Scuba Diving

News about diving

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

New Bonaire Diving Guidebook Available in a Kindle Edition

For those looking for a Kindle guide on diving and snorkeling while on Bonaire, George Lewbel, a marine biologist who has been diving on Bonaire since 1981 and has more than 40 years of diving experience has written Diving Bonaire, a Kindle Edition book now available for sale on Amazon. 

The book describes the best dive sites on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire and provides details on how to get there and what is likely to be seen at each site. Descriptions of sites include information on coral reefs, piers, wrecks, gentle and steep slopes and walls. Details on access, entries and exits, underwater and topside terrain, marine life, photo tips as well as special features of interest are also included. The guide also highlights sites that are particularly good for snorkeling. (Source: George Lewbel)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Dive Friends Bonaire Starts the New Year with a Gigantic Clean Up Dive at Karel’s Pier

On Saturday, January 21, 2012, volunteers gathered at Dive Friends Bonaire at Yellow Submarine to participate in the first quarterly Clean Up Dive of the year.  The weather was perfect and the turnout was fantastic.  A large number of resident divers attended, as well as guests of Dive Friends Bonaire and a surprising amount of customers from other dive centers on the island.  The dive community of Bonaire proved once again how much they care about their marine environment.

Asko Zuidam of Dive Friends Bonaire addressed the group of 102 divers and explained what trash should be recovered and what should be left behind, as well as how to keep from damaging any marine animals. Sue Willis from the Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) program gave an explanation of how to safely remove fishing line and announced the launch of a new project to help Bonaire’s sea turtles. The Fishing Line Project is running with sponsorship from the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and aims to reduce the amount of fishing line, hooks, nets and other debris found on Bonaire’s reefs; items which pose a great threat to our endangered sea turtle population. 

After the briefing, the divers headed over to Karel’s Pier, entered the water, descended, and began to fill their bags with trash. When filled, the bags were brought to the surface to those working as shore support. There, Dive Friends crew and volunteers checked once again to be sure no marine creatures had been inadvertently included, counted, and tallied the trash for statistics, and then disposed of it responsibly.

Karel’s Pier is home to a lively bar and restaurant, and unfortunately the underwater terrain can accumulate more bottles and cups than is normal on the reef.  The statistics of the rubbish collected once again confirmed this to be true.  Items collected include:  1,085 glass bottles, 38 plastic bottles, 102 fishing lines, 238 plastic cups, 148 pieces of random plastic, 133 beverage cans, 39 firework remains, 2 cell phones and much more.  The total number of items collected was 2,104!

That evening, all participants and their families were welcomed back for a Pot Luck BBQ and raffle—Dive Friends Bonaire (with help from our sponsors) provided drinks and main courses, while participants supplied side dishes.  After dinner, the guests were treated to a cruise on board the Good Return.  Sponsors for the event include:  Selibon, At Sea Restaurant, Van Den Tweel, Ouray Sportswear, Reef Clothing, Deep Blue Gear, Dive Shades, Body Glove, the Bonaire Marine Park, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, East Coast Diving, Tusa, and Suunto.

The next quarterly Dive Friends Bonaire underwater cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 21st, 2012. (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Monday, January 23, 2012

Bonaire Marine Park Manager, Ramon de Leon, to Present Next CIEE Public Lecture

The CIEE Research Station Bonaire will present their next public lecture this Wednesday evening, January 25th, 2012, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Bonaire’s own Ramon de Leon, manager of the Bonaire National Marine Park, will be presenting the lecture.

The topic will be an update on the “Status and Trends of Bonaire’s Coral Reefs 2011:  Cause for Grave Concerns.” The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period to address any queries from the public. 

The research station is located at Kaya Gobernador Debrot #26 in Kralendijk.  Entry is free, and all are invited.  (Source:  CIEE and Bonaire National Marine Park)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Join in Bonaire’s Underwater Cleanup Tomorrow, Saturday, January 21, 2012

The underwater cleanups have become very popular activities, with over 100 participants joining in together on each event to keep Bonaire beautiful.  As such, there is another cleanup scheduled to take place at Karel’s Beach Bar Pier on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Everyone is welcome to participate--divers, snorkelers, and those who wish to lend a hand with shore support.  Anyone interested in participating should check in at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine at 9:30 AM, and the dive briefing will begin at 10:00 AM.  All participants are welcome to return at 6:00 PM for the event’s customary BBQ at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine; drinks and main courses will be provided by Dive Friends, but participants are asked to bring a side dish to share.  Those planning on attending should advise Dive Friends Bonaire by calling 717-2929 to make a reservation.  For additional information about the cleanups, click here. (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Dive Friends Bonaire Produces Five More PADI Instructors

Dive Friends Bonaire is pleased to announce the successful completion of their semi-annual PADI Instructor Development Course.  The island of Bonaire now boasts five more PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors.

