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Discover Bonaire
A Diver's Paradise & Ecological Treasure

Bonaire in the Southern Caribbean is a world-renowned haven for scuba diving, windsurfing and snorkeling. The island is considered one of the finest locales on the planet for diving, and has been at the forefront of preservation measures to protect its pristine coastal reefs and natural environs. All the waters surrounding Bonaire have been legally designated a marine park with more than 80 dive sites. The spectacular underwater life is teeming with colorful tropical fish, coral formations. and sponges.

The "boomerang" shaped island is part of what's called the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. It's located approximately 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela and has a dry, arid climate with gentle trade winds.

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the myriad of natural attractions on Bonaire - It is home to the largest flamingo sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere and hundreds of bird species. Iguanas and wild donkeys are common and the island has many cave systems. Cactus and divi-divi trees dot the landscape, and there are numerous hiking trails and bike paths for adventure. The Washington-Slagbaai National Park is an ecological reserve spanning 13,500 acres. It covers almost the entire north of Bonaire, about 1/5 of the island. Formerly two plantations for which it's named, the park is a habitat for many species of flora, fauna and wildlife and endangered sea turtles. Touring the southern part of Bonaire, you'll discover mountains of white salt crystals and historic slave huts. Salt production is still a major industry on the island and has been for more than 350 years when slaves worked the salt ponds.

In the quaint capital city of Kralendijk, the streets are lined with brightly colored buildings, constructed in the Dutch-style architecture. Here you'll find shops and restaurants and the Bonaire Museum.

Dutch is the official language on Bonaire, but the local language is Papiamento - a creole blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, African and Arawak Indian.

Learn more about this author, Marcia Niles.
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