People

News about People on, from, and going to Bonaire

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Bonaire Visitor, Tonya Eaton, Named Honorary Ambassador

Recently, frequent Bonaire visitor, Tonya Eaton, received the honorary title of “Bonaire Ambassador” by the Tourist Corporation Bonaire, who bestowed upon Tonya a silver medal and certificate of appreciation.

Tonya lives in New York, U.S.A., but states that, “When I am on Bonaire, I feel at home.  I am part of the Bonairean family.  She has completed sixteen years of consecutive visits to the island, but nevertheless, was surprised and thrilled when she learned that her loyalty to Bonaire had been recognized.

Ralph Stewart, more commonly known as “Moogie”, a well-known singer on Bonaire who plays regularly at Captain Don’s Habitat, had the honor of informing Tonya of her award, and placing the medal around her neck. Bigalda de Marchena, a very good friend of Tonya’s from Bonaire, was also present at the ceremony. (Source:  TCB-Bonaire)

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Bonaire Windsurfers Race to Curacao to Help One of Their Own

March 8th will be a day to go “into the books” when Constantin “Patun” Saragoza and Elton “Taty” Frans windsurf from Bonaire to Curacao. The event is a fundraiser for one of Bonaire’s own, Erwin Muller. 

Erwin, a dive master and former windsurfer, suffered a serious stroke in January. He is recuperating in Curacao and has a long rehabilitation ahead. Erwin is well known in the community for being a man who loves adventure--whether it’s riding his quad or delivering a yacht across the Caribbean.

Locals and tourists are rallying to support Erwin and his family, Ellen and Jason. The March 8th race is dedicated to Erwin, one of the original founders of windsurfing on Bonaire.  Saragoza, a former Olympian, will race across to Curacao with Pro Windsurfer, Taty Frans. Taty, one of the top freestylers in the world, recently circumnavigated the island in 2008. He is perhaps the fastest slalom sailor presently on Bonaire.

The race commences at 9 AM outside BOPEC. Spectators are welcome to attend the send-off. Helicopters and chase boats will accompany the two sailors across the passage to Curacao. The record, set back in the 1980s by Erwin himself, is 4 hours. They will race to Light House Point on the East side of Curacao and then head down to the pier near Breezes Resort.

Donations for this fundraiser may be contributed via Paypal to Erwin2CanDive@gmail.com or by depositing funds locally into an account at Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (Bonaire), #400 050 800 c/o Linda Baker.  For those who wish to contribute, but cannot do so via these methods, contact Elvis Martinus at 786-2288.

For those wishing to accompany the flotilla, it is important that clearance be authorized in advance.  Contact Elvis at the number provided above for clearance. The safety of the two windsurfers is paramount, and this will be an exciting yet intense voyage. We wish them well as they race for a fellow man of the sea, Erwin Muller.  To follow Erwin’s recovery, click here. (Source:  Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations)

Note Update March 8, 2009: The event is postponed until March 22, 2009, due to a Mariners/Small Craft Advisory. Call 786-2288 for further details.

Note Update March 27, 2009: The event should now take place on March 28, 2009.  Call 786-2288 for last-minute confirmation.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Frequent Bonaire Visitor, Greg Grimes, Wins MSNBC’s Photo of the Week

With an image built upon the bright color contrast of the buildings at Boca Slagbaai set against the deep blue of the ocean, frequent Bonaire visitor, Greg Grimes, recently won MSNBC’s “Photo of the Week.”

Greg and his family first came to Bonaire in August, 2007, and since that time, they have been returning every six months and also extending the length of their visits.  They enjoy the island because of the diving freedom Bonaire’s shore diving offers (Greg admits he has never been on a boat dive on Bonaire), as well as having a touch of Europe in the Caribbean. 

