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Dive, learn about and explore one of the world’s top underwater environments under the leadership of Bonaire’s many experts. During Dive Into Adventure Bonaire Bonaire’s local “stars” will be on hand leading exciting dive-related activities and giving feature presentations. A leader in marine conservation with one of the Caribbean’s most environmentally conscious dive industries, Bonaire’s local “stars” are dive experts and will share their vast knowledge of technical diving, underwater videography, reef caretaking and more with event participants. Keep reading to find out more about each of the Bonaire “stars” participating in Dive Into Adventure Bonaire 2006, the exciting activities they will be leading throughout the week and how you can be a part of them.
Philippe Cousteau
Philippe Cousteau and his sister Alexandra are the third generation of Cousteau to dedicate their lives to exploring and explaining the natural world. Philippe continues the work of his late father, Philippe Sr., and grandfather, Jacques-Yves, by working to unite the pursuit of science, the conservation of nature, and the education of a public eager to learn about the world around us. He founded EarthEcho International with his sister and his mother, Jan Cousteau, to work towards these goals, with a particular focus on young people as the future caretakers of the planet. He serves as President of EarthEcho and is responsible for directing and managing its extensive worldwide operations. Philippe has performed scholarly field research in Papua New Guinea with Dr. Eugenie Clark and in Bonaire in the Antilles with George Buckley. He has authored articles for numerous magazines, including National Geographic, Sport Diver Magazine, Dive Trade International, Capture Life, and Caribbean Adventure, among others. He has lectured at Harvard University, Miami Dade College, Truckee College and numerous other institutions, and has appeared on television and radio programs for his expertise. He has written, directed, and produced public service announcements and documentary films, and is President and Founder of Thalassa Ventures Corporation, a media development and consulting company. Philippe also serves on the Board of Directors of the Blue Frontier Foundation, the Honorary Board of the Everglades Foundation, the Advisory Board for the Global Peace Film Festival, the Advisory Board for the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, the Advisory Council for the Ocean Energy Council, and the Advisory Council for the Smithsonian Institution’s Ocean Science Initiative. He is not affiliated with the Cousteau Society. To book now, click here to email.
Linda Chorney, Singer/Songwriter/Diver
Linda Chorney has just released her fourth album, "One Kiss at a Time" and is presently on record release tour. This is her best work yet, self-produced, as well as surrounded by incredible self shot underwater photography and amazing talent on the album, with such artists as Hugh McCracken on guitar, who has recorded with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor and may others. Also Frank Wolfe, multiple Grammy winner, Lisa Fisher, back-up singer for the Rolling Stones, Michael Ghegan on keys, who has played with Billy Joel, and more great musicians. The album combines her great sense of humor as well as irony and prolific observations of the world. The album is dedicated to parents that have outlived their children, as there are two cuts with personal stories of loss. She indulges in playing as many great dive site venues as possible, such as Bonaire and Palau. Linda has even performed in her Fins at the 2004 Bonaire Dive Fest! She also enjoys skiing, therefore scheduling dates from Vail to Vancouver. Observe a warm, silly, sincere, and brutally honest performance and you will get it. Linda is a big star in a small galaxy at this point, because, as she states in her book about to be released "I Only Sleep with People that Can't Help Me"....like diving instructors. It is also the name of one of the cuts on her new album. She is sponsored by Millennia Guitars and Bitchmaster Airlines.
Charlie Mazel/NightSea and Physical Sciences Inc.
