that it results in fertile offspring; a genus is a group of closely related species.
The descriptions of each species are based on the scientific literature as it existed at the time of publication. Scientific knowledge often advances, however, and the authors welcome any information that helps improve or correct future editions of this guidebook. In-depth species profiles, including images and videos, are available for free on our website – Reefsmartguides.com.
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A view of the water near downtown Kralendijk
OUR “BLUE PLANET”
Our “blue planet”
BONAIRE
Oceans
Water covers nearly three-quarters of our planet’s surface and approximately 96 percent of this water is contained in the major oceans of the world. Together, the oceans drive our planet’s weather, regulate its climate and provide us with breathable air, which ultimately supports every living creature on Earth.
The oceans are vital to our global economy. They produce the food that billions of people depend on for survival, while also being a source of resources, including valuable medicines that treat a wide range of ailments and diseases. The oceans also drive local and regional economies through tourism. Every year, millions of travelers are drawn to coastal regions to enjoy activities above the water and to explore what lies below the surface. Considering how important the oceans are to our way of life, it is incredible how little we know about what lies beneath the sea.
Coral reefs
The oceans include a wide range of different ecosystems, but perhaps the most frequently visited marine ecosystems of all are coral reefs. Coral reefs are known as the rainforests of the sea for good reason – they are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, supporting nearly a quarter of all known ocean species. This figure is even more astounding when you consider that coral reefs comprise just a fraction of one percent of the ocean floor. They are also particularly vulnerable to degradation, given they are only found in a narrow window of temperature, salinity and depth.
Humans have studied the biology and physiology of corals for decades, but the underwater environment remains largely foreign to most people. Fact is, we have more accurate maps of the surface of Mars than we do of the seafloor. And guides of the marine environment suitable for recreational users are almost non-existent.
Reef Smart aims to change this situation. Our detailed guides seek to educate snorkelers and divers alike. Our goal is to improve safety and enhance the marine experience by allowing users to discover the unique features and species that can be found at each site.
Preserve and protect
Hopefully our guidebooks and waterproof dive guides will help you get to know the underwater
environment in general, and reefs in particular. We feel that the more people can come to appreciate the beauty of the underwater world, the more they will be willing to take steps to protect and preserve it.
The world’s oceans are experiencing incredible pressures from all sides. Rising temperatures, increasing acidification and an astonishing volume of plastics that end up in both the water and marine organisms are endangering these precious resources.
Yes there are some big problems to overcome. But we can do this. Each and every one of us can make a difference in the choices we make. And together we can help make sure the beauty of the coral reefs of this world are still around for future generations of snorklers and divers to enjoy.
Sincerely, the Reef Smart team
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ABOUT BONAIRE
Location and formation
Bonaire is located to the west of the Caribbean island chain known as the Lesser Antilles. It is 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Curaçao and 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the coast of Venezuela, this small, remote island has established a reputation as an international dive destination. Bonaire is considered by many divers to have the best shore diving in the Caribbean, and possibly even the world, with something for everyone mere steps from the beach.
The island is flat, rocky and dry. Its highest point tops out at just 784 feet (241 meters) above sea level, and it has a total area of 113 square miles (290 square kilometers). It measures 17 miles (27 kilometers) from north to south and varies in width from 3 to 7 miles (5 and 11 kilometers) with a shape that vaguely resembles a boot with its toes pointing south. Bonaire’s rocks are volcanic in origin, dating back to the Cretaceous period that
ended more than 65 million years ago. This mass of rock, known as the Washikemba formation, was pushed up toward the surface of the water after shifts in the underlying tectonic plates raised the surrounding continental shelf shortly after the Eocene epoch, a period that ended more than 33 million years ago.
Marine sediment settled on the volcanic rocks eventually covering it in layers of limestone. Coral reefs formed during various parts of the Pleistocene era, which dates from 2.6 million years ago to just 11,700 years ago. As sea levels rose and fell during this time, the limestone and reef covering the island eroded away. Evidence of this process is visible today in the terraces (Lower, Middle and Higher Terraces) that appear around the island, most notably in the northeastern regions of the national park. The original volcanic rock lies exposed in some parts of the island, while others still have their limestone covering. The corals shifted along with the changing sea level and are now restricted to the waters surrounding the island.
Paulo Miguel Costa/Shutterstock©
About Bonaire
BONAIRE
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ABOUT BONAIRE
BONAIRE
The history of Bonaire
Bonaire’s recorded history began with the arrival of the Spanish in 1499, led by Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda and his Italian counterpart, Amerigo Vespucci. But the island’s history began well before that year.
Early history
The first human presence on Bonaire dates back to 2,500 BC with the presence of the Arkaiko Indians. Later, the Caquetios Indians, a branch of the Arawak Indians who settled across much of the southern Caribbean, arrived in Bonaire between 800 AD and 1,000 AD, traveling by canoe from the coast of what is now Venezuela. They left their mark in the form of petroglyphs and cave paintings at many sites around the island. When the Spanish conquered the three islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, they captured and enslaved