Bonaire info..

I'm heading to Bonaire in early September and considering this is my virgin trip, I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on the mangrove ecosystem in Bonaire. I'd very much like to spend some time in the area and explore the area thoroughly. Any suggestions and information on the area would be greatly appreciated.

Any thing else I shouldn't miss out around the island -- besides the crossbred donkey-flamingo?

I was on Bonaire this past November and did a tour of the mangroves. We staying at Buddy's Dive Resort and one of the tours they offered was a kayak tour into the mangroves. Took about half a day and included a description of the types of mangroves (there are three types on Bonaire, white, red and black if I remember right) and where each is found. Take some bug spray, while we were there, there was some rain and the mosquitoes were taking advantage of the situation and the fresh meat gliding along!

I dont know about the mangroves but make sure you dive the salt peir I love that place.

The opportunity to get some great pictures and at the same time to really master your camera rig, there is no better dive site than Town Pier for both macro and some great wide angle sunshafts/natural light. Very shallow, lots of time, easy to take and a aray of subjects. You may have to work hard in getting permission to dive Town Pier but it is will worth it.

Martin Edge

Laz, as Martin mentioned, get to that pier. The most awesome sunshot I've seen came from under that pier. I think Berkley White took it.

edit: Berkely's shot was from Capt. Don's dock

Welcome Martin, If you're the same person who wrote a book I own on U/W photography, "The Underwater Photographer" if not, Welcome anyway!

Rand

 You may have to work hard in getting permission to dive Town Pier but it is will worth it.

The dive resorts such as Buddy's, Lions, Captain Don's etc all have a regular evening schedule to dive the Town Pier. They still need to get permission from the Harbour Master, but that is always granted except when a large ship is tied up at the pier.

A word of caution about Bonaire beach diving with a housing: be real careful about the entries and exits. I got hit by an unexpected wave caused by a boat wake and me and my S2 housing rolled over in the surf 2 or 3 times. Fortunately nothing was damaged except my pride. :oops:

Bruce Dickson

Laz, I'm sure you have read about the theft problem on Bonaire....we followed the local advise and left our windows down and doors unlocked...don't leave any more than t-shirt and towel if you can keep from it.....we didn't have any problems with our 19 shore dives

I second what Bruce said about shore entries...they can be tricky sometimes

Enjoy

Laz,

Find Sipke Stapert. He's a naturalist living on Bonaire who know how to Eskimo roll. Not too shabby with a camera, either. BTW, we've personally benefited from Sipke's guidance as a divemaster at the Town Pier in Kralendijk( divemaster required to dive, along with new 9-11 security measures).

Jerry Ligon is another naturalist living on Bonaire who would be familiar with the mangroves.

hth,

b

Laz, If you drive over to the south side of Lac Bay, there are some resorts that rent windsurf boards, etc. They also rent kayaks! There is an easy paddle directly into the heart of the mangroves and I would highly recommend the effort. I went in for a 1/2 day once and captured some great over and under shots with a 15mm. Plenty of juvenile fish and beautiful pancake jelly fish. My wife and I also saw a juvenile shark - I believe it was a bull but I did not get a great look at it. Locate Jerry over at Sanddollar resort next door to Buddy Dive. He has a "dive with the naturalist" program which can't be missed. He also knows plenty about the island and the natural inhabitants. I had big glass with me last time I visited Bonaire earlier this year and he had me in close quarters with a Bonaire parrot(endangered). If you are a macro junkie, you are in for a treat!!!