TROPICAL: BONAIRE ... The 'Fringing Reefs'

 

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BONAIRE ! ... Just the Diving 

🤿 🐢

But, we will do an island driving tour later; for that go here.

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Readers: Blue links are clickable

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GETTING HERE

Our very accommodating neighbour, Tony (once again) drove us from our home in Wellington to the Belleville train station at around 11:00 am. We were on the VIA Rail train by 12:30 pm and in the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto by 4:00 pm; after a couple of additional shorter commuter and airport train travel segments between. We'll overnight here. This is a very relaxed way for us to travel and eliminates the hassle of winter driving on Hwy 401 into TO. We had some snow overnight so unfortunately we were not able to completely escape shovelling the driveway out before leaving. 

We departed for BONAIRE the following morning at 10:10 am. It's a 5h 30m direct flight to Flamingo International Airport, (also called Bonaire International Airport). The airport is located near Kralendijk on BONAIRE's west coast. We had an overall delay of slightly more than 1.5 hours; waiting for a replacement cabin crew member, tug truck difficulties pulling the plane out of a frozen puddle, de-icing the plane. 

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PHOTOS ONLY

If you prefer to skip over all the boring, diving-related text that I've written to accompany this post; click on any image or photo. That will launch a minimized gallery on your screen that you can just scroll (< >) through.

AND, just in case you wondered where BONAIRE is; here's a map.

Mark's 500th Dive

 

And ... I was there! 

The underwater stills and videos are all Marks' with the exception of the one still I took of him. Mark used an iPhone 14 Pro in a SeaLife SportDiver case.

Surface photography is by Helen and Mark.

Click on the blue links for additional information.

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We are diving in Parque National Arrecifes de Cozumel.

Our first tank dive of the day was at Columbia Deep to a deepest depth of 94'. 

Reef Description:

Experience level. Intermediate to Advanced. Current is sometimes unpredictable.

This is a beautiful wall dive. The coral formations are extremely healthy. You will see towers of coral built on the skeletons of ancient coral that has built up over millions of years. Giant Barrel Sponges, as well as Deepwater Fans and Black Coral form a nice backdrop for photography. There tend to be more fish and animals here than on Palancar. If you are lucky, you might spot an eagle ray cruising the sand or the depths. You'll see some Scrawled Filefish, Queen Angelfish, and lots of schools of blue Creole Wrasse. You can hardly miss seeing a few turtles here. 

All photography is taken at Columbia Shallow, second tank dive to a deepest depth of 27'; no surface interval required ... ascend, travel a short boat distance, change tanks and re-enter. The dive is under 30' so divers just off-gas for the duration; in our case a little more than 1 hour bottom time. 

Reef Description:

Experience level. Beginner. Mild Currents in a protected bay like area.

These shallow coral heads rise 10-30' above the sandy ocean floor. Situated near Colombia Lagoon this area sometimes gets cool fresh water coming from the lagoon. This may make visibility less than the 150' -200' that you normally expect in Cozumel. For this reason, you will see a lot of fish and turtles that have been relatively undisturbed.

Fastboat Johnny, Captain Lyka, Dive Master Sergio

Fairly calm surface conditions during the boat ride, a rainbow overhead and a small group of divers ... couldn't ask for a better start to this epic day.

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Columbia Deep & Columbia Shallow 

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What we saw ... octopus, turtles, toadfish, scorpionfish, needlefish, nurse shark, lobster

What we saw & photographed ... 

Scorpion Fish ... hard to spot, rare to see

Juvenile (2-3 feet) Nurse Shark

Hawksbill Turtle

Octopus

Mark ... holding up 5 fingers

 

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On Shore 

Helen made arrangements with our friend Pau; owner and baker at The Noisy Cupcake here on the island. A conspiracy was hatched to deliver the cake while we were out diving and then store it away in a refrigerator for later. After our lunch was over and without Marks' knowledge one of the servers snuck the cake to the table ... I believe he was surprised.


Congratulations mi amigo ... as a Master Diver with 500 dives in 17 years, yours is an accomplishment to be proud of.

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We're on a 5-week SCUBA/Snorkel adventure this time.

LOAF couldn't make the trip ... literally. 

  

You can follow all our travels here.

  

For all photos from this trip see our Trip159 gallery.

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Swimmin' With The Fishies!

We weren't sure if we'd even get away!

We had intended on being away for the whole winter once again, but (as was the case, with our winter of 2015 plans) ... things got overly complicated!

