Bonaire’s Council of Underwater Resort Operators (CURO) Meets with Reef Makers
Last week, CURO met with Mr. Joe Weatherby of Reef Makers to discuss a feasibility study on the sinking of a large military ship which would be used as a new dive site. These types of wrecks can create great interest by divers around the world and can assist with relieving pressure on the reefs while creating a new environment for many marine creatures.
Augusto Montbrun is heading this project for Bonaire and is working closely with Reef Makers. During Joe’s visit, he and Augusto made exploratory dives around Klein Bonaire to ascertain possible locations to place the ship. Finding such suitable locations on Bonaire is rather difficult, since the “bottom” is so deep in most areas and also slopes at a high degree.
Additionally, CURO met with various government departments regarding this subject, and these meetings produced a positive attitude for the project. Endeavors such as this are not cheap and a great deal of money must be raised, therefore, CURO is looking at various options for funding. According to Reef Makers most of these wrecks have paid for themselves in a remarkably short time through divers booking hotel rooms and the many people who come to see the rather spectacular sinking procedure. (Source: CURO)