Charlie Mazel is the founder of NightSea (www.nightsea.com) and a Principal Research Scientist at Physical Sciences Inc. (www.psicorp.com) in Andover, MA. NightSea is dedicated to developing equipment and techniques for fluorescence viewing, photography, and research, both underwater and in the laboratory. Charlie became interested in underwater fluorescence back in the mid-1970's through his love of night diving, and with stops and starts has been building specialized underwater lights and photographic gear for many years. What started out as a personal hobby turned into a research career, and more recently he founded NightSea to make the underwater fluorescence experience available to all sport and science divers. NightSea gear is being used by sport divers worldwide to explore for and photograph fluorescence in the sea, and by reef scientists to locate baby corals and discover new fluorescing proteins. Fluorescence is well known in corals, but has been found in many fish, isopods, shrimp and crabs, and other marine critters, and new discoveries are being made all the time. Charlie has a varied ocean background. He has participated in numerous marine archaeology projects, both finding and excavating shipwrecks in the US, Greece, and off the coast of Africa; worked in the deep sea survey business; worked in the side scan sonar business; managed a hydrodynamics laboratory at MIT; was assistant director of the Edgerton Center (high speed imaging) at MIT. Along the way he picked up a master's in Ocean Engineering and a Ph. D. in Marine Biology. His research now focuses on underwater optics and imaging, of which fluorescence remains a large part. . Recently he had the privilege to lead a team that outfitted a research submersible to search for fluorescence at depths over 2,500' (800 m). He has written numerous scientific and popular articles on fluorescence in the sea. Charlie's extensive time on boats provided the (unwanted) experience that motivated him to write the book 'Heave Ho! My Little Green Book of Seasickness' (www.nightsea.com/heaveho.htm). Charlie will be giving a presentation on fluorescence at Capt. Don's Habitat on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at 16:00 (4 pm) in their conference room. The presentation is open to all DIAB participants. He will also be taking sign-ups for night dives where you will be able to see the fluorescence yourself (maximum 6 divers per dive). To book now, click here to email.
Bill & Alice Miller
Bill and Alice Miller began diving in 1995 and have traveled extensively in the Caribbean and Indonesia. A former wildlife photographer and biology teacher, Bill's love for the environment and photography is evident in the quality of his macro images. As active members of "The Coral Reef Alliance," "R.E.E.F." and "Oceans for Youth," they actively promote reef conservation and preservation in their slide shows. As underwater photographers and naturalists, Bill and Alice are intensely aware of the state of our oceans and coral reefs. They believe that education is the key to saving these resources. It is the next generation that will decide the fate of our world. Bill and Alice have appeared on the Canadian Television Network program "Undersea Explorers," are spokespersons for "The Coral Reef Alliance" on their film "CORAL-Working Together To Keep the Coral Reef Alive." Bill has won numerous photo contests and has been published in magazines and calendars. Alice is a budding videographer and is concentrating her efforts on fish behavior. She has mentored under Ned and Anna DeLoach, learning the fine art of observation and recording. Bill holds degrees from Cornell University and Indiana State University in vertebrate zoology and wildlife management. He taught science and biology in upstate New York before entering the real estate field in Asheville, NC in 1983. Bill and Alice spend several weeks a year pursuing their passion of diving and adding to their inventory of images. They have attended all the previous "Dive Festivals" on Bonaire and look forward to this summers' dive event. Capt. Don's Habitat has been their dive center on all 11 trips to Bonaire. Their seminar for beginning and intermediate photographers will focus on equipment, characteristics of water and how it affects your photography, the effects of water on distance and size, basic camera knowledge and buoyancy control.
Dos Winkel
Dos Winkel started his career in 1976, when he established the Nederlandse Academie voor Ortopedische Geneeskunde (Dutch Academy for Orthopaedic Medicine). In 1978 together with professor James Cyriax he established the International Academy of Orthopaedic Medicine, where Dos became president. After doing a course in underwater photography in Aruba, he got interested in this subject and that's where it all started. Together with his wife Bertie, Dos lived in Bonaire for a period of eight years. They administered a dive school and Dos expanded his experience in underwater photography. Not only during diving in the Caribbean did he make beautiful pictures, he also did many dives in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, Titicaca Lake and around the Galapagos Islands. After 20 years of underwater and nature photography Dos has won numerous prizes and he published many books with magnificent pictures. He has also had publications/coverage in Duiken, Terra, BBC Wildlife and National Geographic. He has won the first prize of the KONICA-Otter festival twice, has won prizes during the world championship underwater photography at Dive Sights 2001 and has participated a few times in the final of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Dos is still president of the International Academy of Orthopaedic Medicine, however since March 2005 he's been doing this less actively and he's been giving his biggest hobby, under water and nature photography, his undivided attention. To book now, click here to email. STINAPA
Elsmarie Beukenboom is the director of Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire), a non-governmental non-profit foundation that manages the protected areas for the government. She oversees the management of the Washington Slagbaai National Park (6,000 hectares of land) and also the Bonaire National Marine Park (2,700 hectares of coral reefs and sea-grass beds and mangrove-lined bays), which cover the area from the high water mark to a 60m depth around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. Ms. Beukenboom is born and raised on Bonaire. After attending local schools, she graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with a bachelor’s degree in science. For almost a decade Ms. Beukenboom has been an active advocate and member of different environmental organizations on Bonaire. She is a volunteer in different activities of nature NGO's and civic organizations. She has been an active SCUBA diver for the past 30 years. The mother of two grown children, Ms. Beukenboom is one of the driving forces behind the concept of sustainable growth for Bonaire has been a featured speaker on the subject in many international venues.
