Bonaire!!

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:08 PM

finally got through all the photos from my awesome awesome vaca

Bonaire is pretty crazy because it like Arizona in the middle of the Caribbean. . . . totally dry and covered in cacti and lizards. It is 100% surrounded by reef, making it a huge destination for divers and snorkelers. The reef in fact comes right up to the shore (you can plop in anywhere) which makes it a highly desirable dive destination since you don't have to travel by boat to get to your dive site.

Powerful trade winds come in from the east making the east coast "unswimmable" . . way too rough . . . however, a huge bay on the eastern shore is completely sheltered and is knee deep the whole way across, making it one of the top spots in the world to learn how to windsurf.

Enjoy

flamingo from the park:

park in the north:

shot of the rough eastern shore:

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:09 PM

some cacti in the sunset:

this is crazy . . that dark line in the middle, is the TOP of a huge school of fish. That whole dark spot is the school . . . you could almost walk on them

pelican enjoying the fish:

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:12 PM

this place was called Bachelor's Beach . . . pretty typical entry

the shoreline down south. Not very many "beaches" on Bonaire, . . a few, but most of the coast is still rocky and covered in reef

the souther tip of Bonaire is devoted to the manufacturing of Salt. Basically they move the seawater from one huge salt pan to another . . letting it get more and more concentrated as it goes. As it gets towards the end, there is barely any water left, and it turns pink . . just like the Red Sea. Salt pan on the right, ocean on the left

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:14 PM

some lounging on the Bay on the east coast:

Divers up and down the coast leave markers so they can orient themselves when they come up from dives. They get decorated as time goes by

another view of the final salt pan and the huge mounds of harvested salt:

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:15 PM

another "beach" entry . .this one was up north

a popular dive pier . . the little boxes on the bench accept the air tanks when the diver sits down

some iguanas posing for food (seriously, they let me get like 20 shots off) that's my man shawn snorkeling in the background

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:16 PM

at the bar

another lizard looking for a handout

these yellow rocks marked every dive site on the island (about 50 - 60 . . . ish)

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:18 PM

windsurfing on the bay

shawn and i walked all the way out one day, took us over 40 minutes to get to the outside, maybe the water got up to our waist . . its surreal

me jumping off the cliff at our favorite dive site: Oil Slick

Alex655321 · 08-13-2008, 10:25 PM

WOW !

Beautiful Place !

Thanks for those outrageous shots with the dialog Erin

VinReaper · 08-13-2008, 10:26 PM

Absolutely amazing!

Great pics and commentary I felt like I was there, sort of! So now I have a few questions.

First Question: Why are you here?

Second Question: When are you going back?

Third and Final Question: Can I go back with you and Sean when you do go? LOL!

Thanks E! That was my vacation this year!

VR

Mandragora · 08-13-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex655321

WOW !

Beautiful Place !

Thanks for those outrageous shots with the dialog Erin

my pleasure! thanks for looking!

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinReaper

Absolutely amazing!

Great pics and commentary I felt like I was there, sort of! So now I have a few questions.

First Question: Why are you here?

Second Question: When are you going back?

Third and Final Question: Can I go back with you and Sean when you do go? LOL!

Thanks E! That was my vacation this year!

VR

#1 because i have to pack up my stuff

#2 december 27

#3 i was just about to ask you