People

News about People on, from, and going to Bonaire

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)

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)

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Bonaire Bids Farewell to the Wounded Warriors

Yesterday, Bonaire bid a fond farewell to the 2010 participants of the 5th Be A Diver-Wounded Warrior Scuba Certification trip.  The men and their families have had a very busy week, but all have certainly enjoyed the island and all it has to offer.

When we last checked in with the Warriors, they had just completed their dive certifications.  They have spent much of their rest of their days diving, both by shore and by boat.  On Tuesday afternoon, they enjoyed lunch in Kralendijk, compliments of the Bonaire Talk Community, as well as a private shopping spree with gift certificates provided by Jewel of Bonaire.  Tuesday night they dined at Patagonia Argentinean Restaurant, compliments of the Palacios Family.

Wednesday evening was certainly special as the men and their families were guests of honor at a reception held at the home of Lt. Governor Glenn Thode and sponsored by Caradonna Caribbean Tours.  Everyone enjoyed their motorcycle escort provided by the Bikers Bonaire.  During the evening, the men were named Bonaire Ambassadors by the Tourism Corporation Bonaire.  After, a dance group from Rincon performed traditional dances for the group.  View images from Wednesday evening by clicking here.

Thursday brought more diving and then in the evening, everyone gathered at the Deco Stop Bar at Captain Don’s Habitat to watch the Week in Review with dinner following courtesy of Dive Training Magazine (images available by clicking here)

It was a little rainy (well, very rainy) on Friday morning during their Bonaire Tours island tour, but everyone ended at a complimentary lunch at KFC.  In the afternoon, more touring, this time provided by Bonaire Quad Tours, with finally a Texas-styled BBQ sponsored by Jack Chalk and his family and Adams Unlimited.

Saturday morning, it was an early morning transfer to the airport for their check-in, but, even then, these heros were given paid departure tax tickets, once again sponsored by the Bonaire Talk Community.  For five years now, the island has always come together for these annual events to show these men and their families who have given so much exactly what it means to be grateful for their sacrifices.  This week could not have been possible without the sponsors and those donating funds and/or services.  We’d like to thank everyone:  9Line LLC, Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Marketing, AERIS, Bikers Bonaire, Bonaire KFC, BonaireTalk.com, Bonaire Quad Tours, Bonaire Guided Motorcycle Tours, Bonaire Tours & Vacations, Budget Rent A Car, Captain Don’s Habitat, Caradonna Dive Adventures, Inc., Care Coalition, Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine, Chat & Browse Bonaire, DEMA/Be a Diver, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine, Dive Training Magazine, Henderson, H.S.A. International Training Center of New Jersey, Islands Magazine, Jack Chalk & Family, Jewel Of Bonaire, Net, N.V., OCEANIC, PADI, Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, Patagonia Restaurant, Princeton Tec, Rum Runners, Sport Diver Magazine, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, and Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, as well as the anonymous donors.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2011!  Te aworo (until next time)! (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)

Monday, August 09, 2010

The Wounded Warriors Are Certified Divers Now

As was reported earlier, the Bonaire Insider will be chronicling some of the activities this week on Bonaire while the island hosts the Wounded Warriors--severely wounded U.S. military men and their families--as they complete the dive certifications and enjoy Bonaire.

The group arrived in the early hours on Saturday morning, and they were then transported to their host hotel, Captain Don’s Habitat.  After a hearty breakfast at Rum Runners, the group received their Marine Park orientation, received their dive tags (sponsored by an anonymous donor), and immediately began their first open water training dives.  It was a full day, especially after traveling overnight, but the group kept their energy up to enjoy a pizza dinner sponsored by Caribbean Travel & Life/Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Islands, and Sport Diver magazines.

Sunday morning broke bright and early and the group was back in the water to complete their training dives.  After a lunch, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, the group, now certified divers, jumped on a boat to head off for the first boat dive of the week, to Forest at Klein Bonaire.  View images of the men and their families as they prepared for diving by visiting the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.