Fernando Simal is the manager of the first natural sanctuary of the Netherlands Antilles, Washington Slagbaai National Park, located on the island of Bonaire. The Park covers around 13,500 acres of land, about 1/5 of the island and its surrounded by the waters of the Bonaire National Marine Park. Mr. Simal has acted as interim Manager for the Bonaire National Marine Park during the years of 2002 and 2004. Mr. Simal was born and expent his childhood in Spain; after living his high school years in Venezuela, he graduated from Northeast Lousiana University, USA in 1987 with a bachelors degree in Science, major in Biology. In 2003, he obtained a Master's dergree from the University of Cádiz, Spain, in Nature Conservation and Management. Since early childhood Fernando Simal had a keen interest in nature, outdoor sports (both in land and sea) and education. Besides a biologist, Mr. Simal has worked as a tour guide in remote areas of the Amazon, teach at elementary, secondary and high levels of education in different institutions in Venezuela. Also, he worked for five years as a SCUBA diving instructor in different islands of the Caribbean. Married for 16 years and father of two teenagers born in the Netherlands Antilles, Fernando Simal has found in the WSNP Manager's position a job that combines perfectly his three passions (nature, education and outdoor sports) in a very special place, the island of Bonaire.
Ramon M. de Leon Barrios became Bonaire National Marine Park manager in August of 2004. Ramon was born in Uruguay and studied Oceanography at the University of the Republic in Montevideo and Universite Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. His post-degree studies were at the University of Concepcion in Chile, and the University of San Pablo in Brazil. He was an Associate Researcher at the University of the Republic of Montevideo from 1986 until 1997, conducting several research programs in marine biology and fresh water ecology. Ramon became a dive instructor in 1994. In partnership, he opened a dive school in Uruguay and taught diving in Uruguay and Brazil. He came to Bonaire in April of 1998 with a dive group and decided that the island was too beautiful to leave. He worked at Toucan Diving in Plaza Resort Bonaire from April 1998 until November 2003, and Photo Tours Divers from February 2004 until July 2004. Ramon is married to Sylvia de Boer (ex Toucan Diving dive instructor) and is the father of a year-old daughter, Maia. Larry Baillie/Larry's Wildside Diving
Larry's Wildside Diving is a unique opportunity for divers that come to Bonaire to enjoy the east and north coasts of Bonaire by boat. Virgin dive sites are being explored. The configuration of sealife is much larger. For example, you will see schools of spotted eagle rays, schools of southern stingrays, numerous green eels, reef sharks, nurse sharks, abundance of turtles every dive, tarpons and other various schooling fish. On occasion we see manta rays, dolphins, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and hammerheads. Dive choices: two tank dives, drift dives, the famous Blue Hole, a.k.a. White Hole. If you dive with us, you will experience the best diving in Bonaire. Our divers tell us this is the highlight of their trip. All levels of divers, open water and up, are welcome. Orientations and buoyancy checks must be done at your specific hotel before diving on the east coast with us. We only have three rules on the boat: Rule #1 Safety and Fun Diving, Rule #2 Fun Diving and Safety, Rule #3 Revert to Rule #1. The 30-foot boat is custom designed by Zodiac Hurricane Technologies with the safety of divers in mind. The two 225-horsepower Yamaha four-strokes will get you to the dive sites very quickly and comfortably. For more information and booking your trip, please go to the website www.larryswildsidediving.com or phone 011-599-717-5246 or 011-599-780-9156.
