Holiday Dates : 25 September - 3 October 1998
The Island
 Bonarie is located 50km north of Venezuela and is one of the trinity of Dutch Caribbean islands known as the ABCs - Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Bonaire established its marine park in 1979 and remains one of the most eco-conscious islands in the Caribbean. Bonaire's donkeys are descendents of those from past days when they worked to haul salt, tools, water, people, and supplies between Rincon and the salt pans located at the southern most point of the island, since, at that time, there was no other mode of transportation. Now some of the donkeys still roam the island. Bonaire is home to a small breeding ground enough for about 2000 flamingos to nest, one of only a handful of such breeding  grounds worldwide. The population of flamingos island wide ranges from 7,000 to 15,000 depending on the season. The Flamingo Sanctuary is located within the salt pans on the southern end of Bonaire and it is strictly forbidden to enter there. However, flamingos can be seen meandering about the salt ponds in search of a meal, and are generally quite visible at the Goto Meer located at the southern part of Washington Park. Common but endangered is the Prikichi, a small bright green Caribbean parakeet with a yellow face.
Washington Slagbaai National Park covers almost one third of the island.
The park is open from 8am until 5pm, and no entry is allowed after 3pm. The rough dirt roads take you through kilometers of Giant Candle cactus (locally known as Kadushi) aloe vera, and divi trees. iguanas sit by the road, sunning themselves.
The diving
Average water temperature: 28 Celsius
Wetsuit used: 5mm Long John
 Captain Dons Habitat allows 24 hours a day diving where the air tanks are left full at the end of the pier and you just pick them up kit up and go. With unlimited shore diving there are also morning and afternoon boat dives to the more remote sites and Klien Bonaire. If you hire a car to travel around the island there are also yellow shore dive markers indecating the lcation of the site just off shore.
The dives mentioned below should give you a idea about the diving.
Captain Dons Pier.
The dive directly of the pier was easy and the coral in very good condition, on an evening dive we were also accompanied by a large Tarpon.
Rappel
Nice seascape with the soft and hard coral, life included a Sea Hourse and Tarpon.
Food and entertainment
The food at Captain Dons Habitat was good and releatively cheap and they also laid on a divers disco with snack once a week. The main town Kralendijk has a mixture of places to eat and drink and ranging in price.
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Travel
The holiday was booked through Harlequin Holidays. The outward flight was early morning from Heathrow on British Airways to Amsterdam, then connected with the KLM to Bonaire. The return flight required a short stopover in Curaçao before returning to Amsterdam to connect to the plane back to London.
Transfer to Captain Dons Habitat took approximately 20 minutes.
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