Bonaire
is ranked as the finest snorkeling and scuba diving destination
in the Caribbean. A major reason for this prominence is the island's
diligent stewardship of its marine resources -- all of the waters
off Bonaire's coast have been legally protected since 1979, and
it shows.
But there
is plenty more to do here. The unusually steady trade winds that
wash over the island create ideal conditions for world-class windsurfing,
and the sere beauty of its semi-desert landscape is home to an
outlandish assortment of wildlife. Iguanas meditatively toast
themselves atop the desert rock formations of Washington Slagbaai,
while vast orange-pink clouds of flamingoes drift across bone-white
salt flats. Divi-divi trees bend into surreal sculptures of the
wind itself, and towering cacti stand as reminders of the Caribbean's
diverse ecology.
Image © 2001 www.arttoday.com
We invite you to explore all these aspects of Bonaire -- and more
-- in the pages that follow. Our dive pages offer the most up-to-date
and comprehensive coverage of Bonaire diving on the world wide
web, including site descriptions, service providers, and a Marine
Park profile.
Welcome to
Bonaire, or, as we say in Papiamentu , Bon Bini!
Location:
30 miles (48 km) from Curacao; 50 miles (80 km) north of Venezuela
and 86 miles (129 km) east of Aruba, outside of the Caribbean
hurricane belt.
Size:
24 miles (39 km) long by 3-7 miles wide, 112 square miles (290
km2). Highest elevation is Brandaris Hill, 784 feet (240 meters).
Climate:
Yearly average temperature is 82°F (27.8°C); water temperature
of 80°F (26.7°C); rainfall of 22 inches (56 cm); humidity
of 76%. Sunny, all year round.
Info taken
from : http://www.bonaire.org/
