Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Hilltop Divers Opens at Caribbean Club with New Services

On October 1, 2006, Hilltop Divers opened their doors as the new dive shop at the Caribbean Club Bonaire.  In a unique setting and location close to northern dive sites, Hilltop Divers offers a complete range of services from air fills to a full retail dive shop and a variety of rental equipment.  Rinse tanks and shower facilities are also available.

Hilltop Divers offers two services new to Bonaire:  The Easy Diving package allows you to park your vehicle at the secure lot at Caribbean Club, grab a tank at the dive shop, and the dive site shuttle services drops you off at one of the scenic route’s dive sites (Oil Slick Leap, Jeff Davis Memorial, Weber’s Joy/Witches Hut, or 1000 Steps) and picks you up after the dive. Upon return divers can take a shower (towel provided) and enjoy a healthy after-dive lunch in the Hilltop Restaurant and Bar.

Additionally they offer a new Drift Dive package which allows for an easy drift dive from Oil Slick Leap to Witches Hut. Hilltop Divers will shuttle you and your gear to Oil Slick Leap and pick you up again at Witches Hut after your dive. You’ll then return back for a shower and have lunch in the restaurant.

For more information or reservations, call 717–7901 or 700-2389 or visit www.caribbeanclubbonaire.com.  The Easy Diving and Drift Dive packages are available daily between 10 AM and 2 PM.  Hilltop Divers is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. (Source:  Hilltop Divers Release)

Monday, October 09, 2006

Two Cultures Once Again Unite; Bonaire’s Culinary Team Begins Cooking Internships in Italy

Once again culinary students from Bonaire are visiting Italy to learn more about their chosen field. Upon arrival in the Emilia Romagna region, Chef Luciano, Master Chef at the Nazareno School in Carpi, began teaching the students immediately.

Additionally, students interact with Italian Maitre and Sommelier Teacher Massimo during their internship to present them with a well-rounded curriculum.  This is the fourth consecutive year that students from the Bonaire Culinary School have traveled to Italy for their internships; the program intends to unite students from both Bonaire and Italy in culture, food and other important areas.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Antillean Wine Company Announces Revised Schedule for Wine Tastings

Recently, Antillean Wine Company announced that it will now hold monthly wine tastings instead of weekly events.

This new schedule will allow for a wider range of wines to be available for tasting, as six to eight wines will be selected each month to be presented along with accompanying snacks.  The wine tastings will be held on the second Saturday of each month from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM, beginning October 14, 2006.  For additional information, telephone 09-560-7539.  Cost is NAFL 20.00 per person ($11.24).  (Source:  Antillean Wine Company Communication)

Governor General Halts Development at Lac Bay

Yesterday, the Governor General of the Netherlands Antilles suspended a decision of the Bonaire Executive Committee to allow a development project bordering Lac Bay, without an adequate EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), in order to comply with the regulations of the Ramsar Convention.

The Governor’s suspension of Bonaire’s permit for the project is based on Art. 98 and 102 of the Island Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles (ERNA) which allows the Governor General to step in when an island decision or ordinance is in conflict with international agreements, conventions, or the public interests of the Kingdom. In this case, Bonaire’s Executive Committee decision was in conflict with the requirements of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. Bonaire itself nominated the Lac Bay area as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1980.

Click here for additional information (in Dutch and in pdf format).  (Source:  MINA Communication)

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Plaza Resort Bonaire Unveils Its 2007 Dive Packages

Recently, Plaza Resort Bonaire announced its line of 2007 dive packages offering value to visiting divers, which include year-round diving discounts no matter which time of the year you visit.

2-for-1 diving is available December 2-23, 2006 and in May, June, August, and September, 2007.  The Plaza Preferred Partner, a dive shop incentive program, along with year-round kids stay free, the Aquakids program, and free Nitrox, offer value in 2007.

