Bonaire Dive Sites

Family travel five: Make a splash with a diving trip

Explore our underwater world during a family dive vacation. Here are five places to consider:</p><p> 1. Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros Island, Bahamas. Check into one of this family-run resort's 21 cottages and prepare to explore, relax and enjoy a special holiday. Young children can begin by participating in the young naturalist program before moving on to shoreline snorkeling lessons, a snorkel reef trip and then on to SASY (Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth) Diving. The latter enables kids 7 to 9 to experience the underwater world wearing a small tank and other dive gear. At age 10, the Discover Scuba program is available for those interested in pursuing the next level. The resort's on-site dive staff will provide scuba lessons for one or more. The all-inclusive resort offers complimentary baby-sitting from 6 to 9 p.m.</p><p> Contact: 800-223-6961; www.smallhope.com.</p><p> 2. Florida Keys. Explore the only living coral reef system in the continental United States during a visit to this scenic South Florida region. For kids 8 and older: The Summer Marine Science Camp at Pigeon Key, a historic site 100 miles southwest of Miami, offers programs that include information about reef fish, coral reef systems, underwater photography and the gathering of specimens. Kids can get scuba certification during a camp session or brush up if already certified. Also included: underwater obstacle courses, volleyball and snorkeling. Also in the region: the Wreck Trek Passport Program, spotlighting the Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail, where certified divers can explore a string of sunken vessels and artificial reefs with local dive instructors.</p><p> Contact: 305-289-0025; www.pigeonkey.net; www.fla-keys.com/diving.</p><p> 3. Brac Reef, Cayman Brac. From this small, family-friendly island, families can enjoy a dive vacation that includes exploring the waters around Cayman Brac as well as the Russian Frigate and the Bloody Bay Wall near Little Cayman Island. The on-site dive shop provides personalized attention to the soon-to-be certified as well as the seasoned diver. The all-inclusive beachfront resort also offers free bike rentals to explore the island, spa services and volleyball. Ask about special packages for families.</p><p> Contact: 1-800-594-0843; www.bracreef.com.</p><p> 4. Grand Wailea, Maui. For families who choose to blend a luxury resort holiday with a scuba experience, this hotel fits the bill. Give the sport a try by joining instructors twice daily in the comfort of Hawaii's only specially designed scuba pool. Interested in learning more? Certification classes are offered at every level. Once the instruction is complete, escorted ocean dives are available. Meanwhile, families can enjoy the super-cool pool on the property, an expansive beach, a spa and numerous family-focused resort programs.</p><p> Contact: 808-875-1234; www.grandwailea.com.</p><p> 5. Harbour Village, Bonaire. Children ages 5 to 12 can join the Kid's Great Adventures program at this Caribbean resort. They will learn about the Bonaire Marine Park, snorkel, identify fish and get comfortable with the park's SASY program. Children 8 and up can take part in the Professional Association of Diving Instructors' Bubblemaker program, which lets young enthusiasts breathe with a regulator in shallow ocean water. At 10, kids can earn their Junior Scuba Certification. From now through Dec. 16, the second diver in your party dives free when you book the Dive Into Luxury Package. Children under 16 stay free in the room with their parents.</p><p> Contact: 1-800-424-0004; www.harbourvillage.com.</p><p> Resource: www.padi.com.</p><p> Lynn O'Rourke Hayes is editor of FamilyTravel.com: lohayes@FamilyTravel.

Bonaire Dive Sites | LIQUID ADVENTURES

Over the last two decades, Bonaire has consistently 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.The Bonaire National Marine Park was established in 1979. The Park starts at the high water mark and extends to 200 ft (60 meters) of depth; it covers an area of 6672 acres, or 27 km².

Bonaire license plates read “Diver’s Paradise,” an appropriate description for this boomerang-shaped island just 50 miles north of Venezuela. It boosts some of the most vibrant and healthy marine life I have seen in my 17 yrs as a diver. Everything on the island is set up for divers. You can rent a truck and diver one of Bonaire’s 63 shore dive sites or choose to take a short boat trip to Klein Island and dive another 24 sites.

Bonaire’s dive industry was pioneered by Captain Don Stewart, who set out to build a true haven for divers. His philosophy was simple; build a dive shop with rooms and provide as much freedom so guest divers can dive their own profile in a friendly relaxed atmosphere. At a very early stage Captain Don realized the importance of conservation of Bonaire’s beautiful underwater resources. His endeavors led to the creation of the permanent mooring system and eventually to the Bonaire National Marine Park.

1. Boca Bartol Located in Washington Slagbaai National Park, Playa Funchi is for the advanced diver and has moderate to heavy currents. There is no mooring here, so access is from the shore only. In depths of 15-100 feet, horse-eye jacks can be seen out in blue water. The shallows teem with spotted trunk fish that approach you looking for a hand-out.

4. Bise Morto Another Washington Park dive, this boat dive site can have moderate to strong currents and is recommended for the intermediate to advanced diver. Depths of 20-100 feet offer shallows loaded with elk horn and stag horn coral, hence the name, which means “dead deer.” The deeper waters provide an opportunity to see larger species, including whale sharks and manta rays.

5. Boca Slagbaai Located in Washington Slagbaai National Park, this site is known for its moderate to strong currents and is recommended for intermediate to experienced divers. With depths of 20-100 feet, you may have a chance to see mantas or other smaller rays. At the southern end of the cove, there are cannon in just 10 feet of water. Slagbaai is also accessible by boat.

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