most of the year. As a result, the protected west coast rarely experiences large waves or rough seas while the less-developed east coast has very strong surf. The latter is
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Natural mangroves line many of the coastal roads in southern Bonaire
Reef Smart ©
exposed to the full force of the wind except during late August and September, when the trade winds change direction and blow from the west. The corals of Bonaire thrive in the protected lee of the island. Another factor that contributes to the high quality of the reef is the crystal-clear waters. Visibility often exceeds 80 feet (25 meters) and great viz paired with steady sunshine and white coral sand turn the waters between the shore and the fringing reef a gorgeous azure-blue color that people have come to expect from a tropical paradise.
Currents and tides
The tidal cycle in Bonaire is mild, measuring a mere foot to a foot and a half (less than a meter). It is enough to make a difference in some of the entry points over shallow reefs, but nothing that will unduly impact a day of diving. Currents along the west coast are typically light, although there can be a strong long-shore current along the island’s many reef walls. A few dive sites near the far south of the island and in the extreme north regularly experience strong currents, particularly where the east coast currents wrap around either end of the island and come into contact with the calmer waters of the west coast.
Ecosystems
Coral reefs
All of Bonaire’s reefs are fringing reefs, meaning
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A view of the pink salt ponds from above the Cargill Salt Works
Andy Troy/Shutterstock ©
they are situated close to shore – sometimes just 30 feet (10 meters) from the shoreline. Most reefs start relatively shallow and descend at a steep angle, and some of them form true walls that descend almost vertically down to depths of 130 feet (40 meters) or more.
The shallow back reef area between the reef line and the shore is often filled with soft corals and healthy stands of staghorn coral – a sign of the quality of Bonaire’s reefs. Elkhorn coral replaces the staghorn in areas with stronger currents and wave action. This type of habitat offers protection to small juvenile reef fishes. And the proximity of this nursery habitat to the reef wall helps promote the diversity and abundance of reef species throughout the whole ecosystem.
Mangroves
Bonaire has small areas of mangrove habitat near the southern end of the island, along the stretch of coastal road to the south and around the saliñas in the north. A much larger mangrove
system thrives on the east coast of the island in the shallow waters of Lac Bay. Mangroves help stabilize coastal shorelines and prevent erosion from damaging the nearby reef systems. Do not damage any mangrove trees as you access dive sites from the shore and pay attention to the delicate aerial roots that may be underfoot if you are crossing a saliña to reach a shore dive. Park only in designated areas to avoid damaging the surrounding mangrove ecosystem.
The east coast mangrove ecosystem is located in Lac Bay. It is one of the best-preserved mangrove ecosystems in the Caribbean. The nearby Bonaire Mangrove Center (Mangrovecenter.com) offers guided kayak and boat tours throughout the day on every day of the week except Sunday, when the center is closed. Snorkeling tours are also provided through the mangrove channel and out across the adjacent seagrass beds. The Lac Bay mangroves are part of a system of marine protected areas and terrestrial parks that cover nearly 60 percent of Bonaire.
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One reason for the remarkable health and quality of Bonaire’s fringing reefs is the fact that the island shelters the west coast from the high winds that almost exclusively come from the east. In the absence of high winds, the surf is rarely strong, which allows the corals to survive and thrive. Another reason: the
low degree of development and lack of large-scale agriculture means there is little by way of nutrient-rich runoff to promote algal growth, which can outcompete corals for space on the reef. Last – but certainly not least – Bonaire has been very proactive in helping protect its reef resources and surrounding waters as far back as the 1960s, which helped sustain the country’s coral reefs.
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Marine conservation and management
Bonaire fringing reefs are home to more than 350 species of reef fishes and almost every species of hard and soft coral present in the Caribbean. The island is considered a biodiversity hotspot in the Caribbean and has earned an international reputation for not just the quality of its diving but its successful conservation programs as well – proof positive that tourism and conservation can be mutually beneficial forces. The Bonaire government takes their duty to manage these resources seriously, and the nation has undertaken many conservation and management initiatives to protect the environment. In fact, the
Bonaire model is considered so successful that the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has designated it a demonstration site, and the model was the basis for a similar program in Indonesia.
STINAPA
Stichting Nationale Parken (STINAPA) Bonaire is a non-governmental organization tasked with managing the island’s two main national parks: the Bonaire National Marine Park (Marine Park) and the Washington Slagbaai National Park (see page 20). Divers must pay a $25