Caren Eckrich
I grew up in Texas, received my BS from Texas A&M University and my MS in marine biology from the University of Puerto Rico. I've been lucky enough to have studied marine ecosystems in South Texas, Costa Rica, South Caicos, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Curacao and Bonaire and have published two scientific articles (one on sea turtle biology and one on applied marine ecology). I am a PADI dive instructor and have been living in Bonaire for seven years. In 1999 I started Sea & Discover, a marine education center that offers a variety of learning programs to kids ages seven to ninety-seven. My goal is to help people understand and appreciate coral reefs so that they will in turn help to protect these ecosystems. Sea & Discover's interactive programs combine classroom sessions and in-water learning so that "students" understand what they're seeing and can look for specific relationships and behaviors in their future dives and snorkels. Programs cover topics such as coral reef ecology, mating and courtship, symbiosis, cleaning stations, predator/prey interactions, mangrove and seagrass ecology, fish and creature ID, night, etc. What I enjoy most is taking someone snorkeling or diving for the very first time and seeing his or her nervousness turn into wonder and joy. Either that or having someone who has been diving for decades turn to me and say, "I never knew all that was going on down there." I'm married to a Dutch man and have two little girls who were both born in my home in Bonaire. Both of my girls learned how to snorkel at the age of two and squealed with delight each time they saw a new fish -- talk about a proud mom! To learn more, visit Sea & Discover's website, www.seandiscover.com. To book a discovery program, e-mail me directly at info@seandiscover.com or you can call (599)717-5322. Dive Into Adventure Bonaire participants will be given a 25% discount off the normal rates.
Jerry Ligon/Bonaire Dive & Adventure
Originally a mountain goat and biology teacher from Colorado, Bonaire Dive & Adventure naturalist Jerry Ligon has been on Bonaire for more than 10 years. He knows all the birds and fish on Bonaire and shares his knowledge as enthusiastically as when he first started here. On June 19 from 9 am to 12 pm Dive with the Naturalist Jerry to learn the basic and advanced levels of fish identification in an academic presentation, and then go on a guided dive to the Number One Reef in the entire Caribbean for fish diversity. It is a one-half day basic course to present you with the techniques to employ, to learn to develop search patterns in the ocean that everyone must know in order to find the cryptic organisms, and then, how to identify them. Many examples of fish behavior that we see all the time, but never knew what the creature is doing, are also described and shown. Jerry Ligon's famous 1/2 day course is only $ 40 (+5% sales tax). A 5% government sales tax should be added. Special Dive Into Adventure Bonaire offer – All event participants get 10% discount! To sign up for the dive with the naturalist please email info@bonairediveandadventure.com. For more information, visit their web site at www.bonairediveandadventure.com. Jerry will also be leading a free guided snorkel Wednesday from 14:00 to 15:00 and again from 15:00 to 16:00 at Bonaire Dive & Adventure at Sand Dollar. Please note that these snorkel trips are not for beginners! To book now, click here to email.
Mabel Nava/Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB)
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire's mission is to ensure the protection and recovery of Bonaire's sea turtle populations throughout their range. Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is considered a model of excellence within the Caribbean and aims to achieve its mission through scientific study, integrated management strategies, and public awareness campaigns. STCB was founded in 1991 by a small but dedicated group of persons who recognized the fact that WIDECAST's Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for the Netherlands Antilles would soon be published and would need to be implemented locally in Bonaire. Sea Turtle Club Bonaire, a not for profit organization, was founded to undertake the requisite conservation tasks. In 1998 the organization changed its name into Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire. The dedicated work of STCB has profoundly changed the way in which sea turtles are viewed in Bonaire, and provided new information on their biology and status on many fronts. STCB, boasting but a very small full-time staff, has matured from a relatively simple field project to a multifaceted organization skilled at high technology research applications, international fund-raising, and addressing complex sustainable development issues. For more information, go to www.bonaireturtles.org or e-mail stcb@bonaireturtles.org.