A townhouse we are having built has been delayed by about 7 months now. We should have been moved in by August of 2017; unfortunately, we're now looking at mid-March 2018. We had also hoped to be away for 2-3 weeks but, now we're down to only one. We'll be joined by Heather & Randy but, unfortunately will miss our American friends Janet & Andy who will be there ' just a few days after us ' and Mark and Reese whom it seems, we will now ' miss by just a few weeks ' ... SIGH!

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This first view is from our our rental apartments' deck in Bath ON ... it was easy to leave! 

A 3 hour drive to Toronto, then a 4 hour flight, almost due south to Cozumel MEXICO and the next view ... it will NOT be easy to leave! 

Three Weeks on Cozumel Island & the Launch of Dive Group CANUSUKair

It took awhile to get this post completed and published. Slow Mexican internet connections!

We had intended on being away for the whole winter once again, but aging parents and the subsequent family responsibilities that followed, required we re-evaluate those plans. So, instead of a November / December 2015 departure, this years' Sunbird Adventure doesn't begin until March of 2016. This is our fourth SCUBA and Snorkelling trip to Cozumel Island, MEXICO. It’s now become a tradition! We’ll be joined this time by Janet & Andy from Illinois, USA, Joe & Rosa & their daughter Daniella from ENGLAND, UK and Randy & Heather from Saskatchewan; an international group, should be fun.

We have a few days booked at the Explorean Cozumel before joining the others at Hotel Cozumel & Resort. The Explorean is a few kilometres further south along the west coast near the Chankanaab Reef. This is a smaller resort that's part of the much larger Fiesta Americana. It's a bit more private and tucked into the jungle behind the main condominium portion of the resort. Helen scored us a good rate here and we're going to take advantage of some of the activity tours they offer and maybe see some parts of the island in a different way during this trip.

SCUBA Diving & Snorkelling on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Journal Entry: Tuesday, March 03 - Wednesday, March 18
Taxi from Akumal to the ferry dock in Playa del Carmen, a ferry to San Miguel and then a taxi to Hotel Cozumel & Resort on Cozumel Island.

 Cozumel Ferry Dock

INSTRUCTION: PADI Advanced Diver Certification: Hotel Cozumel & Resort, Cozumel Is., QR, MEXICO

Wikipedia: MEXICO

Meeting up with diving and snorkelling buddies Heather & Randy to spend time under a tropical sun and underwater in the warm Caribbean Sea is always a good time. I completed my PADI Advanced Diver Certification.

INSTRUCTION: PADI Open Water Certification: Hotel Cozumel & Resort, Cozumel Is., QR, MEXICO

A Spectacular Reef

Friends Heather & Randy introduced us to this spot. We first met them on a trip to CUBA a couple of years ago. They've been to this resort more than a dozen times and they say the diving is spectacular ... they were truthful! The resort is quiet and clean, food is good, the staff are friendly and costs are reasonable. I completed my PADI Open Water Certification here at an on-site dive shop. The Cozumel Reef is one of the healthiest remaining reefs in the world. There's a nice drive around the mostly undeveloped, east coastline of Cozumel Island and walking from the resort into nearby San Miguel is easily done ... restaurants that feature authentic Mexican cuisine & local wines, friendly locals, some shops and bars, a waterfront area, ferry service to nearby Playa del Carmen.

Sandals Royal Hicacos, Veradero, CUBA

 

Diving The 'Bay of Pigs'

Synopsis: This was our third trip to CUBA and our most enjoyable. We found the time went faster on this adventure than in any other 'southern' country we've visited. Unlike our first trip to CUBA, in 2005, we didn't do much travelling around this time - most days were spent laying around the pools, reading and walking along the beach. 

Super Club Breezes, Paradise Island, BAHAMAS

Wikipedia: BAHAMAS

We were here for a brief stay only, April 20 - 23.

It's always difficult to get a truly realistic feel for anywhere, with such a brief stay, but, in general, we found this region of New Providence & Paradise Islands to be clean, well-cared for, expensive, quiet and safe. Locals are friendly and polite and ther isn't the presence of obnoxious panhandlers and street vendors that are so often encountered in other Caribbean countries. We did notice a couple of timeshare salespeople along the beach and in Nassau but they were mostly 'soft selling'. There appears to be a lot of new residential, commercial and tourist development and also some renovations of older resorts and properties. 

