Bonaire's Vertebrate Zoology

Recently an open water swim buddy of mine sighted a dozen or more blacktips reef sharks while swimming over the dropoff just north of Punt Vierkant. They were swimming south. Did anyone else see them? Another group of blacktips were sighted several times a couple of years ago at Klein's SW Corner. Has anyone else seen these amazing vertebrates?

Bud Gillan
Flying Fish

I see 2 on a regular basis just south of the shrimp farm. They are not very big, 3 to 4 feet.
I have seen the ones at SW corner too, that was about 5 years ago.
Bas

Where is the shrimp farm?

Joe, it's just south of Sorobon. On the south side of lac bay
Yesterday, I went for a drift from a little north of baby beach and drifted to the south past baby beach. We saw 4 black tips. (also 7 stingray and 3 turtles) Sunday we saw 9 sting ray and 4 turtles. Both these dives with BT-ers.
Was happy to see the black tips again. It's has been a while since I seen 'em there.

Bas - oops< I missed your answer but i was in Bonaire at the time. Some excuse huh? Did you have a low wind day?

Wow, that's one heck of a drift, Bas! Great sightings...I'm envious! Ayo. Carole

Hi Joe,
It was a moderate day for the wind. It was down during the night and blowing about 10kt at the time of the dive.
I went again this morning.. same thing.. moderate 10-15kt breeze after same yesterday and down during the night. Again this dive was totally awesome!!! Time in 08:30... 55 min drift on strong northern current from just north baby beach to the south end of shrimp farm fence. This is what we ran into....
11 southern stingray
3 spotted eagle ray
2 black tip reef sharks
3 turtles
4 barracuda
2 palometa
8 midnight blue parrots in a group
2 queen trigger
2 big porcupine
1 green moray
1 gold spotted eel
couple big grouper
herds of bermuda chub and black durgeon
1 caribbean spiny lobster
Not a bad list for a single dive:-)Second dive, another drift, time in 10:45, 62 minutes from about 1km. north of willemstoren lighthouse on a strong southern current to willemstoren lighthouse. Not such a big list of stuff for 2nd dive but still very nice dive. 3 southern stingray, 1 turtle, 2 lobsters, 2 barracuda, big purcupine, 2 palometa etc etc. The current on this dive was wicked... we managed 2 dives in one... when we came to the end of the planned dive we still had over half a tank so went for another stretch (around thelisa wreck to lighthouse)Very nice corals on this dive. Also interesting to see the changes in terrain over such a long stretch. Beginning of the dive had the huge GIANT barrel sponges (5ft tall, 7-8ft long and about 5ft wide!!!)One of the sponges had a lobster hiding in it.
Bas, still buzzed:-)

wheeee and another one this morning... with Back Tips! Same dive lil north of baby beach and drifted north to 'kadasterpaal' (concrete pilar south of the shrimp farm fence) It was a bit rougher which did not help the viz but still very nice. Still pretty surgy down at 50' Not that much stuff as last tuesday as far as numbers go. However some encounters were very diferent from other dives. like a big ol Tarpon and 2 Palometa in the surfzone just as I was putting my fins on. There were only 2 stingray on the dive. Also 1 spotted eagle ray. No turtles this dive :-(
One black tip and later on at top of the shelf going back in there were 2 more. And another stingray very shallow near the shore as we were getting out. That one was a bit odd as I never seen them so close to shore overthere. Bit funny too because at the exit there was a lot of sand (which is usually not there!) and loads of floating seaweed. That was somewhat disorientating with 3' viz and the heavy surge going back and forth 10-15 feet each time. Normally you hang on to small cracks and holes in the bottom and let go again when the surge goes with you and then you shoot forward.... it's fun!!! That was not possible this time because of all the sand. That's also why I avoid getting out (and getting in on rough days) at baby beach!! So... what looked like a rock to hang on to at first instance turned out to be a stingray surrounded by a school of Palometa and one african pompano in between. Had never seen any fish at this stage of the dive so that was different.

Wow, an African Pompano, I have yet to see one (outside of the Baltimore Aquarium). Very cool.

Bas....I am soooo jealous!!

Today a Black tip was sited just South of Punt Vierkant