. . There is a $25 per person fee to dive in Bonaire Marine Park (0 - 250 ft deep) payable at dive registration on your first day. No gloves or chem sticks allowed. No harvesting.
Everything You Need To Know About Bonaire
Location:
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles - 55 miles north of Venezuela, 86 miles east of Aruba
and 30 miles east of Curacao.
Entry:
US and Canadian citizens must have a valid Passport and ongoing ticket.
Getting There:
Regular flight connections to/from US, Europe, Aruba and Curacao
Time Zone:
Atlantic Standard Time - the same time as the US East Coast during Daylight Savings Time.
Bonaire does not change time for Daylight Savings Time.
Size:
Bonaire is 24 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide, 112 square miles in area.
Climate:
Average air temperature is 82F and 75% relative humidity. Average water temperature is 80F.
Rainfall averages 22" per year. Bonaire is outside the hurricane belt. The constant trade winds
generally offer a cool breeze year around. Average windspeed is 15 mph.
Terrain:
This is a dry, coral island. Vegetation is cactus and scrub. There are no rivers on Bonaire.
Expect to see lizards, iguana, donkeys, goats and a wonderful variety of birds.
Language:
The official language is Dutch and the native language is Papiamentu, with English and Spanish.
Population:
+/- 15,000 inhabitants.
Driving:
Rental vehicles are readily available. Driving is on the right side of the road. Many stop signs,
few stoppers. Know the rules for round-abouts. CDW insurance is a good idea.
. . . Many small resorts. Most with swimming pools. All offer dive packages. We use Buddy
Dive Resort. They have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom/bathroom units.
Electricity:
50 cycles, 115 and 220 volts, however, due to fluctuations, camera and computer batteries
should only be recharged at designated charging stations. A good surge protector is advised.
Credit Cards:
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover are widely accepted.
Water:
The water supply is delicious and safe, made from pure distilled seawater.
Mosquitoes:
Expect some mosquito activity most of the year. Bring a good repellant. Most resorts supply
bug spray for your room.
Activities:
Scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, biking, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding,
tennis, fishing, hammocking.
Banks:
Bonaire has a number of banks with ATM service. Most banks are open between 8:30 - 3:30 weekdays.
Currency:
Netherlands Antilles Guilder (approx. 1.77 to $1USD) with US dollars accepted everywhere. Expect
your change in guilders.
Internet:
E-mail access is available at several locations including Buddy's.
Taxes:
5% tax levied on all goods and services, $6.50 per person per night room tax, and $4 per day car
rental tax. A departure tax of US $32 per person is charged for all international departures.
Tipping:
Some restaurants add a service fee to the bill. This is a house tip and does not go to the server.
Leave something additional for the server.
Restaurants:
Nice variety of ethnic foods: Thai, Mexican, Italian, chinese, Dutch,
Caribbean, Jamaican, Steak Houses, Seafood, and sandwich shops.
Diving:
Unlimited shore diving is what has made Bonaire so famous. Easy access from
shore, on the leeward side of the island, and the close proximity of the reef makes this
a diver's paradise. Feel free to go though any resort to get to the water. Watch for the yellow
dive stones for site names and locations.
Boat diving takes you to the more inaccessible shore sites, and to Klein Bonaire, the
island just off shore. Diving on Klein Bonaire differs from Bonaire. There is also less diving
pressure on the reefs because of boat-only access.
Aquatic Life:
Expect to see a rainbow of juvenile to medium size reef fish. There are 6 varieties of eel and
Morays that most everyone can spot. Octopus are often seen on day and night dives. Sea Horses
and frogfish are plentiful, but difficult to locate. The reef is teaming with life, covered in sponges
and corals, providing cover for the smallest fish and critters from shrimp to lobster.
Accommodations:
Marine Preserve:
Phones:
10 and 20 minute international phone cards can be purchased very inexpensively.