There’s plenty of fun to be had on Bonaire, but the big draw is really underwater. It’s kind of crazy to be in a place that you can jump in the water, literally anywhere, and swim right out to healthy coral and lots of fish.
The seahorses are still hanging close to Bumfuzzle.
Hard to tell what is normal island dust, and what is Saharan dust. Wherever it’s coming from, it’s made for some interesting evening skies.
After a few weeks here we’ve learned most of the neighborhood routine. Everything from what time the guy with the tucked in white polo shirt will arrive at the coffee truck and where he will stand to drink it, to where “Boots” the dog will take his morning stroll, to when a little pot handoff is happening at the drug dealer’s house. It’s a small town on a small island. Hard to imagine that anything could be kept a secret in a place like this.
Lionfish are beautiful, it’s just a shame they are such lethal killers of fish. They eat everything, have almost no natural predators, live a long time, and lay about 50,000 eggs every few days. I have hardly been in the water in the Caribbean without seeing them. They’ve invaded everywhere. Some places try to fight back by spearfishing without limits, but here on Bonaire there is no spearfishing allowed (I think dive shops sometimes do organized hunts with special permission), so they really have the run of the place.
We dinghied across the channel to Klein Bonaire (small island off of Bonaire) to dive Rock Pile. Yet another really beautiful spot. The reef is filled with coral and small fish. We wouldn’t mind finding a spot with some sharks, or other big fish, but it’s hard to complain in spots like these. You have to give kudos to Bonaire for recognizing what they have here, and protecting it so fiercely.
6 Comments on “Under Bonaire”
Try this outfit for turtles and larger sea creatures:
https://www.bonaireeastcoastdiving.com/
Dove with them in 2017 was a great drive with countless turtles and large tarpon… Must be a good swimmer.
Ordered!
Thanks, should be shipping in a few weeks!
Absolutely, . . . kudos to Bonaire. I understand Cuba has also preserved its sea life, although I have not been. Guadeloupe we found to be incredibly sad. The “Cousteau Marine Park”? Few fish ad dead coral. I would suspect that various areas of Haiti may have some pristine marine areas left. At least it did, and just off Port au Prince no less, over 50 years ago. Somewhere, there is a lesson in all of this about unconstrained development; but it is nice to know that those who may be deemed poor in terms of worldly ‘possessions’ are rich in the natural beauty around them. I am sure Ouest and Lowe are learning. and internalizing, this lesson. Great job Mom and Dad. Keep up the outstanding work! 🙂
Dearest Bums: Am hoping that you are already in MN as the hurricane in the Caribbean bears down. Just a short post, please, to let all of your Moms out here know you’re all safe.
Hi Lorraine, we are safe and sound well to the south. The ABC islands are just a stone’s throw from South America and out of the hurricane zone. It’s incredibly rare to see any hurricane activity at all in our area. Thanks for thinking of us. Fingers crossed for everyone else who is in the way this hurricane season.