Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Bonaire National Marine Park Requests Divers’ Help with Identification

Over the past few days, the Bonaire National Marine Park has received reports of an important algae bloom in various areas on the reefs of Bonaire.  The marine park is asking any divers in the water to be on the lookout for this algae and to report any occurrence they may find.

If you see this algae (Trichogloeopsis pedicellata), please report the dive site, date, approximate dimensions of the covered area, and depth. Pictures will also help. The algae is fleshy, four to six inches high (10 to 16 cm), and its color is pale-pink to white.  It is not toxic and the marine park believes this is simply a spring boom that will most likely disappear in a few weeks.  You data will help the park to have a better idea of the actual extension and the evolution of this bloom.

You may report any sightings by emailing marinepark@stinapa.org.  (Source:  Bonaire National Marine Park)

Friday, May 09, 2008

About.com Hosts Favorite Dive Destination Survey

About.com is a top ten web site used by one of every five viewers on the Internet, and they are currently hosting a poll entitled, “Favorite Dive Destination.”

This particular poll about the Caribbean is featured in round five of their polling, and those who visit and enjoy Bonaire can vote for the island as their favorite dive destination in the Caribbean.  Those interested in doing so may click here to participate.

About.com is a part of the prestigious New York Times news service.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Four of Bonaire’s Vehicle Rental Agencies Open New Airport Rental Center

Effective immediately, a new Airport Rental Center has opened up just opposite the main terminal exit/entrance of Bonaire’s Flamingo Airport.  Currently, four of Bonaire’s vehicle rental companies have relocated their offices to this location, so vehicle pick ups and drop offs will now be handled at the new location.

The four companies who have relocated are:  AB Car Rental, Total Car Rental, Island Car Rental, and Top Drive Car Rental.  Together, they command a fleet of nearly 500 rental vehicles of all types and prices.  To locate the new center, once you exit the terminal (facing outward), look straight forward and toward your right.  (Or simply follow the foot prints on the image above).

The Airport Rental Center offers additional advantages with its spacious and air-conditioned indoor offices, having four of Bonaire’s rental agencies under one roof and within walking distance from the airport, and a welcoming bar where those tired from traveling can enjoy a cold drink or snack while awaiting their vehicle.  Additionally, the Airport Rental Center offers a new location for Harbourtown Real Estate, which offers interested visitors or residents information on the current real estate market on Bonaire, as well as showcasing current homes and businesses which are available for sale. (Source:  AB Car Rental; image courtesy of AB Car Rental)

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 30, 2008

Bonaire Receives Islands Magazine and Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award

Bonaire announced today that it is the recipient of the prestigious Islands Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award.  The Island was awarded the honor in recognition of their longstanding commitment and leadership role in marine conservation and for their proactive measures in protecting the marine environment.

The award was presented by Mr. Ty Sawyer, the Editorial Director for Islands, during an awards luncheon at the 10th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference in Turks and Caicos.  Bonaire’s Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse accepted the award on behalf of the Island and was accompanied by Mrs. Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, Director of Tourism and Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director of STINAPA.

“Bonaire is particularly gratified by this honor as our commitment to preserving and protecting the environment is a deeply held Bonairean belief and guiding principal behind our tourism policy,” said Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse.  “We especially thank Bonaire’s visitors, who continue to support our community and inspire us to remain leaders in sustainable tourism.”

The Sustainable Tourism Award recipient was selected by a panel of judges from Islands Magazine and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), who reviewed all of the entries submitted by CTO member countries.  Last year, three of Bonaire’s eco-programs were honored in the Islands Magazine Hot 100 Blue List, and in 1994 the Bonaire National Marine Park won the Islands Magazine Ecotourism Award.

Bonaire continues to be recognized as one of the top destinations worldwide for its sustainable tourism as reported by National Geographic Traveler magazine (March 2004) and Islands magazine (December 2007), and as one of the top diving destinations in the Atlantic/Caribbean for six years in a row in the Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards (2003-2008).

Image caption:  Hon. Wayne Garland, Executive Chariman Turks & Caicos Tourist Board; Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director of STINAPA Bonaire; Bonaire’s Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse; Ty Sawyer, Editorial Director of Islands Magazine; Ronella Croes, Director of Tourism Corporation Bonaire.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

American Airlines Offers Net SAAver Fares from San Juan to Bonaire

American Airlines announced today that they are running a special from San Juan to Bonaire (roundtrip) for $234.00 via their Net SAAver Fares. 

