Blogs from Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, Central America Caribbean - page 2

Bon dive 16. Carl’s Beach (next to town pier). We went in the water around 1 pm. I checked the shallows and found 2 white mantis shrimp in holes and a falbellina. I turned some rocks around hoping to find cling fish, bumble bee shrimp or nudis. I didn’t find much and I moved on towards the reef. There was a mooring block on the way that looked interesting. Of course I saw steve’s fins poking out of there. He signaled me to 2 sponge bob’s of course I only saw one. It looked that I could get some negative space out of it so I plopped down and dedicated to it. In the meantime I saw redlip blennies sitting on fire coral, 2 very active Pederson cleaner shrimp claning small butterflies, damselfish and another type ... read more

Bon Bini! Welcome to Bonaire. Today we stopped at the beautiful island of Bonaire. Other than Aruba for example, Bonaire does not have too many tourists (yet?!), but the nature is very impressive. There are way more Dutch than Americans here and we really got the impression that we are in a way more "natural" place, which kept its own charme. From the capital Kralendijk we started all around the island. We saw wild flamingos and goats, passed the huge saltfields and the beautiful coral beaches. Our first stop was at the old slavehuts and we were able to look and also crawl inside, and I really mean crawl. They were very tiny and you could get a real feeling how the slaves had to live back then. After a small stop on a lovely beach, ... read more

The best way to get to know your camera is to use it! I went on a photo dive trip by my self with the only purpose connecting with my equipment. My first dive was a night dive. I was excited. It took me all afternoon to check and double check the orings. And that all parts were put toguether right. Lower the camera by my self on a long dock at Black Durgeon and happy I go to take my first photo and first lesson learnt: I forgot to take the lens cap off. I didn't have the balls to get out of the water and take the port off to remove the lens so I continue my dive like that. I only had one strobe and it took me a long time to actually ... read more

Just in case anyone thought I'd settled a little too comfortably into Calgary life, I'm writing to say Bon Dia (Good Day) from Bonaire. Bon - where? You ask. A tiny, laid-back island in the Dutch Antilles, I'd never heard of it either until a chance meeting with Joost, an elementary school teacher, during a visit with Koert in the Netherlands. When Joost revealed he was moving to this strange new place, I already knew it would be my next destination. Finally, after a winter of pining for sun, sand and vitamine D, I am enjoying tropical sounds, a cool breeze and the sight of sun-drenched fuschia flowers outside my window. Joost and his friend, Romy (here living her dream as a horseback tour guide) inducted me into their lives the moment I escaped the long, ... read more

First dive of the day is 1000 steps, so-called because you have to go down 50-something steps to get to the beach. Bonaire has amazing coral and tons of sea life. After 1000 steps we headed to our next dive site, Oil Slick. The entry at Oil Slick is one of the coolest ones I have done. You giant stride from the surface into the ocean, which lies about 4-5 feet below you. I forgot to take the lense off the camera for my first 10 pictures of the dive. Nick is definitely the better photographer. When we got ... read more