It’s a family tradition to spend their last day on Bonaire in Washington-Slagbaai National Park, as it’s always a non-diving day.  In Greg’s opinion, the colors of the recently renovated buildings at Boca Slagbaai are so intense, that a photo stop is always a must. There are usually some feeding flamingos near the buildings, and with the picnic area, it’s a dynamic stop for some photos, lunch, and scenery on every trip.

Greg tells us that what really appealed to him for this image, taken on January 18, 2008, were the beautiful colors of the building set against the tranquil backdrop of the Caribbean Sea and the way the lines draw a viewer’s eye to the center of the frame.  Greg has other Bonaire images available at his web site, viewed by clicking here.

Greg has been in the wood truss manufacturing industry for over 25 years and received his PADI Open Water certification in the summer of 1992.  He later continued his diving education with Advanced Open Water in 2005 and Rescue Diver in 2008.  He is an active videographer in the water and photographer topside and loves to go out into nature and compose shots using all of nature’s elements. Greg is an active member of the Houston Underwater Photographic Society where he serves as Workshop Coordinator and on the Board of Directors.  He returns to Bonaire with his group in June, 2009. (Source:  MSNBC)

Friday, February 27, 2009

Edwin “Din” Domacasse Completes 15 Years of Service at the Bonaire National Marine Park

Din Domacasse, Chief Ranger of the Bonaire National Marine Park, has recently completed his fifteenth year of employment and service with STINAPA Bonaire.  Back in February, 1993, Din began his career with the marine park, and he has been working for the betterment of Bonaire’s reefs every since.

Long-time visitors will remember when Din began his diving career as a popular divemaster at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino.  After several years within the island’s dive industry, Din moved to the marine park in order to assist with conservation and preservation efforts.

Recently, with his family, colleagues, and board members of STINAPA, he celebrated this milestone at Washington-Slagbaai National Park.  Representing STINAPA, Evo Cicilia presented Din with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of his colleagues.  It’s hoped that Din continues with many more years of service.  (Source:  STINAPA)

Friday, February 06, 2009

New DVD Review:  The Beauty of Bonaire, By Marlis Seelos

The Bonaire Insider has previously highlighted the photography of local resident, Marlis Seelos.  Marlis has just recently published a new DVD of the best of her Bonaire images.

The DVD runs for about 20 minutes with hundreds of images covering all facets of the island, including its flora and fauna, historic architecture, and, of course, the Caribbean Sea.  Affectionately known on Bonaire as the Bird Woman of Bonaire, Marlis’ love for birds and other island animals clearly shines through in the stunning closeup images she displays on the DVD.  Throughout the DVD, relaxing background music plays, which meshes well with her photography.

The Beauty of Bonaire can be purchased at Marlis Sail & Canvas, Island Fashions & Gifts, and Chat ‘n’ Browse.  It’s a highly recommended addition to the media library of any Bonaire aficionado.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Bonaire’s Dee Scarr Receives Coveted NOGI Award at DEMA Show 2008

Last Thursday evening at the 49th Annual NOGI Awards Gala, held in conjunction with DEMA Show 2008, Bonaire’s Dee Scarr of Touch the Sea was honored with the presentation of the 2008 NOGI Award for Distinguished Service by the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS).  The “NOGI” is the oldest and most prestigious award in the diving industry, and is given to four divers and undersea luminaries who rank at the top of their fields in Arts, Science, Sports/Education, and Distinguished Service. 

Accepting the Award from Bonaire’s Director of Tourism, Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes and Cathy Church, a long time friend Scarr commented, “When I came to Bonaire as a dive instructor in 1980, I learned the joys of guiding divers on protected reefs.  It’s a real privilege for me to work in the Bonaire National Marine Park and to be able to discuss the wonderful residents of our Marine Park--and how they’re protected--in my presentations.”

Since her arrival in Bonaire in 1980 and founding of Touch the Sea in 1982, Scarr has logged thousands of dives and introduced hundreds of divers to dozens of marine animals. The significance of this is great: once introduced to Scarr’s very personal perspective on marine animals, divers feel a sense of belonging in the sea rather than simply visiting. Their instinct to protect marine ecosystems is enhanced.

