Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page 66) BONAIRE a diver’s paradise AND MUCH MORE T he license plates in Bonaire read “Diver’s Paradise,” and this sparsely settled island of about 14,500 friendly people aims to keep it that way. Since 1979, the reefs surrounding Bonaire and its uninhabited sister island Klein Bonaire have been actively conserved as the Bonaire National Marine Park. Permanent moorings prevent damage from anchors while mandatory diver’s education and Marine Park tag purchases help divers enjoy — and protect — the reef. Today, Bonaire’s pristine fringing reef — a type of reef system that grows close to the coastline — is home to seahorses, frogfish and hundreds more species of tropical fish as well as more than 120 types of coral, including impressive stands of black coral. Divers might watch sergeant major dads defending their eggs, moray eels peering out of crevices, and peacock-eye flounder hugging the sandy bottom, or sight larger creatures such as whale and nurse sharks, sea turtles and dolphins. Adding to the allure is the fact that divers and snorkelers can reach dozens of sites — clearly identified with bright yellow signs — from the southern and western shores. Many more sites beckon within a 15- or 20-minute boat ride. Consistently ranked among the world’s top scuba dive (and snorkel) destinatiosn — rated #1 Caribbean/Atlantic Dive Destination for the past six years in Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards — Bonaire is aided by its arid climate. With little rain and few strong currents to stir up silt, water visibility averages more than 100 feet, making it a favored spot for underwater photography. Many BONAIRE GEOGRAPHY: Bonaire is the easternmost island of the Dutch Caribbean, located 86 miles east of Aruba and 38 miles east of Curacao. The island is 112 square miles. The highest point is Brandaris Hill at 784 feet. LANGUAGE: Dutch is the official language. Local Papiamentu, English are Spanish are widely spoken. POPULATION: +/- 13,000. CLIMATE: Average temperature is 82ºF. Average annual rainfall is 22 inches. TIME: EST +1. GMT -4. 66 www.caribbeantravel .c om http://www.caribbeantravel.com
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