates of signature dishes from some of Bonaire’s eateries.  For visitors, it’s a time to rub elbows with the locals, as people mix and mingle enjoying their food and looking at the various items available for sale.  (Source:  TCB-Bonaire)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Patagonia Restaurant Opens for Lunch

Patagonia Restaurant has just announced that effective immediately, they are adding in a new lunch menu which is available Monday through Friday.  Also, they are launching lunch (or dinner) in a new air-conditioned room, so either cool comfort or al fresco dining is now available.

Patagonia, located at the Harbour Village Marina (under the lighthouse) has been a favorite for several years for their Argentinean steaks, chops, grilled meats, pasta or fish dishes.  Starting today, they will open for lunch during weekdays, when they will be serving an assortment of burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and salads.  Prices are moderate.

Their other news is that Patagonia Restaurant is opening a room where lunch or dinner dining can be enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort, so now patrons have the choice of choosing this option, which is certainly welcome during Bonaire’s hottest summer days in August and September. or dining al fresco next to the sea!  For reservations for lunch or dinner, call 717-7725. (Source:  Patagonia Restaurant)

Friday, August 20, 2010

Bonaire Welcomes Dr. Eugenie Clark during Celebrate Our Planet Week

Dr. Eugenie Clark will be on Bonaire next week for events during Celebrate Our Planet Week.  She’ll be kept busy with a book-signing and also two presentations, but will, in addition, be the second recipient of the North American Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her from the island of Bonaire.

There are several events throughout the week, where those on island can meet Dr. Clark:

Monday, August 23rd, at Captain Don’s Habitat, 5:30 PM:  Dr. Clark will be doing a book-signing featuring the latest edition of her book, “The Lady with the Sharks.”

On Tuesday, August 24th, at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, 6:00 PM, she will give a presentation entitled “Sea Monsters I Have Known” combined with “Shark Lady.” This presentation will be repeated on Thursday, August 26th at Buddy Dive Resort at 6:00 PM.

All are invited to get to know Dr. Clark during these events.

To end the week with a sweet taste, enjoy another Taste of Bonaire, organized by the Bonaire Restaurant Association.  Enjoy great dishes, local music, and handicrafts during this popular event on Friday, August 27th at Wilhelmina Park from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Enjoy the week’s festivities!  (Source:  TCB-Bonaire)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) Saves the Day, Again

It was early this morning when the emergency call came into the offices of Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire.............there were hawksbill turtle hatchlings roaming around the airport’s parking lot!

STCB staff member, “Funchi” along with volunteer “Red” Berger, headed off immediately to investigate.  Together they found that a hawksbill nest located at Windsock (Donkey Beach) had hatched overnight, and some of the hatchlings were confused by the lights of the airport.  Instead of immediately heading out to sea, the hatchlings instead crossed the road and made it to the airport’s parking lot where they quickly became disoriented.

Funchi and Red immediately went to their aid, finding a total of ten hatchlings which had gone astray.  They were able to successfully return nine to the water, but unfortunately there was one fatality.  After being sure all hatchlings were safely in the water, they investigated the nest, and found about 120 eggs, so there are at least 119 new hawksbill turtles finding their way in Bonaire’s waters.

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire does much more than just rescue, but rescue is an important function.  To learn more about how the organization rescues turtles in Bonaire’s waters, click here.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)

Insel Air Introduces On-line Check-in

This week, Insel Air announced that on-line check-in is now available via their web site, www.fly-inselair.com, making this carrier the first company in the region to offer this service.

On-line check-in can be done from any computer within 24 hours before the reserved flight departs.  During check-in, one can choose their own seat, and print out their boarding pass in advance.  If a return is within 24 hours, one can also print out a boarding pass for the return flight at the same time.

This new service is available for all Insel Air destinations (Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Paramaribo, Kingston, Miami, Valencia and San Juan) with the exception of Port-au-Prince, Sta. Domingo, and Las Piedras.  Once one possesses a boarding pass, one can head directly for the counter to pay the airport tax (if needed), and move on to the security check.  Passengers carrying only hand luggage need to arrive only 60 minutes before departure. Passengers with baggage could check their bags in at the drop-off counter up to 120 minutes before departure and do not have to stand in the check-in line.  The check-in counters for all Insel Air destinations close one hour before departure, after which check-in is not possible. (Source:  Amigoe)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Tiara Air Opens New Customer Service Center on Bonaire

In recent months, Tiara Air has expanded its non-stop service between Aruba and Bonaire and is continuing to add flight rotations so as to make getting to Bonaire via Aruba easier all the time.  Additionally, they have just also opened a new Customer Service Center in Kralendijk to assist passengers.

The new Service Center is located at Kaya Libertador Simon Bolivar z/n Complex B. The center is open and ready for any passengers to come by to either make reservations, purchase tickets, or make other inquiries into Tiara Air’s service.  The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM through 6:00 PM nonstop, and offers spacious public parking.  For more information, call Tiara Air at 717-7447 or 717-3008. (Source:  TCB-NYC)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Tom Ingram, DEMA, Gives Presentation to Bonaire’s Tourism Industry

Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) was recently on Bonaire.  While on-island, he gave a presentation to members of the island’s tourism and diving industries providing profile data of the type of person who comes to Bonaire for diving.

Tom explained that the profiles have been generated from a database of nearly 30,000 Bonaire visitors who responded to a survey.  This survey revealed the behaviors and characteristics of the type of American who visits Bonaire.  This data is important to those in Bonaire tourism as it provides a better understanding of the island’s current visitors, and services can be more closely targeted to meet the needs of this diving consumer.  Most importantly, the survey helped identify geo-demographic segmentation, clearly identifying the potential “Bonaire visitor” by geography and demography, including factors such as income, education, mode of travel, employment, geographic mobility, place of work, occupation, age, race, ethnicity, as well as other variables.  The database is updated yearly, so data is kept current.

Tom has been working within the diving industry for over thirty years, and coupled with that he has a strong background in business.  Tom managed a small business development center for the Small Business Administration in Florida, and he taught both a business program and a diving program for over fifteen years at Barry University, also in Florida, and with the Florida Institute of Technology, now located in Melbourne, Florida.

DEMA continues to provide this type of information to the island as a benefit of Bonaire’s destination sponsorship of the DEMA/Be a Diver Pool, which is a 20 x 30 foot, 15,000 gallon mobile pool which traverses the United States stopping at two- and three-day, large-scale venues. It is complete with a portable setup that includes dressing rooms, towels, all the newest diving equipment including wetsuits and fins, an air compressor, and a pavilion for registration and consumer interaction.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)