Back at the resort, everyone showered and changed for the evening’s dinner at Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, sponsored by AERIS and Oceanic.  It was one very long table that nearly filled the restaurant, but everyone enjoyed their dinners, including the restaurant’s famous Walking Sticks appetizer, a variety of entrees, and a plethora of desserts, including Grandma’s Sizzling Apple Pie, Gooey Peanut Butter Pie, fried cheesecake, home-made ice-cream or sorbet, chocolate cake, and tiramisu.  Throughout the evening, one warrior or another would pop up to give plaques of appreciation to many of the sponsors present--Dan, from AERIS and Oceanic, Michael and Diana from Chat ‘n’ Browse, and Pam and Carl from Paradise Moon.  Dan, who sponsored the evening’s dinner, also raffled off several dive computers, and it seems like luck was with the ladies last night, as two of warriors’ families won.  View images of the evening’s events by clicking here.

I had the opportunity to chat with two of the couples at dinner, and they have surprising stories to tell.  One couple grew up together, but, as happens many times, went their different ways as they grew older.  Their lives became intertwined again when the the warrior was in the hospital, scheduled for twelve surgeries over two years, and one of his nurses just happened to be his childhood acquaintance!  One thing led to another, and the two were married earlier this year.

A second couple has a similar story; both were acquainted when the lady sent a message to the warrior............who never answered.  Not realizing the warrior was in a coma, she was understandably upset with not receiving a reply.  However, three-and-a-half weeks later, suddenly he responded, and the couple began seeing each other.  They, too, are newlyweds, having married last December.

Today, the group is doing additional boat dives around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.  This evening, they will meet Bonaire’s legendary Captain Don Stewart at Habitat’s “Meet the Captain” cocktail party, before enjoying a BBQ dinner, compliments of the BonaireTalk.com community.  The Insider will be checking in with the group again later this week.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)

Friday, July 02, 2010

Dr. Eugenie Clark to Receive the North American Lifetime Achievement Award from Bonaire

Dr. Eugenie Clark will become the second North American recipient to receive Bonaire’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.  A panel of distinguished media chose Dr. Clark after long deliberations on several candidates. 

Dr. Clark will travel to Bonaire during the island’s Celebrate Our Planet Week, from August 22 through 28, 2010, a highlight week of the Bonaire Dive Into Summer program.  During her time on Bonaire, she will make several dives with visitors and residents of Bonaire, as well as give two presentations: one for adults, and one for Bonaire’s schoolchildren.  She’ll also be kept busy with a book signing of the newest edition of her book, “Lady With the Sharks” and will be the guest of honor at the home of Lt. Governor Glenn Thode when she is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Eugenie Clark is a world-renowned ichthyologist and authority on sharks and is popularly known as the “Shark Lady”.  Throughout her long career, Dr. Clark has studiously applied the basic tenets of conservation which support sustainable tourism.  She was the founding director (1955 to 1967) of the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, now a leading center for shark research called the Mote Marine Laboratory, with which she is still affiliated. Today, Dr. Clark is Senior Research Scientist and Professor Emerita, Department of Biology, at the University of Maryland.

Her history with Bonaire goes back to 1983, when Dr. Clark began visiting over several years as a staff lecturer for short courses for medical doctors on “Human Underwater Biology.” Besides her lectures on Bonaire, she has given over 100 formal lectures at meetings, conventions, and universities in Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Egypt, England, France, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Taiwan, and USA; 30+ lectures at community centers and schools; 3 lectures by phone; 50+ TV appearances and 60+ radio programs (local, national, and international). Dr. Clark became a member of Bonaire’s Queen Angel Club in 1983, a club which is still active today.

Dr. Clark is the recipient of three fellowships, four scholarships, six medals (including the gold medal of the Society of Woman Geographers and the University of Maryland President’s Medal), and 34 other awards for work in marine biology, conservation, exploration and writing (including the National Geographic Franklin L. Burr and DEMA Hall of Fame awards in 1993) and three Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (1992), University of Guelph, Ontario (1995), and Long Island University (1995).  She has authored three books (Lady with a Spear, The Lady and the Sharks, and The Desert Beneath the Sea) and over 165 scientific and popular articles.

The Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award honors long serving, high performance professionals whose careers have truly made a difference.  It is for achievement over a period of several years rather than a single contribution and it is awarded for achievement that distinguishes the individual’s work and provides a legacy for future generations. In 2009, Dr. Sylvia Earle was awarded the first Bonaire Lifetime Achievement award for North America. In June, Bonaire’s own Captain Don Stewart received the island’s inaugural local award.  Dr. Eugenie Clark joins an august society of recipients.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Bonaire Pays Tribute to Their Own Captain Don Stewart for a Lifetime of Achievement on Bonaire

Captain Don Stewart became the first local recipient to receive Bonaire’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. It was presented to him on Friday evening, June 25th, during his 85th birthday celebration at Captain Don’s Habitat Bonaire.

The Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award honors long serving, high performance professionals whose careers have truly made a difference.  It is for achievement over a period of several years rather than a single contribution and it is awarded for achievement that distinguishes the individual’s work and provides a legacy for future generations.  A household name to those on Bonaire, Captain Don Stewart has worked tirelessly since his arrival--on May 21, 1962--within the island’s dive tourism industry, and, in fact, he is considered the founder of dive tourism on Bonaire, an industry considered by many to be the engine driving Bonaire’s local economy.

Captain Don’s efforts throughout his 48 years on Bonaire have always carefully measured conservation of the marine environment with development of the tourism product, which is the very definition of sustainable tourism.  Captain Don, truly a man ahead of his time, led the campaign to ban spear-fishing on Bonaire, instituted the first permanent mooring system which eliminated the need for boats to drop an anchor (now considered a standard for any marine protected area), founded the Council of Underwater Operators (CURO), which is still operating today, and implemented a mandatory orientation dive for all people diving on Bonaire. He is also responsible for opening the first hotel on the island, Zeebad (which is now the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino), and, in 1976, he opened Captain Don’s Habitat, which introduced the innovative concept of “diving freedom,” diving 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Over his nearly half-century on Bonaire, Captain Don Stewart has received many awards and commendations for his efforts for Bonaire and in sustainable tourism.  His contributions have been recognized by DEMA with the 1998 Reaching Out Award and by Bonaire with a bronze memorial plaque placed at Captain Don’s Reef at Klein Bonaire.  Additionally, he’s been inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, and Captain Don was honored with the title of Knight within the Order of Orange-Nassau, a military and civil order of merit created in 1892 on behalf of Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands.

Captain Don Stewart is a prolific writer, authoring a number of novels and short stories chronicling his life.  He is the founder of the International Accolade Foundation, which has an environmental objective to proliferate reef/sea management, to maintain a continuing productive underwater environment, and to guarantee the economic health of the world’s communities, nations, and their industries.  At his birthday celebration, Captain Don received a commemorative award to properly thank him for all he has done to put Bonaire on the map. (Source:  TCB-NY)

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Karol Meyer and Patrick Musimu Set New World Record in Freediving

As previously reported, Karol and Patrick returned this year to Bonaire to attempt another world record, and this was achieved yesterday, May 26, 2010. 

Karol and Patrick together set this new world record in the No Limits Tamden category when they reached 121 meters/397 feet.

These two champion freedivers are giving press conferences, seminars, and clinics during their time on Bonaire, as well as shooting documentary video footage with the U.S. History Channel.  Sky Sport Channel has also been following the event live.

Congratulations!  (Source:  Karol Meyer, image courtesy of Mariska Hooijmans)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Karol Meyer and Patrick Musimu, Champion Freedivers, Return to Bonaire

Having set new records during a Bonaire visit in 2009, Karol Meyer has returned to Bonaire and her trainer, and fellow freediver, Patrick Musimu, has also returned for a visit.

Over the coming weeks, both freedivers will be giving presentations and courses in between their own training dives in preparation for their new record attempts, the absolute world record in the No Limits Tandem category.  The Bonaire Insider will be providing updates throughout the Buddy Dive 2010 Freediving Event.  (Source:  Karol Meyer)

Note Update May 17th: Here’s a preliminary schedule of events just received in from Buddy Dive:

May 19th - Educational Presentation at the Poolbar @ 6:15 PM
May 28th - Official Press Conference & Recognition Happy Hour at the Poolbar @ 6:00 PM
May 30th - Educational Presentation at the Poolbar @ 6:15 PM
May 30th - June 1st - Free diving Clinic

(Source:  Buddy Dive Resort)

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Bill Goodwin, Frequent Bonaire Visitor, Wins National Geographic Photographic Competition

Bill Goodwin, along with his wife, Donna, is a frequent visitor to Bonaire and the island’s reefs.  Both enjoy underwater photography, but Bill has recently just won a major photographic competition sponsored by National Geographic.

