Were in Bonaire 9/3--10/7. It was one of the best trips we've ever had (I think this was our 22 or 23rd).

Anyway, we did 12 dives (lost one day courtesy of "Joyce") and although the visibility was less than normal and the water warmer (which concerns me), there certainly did seem to be increased fish activity.

We dove the Divi house reef (3), Oil Slick Leap, Andrea, 1000 Steps, Karpata (2), Windsock, Tori's reef, Small Wall and Withces hut...The result of the wave action is truely evident on a case by case basis. Many sites, like 1000 Steps, if I'm not mistaken, lost the plethora of soft, shallow corals, but once to the slope everything was A-OK.

In conclusion, IMO, the reef did sustain some serious damage and is for years to come different than it was before. That means inferior (perhaps) in the shallows, the same over the edge and different (as mother nature intended) overall. It remains my favorite dive destination

Since 1981, I have seen the same type of shallow water smashing of coral a few times. The coral comes back. The reef fish are easier to see in the shallows right now. This is the way nature is. Small changes - in 2 - 3 years all will be back to normal (?). But with all the elk horn and stag horn coral, you couldn't get into the water... so what is normal?

Peggy,
I agree with you for the most part, but there are some areas that where there once was coral there is now nothing but sand / bottom. These areas won't be "coming back" quickly IMO.

But, as with all of mother nature's acts, from the fires at Yellowstone, to the volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helen to devestating mud slides, I notice that we lose "people" things and immediate beauty only to be replaced with the next phase.

I don't concern myself with natural disaster nearly as much as the pain I feel from man made disaster. We live in the Fl. Keys, and while it is a nice place to live and play, our near shore waters are now polluted, yet the powers that be have their "proof" that it (the pollution)isn't coming from our septic tanks and (here's the crux) it is too expensive to build treatment plant(s). I really think it is a problem, but you know, if "W" is elected we'll probably be looking at oil wells in the gulf anyway...My point being I hope Bonaire is reviewing these infrastructure necessities as its next logical step.

Also, while this trip had many things that we perceived to be inferior to previous trips (visibility & storm damage) we still came out of it feeling just great...Must be the positives out weighed the (perceived) negatives by quite a lot...As Arnold says "I'll be back"...