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WHAT'S NEW!
Current Class and Trip Schedules are now available to download and print out! All you need is Acrobat Reader to be able to view and print a copy of the schedule. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click on the link below for a free download.
Bonaire is the easternmost of the “ABC Islands” – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. It’s by far the least known, least developed, and most unspoiled of the three, and many experienced divers and snorkelers regard it as the finest diving destination in the Caribbean. All the waters around the island are included in the Bonaire Marine Park, which protects the reefs and marine life from the high water mark down to a depth of 60 meters (200 feet) – so look, but don’t touch!
Quick Facts:
Geography: Bonaire is located about 50 miles off the north coast of Venezuela (that’s about 2100 miles from Houston). The island is shaped like a backwards “C”, stretching about 24 miles north to south, and 3 or 4 miles across in most places. The southern part of the island is flat and made up of coral and coral sand. In the north, the land becomes hilly, exposing 180 million year old volcanic rocks. The highest point on the island is Mount Brandaris, which is only 774 feet above sea level. A small island, Kleine Bonaire, is nestled in the arms of the “C”. Much of the island is covered with drought-resistant kibraacha and divi-divi trees, and there are dramatic cactus forests in the higher areas to the north.
Weather: Bonaire is humid year-round, and daytime temperatures average around 82 degrees F. The island gets about 20 inches of rain per year, most of which falls from October through January. The water temperature averages 80 degrees, with an October high of 86, and a February low of 78 degrees. A gentle wind blows almost constantly out of the east, averaging about 15 miles per hour. Bonaire lies outside the ‘hurricane belt’, so weather is almost never a problem.
Language: Being part of the Netherlands Antilles, the official language of Bonaire is Dutch. The language of the people is Papiamentu, which is a Creole based on Portuguese and various West African languages, plus a shot of Dutch, Spanish and English. Not to worry, though – English and Spanish are widely spoken, and you’ll have no trouble communicating.
Travel Tips – A few handy things to know:
Between Dives: The best reason to visit Bonaire is the diving, but you can’t stay in the water all the time! Bonaire boasts many activities for the energetic and adventurous:
For details on these and other activities, click
here.
And of course, there's dining, dancing and shopping! All the resorts have
great facilities, and it’s a short cab ride into the capital city of Kraalendijk,
where you can visit the shops along Kaya Grande and the clubs and casinos along
the waterfront. Visit
Frommer’s for more details.
Neat Links: Visit these sites to see more about Bonaire
Photo Galleries: Bonaire UnderwaterJennifer O’Neal Underwater Photography Honeymoon in Bonaire Chris Thorpe’s Bonaire Gallery
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