Scarr’s current project is her first that is primarily educational rather than hands-on. She created Action in Behalf of Coral in 2005, when she realized that dive training agencies don’t provide critical information about living coral to their students: the information that explains why coral is fragile. Dee’s website, www.touchthesea.com, provides more information about the ABC Project, as well as the Living with a Razor Sharp Skeleton sticker. 

Between 1988 and 1991, Scarr and her buddies tied more than 600 sponges back onto pilings beneath Bonaire’s Old Pier (aka North or Town Pier) in Touch the Sea’s Sponge Reattachment Project. In the mid-90’s she surveyed Bonaire’s harbor area (from the marina to the piers), removing recent trash, establishing which areas were being misused, and communicating this information to the Bonaire Marine Park for the education of the mis-users. She promotes the carrying of a small net bag she calls a Pocket Cleaner Station, so on the occasions divers see trash, they can bring it up right away rather than waiting for a dedicated cleanup dive.

Scarr has written three books: Touch the Sea, about interactions with marine animals, The Gentle Sea, a personalized look at the undersea creatures divers are likely to encounter, and a children’s book, Coral’s Reef, about two children and what they learn from snorkeling – and from an octopus named Oliver. Dee wrote monthly articles about marine animals and their behaviors for Dive Training magazine for more than a decade, and currently writes about marine animals for The Bonaire Reporter. Dee was the photographer for the original Guide to the Bonaire Marine Park and contributed to the second edition of the guide. Her work has appeared in numerous publications.

The first major recognition of Scarr’s work was in 1991, when she was the second recipient (after Jacques Yves Cousteau) of the PADI/SeaSpace Environmental Awareness Award.  She’s received the Boston Sea Rovers Diver of the Year Award, the Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year Award, and the Underwater Club of Boston’s Paul Revere Spike (2007.) Dee was an inaugural member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame and SSI’s Platinum Pro Divers (those with more than 5000 dives; Scarr has logged over 7000 dives). She received Captain Don Stewart’s Accolade Award in 2006 for “making knowledge of the sea fun and spreading desire in others to learn and become themselves part of our sea.”

Scarr’s presentations teach about marine animals in an entertaining way. She speaks weekly on Bonaire at Captain Don’s Habitat; she has spoken before dive clubs, dive symposiums, and even non-diving audiences – including school groups – in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Curacao, and Antigua, to name a few.

Scarr received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English and Rhetoric and Public Address from the University of Florida. She taught high school English, public speaking, and debate before beginning her diving career on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. Dee became a SCUBA instructor in 1974. In 1985, she married David Batalsky; they adopted Sweetie Pie, a very special Bichon Frise, in 2005.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Monday, September 29, 2008

The Wounded Warriors on Bonaire--Day One

On Sunday morning in the wee hours, the Continental Airlines flight from Newark arrived with some very special guests to the island--the Wounded Warriors (click here to see our previous story).  These young men will complete their open water diving certifications this week, as well as tour the island, shop, and enjoy Bonaire’s restaurants.

Upon arrival, they stopped for a few moments to pose for an arrival picture with the flight crew from the Continental flight, before being whisked through Immigration.  They then boarded their Bonaire Tours bus which deposited them at Paradise Coffee/Papaya Moon Cantina, where they enjoyed a made-to-order breakfast in the garden while the sun came up.

Although tired from the flight, the men were in fine spirits, and soon continued on to Captain Don’s Habitat, the host hotel for the week, where they checked in and received their diving orientation. 

After a boxed lunch compliments of KFC, the group begin their open water dives, which will be continued today.  We’ll be checking in with them later this afternoon to see how they’re doing.