Fare rules allow for departures anytime between Tuesday, May 6, 2008, and Friday, May 9, 2008.  Returns may be anytime between Monday, May 12, 2008, and Wednesday, May 14, 2008.  Tickets must be purchased by this Sunday, May 4, 2008, 11:59 p.m. (CT).  Fare of $234.00 is for round-trip coach class travel.  Other taxes, fees and conditions apply.

For additional information, visit www.aa.com. (Source:  American Airlines)

Monday, April 28, 2008

Rincon Celebrates Queen’s Birthday with Dia Di Rincon

Wednesday, April 30, is a traditional holiday within the Dutch kingdom, when everyone celebrates the Queen’s birthday.  The village of Rincon on Bonaire goes one step further, offering Dia di Rincon, a street fair of gigantic proportions, offering food, drink, music, dancing, traditional costumes, and other festivities.

Starting early in the morning and continuing all day and into the wee hours, visitors will find a cornucopia of offerings showcasing Bonaire’s unique history and culture.  There are stalls offering food, drinks, and things to buy, and there are several stages where folkloric dance groups will perform during the day and live bands take over at night.  Simply meandering down Rincon’s main street will bring any visitor close to beautifully costumed dancers, singers, and other well known Rincon inhabitants.

In conjunction with the festivities, the Bonaire Bikers Club will hold their third Parade to Rincon.  Beginning at Captain Don’s Habitat, the bikers will make their way through Bonaire’s neighborhoods and end in Rincon.  This parade is to show the group’s support to the village of Rincon and to celebrate the importance of its people.

It should be noted that the following two days are national holidays as well, and many stores, banks, and other businesses will be closed.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter and Bonaire Bikers Club)

Friday, April 25, 2008

First Annual Barracuda and Sedrebo International Open Water Swim Competition is June 1, 2008

The Bonaire Aquatics Club Barracudas and SEDREBO, the island sport federation, invite you to participate in the 1st Annual Open Water Swim Competition on Sunday June 1, 2008. The competition will take place along the shore of Bonaire’s main town of Kralendijk.

Race distances are 500m for ages 10 and under and 1.5km and 5km for 11 years through adults. Swimmers of all ability levels are welcome. Supporters can easily view the race course from the seaside promenade, so bring the whole family for a day of competition and fun.

An awards ceremony will be held afterwards at Kas di Regatta.  BBQ Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be available.  Musical entertainment will be offered along with a raffle with great prizes.  For additional information, click here.  (Source:  Barracuda Swim Club Bonaire)

Note Update April 29, 2008: We’ve just been informed that the date of June 1st will need to be postponed.  Plans call for the competition to be still held in the month of June, but the new date will be announced soon.  We’ll post it as soon as we hear. (Source:  Barracuda Swim Club Bonaire)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Bonaire Celebrates Earth Day with a Klein Bonaire Beach Cleanup

As it has in past years, STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire) collaborated with STINAPA to organize a beach cleanup during the Earth Day celebration.  This year it was decided to prepare the beaches on Klein Bonaire for a good start of the 2008 sea turtle nesting season, which begins in May.

On Sunday, April 20, a beach clean-up was conducted successfully on Klein Bonaire, which is Bonaire’s most important nesting beach for both hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Maintaining unobstructed access to beaches for egg laying female turtles is extremely important to the survival of these endangered animals.

A total of 90 volunteers participated during this clean-up and 105 bags of trash were collected and sorted for further classification and analysis. Volunteers were mainly residents from the island, with a large group of teenagers from Jong Bonaire participating with two of their youth leaders. The Coast Guard was also part of this clean-up. Another group, with the CIEE Research Station Bonaire, was in charge of classifying and documenting the collected trash. Results from the data collected provides a good tool to determine the origin of this inadequately disposed garbage on Bonaire.

Thanks go to STCB, STINAPA, Coast Guard, SELIBON, Jong Bonaire, Kantika di Amor, and all the volunteers who participated in this clean-up.  (Source:  STCB)

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)