Tim Peters & Jim Platz/Fish-Eye Photo The "Dive Into Adventure Bonaire" Digital Photo Contest will be organized by Fish-Eye Photo, School For Underwater Photography. The theme of the contest is Fun & Educational. There will be 2 main categories, land and underwater. Tim Peters & Jim Platz will coordinate the contest in all participating host resorts in collaboration with the local photo pros. They also will be available to you at Fish-Eye Photo, and will provide the following services if they are not available at your host resort: camera rental, equipment field repair and troubleshooting, computers for image download, viewing, editing, and storage, photo courses (20% discount on half-day courses for festival participants), tips and information, discuss your photos and techniques, as well as sales. For more information about the "Dive Into Adventure Bonaire" Digital Photo Contest, go to www.diveintoadventurebonaire.com/event/photo.htm or visit www.fisheyephoto.com. You can also email Tim and Jim at info@FishEyePhoto.com or Platzja@aol.com.
Dee Scarr
Dee Scarr first dived Bonaire in 1980. Today, a few thousand dives later, she is still joyfully diving the waters off Bonaire -- and introducing divers to local undersea creatures through Touch the Sea dive guiding (and slide presentations). Scarr, who had a wonderful example of proactive diving in Captain Don Stewart, was an inaugural member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame. She led Bonaire’s Sponge Reattachment Project in 1988-90, tying more than 600 sponges back onto Pier pilings after the pilings were scraped bare of growth during renovations. 2006 saw the beginning of Scarr’s newest project, Action in Behalf of Coral. The goal of the ABC Project is educating divers about coral to better equip them to protect coral reefs; the ABC Project is responsible for the notes on coral currently appearing in The Bonaire Reporter. Reef Caretaking is a way to dive proactively; Dee continues her Dive Fest programs of Reef Caretaking for Dive Into Adventure Bonaire, and hopes you will participate.
Benjamin Schaub/Caribbean Gas Training
Beyond Gravity is a "DIR" Buoyancy Clinic presented by Benjamin Schaub and Caribbean Gas Training. It is a three-hour program consisting of three parts: a one-hour theory session covering the physics and physiology of balance, trim and buoyancy, providing the rationale for the DIR equipment configuration; a one-hour equipment fitting and familiarization session, i.e., getting to know the standard backplate/wing/long hose configuration; and a one-hour practice dive on Bari Reef with emphasis on trim, balance, buoyancy and, depending on the attendees' proficiency, some propulsion techniques and basic problem solving skills. The program includes all necessary equipment, tanks and weights. It is possible to use double tanks at the instructor's discretion, please mention when booking. The program will be held twice daily at 9am and 2pm, with the exception of Monday afternoon, at Bonaire Dive & Adventure. Attendees need to arrive 30 minutes early because of the paperwork. The cost for the program is US$60 per person, the maximum number of divers per class is three. Special offer for Dive Into Adventure Bonaire guests: All attendees on Sunday and Monday will receive a nice little gift as a token of appreciation from Caribbean Gas Training's management. For more information, contact Benjamin Schaub at 011-599-786-5073 or email benji@caribbeangastraining.com or visit their web site at www.caribbeangastraining.com.