To view images from Day One, click here to access the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Dive Friends Bonaire Congratulates Mary Frans for Twenty Years of Loyal Service

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, Dive Friends Bonaire celebrated with their employee, Mary Frans, who reached the 20th anniversary of her employment at the retail stores of Dive-Friends Bonaire.

Mary began her work as a sales assistant back in May of 1988, when tourism to Bonaire was just beginning to grow.  The island was a bit quieter back then, and Kaya Grandi, where the stores are located, had a totally different look.

Through the years of Bonaire’s change and growth, Mary always provided a familiar, welcoming smile to many of the island’s visitors, who returned year after year.  She’s been a model employee—honest, hard-working, and loyal.

To celebrate her anniversary, the company held a small party at Plazita Limon Restaurant.  There, Mary received the congratulations of the owners and management of Dive Friends, Mr. Peter Muijselaar and his wife and Pascal De Meyer, the commissioner Jan Kloos and his wife, as well as her colleagues, Judith Abdul, Antonia Coffy, Liane Wanga, and Radinka Ustasia.

Dive Friends Bonaire offers two retail stores in the main street (Kaya Grandi) of Kralendijk: Dive Friends Divers Discount and Dive Friends Dive Shop.  The stores were upgraded in April, 2008, to give them a new look and to be able to offer gifts and souvenirs, as well as dive equipment, to stay-over visitors or those arriving via the island’s burgeoning cruise tourism.

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention.  In addition to its two retail stores, there are four diving facilities.  For additional information about all their services, visit their web site at www.dive-friends-bonaire.com.  Image caption:  Pascal De Meyer presents Mary Frans with a 20th anniversary gift.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Monday, May 05, 2008

Bonaire’s Captain Don Stewart Receives Award as Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau

The Order of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Orde van Oranje-Nassau) is a military and civil order of merit created in 1892 on behalf of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Today, the Orange-Nassau is still the most active military and civil decoration of the Netherlands. The Order is typically awarded each year on the Queen’s official birthday when appointments to the Order are made public.

Recently, Captain Don Stewart was given the title of Knight (Dutch:  Ridder) within the Order.  Bestowing this honor upon Don was Bonaire’s Lt. Governor, Herbert Domacasse.  The badge of the Order is a blue-enameled and white enamel-bordered Maltese Cross in silver for knights and members. The central disc has the lion from the Dutch coat of arms of the Netherlands in gold and blue enamel, surrounded by a white enamel ring bearing the Dutch national motto:  I will stand fast (Dutch:  Ik zal handhaven).  A crown tops the badge. The civil insignia has a wreath of laurel between the arms of the cross. The badge is attached to a ribbon, which is orange with white and blue border stripes.

At the same time, four other prominent persons from Bonaire received membership (Dutch:  Lid) within the Order:  Sara Ann Matera, Ignacia Monica Bernabela (Sur Virginia), Margaritha Flora Martis-Frans, and Rignaldo Timp.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Shooting Great Images of Bonaire’s Flora and Fauna, Bonaire Photographers Share Their Tips--Part Two

Continuing in our series of showcasing some of Bonaire’s resident photographers, Marlies Seelos shares her hummingbird images with us, as well as her tips on how to capture these elusive birds with a camera.  Her images can be viewed in the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.

Marlies observed that hummingbirds would visit a certain plant in her garden each day at the same time.  In order to let the birds get accustomed to her, she spent some time with them each day.  When she was ready to start shooting, she placed a ladder so she could be at the same height as the birds.  It took about fifteen minutes for the birds to get used to her on the ladder, but after that, they resumed their normal feeding and simply ignored her.

Marlies set her camera so that it would shoot multiple images with one depression of the shutter release.  This is especially important because of the fast movement of the birds and their beating wings.

As she did with her iguanas (see previous Bonaire Insider story by clicking here), she attempted to use an upward angle as much as possible, to keep the hummingbird against a simple blue sky background.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter; images by Marlies Seelos, Marlies Sail & Canvas)