Potpourri

Miscellaneous News

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)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Hyperbaric Guru Teaches Bonaire’s Medical and Diving Pros

From September 18 through 22nd, 2006, Buddy Dive Resort hosted a five-day course in hyperbaric oxygen treatment organized by the Foundation Deco Chamber Bonaire. 

Since this is not an every day event, Bonaire’s leading dive physician, Mr. Dick van der Vaart, MD, decided to invite the absolute expert in this field, Mr. Dick Rutkowski of Hyperbarics International Inc. to conduct the seminar. Mr. Rutkowski, retired as deputy diving coordinator from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he trained over 600 physicians in hyperbaric training programs, is world famous in the dive industry as the co-founder of the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD).

The group of students that consisted of doctors, nurses, and chamber operators were given the opportunity to learn the most detailed theories on decompression incidents and oxygen treatments as well as the latest information on hyperbaric chambers. During long morning hours, the students were pushed to limits in the classroom and in the afternoon hands-on training sessions followed in and around the hyperbaric chamber on Bonaire.

While Mr. van der Vaart was teaching doctors and nurses inside the chamber during simulated treatments, outside, the operators had to deal with several unexpected problems thrown at them by long time chamber technician Ronald Simonis. At the same time, Mr. Rutkowski held supervision over “the battlefield” as he realized, with a big smile on his face, that he had succeeded in passing on a great deal of his knowledge and experience.

The use of a hyperbaric chamber is a vital tool in modern medicine.  Bonaire’s tourists, diving community and the island’s people will be very pleased to know that another milestone has been reached on the road to safe chamber treatments with the certification of 13 hyperbaric experts.  (Source and Image by:  Martijn Eichhorn)

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Construction has Begun on Waterlands Village Bonaire

Waterlands Village Bonaire recently announced that they have begun construction of a new development on Kaya International, which will consist of 24 cottages. 

The development is Bonaire through-and-through, as the architectural design is by Bonairean Elton Augusta and Trudy Trenidad-Bos.  The construction is being handled by Silvousa, and the developers’ group is managed by Mr. José Winklaar.  In keeping with the wishes of many Bonaire residents, Waterlands Village will consist only of low-rise buildings and is planned to have many unique features. (Source:  Waterlands Village Press Release)

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

NetTech Launches InfoBonaire One-Stop Quotes as Part of Updated Bonaire Information Site

NetTech, N.V. today announced the unveiling of a new on-line service - One-Stop-Quotes - on InfoBonaire, The Bonaire Information Site.  InfoBonaire One-Stop-Quotes will allow potential Bonaire visitors to easily request rates and availability for select hotels and car rental companies with a simple on-line submission. 

One-Stop-Quotes can be currently used to request rates and/or availability for multiple hotels/apartments and car rentals, and the system will be expanded in the near future to include other tourism-related companies.  The new program is part and parcel of a new re-branding of the InfoBonaire web site, The Bonaire Information Site.

For additional information, click here.  (Source:  NetTech, N.V. Press Release)

Visiting Scientists to Present Theories on Origin of Bonaire

All are invited to a special presentation on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 6:00 PM by Dr. Richard Spikings and Roelant van der Lelij, from the Department of Mineralogy, University of Geneva.  The presentation will be held in the conference room at Captain Don’s Habitat and will cover their theories regarding plate tectonics and how they are related to the origin of Bonaire.

Recently, Dr. Spikings and Mr. van der Lelij have traveled to both Aruba and Bonaire to collect rock samples as part of an earth sciences research project entitled “Thermochronology of the South Caribbean Plate Boundary Zone: Dutch Antilles and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha Colombia.” Dr. Spikings will explain about his research and his theories that our islands were not created on this spot, but actually more in the vicinity of the Galapagos Islands.  (Source:  Stinapa Release)

Revised September 25, 2006: Dr. Spikings and his colleague provided interesting and thought-provoking theories as to how the island of Bonaire originated.  After 8 years of field studies, much of which was spent in Ecuador and Colombia, and more recently, Bonaire and Aruba, Dr. Spikings has presented the following theorum which spans 100 millions years ago to a mere 9 million years ago.

He believes that the island of Bonaire may be the last remaining remnant of the proto-Great Arc of the Antilles within the southern Caribbean realm, which began forming prior to 100 million years ago in the expanding gap between South and North America, before the Central American land bridge joined those continental plates.  This volcanic arc (volcanic island chain) formed when the Farallon Plate (in the Pacific) moved under, or subducted beneath the Atlantic ocean (the North American Plate).  This gave rise to volcanic activity on the ocean floor, in the area which would now be located north of Colombia, and the beginnings of Bonaire were formed.

