The turquoise waters of Bachelor’s Beach
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There are many marine organisms that can put a damper on your experience in Bonaire, from stinging jellyfish to fire corals and moray eels. Some of these potentially dangerous marine creatures are listed on pages 252–255 with information on how to treat the wounds. We have included information in that section on the harm these species can cause and some of the common treatments.
Crime does exist on Bonaire, although the island is considered one of the safer places in the Caribbean for visitors. Please approach your trip with an appropriate level of caution and safety-conscious behavior. Do not leave anything of value in your car while you go out diving. In fact, many rental companies suggest leaving vehicle doors unlocked to demonstrate the absence of anything of value inside.
If you get injured there are several places to seek quality medical care on the island. Bonaire’s only hospital is the San Francisco Hospital located in downtown Kralendijk. The hospital has 60 beds and if you need to spend the night, you will need to bring your own overnight supplies, such as pillow, blankets and toiletries. There are also a few clinics on the island, including some that cater to the diving community. Bonaire also has its own decompression chamber located just across the road from the hospital, which is available with a referral from the doctor on duty or the hospital. It also has an air ambulance service.
The healthcare system in Bonaire is adequate for most needs, but if the injury or illness is beyond the ability of the island’s medical expertise, you may need to be transported to Curaçao or elsewhere for treatment. Consider purchasing travel and dive-related health insurance prior to your trip. Without coverage, an accident could be costly.
In case of an emergency, here are some important numbers and places to seek help:
An excercise during diver safety training
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In case of emergency
Emergency contacts
Police 911
Hospital and Ambulance: 912
Fire department: 911
Headquarters of the
Dutch Caribbean
Police Force - Bonaire
4 Kaya Libertado Simon Bolivar, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-715-8000 (non-emergency)
Tel: +599-717-8000 (non-emergency)
Email: [email protected]
Politiecn.com/en/locations/
BONAIRE
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Roy Pedersen/Shutterstock ©
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
BONAIRE
San Francisco Hospital
Open 24 hours
2 Kaya Soeur Bartola, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-717-8900 (non-emergency)
Email: [email protected]
Fundashonmariadal.org
Hyperbaric Recompression Chamber
Kaya Soeur Bartola, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-717-8187
Email: [email protected]
Bonairehyperbaric.com
Dive Medical Bonaire
96 Kaya Grandi, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-700-5230 (24h/7)
Email: [email protected]
Divemedicalbonaire.com
Pharmacies
Botica Bonaire
27 Kaya Grandi, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-717-8905
Fax: +599-717-8063
Botica Korona
180 Kaya Korona, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-717-7552
Fax: +599-717-4855
Botica Sabana
26 Kaya Nikiboko Zuid, Kralendijk
Tel: +599-717-5638
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Kiteboarding
BONAIRE
Wallenrock/Shutterstock©
Bonaire offers visitors and locals near-perfect conditions for kiteboarding. Consistent winds, flat water and accessible beaches will appeal to kiteboarders of all experience levels. The kiteboarding schools and rental locations are concentrated near the southeastern coast, operating out of a small stretch of coastline known as Atlantis Beach – just over 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the Salt Pier along the coastal road. The beach has become such a focal point for kiteboarding on the island that you are more likely to hear people refer to it by its unofficial name, Kite Beach.
The site is easy to spot from the