His shot of a peppermint shrimp in a sponge taken at Margate Bay in approximately 75 feet of water was first entered into the National Geographic competition.  There were 208,000 entries from 28 countries in 20 different language editions of the magazine. Bill placed first place in the Nature category (one of three categories: People, Places, Nature) in the English language National Geographic contest, but his image then went on to win first place in the worldwide competition.

Often a photographer will work with a subject for some time, taking multiple images.  Bill, however, took only this one shot of the shrimp.  His camera was a Sony DSC WX-1 and, unbelievably, the camera was just set on “auto.” The camera took the image at f/2.4, ISO 160, with a shutter speed of 1/100. He did not employ a filter, he had a finger over the internal strobe to avoid double flashing, and the lighting was provided by Underwater Kinetics Light Cannon (HID) handheld on an arm outside the sponge.

Donna Goodwin is also a photographer, and the two will work together many times.  When Bill is shooting, Donna may hold a light for him, or be on the lookout for other creatures that might make excellent subjects.  When Donna is shooting, Bill then will work as the assistant and lookout.  It’s obviously great teamwork which produces results, as evidenced by Bill’s excellent image.

Bill has been winning or placing in competitions since 2007, including the Our World Underwater 2008 Photo Contest and the 2009 Underwater Images Photo/Video Competition.  Last year at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, which is held every four years there was a big photo competition with large prizes for the best work from the last four years by scientists, fisheries people, marine park managers and others who are lucky to have unlimited photographic opportunities.  This competition was judged by noted photographers Paul Humann, Stephen Frink, and a staff photographer from National Geographic in six categories. Bill was honored with a second place in Reefs at Risk (also with a shot taken from Bonaire), a first in Marco (with an image from Bonaire), a first in Reef Inhabitants (also with an image from Bonaire), and the Best in Show (from Cayman Brac)! The Best in Show photo (and a story about the grouper in the picture) was featured in the Cayman newspapers the week before a vote in the parliament on banning all spearfishing for grouper in Caymanian waters, and the ban was enacted, partially as a result of that image and story.  Bill and Donna are certainly making good use of their photography to help conservation efforts. 

Bill and Donna have been visiting Bonaire since 2004.  Since that time, they ensure they visit for two weeks at least once a year, and sometimes twice, having their sons and daughters or friends accompany them.  Before their first visit, they’d heard that Bonaire was too good to be true--and Bill says they had to come and check it out themselves and found it to be true! 

Bill hails from San Diego, and Donna is from Louisiana.  They currently reside in Birmingham, Alabama where they work at their physical therapy clinic.  They’ve definitely given back to Bonaire, too, as they organized a fundraiser with a local dive shop in Birmingham to help fund the water quality monitor program executed by STINAPA, and they are currently working with STINAPA to produce an Underwater Image Bank for students of all ages, so as to help teach many of the local children about the treasures that inhabit the waters around Bonaire.  This image bank will be useful to students and teachers in biology, information sciences, tourism industry studies, art and more.

For more information about the National Geographic competition, click here.  Congratulations, Bill!  (Source:  National Geographic web site, Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Bonaire’s Living Legend, Captain Don Stewart, Presents and Signs His Newest Book, “Reef Windows”

Captain Don Stewart will present his latest book, Reef Windows, at two book signings in the coming week.  He promises to take readers back to the exciting, early days of Bonaire diving, telling the tales of the true stories behind the naming of Bonaire’s dive sites.

The book will launch this Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Books & Toys, located at Kaya Grandi #36 in Kralendijk.  Don will be available for book-autographing at that time, but also at the Meet the Captain Night at Captain Don’s Habitat on Monday, December 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  The book will be available for purchase at most book stores and shops around Bonaire, and the book comes with Captain Don’s famous “red ribbon depth gauge” as a handy bookmark.  All are welcome to join Captain Don in celebrating the premiere of this latest book.  (Source:  Captain Don Stewart)