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1 Rated Shore Diving Destination
Several factors combine to offer Bonaire visitors shore diving opportunities unlike any found elsewhere in the Caribbean.
One is the sheer number of shore dive sites available. With over 50 marked sites, and any number of easily accessible unmarked entry points to chose from, divers will run out of vacation time long before they run out of diving options.
Bonaire's
calm west coast waters make
entering the water for your
dive safe and easy. And with
a fringing reef no more than
a 50 yards/meters off shore,
surface swims are kept to
a minimum. Freedom
loving divers are sure
to enjoy the unlimited
shore diving packages we
offer with
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure,
which enable you to make
as many dives as you
wish each day according
to your own safe profiles.
The drive-up air and Nitrox
tank station makes for
easy loading and unloading
for shore diving off property.
We've
even designed a special
accommodations and dive
package called the Ride
to the Reef Dive Package which includes a rental
vehicle perfect for getting
you to and from those
shore dive sites. So all you
have to do is load up,
and off you go!
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Shore
Diving At Sand Dollar
In
addition to the drive-up tank
fill station, there is a second
fill station with 24 hour tank
access right on the dive dock,
along with convenient dive
lockers and benches for gear
set-up. Divers can enter the
water to dive Bari Reef one
of three ways - a giant stride
off the pier, by walking down
a sturdy ladder, or entering
the water gradually from the
small sand beach area adjacent
to the pier.
Gear
and camera rinse tanks and
showers are also on the dock.
Boat Diving
At Sand Dollar
 For
a change of pace, divers can
let someone else do the driving
while they enjoy the short
10 to 15 minute ride to one
of the sites generally not
accessible from shore, such
as those on the northern coastline
or those surrounding nearby
Klein Bonaire.
Bonaire
Dive & Adventures experienced,
friendly dive staff are ready
to lead you on boat dives three
times daily, departing at 9:00,
11:00 and 2:00 pm. Follow
the guide or explore on your
own, the choice is yours.
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2 Rated Marine Life Destination
In the
most recent Survey Project Statistics
generated by REEF (the Reef Environmental
Education Foundation), Bonaire claimed 7 of the top 10 dive sites surveyed
in terms of species richness, with Sand Dollar's Bari Reef ranking #1 in the
entire Caribbean.
As a
participating REEF Field ID Station,
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure offers
beginning through advanced fish identification
courses, organizes survey dives, and
sells related fish watching materials. It
also serves as a distribution point
for fish survey forms, and actively
recruits new fish- enthusiast members!
You can also undertake the challenge
of becoming a member of the dive shops "Century
Club" by identifying 100 different
species of fish on a single one-tank
dive!
With
over 315 species of fish on house
reef Bari Reef to choose from, there
is no better location to test your
fish ID knowledge. Secretary blenny's
peeking out of abandoned worm holes,
3 species of shrimp inhabiting one
anemone, sea horses and long lure frog
fish, are considered common sightings
in our waters.
#1
Beginner Dive Destination
What
could be better than learning how
to dive in warm clear water under
the careful guidance of our experienced
PADI dive instructors? Add to the
near 100 foot visibility a reef that
runs parallel to shore
for
easy navigation, our minimal to non-existent
currents, and you have an ideal environment
in which to learn or perfect your
diving and buoyancy skills.
With
the majority of marine life found between
the shallow drop-off area and the first
50 to 60 feet of the reef slope, new
divers are afforded plenty of bottom
time in which to develop confidence
in their skills and a level of comfort
in their newly entered environment.
Advanced
divers will be inspired by the respect
for diving freedom that pervades Bonaire,
while still having the opportunity
to continue their diving education
via advanced course with
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure's multilingual instructors. For all
courses - Open Water through Assistant
Instructor, advanced PADI specialties,
Enriched Air (Nitrox) or even Rebreather
Certification - the staff is dedicated
to making your diving education and
diving experiences memorable.
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tours
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#
1 Rated Diving Destination
Bonaire
set the standard in reef conservation
more than 25 years ago when it instituted
one of the first permanent mooring
systems, prohibited anchoring of boats,
and designated all of Bonaire's waters
down to the 200 foot depth an official
marine park.
Since
early in the 1990's, the Bonaire Marine
Park has required all visiting divers
to purchase a Marine Park Tag ($25)
and to participate in a short information
and orientation session at whichever
dive facility they will be using.
At
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure, this
program is held at 9:30 am daily.
Divers
must do a familiarization dive on the
house reef as part of the orientation
process before they can leave on their
own to shore dive or go out on a dive
boat. The primary reason for this familiarization
dive is to recheck buoyancy to avoid
any potential damage to the reef and
also to ensure that dive equipment
is functioning properly. At
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure, this orientation
is held daily at 9:30 am.
We encourage
all divers traveling to Bonaire to
familiarize themselves with the Marine
Park Regulations prior to their visit.
With your support, we can all be
treated to reefs that are healthy and
teeming with life for many years to
come.
#1 Underwater
Photography Destination
As an arid island, Bonaire experiences
little rainfall, which means waters that
are exceptionally clear of silt, with visibility averaging over 100 feet (30m),
and frequently reaching up to 150 feet (50m). These conditions also make Bonaire
an ideal destination for underwater photographers.
Whether
you are a seasoned shooter or just
picking up a camera for the first time,
Photo Pro Tim Peters, owner and operator
of Fish-Eye Photo, is here to help
you capture images of Bonaire's tiny
wonders. In addition to photo and
video instruction, Fish-Eye Photo also
offers wide range of photo equipment
rentals - including Nikonis V and Sea & Sea
Digital cameras, film and camera sales,
film processing, a slide viewing facility,
and a keen enthusiasm for sharing ideas
and techniques.
Bonaire
Dive & Adventure's retail shop
features dive equipment for rent or
sale, colorful t-shirts and bathing
suits, informative books and unique
gifts.
The
retail shop is also the place to sign
up for the many outdoor eco-adventure
programs offered such as kayaking,
snorkeling, biking, hiking and nature
tours.
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tours
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