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Scuba
Divers and Free Divers have been
raving about Bonaire since 1962 when the first dive lodge opened
on the island. The attraction was the same as it is today--calm,
clear water along the leeward shore and a dense, healthy fringing
reef. It starts in just 20 feet of water (and in several places
right at the surface) on a shallow sand flat that explodes with
active coral. About 35 yards offshore, the reef suddenly drops
off into the deep blue, becoming a dense reef slope punctuated
by occasional miniwalls.
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Because of this, it
is perfect for snorkeling free divers and scuba divers from novice
to advanced in skill. Visibility ranges 60 to 90 feet with
occasional peaks of 100 to 120 feet.
In all, there are more than 90 recognized dive sites and,
because the reef is so close to shore, you can explore the
majority of them without ever boarding a dive boat. Just pick
a spot, gear up and wade in to a spectacular dive. There are
even yellow marker stones along the leeward road to help you
find choice spots.
While you could go the entire trip
without boarding a boat, you'll want to, especially if it's
headed to Klein Bonaire.
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This small, uninhabited island, located three-quarters
of a mile off the leeward coast, shields many of the coastal
sites from ocean conditions. It's also ringed with spectacular
dive sites that have never suffered from silt or runoff. In
addition to Bonaire's last undisturbed turtle nesting sites,
Klein Bonaire also boasts some legendary Bonaire sites --
Carl's Hill, Forest and Sharon's Serenity, to name a few.
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are part of the Bonaire Marine Park, and before you can dive
here, you'll need to purchase and attach to your gear a Marine
Park tag. The $10 tag is good for a year and it helps support
reef conservation.
Before you hit the water on your first day of scuba diving, you'll
be given an extensive briefing on the rules of the marine
park:
- No spear fishing
- No taking of shells or marine life
- No touching the reef
- Maintain neutral buoyancy
- No gloves, except when diving the Hilma Hooker wreck.
- Report any infractions to the Bonaire Marine Park at 8444.
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Then it's time to gear up and go for a checkout dive off
the dive shop's pier. Divemasters will check out your skills
and offer free buoyancy workshops. Swallow your pride and take
them. Even if you've been diving for years, you may be amazed
at how a few adjustments improve your enjoyment of diving --
and you'll be doing your part to help protect the reef. |
| You won't mind this checkout dive, either.
The "house reef" is usually as spectacular as other
dive sites--in fact, Bari Reef at Sand Dollar Condominium
Resort is the most biologically diverse reef in the entire
Caribbean. According to the Reef Environmental Education Foundation
database, Bari boasts 254 separate species of marine life.
In all, there are 31 Bonaire dive sites in the database that
have 140 or more species of marine life.
Courtesy of Rodale's Scuba Diving web site
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Dive Packages
Most dive shops offer 3 different packages. All include tanks,
weights and belts. Additional dive equipment can be rented
along with photo gear, and most shops offer a full range of
instruction and courses.
A. An unlimited tanks and airfills package for shore
diving. This is also included with any boat dive package.
If you buy the unlimited shore dive package, you may book
a la carte boat dives with the dive shop for a discount.
B. A boat
dive package of typically 1 boat dive per day (1 tank) with
unlimited shore diving.
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C. A boat dive package with 2 boat dives per day with unlimited shore diving. These are typically 1-tank and operate in the morning and afternoons, although a few shops offer a 2-tank morning boat dive.
If you are staying at accommodations that do not have a dive
shop on-site, we can arrange a dive package with your choice
of several dive resorts and shops on Bonaire. We'll be happy
to suggest a dive operation that's close to your accommodations
or meets your special interests.
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