Originally deemed useless by the Spaniards, Bonaire eventually became a cattle plantation, with the arrival of repatriated Caquetio Indians and domesticated animals. The few Spanish who remained on the island lived in the interior, in the village of Rincón. The island was eventually ceded to the Dutch in 1636 and was later resettled with African slaves.
Bonaire changed ownership multiple times due to the shifting European politics of the 18th century. In 1816, the island returned to Dutch control once and for all, and quickly developed into a major production center for salt. The economic growth did not last long, however, since the end of the slave trade just a few decades later shut the industry down for nearly a century.
Recent history
Bonaire’s economy began to find its legs after the island’s government built its first ship’s pier in the harbor at the turn of the century. The new pier allowed cruise liners to discharge passengers directly to shore and it ushered in a new commercial era for the island, along with making it easier to bring in supplies to the island’s permanent residents. Construction of hotels and a modern airport helped establish Bonaire as a tourist destination in the years following the Second World War.
Salt production resumed in the 1960s and the tourism industry has gradually increased, particularly since the rise in popularity of recreational SCUBA diving and snorkeling.
Until recently, Bonaire has been part of the constituent country of the Netherlands Antilles. As of 2010, however, and after a referendum and a great many constitutional discussions, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved. Bonaire, along with St. Eustabius and Saba, is now a municipality
Middle terrace I
Higher terrace
Washikemba formation
Modern sea level
Lower
terrace
Diagram of the geology of Bonaire
Middle terrace II
Historic
sea level
Reef
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ABOUT BONAIRE
of the Netherlands. This means Bonaire residents have the same rights (and follow the same laws) as Dutch citizens living in continental Europe. By comparison, Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten opted to become autonomous countries within the kingdom of the Netherlands, with their own separate governments.
Bonaire today
Population
Bonaire has a population of nearly 20,000 people, which is experiencing a modest growth rate. The island’s economy is largely dependent on tourism (thanks mainly to its mild, dry climate and stunning coral reefs). As a result, residents are outnumbered by the island’s more than 350,000 annual visitors. The island’s other major economic sectors include oil transference and salt production.
The basics
The official language of Bonaire is Dutch, although residents also speak their own local language of Papiamentou, which is a mix of Dutch, Spanish, French, English and Portuguese, among others. This language is shared with the residents of nearby Curaçao and Aruba. English is widely
One of the famous yellow painted rocks that mark the dive sites of Bonaire
spoken in Bonaire, and Spanish speakers should have little trouble making themselves understood, given that Papiamentou has strong Spanish roots.
The electricity supply in Bonaire is not quite a match for either North American or European standards: 127 volts / 50 hertz. The outlets are designed for both European and U.S. standard plugs, and most appliances should work well enough. But travelers may want to purchase (or rent) converters and surge protectors while on the island to help protect their more sensitive electronics due to any differences in voltage. The internet is widely available, with a number of free Wi-Fi zones established around the island. Tap water is safe to drink and is generated through desalination – a process where the salt and minerals in seawater are filtered out, leaving clean freshwater.
Visitors
Nearly two-thirds of the island’s visitors arrive via cruise ship while the remainder primarily arrive by plane. Bonaire is also a popular destination for private yachts. Visitors originate from North America and other parts of the kingdom of the Netherlands for the most part, with the balance visiting from Latin America and Europe.
Reef Smart ©
BONAIRE
Middle terrace I
Higher terrace
Washikemba formation
Modern sea level
Lower
terrace
Diagram of the geology of Bonaire
Middle terrace II
Historic
sea level
Reef
12
The yellow facade of Rincón’s St. Louis Bertrand Church
Getting there and getting around
Getting there
The island is a popular cruise destination; you will often see a cruise ship towering over
downtown Kralendijk, the island’s capital and main city. Bonaire has one airport, Flamingo International Airport (BON), which is most frequently reached via connections through Curaçao or Aruba. Direct flights are possible
DID YOU KNOW
For each dive and snorkel site in this guidebook, we describe how to get there by providing directions and time estimates from downton Kralendijk. We selected the corner of Kaya Gobernandor Nicolaas Debrot and Kaya L.D. Gerharts
as the starting point. Please adjust your driving times and directions based on where you are staying on the island. We have also provided GPS locations for each site. Wherever possible, GPS for the shore-accessible sites are in the parking lot, while those sites only accessible by boat feature the location of the buoy.
ABOUT BONAIRE
BONAIRE
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