The IDC commenced on November 22nd with an international crew of divemasters.  The candidates were from Holland, Germany, England and the United States.  Over the next ten days, they worked very hard under the direction of Course Director Thommy Kurtz and IDC Staff Instructor Patrick van Hooijdonk.  On December 3rd and 4th they were put to the test during the Instructor Examination by visiting PADI Instructor Examiner John E. Land.  The candidates all passed their written exams, classroom presentations and confined and open water skills with flying colors.

The graduation celebration was hosted by Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine with barbecued lionfish.

Dive Friends Bonaire will be offering their next Instructor Development Course (IDC), which will begin on May 3rd and continue through May 13th, 2012. The Instructor Exam conducted by PADI will immediately follow on May 14th and 15th.

Costs for the IDC and related courses are: 

• IE Prep Course, FREE
• Full IDC (no E-Learning), $1,200
• E-Learning IDC, $1,080.00
• Emergency First Response Instructor, $270.00
• Staff Instructor, $650.00
• Master Scuba Diver Trainer, $650.00 (five specialties)

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

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 emailing by clicking here.

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention. Three retail stores are available in Kralendijk, in addition to four diving facilities.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Friday, November 18, 2011

Dive Friends Bonaire Announces First SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC)

Dive Friends Bonaire is pleased to announce their first SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC) will begin on December 10th and continue through December 16th, 2011. The Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC) conducted by Jeffrey Kempff will follow on 19th and 20th December.

The IDC format will focus upon workshops and interaction. SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer Chris Verstappen will conduct the program in English and Dutch. Concurrent with the IDC course, Dive Friends Bonaire will also offer Specialty Instructor training, crossovers, and an option for a post-IDC internship at the dive facility. The cost of the course is $1,995.00, including all of the following:

- Full IDC
- IEC Prep Course, FREE
- Instructor Online Training
- CPROX1st Aid AED Instructor
- TDI Understanding Nitrox Instructor
- Instructor Manuals
- Instructor Exam
- Instructor Fees

Additional programs are available for the following prices:

- Specialty Instructor, $150.00
- Instructor Crossover (with Online Training), $700.00
- Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC), $450.00

All candidates are also eligible for two days of free unlimited air for shore diving after the IDC. Dive Friends will be including Instructor Online Training as part of this IDC, which allows candidates to save time and travel expenses by taking advantage of home-study methods. They can start the academic portion of the IDC in advance, for completion of the program with Dive Friend’s Instructor Trainer. During the two days between the IDC and the Instructor Examination Course (IEC), Dive Friends Bonaire offers a free Preparation Course. These two days will be used to refresh your knowledge of the theory and practice the skills again.

Together with cooperating accommodation partners, Dive Friends Bonaire can also offer the full IDC + 14 days accommodation for $2,912 (All SDI materials, IEC and SDI fees are included).  All rates are in U.S. Dollars.

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 should contact Dive Friends Bonaire directly by email at info@dive-friends-bonaire.com or chris@dive-friends-bonaire.com (Instructor Trainer) for pricing and eligibility requirements and discounted rates for accommodations.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Update on Bonaire’s Lionfish Situation

Bonaire’s dedicated team of lionfish wranglers are out on the reefs every day, removing hundreds of these invasive fish, which prey upon Bonaire’s naturally occurring marine life.  The Bonaire National Marine Park, under the auspices of STINAPA, works with the volunteers by scheduling and organizing official hunts--often in areas where there are fewer divers, and thus higher numbers of lionfish--to keep as much of the lionfish population as possible in check.

The last official hunt was Saturday, October 15, 2011 and took place in the Karpata Marine Reserve.  All of the fish removed were brought to Bonaire’s CIEE station to be analyzed and processed.  On this day, just from this one location, 214 lionfish were donated to CIEE for research purposes.  Stomachs were removed and the fish were returned to any of the hunters that wanted their fish back for dinner (or whatever other destiny they might have had).

