Snorkeling

News about snorkeling

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)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is Here on Bonaire!

Many times, Americans who spend their Thanksgiving holiday on Bonaire wish to find a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Bonaire’s restaurants and tomorrow anyone can “give thanks” at Sunset Bar & Grill’s Thanksgiving dinner.

The prepared menu for 2011 consists of roasted, butter-basted turkey breast, turkey legs with pecan and herb stuffing, pineapple honey-glazed ham, cranberry sauce, classic turkey gravy, traditional sage and onion seasoning, spaghetti squash, sweet carrots, green beans, mushrooms, and creamy mashed potatoes.  The platter is $25.00 per person.

Those who still don’t have their fill can also enjoy pumpkin pie and ice cream ($10.00 per person).  Of course, the regular menu is also available, so the restaurant can accommodate those who wish to celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional meal, as well as those who just want a nice meal out without all the work of preparing it themselves!

For more information, call Sunset Bar & Grill at 788-2698, reservations are highly recommended.  (Source:  Sunset Bar & Grill)

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)

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Bonaire to Host The Wounded Warriors for the Sixth Consecutive Year

For the sixth consecutive year, Bonaire is proud to welcome the Wounded Warriors to their “home away from home” as they use SCUBA diving for rehabilitation and recreation from August 6th through 13th, 2011.

During this week, severely wounded troops and their significant others will travel to the island to complete the final step in the process of obtaining their dive certifications. Representatives of the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association’s (DEMA) Be A Diver Program and the North American office of Tourism Corporation Bonaire will also be joining the group. All accommodations and diving will be provided courtesy of Captain Don’s Habitat Bonaire. Each year the people of Bonaire warmly welcome this group and show them not only the natural beauty and pristine waters of the island, but also the friendliness and genuine hospitality of the Bonairean people.

This year’s contingent of seven Wounded Warriors has suffered life-changing physical injuries which they received in combat while stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They and their partners will be kept busy with a variety of activities beginning with the completion of their PADI and HSA dive certifications, which will take place on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday next week. Once certified, they will continue diving throughout the week, both from the dock of Captain Don’s Habitat and via boat dives to Klein Bonaire and other famous Bonaire dive sites. The group will also enjoy shopping, sightseeing, dining, a Texas-style steak dinner, and experiencing the island’s culinary fare at a signature event called “Taste of Bonaire.” The highlight of the week will take place when the Bonaire community gathers to meet these extraordinary troops and their companions at the reception held in their honor at the home of Lt. Governor Glenn Thode.  As in previous years, the Bonaire Insider once again will be following the activities of these very special visitors and will keep readers informed about the Wounded Warriors’ activities throughout their week on Bonaire.

Sponsors to date of the Sixth Bonaire-Be A Diver-Wounded Warrior Scuba Certification trip are: 9Line LLC, Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Marketing, AERIS, Bikers Bonaire, Bonaire KFC, BonaireTalk.com, Bonaire Quad Tours, Bonaire Guided Motorcycle Tours, Bonaire Tours & Vacations, BonPhoto, Budget Rent A Car Bonaire, Captain Don’s Habitat, Caradonna Dive Adventures, Inc., Care Coalition, Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine, Chat & Browse Bonaire, Casablanca Restaurant, Disabled Sports USA, DEMA/Be a Diver, Dive Training Magazine, Henderson, H.S.A. International Training Center of New Jersey, Islands Magazine, Jack Chalk, Jewel Of Bonaire, NetTech, N.V., OCEANIC, PADI, Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, Pasa Bon Pizza, Patagonia Restaurant, Princeton Tec, Rum Runners, Scuba Diving Magazine, Sunset Bar & Grill Restaurant, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, and the Wounded Warrior Project.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Massive Clean Up Dive Effort Under Kralendijk’s Town Pier

On Sunday morning, July 11, 2011, visitor and resident divers gathered at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine to volunteer their time for a good cause.  The dive center was soon filled to overflowing and the volunteers kept on arriving.  Over 102 people came to help the marine ecosystem of Bonaire and enjoy a world-famous dive at the same time.

Asko Zuidam of Dive Friends Bonaire addressed the group to explain what trash should be recovered and what should be left behind, as well as how to keep from damaging any marine animals.  Eco-friendly, reusable grocery bags donated by Cultimara were handed out to all volunteers.  Shortly afterward, the divers relocated to the Town Pier for the dive.  They entered the water between the Town Pier and Karel’s Beach Bar, 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 in the dumpster that was donated by Selibon.

The Town Pier is a working pier, and thus the underwater terrain can accumulate more trash than is normal on the reef.  The statistics of the rubbish collected once again confirmed this to be true.  Items collected include:  901 glass bottles, 1 grocery bag, 19 trash bags, 81 plastic bottles, 49 cups, 1 diaper, 4 fishnets, 26 plates, 6 batteries, 132 beverage cans, 12 shoes, 3 car parts, 14 tires, 8 ropes, 3 books, 11 items of clothing, over 25 lengths of fishing line and much more.  A total of 1,530 items were removed.  That only one grocery bag was recovered shows that the reusable bags being used on Bonaire are having a positive impact on the environment.

In the later afternoon, all volunteers, their families and friends were welcomed back for a Pot Luck BBQ, with food and beverages hosted by Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech.  Prior to enjoying a great dinner, all participants were eligible for a variety of raffle prizes, consisting of Reef t-shirts, Ouray caps, Deep Blue Gear dive accessories and a grand prize gift certificate for dinner for two at Capriccio Ristorante.  After dinner, everybody was treated to a cruise aboard the Good Return.

The entire program was videoed above and below water by BonPhoto and can be viewed by clicking here.

The next quarterly Dive Friends Bonaire underwater cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, September 17, 2011. All are welcome to join in. Additional information about the cleanups is available by clicking here.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech)

Note Update August 8, 2011: Due to a scheduling conflict, the next underwater cleanup will be Saturday, October 22, 2011, and NOT September 17, 2011 as noted above.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Thursday, July 07, 2011

All Are Welcome to Join the Underwater Cleanup on Sunday, July 10, 2011

The next underwater cleanup will take place at Bonaire’s Town Pier on Sunday, July 10, 2011.  Check in at Dive Friends @ Yellow Submarine at 9:30 AM, and the dive briefing will begin at 10:00 AM. 

Everyone is welcome, and those not diving can also help, since shore support is always needed.  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 and NetTech, 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 and NetTech, N.V.)