Bonaire, and its small sister island Klien Bonaire, is one of three islands in the Caribbean making up the Dutch Antilles or ABC islands (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) and is one of the least tourist-developed and least visited of the islands, yet it is, both on land and under the sea, one of the Caribbean's most striking.
It is located just north of Venezuela, south of the hurricane belt, and so offers a year round stable climate.
The great attraction for most is the freedom to dive at your own pace. There are coloured stones that mark the entry point of all the dive sites so you just fill your tanks and drive around the island and dive at your own pace. There is of course guided diving if you prefer as well as boat trips to the nearby island of Klien Bonaire.
There is a very high standard of accommodation in Bonaire and a good variety of both diver resort hotels and self contained apartments.
Tropical climate enhanced by north east trade winds. Annual averages: temperature 82º F (28º C), rainfall: 22”, water temperature 80º F (27º C)
Bonaire is equally good all year around.
The diving on Bonaire is a mixture of both boat dives to neighbouring Klien Bonaire (approx 20 minutes away) and shore diving. The Bonaire Marine Park has marked about 80 yellow stones around the shore line marking dive site entry points. All the dive centres offer drive through filling stations (car hire is a must) giving you complete freedom to dive the island with your buddy at your own pace - this is what attracts so many visitors to Bonaire, the freedom to dive where, when and how you want. Of course guided dives are always available if you wish.
On our visit to the island we were quite amazed by the pristine condition of the reefs and must assume that this is due to the care that the Bonaire Marine Park pays to its reefs. Clear water provides visibility of 100 feet (30 metres) year-round, and the islanders and government are extremely sensitive to the fragility of the environment. The marine park completely surrounds the island and also encompasses the waters surrounding Klein Bonaire.
Approximately 50% of the annual visitors to Bonaire are drawn by the scuba diving but there are also many attractions for the non-divers. There are a number of activities, from hiking and sightseeing in the enormous Washington-Slagbaai National Park at the north-western end of the island, to shopping, snorkelling and bird watching.
Bonaire also has consistent wind all year around making it an excellent spot for windsurfing (based on the Northern Lac Bay area) and kitesurfing (although this has been restricted recently).
Bonaire is generally a very 'laid back' resort and so there is no major nightlife. There are some nice restaurants, a couple of good bars but no nightclubs. Evenings are best spent over a good meal and a few drinks
All visitors must have a valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 month and return ticket. UK passport holder do not require a visa.
No vaccinations are required for Bonaire. |
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