INSTRUCTION: PADI SCUBA Certification: Henry Morgan Resort, Roatan Is., HONDURAS

FIRST Time SCUBA Diving

 

Wikipedia: HONDURAS

Why didn't someone tell me about this 30 years ago? I would have started diving then! It's like being in a giant fish-tank ... what a natural high! 

Melia Cayo Santa Maria, Jardines del Ray, CUBA

A Favourite Country

We felt isolated at this resort and for that reason alone, we would probably not return. I would recommend it to others though – it ranks quite high when we compare it to all the others we've stayed at. It’s a perfect location for anyone who doesn't need to do any tours or leave at all. The closest towns are back on the mainland – a journey back across the 48 km causeway. Most activities are focussed on the resort. Any tours that leave the resort are for full days or in some cases multi-day. We weren't able to travel the Cuban countryside or visit the small towns and villages like we did in 2003 because of our isolation.

Rooms On The Beach, Ocho Rios, JAMAICA

Ja Mon!

Wikipedia: JAMAICA

This may be our last chance at a quick getaway for awhile ... we'll begin construction of a new home when we return. We hesitate to commit to only one week trips, because there is never enough time to do anything other than become moderately acquainted with any area. This last minute hotel based trip to Jamaica was certainly no exception. But we did experience enough wonderful Jamaican scenery, people, food and music to convince us to return someday.

Ocho Rios, JAMAICA Photography

Crusty ...

Punta Cana Princess Resort, Punta Cana, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

               
 

Santo Domingo is an ancient Caribbean seaport city of firsts, discovered by Christopher Columbus it became the first capital of the new territories, the first to have Spanish coinage, a fort, a monastery, a cathedral, a university, a hospital and a palace.

Santo Domingo is where Madrid's rulers in 1512 set up the highest level of its judicial system since the Middle Ages, the Spanish Colonies' first royal appellate court.

Isla de Margarita, Neuva Esparata State, VENEZUELA

Wikipedia: VENEZUELA

This trip marks our first time in South America, although barely. This was a typical resort based vacation. We were quite idle, didn't move around much and to be fair we never got more than a brief tasted of the culture of Margarita Island, let alone any exposure at all to the mainland of Venezuela. Only the Dominican Republic was explored earlier than this island (Simon Bolivar landed here 2nd) and yet there is hardly any evidence of 500 year old Spanish history.

Starz Azzurro Resort, Cabarete, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

We Enjoyed the People the Most

Wikipedia: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

LOGISTICS

Accommodation: Starz Azzurro Resort, Cabarete, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Currency: The official currency is the Dominican Republic peso. A small commission may be charged for exchanging CDN $. US dollars are accepted in some businesses.

The Dominican people are wonderful. They are sincerely friendly, happy and pleasant, but very poor. The only Caribbean country poorer is Haita. Our visit was focussed primarily around the resort and adjacent town area. We travelled the highway from Puerto Plata but never visited the city. The only part of the countryside we visited was during the bike tour. Subsistence farming is common and the people live at a very low standard. They do what they can to make any money at all and that includes trying to sell just about anything, however we didn't witness any begging. The tourist industry has caused much of the economic growth and a move to the coastal areas. Families have relocated from the farming and mountainous regions to find higher paying jobs.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2004 Photography

Crusty ...

Royal Decameron and Gamboa Rainforest Resorts, PANAMA

Mucho, Mucho Sol ... Mucho, Mucho Calor

Wikipedia: PANAMA

We only saw a small part of this country in the two weeks we were here. Even though we were in three Provinces, we barely entered Cocle and Colon. The heat and humidity at the time of year we were here is very oppressive. Sizzling hot, temperatures ranged between the low 30's to low 40's C and the humidity was typically between 80 and 90%. 

Super Club Breezes Jibacoa, Playa Jibacoa, CUBA

Wikipedia: CUBA

We left the resort grounds and made several trips into the countryside. We met a number of Cubans whose families had been working the land for generations. Western propoganda has done immeasurable damage to the way in which Cuba is viewed internationally. The people are wonderful! An overwhelming percentage (90%+) support Castro and the Revolution ... even those Cubans that fled to the USA support the Revolution, but not Castro.

El Dorado Royal Resort, Quintana Roo, MEXICO

FIRST Trip to MEXICO

LOGISTICS

Travel: Ottawa > Cancun > El Dorado Royal - 4 hr flight, customs, a corona getting on the bus, 45 min bus trip, 3 hr check in delay while room was cleaned, eat - drink - beach - eat - drink - bed.
Photography: Scanned analog

El Dorado Royal Resort, Quintana Roo Photography