This is really after the event, but it's been bothering me. When diving at Red Slave, I think it was on June 11 (dive log not here), we got out of the water at about 11 a.m. and saw what looked like a snorkeler in the deep blue water about 50 yds offshore. We watched, and waited until all divers of vehicles parked there had exited and been accounted for. There was a small group of people looking too, and as far as we could tell, there was just one person (or animal?) with orange and yellow (No one had binoculars) drifting/swimming north. Then after about 30 minutes or so, it was gone from view. Does anyone know what this could have been or has anyone heard anything?

we have seen local fisherman fishing while snorkeling where you are talking about. Not spear fishing but line fishing.

Eh.
It could also have been Bud Gillan, who was on island at that time. Bud says we all miss some of the best stuff by not snorkeling out in the blue water. I've always been afraid of getting run over out there.
You may have read his posts about the Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish.
Mick

Hey MMc, Sz,
Well this is interesting. My son and I were there at Red Slave around that date, did go out into the blue water there. It was ultra clear and quite amazing even by Bonaire standards. While I am not sure this is the same event Sz is referring to, Mick is right about going out to see what is in the blue water, but you have to go far enough out past the reef and the slope to where the mesobenthic stuff moves up and down the water column. This is not for everyone and safety is a prime factor but there is so much to see. This trip we saw a lot of the square (~1mm) "flashers" that change colors from blues to reds to yellows, and when to try to catch them they turn off. They are flat and catch the light in a neon-like light.
While at SI this week, the invert folks just gave me blank stares. Maybe we should name them "neon brights" in honor of Bonaire's sunset tradition. We also saw them in the early a.m. up at Tire Beach way up north later in the week.
Always great stuff to see on/off Bonaire.

Or perhaps 'Bonaire brights' for the same honor.

Bud:

Refresh our vocabulary please on the term "mesobenthic".

Suzanne...we saw the same person at Sweet Dreams around that date. I looked at my dive buddy and said... "I bet that is Bud."

Dan, mesobenthic means those who live on/near the bottom in medium depths, typically 200-1000m. I suspect Bud is referring to somewhat shallower.