7th Heaven on 18 Palms:  Save over $300 per couple this winter or as much as $500 per couple during 2-for-1 diving months featuring 7 nights Standard Suite accommodations, 6-day/2-tank boat diving plus unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox, daily buffet breakfast, welcome cocktail, round-trip airport transfers, government tax, service, and energy surcharge. Grand Suite ocean-view also available.

With the 3-D Drive, Dive, Deluxe Program, savings can be over $500/quad during winter months or over $600/quad during spring, summer, and fall, 2007, while enjoying a fully air-conditioned two-bedroom/2-bath villa (condo) with full kitchenette facilities, living & dining room, seperate bedrooms and baths, 6 days of single-tank boat diving plus unlimited shore diving, 7 day truck rental with full insurance plan, daily buffet breakfast, welcome cocktail, government tax, service, and energy surcharge. One-bedroom villas also are available.

For more information, a quote, or reservation, contact your dive & travel professional, or call Plaza at 1 (800) 766-6016 or 1 (781) 821-6016.  Visit www.plazaresortbonaire.com.  (Source:  Dive Newsire)

Bonaire Sailing Foundation Announces Schedule for Regatta Week

BSaF (Bonaire Sailing Foundation) has just announced the schedule for all activities during Regatta Week from Thursday, October 5 through Saturday, October 14, 2006.

The days will be filled with sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, micro boats, and fishing boats, all competing in several events throughout the week.  Special events abound including the Working Boat Parade, a Pia Pia 10-kilometer Walk, the Jong Bonaire Swim to Klein Bonaire, the FCB 36-kilometer Bicycle Tour. and even a parade of nations.

Nights will be filled with festivities on the Regatta Boulevard from Karel’s Beach Bar, City Café to the Wilhelmina Park, a variety of stands with food, souvenirs, games, shirts, bars, local and International live music and shows. There will be also live music groups with after midnight party at Karel’s Beach Bar, Pirate’s House, City Café. 

For additional information, click here.  (Source:  BSaF Web site)

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Pia Pia Kunuku Bieu to Organize a Regatta Walk

Pia Pia Kunuku Bieu will hold its annual walk on Sunday, October 8, 2006, the third yearly event for the club.  This event has become popular with locals and with tourists who may be on the island for Regatta.

Each year the number of participants grows, with the 2005 event having had more than 100 walkers in attendance.  This year’s walk will begin at 6:00 AM in front of Regatta House, and the distance will be 10 kilometers.

The price to participante is NAFl 10.00 per person (USD $5.62) and will include refreshments during the walk with a sandwich, fruit, and juice at the end.  Entry cards are available from club members, or phone 786-0299.

K3 (Bonaire, Saba, & St. Eustatius) Continue Discussions for Direct Ties with the Netherlands

Discussions continue today, Wednesday, October 4, 2006, with the Dutch delegation headed by Minister of Administrative Reform and Kingdom Relations, Atzo Nicolai, for direct ties to the Netherlands for the small islands of Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius.  Parties are fine-tuning the agenda and preparing a document for next week’s mini-summit in The Hague. 

These islands, to which the Netherlands is already referring as the K3, the K standing for Klein ("small" in Dutch), are determined not to wait for the other two islands in the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao and St. Maarten, to work out their desired status to become countries within the Kingdom, and are quickly moving forward to establish ties with Holland.  Bonaire is going for a municipality status, with special circumstances and adapted to the local situation, what they call “sui generis.” Bonaire would rather not speak about integration or association.

For additional information, click here. (Source:  Caribbean Press Releases)

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

New Passport Rules Are Announced for Returning U.S. Citizens Traveling by Air

On September 29, 2006, the U.S. Congress approved an amendment that would delay implementation of new passport requirements included in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a law requiring U.S. travelers to have passports in order to re-enter the U.S from anywhere abroad, including Bonaire.

Although the last-minute revision which was inserted into a Homeland Security Dept. appropriations bill delays implementation until June 1, 2009, this revision only applies to requirement for passports for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda through the same date. However, all U.S. citizens will require passports for travel by air starting Jan. 8, 2007, as previously proposed.

For additional information, click here.  (Source:  Travel Weekly)