Bonaire Island Pros - Bart and Bob’s Dive Report
One of the most beautiful fish to appear in the Caribbean is truly the devil in disguise — the Lionfish. Lionfish are native to the Indo Pacific and not the Atlantic basin. However, some Lionsfish probably escaped or were released from aquariums in Florida in the early nineties, and have adapted and spread throughout the nothern Caribbean as far south as islands off the coast of Nicaragua. Scientists consider it only a matter of time until they spread to Bonaire.
Lionfish are ferocious predators, going for each and every small prey — especially juvenile fish too young to reproduce. As such they can seriously threaten resident fish populations. Because they are a non native species, they have no effective predators to keep their populations in check.
Until they meet Bart and Bob and the Wannadive crew. For the first time ever, divers are actually being encouraged to kill fish — and apparently they taste pretty good, so you can bet we will be cooking ours. If you don’t want to kill them, take a picture and report the sighting, or catch them — but remember, their sting is toxic and painful. Individual divers can make a direct difference in the balance of nature on Bonaire — in a positive manner!
-Bart Snelder
Editors Note — Bart and Bob are the owners of Wannadive Bonaire. They are dedicated and experience PADI instructors and Bonaire veterans, with locations at Eden Beach Resort, next to City Cafe, at the new Windsock Beach Club and their own Wannadive Hut. If there are Bonaire Lionfish safaris in our future, you can bet there will be a waiting list to go with these guys.
Wanted — Dead or Alive. If You Have Seen This Varmit, Please Report to Sheriff Bart and Deputy Bob Immediately or Terminate with Extreme Prejudice.