Going Places

bonaire bueno for diving

The main attraction to this Dutch Antilles island lies Deep beneath the surface

By Elena del Valle

Bonaire is the least known of the ABC Islands, as the Dutch Antilles are called. Perhaps thanks to that anonymity, the island has remained mostly crime-free and languorously quiet in comparison to its shopping and partying neighbors, Aruba and Curacao—the A and C in ABC Islands. Few direct flights and awkward connections from the U.S. also contribute to limited visitor counts, although a new direct Continental flight from Newark may change this situation. And yet, for diving enthusiasts and those who enjoy such “undiscovered” locations, it’s a great find. Friendly islanders, a relaxed ambiance, world class diving, water sports, outdoor activities and varied accommodation options make this an outstanding destination.
The most eastern of the Leeward Islands, Bonaire is located 50 miles north of Venezuela and 38 miles east of Curacao in the Caribbean, outside the dangerous hurricane belt. Home to 13,000 people, it is 24 miles long and between three and seven miles wide, with a total land area of 112 square miles. Although the official language is Dutch, most everyone speaks English and many speak Spanish and
Papiamento.
For years Bonaire has been ahead of the curve in environmental protection. In 1979, Bonaire became the first Netherlands Antilles island to establish a national park. Since then, Bonaire has been recognized as a top sustainable tourism destination. When it comes to underwater activities, it’s a favorite of diving enthusiasts. For four years in a row the readers of Scuba Diving magazine have voted Bonaire one of the top diving destinations in the Caribbean.
Although it offers scenic locations and souvenir shopping, its main attraction lies beneath the surface. The island is surrounded by the Bonaire National Marine Park. Any time and anywhere you set foot in the water in Bonaire you are in a national protected marine park.
Bonaire’s sheltered location away from Caribbean storms and its efforts to protect the environment result in unpolluted waters with exceptional diving opportunities. Enthusiasts from near and far wax poetically about the wonderful conditions and excellent diving and snorkeling. Even after a week of daily showers and cloudy skies, we were richly rewarded when we went diving a 30-minute boat ride from Harbour Village, our beachfront hotel. We saw copious quantities of fish and coral in all the colors of the rainbow just a few feet below the surface and
Dive excursion signs pepper the island, especially in Kralendijk, the main town, and its environs. A result of submarine volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, Bonaire is the peak of a submerged mountain with deep sloping reefs close to the shore. Bonaire’s reef is considered one of the best in the world. The island’s 86 marked dive sites are accessible from shore or are a short boat ride away. Promotional brochures boast about Bonaire’s year-round diving with underwater visibility over 100 feet.
For those wishing to explore on land, the island can be divided into north and south for sightseeing purposes. To the north is Gotomeer, a favored inland flamingo viewing spot. Just beyond the borders of Rincon, the island’s oldest village, are 500-year-old Arawak Indian inscriptions. Birding enthusiasts like to visit the 13,500-acre Washington-Slagbaai National Park that occupies the entire northern portion of the island.
Those who venture south will find enormous salt flats, home to the island’s largest flamingo nesting ground. History buffs may want to visit a set of primitive huts that were once slave quarters and the nearby 30-foot obelisks built in 1838 to help mariners locate their anchorages. Further down the coast is the island’s oldest lighthouse, Willemstoren built in 1837. The landlocked Lac Bay offers windsurfing.
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path ecotourism destination with excellent diving, you might want to consider Bonaire.