Approximately 90 million years ago, a widespread volcanic event focused on the area occupied by the present-day Galapagos islands gave rise to the oldest rocks on Aruba and Curacao, and this area was located just west of the proto-Great Arc of the Caribbean, but was drifting eastward towards it.  Over millions of years, the volcanic rocks of Curacao and Aruba migrated eastwards towards the almost stationary volcanic chain, which partly comprised Bonaire, and they eventually collided together approximately 85 million years ago.  The rocks of the Netherlands Antilles were now joined together, and collectively migrated eastwards, where they were forced into the growing gap between the North and South American plates. This moving mass of rock, which included the Netherlands Antilles, collectively formed the Caribbean Plate, which still exists today. As the Caribbean Plate migrated eastwards, the southern portion of it collided and scraped against the northern part of the South American Plate, detatching rocks of the Netherlands Antilles from the remainder of the Caribbean Plate. Consequently, the rocks of the Netherlands Antilles reside in a distinct faulted unit of rock, referred to as the “Bonaire Block”, which is trapped between the Caribbean and South American Plates. The research group of Dr. Richard Spikings is currently investigating the tectonic history of the Bonaire Block, which may permit predictions to be made as to where the block will migrate to in the future.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Bonaire Artist, Nochi Koffie, Completes Wall Mural in Holland

Bonaire artist, Nochi Koffie, has recently completed a tremendous project in Holland, where he painted a wall mural for Lucas Diving in Holland. 

Mr. Lucas, owner of Lucas Diving and Nochi’s patron in this project, expressed his satisfaction and happiness with the form the project has taken and its final results.  Many people watched Nochi while he was working and admired the different phases of the work.  For additional information, click here.  (Source:  TCB Press Release)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Post Office Issues Bird Stamp Series

WILLEMSTAD--Nieuwe Post Nederlandse Antillen N.V. has issued a special twelve-stamp series dedicated to birds. Designer Ans Mezas-Hummelink gives a close-up view of these beautiful, brightly colored creatures by placing them on a white background. 

The new stamp series includes stamps from 5 cents to 100 cents.  Additional information on the individual types of stamps is available at The Daily Herald web site.

The stamp issue, first day cover and all pertaining philatelic items are available at all Post Offices of the Netherlands Antilles. (Source:  The Daily Herald)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Crystal Cruises Teams up with Cleveland Clinic and Brings a Health & Fitness Cruise to Bonaire

10-Day Caribbean Cruise Focuses on Overall Wellness and Prevention

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire/—Doctors from the renowned Cleveland Clinic will take to sea aboard the luxurious Crystal Serenity this December with experts on yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, and even a PGA golf pro. Guests intent on restoring life balance will enjoy progressive seminars, wellness programs and fitness-focused shore excursions during Crystal Cruises’ 10-day Caribbean Health & Fitness cruise.

“Wellness is a hot topic among today’s consumers, and Crystal Cruises provides complimentary access to some of the most respected names and institutions in the wellness community,” says Kristin Turner, manager, entertainment at Crystal Cruises. “Amidst the pampering services of Crystal Serenity, this cruise enables guests to experience a renewed focus on their own lifestyle and well-being.”

Traveling round-trip from Miami on December 5, 2006, Crystal Serenity journeys to the idyllic Southern Caribbean ports of Aruba, Dutch West Indies; Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles; Grenada, Barbabos, and Antigua, West Indies.

For additional information, view the news release.  (Source: Crystal Cruises)

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Bonaire Windsurf Place and Caribbean Web Cams Team Up for Bonaire’s Newest Web Cam

Bonaire Windsurf Place and Caribbean Web Cams LLC are pleased to announce that a new WindsurfCam is available on Bonaire. The WindsurfCam, Bonaire’s latest cam, joins a popular roster of other Bonaire-based web cams, including the first permanent open water reef web cam in the world, along with four land-based web cams.

Images from the new WindsurfCam are available for viewing at www.bonairewindsurfplace.com/webcam.html. The WindsurfCam images are set to update every minute, and, as with all cams provided by Caribbean Web Cams, the current image is free to anyone who accesses the site. Archive images are also available at www.bonairewebcams.com. However, to view the archives, one must have a membership in Bonaire Web Cams, and different levels of membership are available at very reasonable fees, including a limited access free membership.

The Bonaire Web Cams have proven themselves to be very popular with visiting tourists from around the world, and have, on their own, became famous, from the award-winning underwater cam, to the beach cams and DonkeyCam. Many Bonaire visitors plan at least one trip to the cams to wave to family and friends back home. www.bonairewebcams.com receives an average of 200,000 visitors per month, with an average of 2,000,000 page views per month.

Bonaire Windsurf Place is pleased to be part of this growing technology. Owner/operator Roger Jurriens states, “Now our customers can be a part of Bonaire’s windsurfing scene from any location in the world. All they have to do is logon to the site, and they can view live images of Lac Bay. It’s a great way for people to stay active and excited about our sport.”

Bonaire Windsurf Place is one of Bonaire’s finest windsurf shops, offering all levels of training, excellent equipment, kids’ and women’s specialty clinics, and a popular beach bar and restaurant - all at one of the best windsurf locations in the Caribbean - Lac Bay. Bonaire Windsurf Place also is the home of the Bonaire Windsurf Kids. Additional information is available at www.bonairewindsurfplace.com, or email or call +599-717-2288, or FAX +599-717-5279.

Caribbean WebCams, LLC, owner and operator of the Bonaire WebCams and the award-winning Bonaire ReefCam, specializes in all aspects of commercial WebCam set-up and installation for resorts and travel destinations. Company headquarters are located in Bolton, Massachusetts in the U.S.A. Caribbean WebCams information can be found at http://www.CaribbeanWebCams.com, and the company may be contacted at or by phone at +1-703-783-8370 or by FAX at +1-703-783-8371 in the U.S., or by phone at +599-7-174112 on Bonaire.  (Source: Bonaire Windsurf Place and Caribbean WebCams)