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Bonaire
diving owes its current popularity and promising future to the far-sighted
actions of the Bonaire Marine Park. Even before the Park was established
in 1979, Bonaire and its citizens were enacting legislation that led
the world in the preservation of marine life and reef ecology. In
1961, Bonaire began protecting sea turtle eggs and their nesting habitat.
Spear fishing was banned in 1971. In 1975, Bonaire made it illegal
to collect, break or sell live coral. With financial backing from
the World Wildlife Fund, the Bonaire Marine Park was soon formed to
provide protection and adapt conservancy practices to insure that
the impact of humans on Bonaire's marine resources be controlled
and monitored. The Bonaire Marine Park encircles the entire
island from the high water mark down to a depth of 200 feet (60
meters), as well as the sea grass beds and mangroves of Lac Bay.
Within this park is one of the most diverse marine life populations
in the Caribbean and ranks among the best in the world. The fringing
reef is well preserved and features some unique structures populated
by abundant coral formations. The Bonaire reef profile starts near
the water's edge  with
all types of hard corals along this sandy terrace. The drop-off zone
usually starts at a depth of about 30 feet (10 meters) and has
an abundance of mountainous star coral in huge structures of mounds
and pillars, both overlapping and sloping downward and marked with
sponges and soft corals. As the coral formations sharply descend
down the reef slope, one can find leaf or scroll corals with fine
stands of black coral.
Typically, Bonaire's coral formations follow the coastline,
but there are some unusual buttress, spur and groove, as well as
double reef formations and several small wall dives in various locations
along the coast and Klein Bonaire. Bonaire has several wrecks of
all sizes with the infamous freighter Hilma Hooker, at a depth of
100 feet (30 meters), the most well known.
Divers must purchase a $25 Marine Park tag, allowing them access
for 1 full year ($10 for Snorkelers). The maintenance of public
moorings, staffing of rangers and ongoing research are dependent
on the collection of these fees. The Park is managed by STINAPA,
a non-governmental, non-profit organization of dedicated local
professionals that also oversees operation and management of Washington-Slaagbai
National Park and the Barcadera cave system.
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