Bonaire has a lot to celebrate. It is no secret that the island is a worldwide destination when it comes to shore diving.
At the 2022 DEMA Show in Orland, Florida, they’re celebrating being voted the “Best Shore Diving Destination” in the Caribbean region for 30 years straight by readers of Scuba Diving Magazine.
Tourism Corporation Bonaire Board marketing and PR project coordinator Annette Emerenciana says the small island municipality of the Netherlands doesn’t plan to stop there. The Bonaire pavilion at DEMA Show had 15 organizations representing scuba diving and beyond.
“We are trying to diversify what Bonaire has to offer,” said Emerenciana. “Our divers will always come, but we want to highlight other opportunities for their non-diving family members that we hope will come with them,” she added.
Some of the activities for divers and non-diving friends in Bonaire include:
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Sailing
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Windsurfing
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Landsailing
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National parks
Bonaire is also celebrating a brand new boutique resort called Belnem House that will open in early 2023. The resort will be completely self-sufficient in energy thanks to a system of solar panels and batteries.
Finally, Bonaire has come a long way in coral restoration in the last 30 years. Buddy Dive Resort is a founding member of the Reef Renewal Foundation. They offer classes to help restore the reef that will keep the reefs in pristine condition for the next 30 years and beyond.
— By Robbie Harper