Walter W. Stark III/Rec Tek Scuba
Walt Stark is a self-proclaimed graduate of the "Sea Hunt" and "Flipper" television series school of diving. After having viewed several hundred hours of both classic TV shows, Walt and his high school buddies felt more than qualified to borrow scuba gear from the local YMCA diving instructor. After assembling the equipment, they successfully executed their very first scuba dive -- in a high school swimming pool, in the middle of the night. They knew not to hold their breath, and were not particularly concerned with rapture of the deep -- the pool did not appear deep enough to worry about that. But that was it, Walt was hooked. Scuba became a sport, an enjoyable pastime and now a way of life. From that first swimming pool night dive to the rebreathers and sets of doubles that are now a big part of his life, scuba has always been a living thing that continues to grow and change. Walt received his open water certification in 1982, and obtained his first instructor rating in 1986 in Denver, Colorado. He moved to Bonaire in 1990 to run the dive operation at Sunset Beach Hotel. He became a TDI/SDI instructor in 1999 thanks to Cliff Simoneau's C2 Educational Expeditions, and opened his own Technical Dive operation -- Rec Tek Scuba. He enjoys teaching rebreather and trimix courses on the deep reefs and wrecks of Bonaire. Rec Tek Scuba is offering DIAB participants the opportunity to try a rebreather at half the normal price. Sign up for one of our Rebreather Adventure dives that will be conducted Monday through Friday at 9 am and 1 pm. Each session is limited to 2 dventurers so please email us at info@rectekscuba.com to sign up for the dives. Feel free to contact us for additional info on this special for DIAB participants only. Rebreather Adventure Dive: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dive silently? No bubbles blasting by your ears and scaring everything close to you. Get just inches away from marine life for incredible photos or video. To breathe warm moist air. Lose a couple of millimeters of neoprene and still be warm. Breathe as often and as much as you want. Dive for more than 2 hours on a small, light 27 cu. ft. (4 L.) aluminum tank. Dive a system that weighs less than a standard 80 cu. ft. (12 L.) aluminum tank. Now you can with Rec Tek Scuba's Rebreather Adventure Dives. After a brief discussion and orientation we will go for a Rebreather Adventure dive, where you can experience first hand all of the advantages of diving with a Rebreather. How long has it been since you tried something new? Isn't it about time for a new Adventure? Normal price for this Adventure Dive is $100, but for this week only, DIAB participants have a special price of $50 per Adventurer. Email us to sign up.
Captain Don Stewart Captain Don Stewart is often called the “Pioneer of Marine Conservation” on Bonaire. Captain Don has been credited with the adoption of the first measures to protect and preserve Bonaire reefs. He has evolved from sailor and entrepreneur to environmental advocate after more than 43 years promoting scuba diving on Bonaire.
Hendrik Wuyts/Scuba Vision Films Scuba Vision Films is an award winning Production Company. We produce documentaries on Nature culture, education and sports. Hendrik Wuyts will do one lecture (see program) on "the power of visible impression" which will teach you on the HOW AND WHY of image creation by using still photo examples and video footage. Including he will teach you some basics on filmmaking and how he melds people and nature into one. Through the whole week we organize four4 video dives where you will get a chance to be filmed and take home an unbelievable dive souvenir on DVD. These excursions will be organized at 2 PM, each first sign up will receive a free DVD. One trip will be a top site hiking experience where Hendrik will teach you how to film wildlife nature. Please sign up now by mailing: info@scubavision.info or browse our website: www.scubavision.info.
Activity Center Plaza Resort Bonaire
The Activity Center is located on the beach at Plaza Resort Bonaire and is proud to have one of the finest activity programs in the Caribbean. Our enthusiastic team offers a wide variety of activities for people of all ages, so whether you want adventure or to simply enjoy the natural beauty of Bonaire...welcome to "the resort that has is it all!" Many activities are available to Dive Into Adventure Bonaire participants. A Kayak Mangrove Tour on June 18 and June 21 - discover our beautiful mangrove tunnels and its flora & fauna in a sit-on-top kayak! Kayak instruction, transportation and water included (1 to 4 pm, $39 per person, capacity 10 people); Island Tour on June 19 - our local guide will show you everything along the coastline, from the north to the south of the island (9 am to 12 pm and 1 to 4 pm, $27 per person, capacity 9 people); Mangrove Snorkel on June 20 – experience the mangrove area of Bonaire which is famous for the variety of Red and White mangroves and its amazing breeding chamber (9 to 11:30 am and 1:30 to 4 pm, $27 per person, capacity 10 people); Cave Snorkel & Exploration on June 22 - join us on a trip to Bonaire's best-hidden secret ... our caves. Our guide will show you different caves where you can admire the most impressive formations of stalagmites and stalactites. In one of the caves it's possible to snorkel in fresh water (9 to 11:30 am and 1:30 to 4 pm, $35 per person, capacity 5 people). To book any of these activities call 011-599-717-2500 ext. 8118 or email activities@plazaresortbonaire.com. You can also visit their web site at www.plazaresortbonaire.com.
