Bonaire, 2008, with divers “too”

Bonaire, a small island in the Caribbean sea, is fringed by an easily accessible coral reef that is one of the best scuba and snorkeling destinations in the world. The reef is designated the Bonaire Marine Park. It is home for an amazing variety and abundance of colorful fish and corals.

The 60 named dive sites on Bonaire’s sheltered western coast are marked by buoys for dive boats. Those accessible for shore diving are also marked by yellow-painted stones along the coastal road. Twenty-six boat-accessible sites encircle nearby Klein Bonaire, a low-lying island that is a hatchery for Caribbean sea turtles.

Bonaire is one of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles. It lies about 50 miles north of Venezuela and about 12 degrees north of the equator. It is about 24 miles long and is composed predominantly of coral limestone. Its capital, Kralendijk, is a deepwater port. It has a recompression chamber for divers.

Air and water temperatures are around 80 degrees throughout the year. Strong trade winds from the northeast blow over the island all day.

Bonaire’s population is around 13,000. Dutch is the official language, but Papiamento (a local creole), English, and Spanish are spoken, too.

To get around on Bonaire, you can rent a car or a scooter.

Suitable attire everywhere is shorts and a clean T-shirt. In the evenings, one can dress up by switching to a polo shirt.

Bug spray is mandatory attire in the evening, and sometimes even in bed.