Thanks to CIEE, there are some interesting statistics from the studies of these fish:

Largest by weight - 600g (1.32 pounds)
Largest by Total Length (TL) - 34.5cm (13.58 inches)
Largest by Standard Length (SL) (not including the tail fin) - 26.5cm (10.43 inches)

The single largest lionfish that was brought in over the past two years was donated by Joi Jenkins with a weight of 1050g (2.31 pounds) and total length of 43.8cm (17.24 inches).  The smallest fish during this same timeframe was brought in by Ramon de Leon with a total weight of 0.12g (.02 pounds) and a total length of 2.1cm (.82 inches).

Since October 2009, a total of 2750 lionfish have been donated to CIEE for research purposes, but many more have been removed from Bonaire’s reefs.  Of these, the stomachs of 2,200 fish have been dissected and the contents analyzed.  Ms. Fadilah Ali, a PhD student at Southampton University in the UK, will be presenting the results of this research project on lionfish feeding ecology in Bonaire at the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute conference in Mexico in November.  CIEE will be writing a scientific paper on the topic and will share it when it’s available.  Jerry Ligon has donated time and expertise in order to identify the fish, as well as other items, found in the stomachs resulting in the following list of the number of fish from different families that were found in lionfish stomachs:

Scientific Name, Common name, Number of Fish Found in Lionfish Stomachs

Pomacentridae Damselfish 91
Apogonidae Cardinalfish 77
Grammatidae Basslets 76
Labridae Wrasses 56
Serranidae Seabasses 47
Gobiidae Gobies 68
Blennidae Blennies 41
Lutjanidae Snappers 53
Scaridae Parrotfish 14
Holocentridae Squirrelfish 3
Haemulidae Grunts 11

Although it’s virtually impossible to totally eradicate the invasive lionfish, Bonaire continues to be at the forefront of efforts in the Caribbean region to diminish their harmful effects.  Thanks go to all Bonaire’s lionfish wranglers, as well as those at STINAPA, the Bonaire National Marine Park, and CIEE, who continue through their efforts to help the reefs.  (Source:  CIEE)

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Bad News and Good News on Today’s Underwater Cleanup

Dive Friends Bonaire regretfully informs us that today’s underwater cleanup must be canceled due to unsafe sea conditions in Kralendijk Bay, due to a wind reversal and other weather conditions.

The good news, though, is that the potluck BBQ is still happening, and they hope to see everyone at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine at 5:30 for all the usual fun!

Due to the late nature of this cancellation, please spread the word if you know of anyone who was planning on attending.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Next Underwater Cleanup is Saturday, October 22, 2011

The underwater cleanups have become very popular activities, with over 100 participants joining in together on each event to keep Bonaire beautiful.  As such, there is another cleanup scheduled to take place at Karel’s Beach Bar Pier on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Everyone is welcome to participate--divers, snorkelers, and those who wish to lend a hand with shore support.  Anyone interested in participating should check in at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine at 12:30 PM, and the dive briefing will begin at 1:00 PM.  All participants are welcome to return at 5:00 PM for the event’s customary BBQ at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine; drinks and main courses will be provided by Dive Friends, but participants are asked to bring a side dish to share.  Those planning on attending should advise Dive Friends Bonaire by sending an email to cleanup@dive-friends-bonaire.com or calling 717-2929 to make a reservation.  For additional information about the cleanups, click here. (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Coral Spawning Takes Place Now through October on Bonaire

In the days following the full moons in August, September, and October, many marine organisms spawn, including both hard and soft corals, as well as some invertebrates.

Many divers who haven’t yet witnessed such an event, plan their visits to Bonaire to coincide with the expected coral spawning dates.  Although some species may be spawning now in August, this year it is predicted that the majority of species will spawn in either September or October, or both months.

Thanks to the Bonaire National Marine Park and STINAPA, we have a fairly accurate forecast for when individual species will spawn.  Spawning is always tied to the full moon, usually occurring three to nine days after the full moon in each of these two months.  Times are approximate, and it should be realized that even though divers may be in the water at the exact predicted times, these animals sometimes have a schedule of their own, so a fair amount of time in the water is necessary to witness this spectacular event.  The full prediction schedule for 2011 is available by visiting STINAPA’s web site, or by clicking here (in PDF format).  (Source:  STINAPA Web Site)