André Nahr's Bonaire Dive & Adventure André Nahr's Bonaire Dive & Adventure has long enjoyed a premier reputation. One of the pioneers of topside adventures on Bonaire, André Nahr began offering his land based activities as early as 1987. His waterfront dive and outdoor adventures shop is located on the south side of Sand Dollar Condominium Resort and specializes in nature tours, kayaking, guided snorkeling and diving programs, cave trips, mountain bike tours and rental, diving with naturalist and the "ocean's classroom" children's program. Superb guides enthusiastically share the beauty of Bonaire with you. A 5% government sales tax should be added to the prices. Special Dive Into Adventure Bonaire offer – All event participants get 10% discount on all activities listed above! To sign up for any of these activities please email info@bonairediveandadventure.com. For more information, visit their web site at www.bonairediveandadventure.com.
Bonaire Windsurf Place The staff of Bonaire Windsurf Place can offer individualized training for any level of skill - from rank beginner to champion windsurfer, both in the fabulous waters of the Sorobon area of Bonaire. For those comfortable with their windsurfing ability, Bonaire Windsurf Place offers the best in equipment, including boards from RRD, Pro-Tech, and Naish. Sails are by Hot Sails Maui and Naish. Special Dive Into Adventure Bonaire offer – All Dive Into Adventure Bonaire participants will get a 30% discount on any windsurfing activity during the week.
Kiteboarding Bonaire
Welcome to kiteboarders' paradise! Bonaire is the ultimate spot to learn kiteboarding! Thanks to the steady tradewinds and calm tropical waters, kiteboarding becomes comfortable and fun to learn! Our professional IKO-instructors make sure you will have a great time learning this exiting new sport. We offer 3 different courses: Intro to kiteboarding (3 hours), Beginner kiteboarder course (3 x 3hours) and Independent kiteboarder course (5 x 3 hours). After each completed course, you will be certified with an IKO Kiteboarder card, which indicates your current level of kiteboarding. This card will give you access to rental equipment and discounts at worldwide affiliated IKO schools and shops. All our lessons are taught from our safety boat which ensures faster learning in an optimal learning environment. For more information or reservations, call Roan at 011-599-786-6138 or Stephan at 011-599-786-7138, or come and see us at Atlantis beach! Special offer to Dive Into Adventure Bonaire guests: We will offer a 20% discount on our "intro to kiteboarding" lesson and all participants will receive a free Kiteboarding Bonaire T-shirt! Email info@kiteboardingbonaire.com or visit the web site at www.kiteboardingbonaire.com.
Landsailing Bonaire
Landsailing Bonaire has opened the world's largest landsailing track on the east coast of Bonaire. Blokart landsailing is the fastest growing eco-sport and a straight hit in Europe, New Zealand, Japan and the U.S.A. With the opening of the track, Bonaire is the first island in the Caribbean to offer this exciting outdoor activity. The high-tech blokarts were developed in New Zealand and have become very popular due to their safety, speed and maneuverability. To have fun with the blokart, there is no sailing knowledge necessary. Our instructors teach you how to race the blokart landsailer in less than 10 minutes. Blokart landsailing is suited for 8 to 80 year old sports and Landsailing Bonaire has duo-seat blokarts available to sail with younger children and disabled people. Dive Into Adventure Bonaire special: 20% discount on our 1-hour landsailing clinic plus a free soft drink. Come enjoy the sailing adventure with a difference – no water required! For more information, visit www.landsailingbonaire.com or call Nelson Croft at +599 786 8122.
