My understanding is chemical light sticks are not allowed for diving. Does this hold true on land? e.g. To mark exit points or for land navigating. Please advise.

im not sure why it wouldn't be allowed.
at least for entry/exit
matt

The issue is the disposal of the light sticks which would go in to Bonaires landfill. There are much better LED based products that could be used (with take home rechargeable batteries) so leave the chemical sticks at home.

it also might be better to leave someone on the shore with a light in hand rather than leaving it (it might walk away if no one is on the beach with it).. Also most of the resorts have enough lights to guide your way at night and there is usually a nice place to have a cold drink at the resorts as well after the dive.

For years we found chemical light sticks floating in the water and washed up on shore and they decided they should be banned. I know we also have coke bottles, plastic bags, etc. also floating and the argument raged on for a while. The best way to mark you exit is a battery operated strobe, etc.

Brian, to answer your question:

There is no law prohibiting you from using chemical light sticks to mark your exit.

BNMP regulation:
15. The use of chemical light sticks is prohibited in the Bonaire National Marine Park.

The Park is defined from the high-water mark to the 60m depth contour.

So if you put out a chemical light stick, make sure it is above the high-water mark.

Better yet, use an electronic light stick, as others have said.

Good idea about the strobe, but don't leave it on a coral head. Some muppet did this on La Machaca attached to a 4lb weight, next to the rope!!! It was repositioned on a sand patch nearby.

Usually the moonlight is all you need to see your truck, you could leave the side lights on.

I think I would rather interpret the use of chemical light sticks to be banned...period...Marking you exit above the high water mark is technically outside of the marine, but if it is spent or forgotten it will add to the litter. Please, don't split hairs folks...

Yes, and on the last underwater cleanup, there were 15 chemical light sticks picked up just from one site on the anchorage (and this site was cleaned just nine months before). Michael is right--forget about chemical light sticks.

Spoke with Ramon last evening and the biggest problem is that no matter where the chemical sticks are deployed, they end up in OUR landfill. Thanks Susan for the added support!

I have yet to see the need for any shore exit point lighting. Entries and exits are far too easily identified. No problem if you end up 100+ meters from your entry. Plenty of easy exits virtually anywhere except up north.