We just spent 11 wonderful days in Bonaire! The diving is spectacular as always. This trip, our favorite dive site was Margate! What a harmonious, balanced, spectacular place possessing such a wide variety of coral and fish life! We saw a HUGE green moray eel, beautiful and friendly turtles, barracudas (5), squid and many other beautiful creatures and soft/hard coral life! Our concern is the growing risk posed by divers and kite surfers in close proximity. Bill and I were in 12 feet of water floating above the staghorn coral gardens when I first noticed a difference in the fish behavior - and then right over our heads a kite surfer parted the water as he flew by. It took me a few seconds to process what had just happened and then it really sent a shock wave to my brain when I thought what could have happened had the kite board hit one of us. It really was just a few feet above our heads. From that dive forward when we were in the shallows (15 feet or less) at Margate, one of us would surface very carefully to see where the kite surfers were located. We were at Margate, and the kite surfer that went directly over our heads came from Atlantis. When we surfaced, we counted 7 kite surfers in the water near Atlantis. When we visited Bonaire in October (03) and March (04) we did not see but 2-3 kite surfers.

We love Atlantis and Fish Hut for diving, but we are VERY hesitant to go there because of the kite surfers. What kind of enforceable compromise can we all work out with each other? If we dive at these southern locations, should we as divers take a Dive Flag on a reel and use it in the shallows? Should the kite surfers stay in the deeper areas away from the shallows, which are so great for viewing fish life? We need to work this out before there is an injury or a fight...there is room for both activities, but we need to respect each other and come to a compromise that includes safety considerations for divers and addresses the virtual takeover by kite surfers of Atlantis and Fish Hut (and spreading to Margate).

Hi Bill and Donna.

I'm just wondering if you had a chance to speak to the kiters when you came out of the water? I wonder what they said if so?

No Annette, we did not go down to where the surfers were after the dive. Maybe we should have. I wonder has anyone else had a similar experience while diving?

Hey Goodwins!

Glad to see you made it home safe! We are still on Bonaire working hard, with only the reefcam installation dive under our belts! We are back in the states on Thursday night Take care!

Liz and Ed Ginocchio

Liz and Ed - remember what they say about all work and no play... when are you coming back? We'll be there in early October.

Yes, yes...we are still on Bonaire suffering from PBD because NO DIVING! The Inn is just about finished (I can't believe it!). As soon as we sell the house we are on our way down. We are hoping by October! Hopefully we will be able to get together for a dive. Also, did you get a chance to look at any properties? Take care! Liz

Liz,

Question off subject here but what kind of electrical outlets are in your Inn, US or European?

We do have US standard outlets that will also accept European plugs. Thanks. Liz

Back to the topic.

There are other threadss about this issue, and the kite surfers said that they STAY AWAY from an area if there is a truck or boat at the site.

Obviously this attitude has changed, or you walked there. It is not just the shallows issue either. There are times when it is necessary to surface in deeper water, so the potential for diver injury is also possible.

I think the kite surfers should be subject to the same rules as boats & water craft. But kite surfers are more dangerous because you can't hear them coming, no motor noise to warn you that they are nearby.


Nothing is going to change until a diver is seriously injured. (Pessimism coming thru)

With all of the other issues Bonaire has right now, this really needs to be taken care of and worked out. A death or serious injury to a diver is NOT the kind of publicity that Bonaire wants right now. It is such a shame that a place as beautiful as Bonaire, is in the "spot light" because of the kite surfer issue and the "other" issue. Divers do not want to deal with this....and they do not have to. There are many other places to dive in the Caribbean.

We all like to enjoy our time on Bonaire, Divers and Kiters and there is plenty of space for all of us.
We kiters have been thrown out of Lac Bay with the reason "any new sport is a bad sport" and the government has dedicated Atlantis for kiting. Kiters need flat water-wind and a safe entry/exit. My idea, each of us will have to practice our sport in a safe way, keep your eyes open it is just like drinking and driving.

I will be very careful to make sure my bubbles don't spatter your skull into many pieces.

I am an old (1978 to 1991) high altitude mountaineer, rock climber, technical vertical ice, etc. so I understand completely about new rad sports and issues of access. Never had to worry about hurting someone though (other then my rope partner and myself) if I took a screaming ripper. I figured our dead carcass would feed the critters.

Your sport on the other hand is sorta like target practice with a high powered firearm with no idea of what is down range.

I predict that a kite surfer will kill a diver. If you kill me...so be it...but if you injury Eva...woe is your life.