Mangrove Info & Kayak Center
The center is 100% powered by wind and solar energy! Inside our center we have an exhibition about the mangrove forest, including a 7- x 7-foot aquarium featuring mangrove marine life. Visit this unique center at the Kaminda Lac 140. Just follow the road signs to Lac Cai. There is no entrance fee, and no obligation to sign up for an excursion. This educational activity center is open daily from 9 am until 5 pm. Closed on Sundays. The Mangrove Info & Kayak Center offers the following excursions: Guided mangrove kayak tours, solar powered mangrove boat tours and guided mangrove snorkeling. All our excursions are guided by an experienced naturalist who provides in depth and interesting information for snorkelers, divers, and birdwatchers! No kayak experience required, we'll provide basic kayak instruction. Are you a non-swimmer? We have kayak vests available. Feel free to bring your camera, we have zipper bags available. Dive Into Adventure Bonaire 2006 Special: $31.50 for a 2-hour kayak tour (normal price: $ 42.40); $21 for a 1-hour kayak tour (normal price: $25). For more informion, visit www.mangrovecenter.com.
Outdoor Bonaire Outdoor Bonaire is the only company on the island specialised in different types of outdoor activities. Everything is on a private basis (always small groups so you enjoy nature at its best). The tours vary from mangrove kayaking, cave exploration (and snorkeling), rapelling from a lighthouse, hiking, mountain biking to top rope climbing. All Dive Into Adventure Bonaire guests can join all morning activities for free. This includes rappeling, toprope climbing, mountain biking, caving or kayaking. Participants also have the opportunity to do a one day tour in the Washington Slagbaai National Park. During the park tour you will get to see all the best parts of the park, including the rough coast where waves are pounding on the rocks, the highest mountain on Bonaire (Brandaris) with its fabulous views and some small beaches. You will also stop at the old plantation house for a refreshing swim. Coffee and tea will be made fresh on the tour. Dive Into Adventure Bonaire guests will get a 15% discount on the $80 price (ex. 5% tax). The tour will only be done for groups of four people. For more information, visit www.outdoorbonaire.com or contact Hans Voerman at hans@outdoorbonaire.com.
Piedra So Golf Club
The private Piedra So Golf Club opened in April 2004 with eighteen holes. The fairways of this par 71 golf course exist of sand and small local growths with bigger stones and rocks removed. The greens are actually brown, covered with a fine sandy grid and are somewhat manufactured. If you miss the green, you probably end up in the rough, existing of wabi-trees, cactus and other challenging natural obstacles. This is true desert golf in a rugged setting. Toss in the ever lasting trade winds and the Caribbean sun and you have all of the elements for an exciting round of eco golf. The golf course on the desert floor where Bonaire's borders meet the rough sea is wide and flat. This craggy, rocky landscape is carved and gouged by the rains that shower Bonaire during the rainy season. The area situated on the east coast of the island seems not very inviting, but creative, experienced golf players designed a beautiful eco golf course, respecting the environmental and natural treasures of Bonaire. The golf club related her name to the course and is therefore called "Piedra So," which means "only stones" in the local language Papiamentu. DIAB Special: Introduction to the game of golf, $20 (an experienced player will be available). A 9-hole round, including set, trolley, 3 balls, $30 per person (regular fee $45). For more information, call 011-599-786-3728 or visit their web site at www.piedraso.com.
Riding Academy The Riding Academy Club at Kunuku Warahama is offering a $10 discount to all Dive Into Adventure Bonaire attendees off the normal rate of $100 for a beach trail ride and swimming with the horses. Morning rides begin at 8:30am and are done between noon and 12:30pm; afternoon rides from 2 to 5:30pm. Minimum two, maximum five guests. Reservations are necessary. Call 011-599-560-7949 or 011-599-786-2094. You can also email marionbonaire@bonairelive.com or visit their web site at www.horsebackridingbonaire.com.
Woodwind: Fun Sun Sail Snorkel Daily sails with two stops for snorkeling. Includes a guided drift snorkel at Klein Bonaire, open bar all day, snacks, warm lunch, dessert. Bring your towel, we will take care of the rest. A day to relax. Sail on a 37-foot trimaran and just enjoy another day in paradise. Sunset sails on request. For more information, call 011-599-786-7055, or visit www.woodwindbonaire.com, www.sailbonaire.com and www.snorkelbonaire.com.
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