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Bonaire History

Bonaire's history is deeply rooted in its inhabitants  and their culture. The tranquil beauty of  the island is reflected in the faces of her people. From the first inhabitants, the Caiquetios (a branch of the Arawak Indians) who sailed from the coast of Venezuela almost 1000 years  ago, to the many cultures now living and working in Bonaire today, the island has a distinct  character that is all its own.

Kralendijk    - Bonaire anno 1907

The first Europeans came to Bonaire in 1499, when Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci arrived and claimed it for Spain. Finding little of commercial value and seeing no future for large-scale  agriculture, the Spanish decided not to develop the island.Instead, they unceremoniously enslaved the Indians and moved them off to work  in the plantations on the Island of Hispanolia,  effectively leaving the island unpopulated.

The name Bonaire is thought to have originally  come from the Caiquetio word 'Bonay', a name that meant low country. The early Spanish and Dutch modified its spelling to Bojnaj and also Bonaire. The French influence while present at various times never was strong   enough to make the assumption that the name means 'good air'. Regardless of how the name  came about, the island remained as a lonely outpost until 1526.

it was in year, 1526, that cattle were brought  to the island by then governor Juan de Ampues. Some of the Caiquetios were returned to act   as laborers and in a few years, the island became a center for raising other animals  such as sheep, goats, pigs, horses and donkeys. Since they were being raised more for their skins and not their meat, they required little tending and were allowed to roam and fend  for themselves. The result was large herds   of animals that far outnumbered the population. Today, there are a number of wild donkeys that still inhabit the Kunuku (outback) and  many goats can also be seen foraging in less populated areas of the island.

Bonaire's early years were not ones of prosperity. Her            inhabitants were mostly convicts from other            Spanish Colonies in South America. The only   permanent settlement was the village of Rincon, located far inland where it was thought to be safe from marauding pirates. In those years,            development was discouraged in favor of the richer, more productive colonies.

In1633, the Dutch took possession of Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. The largest island, Curacao,  emerged as a center of the notorious slave trade. Bonaire then became a plantation island     belonging to the Dutch West Indies Company. It was during those early years that the first  African slaves were forced to work, cutting dyewood and cultivating maize and harvesting            solar salt. Grim reminders of those days still remain in the form of slave huts and salt pans which were laboriously constructed by     hand. They are an important part of the island's heritage and have been left to stand mute testimony to Bonaire's repressive beginning.

Until1816, ownership of Bonaire changed hands a number of times, finally being returned that  year to the Dutch as a result of the Treaty    of Paris. A small fort, Fort Oranje, was built to protect the island's main resource, salt. Salt was one commodity that Bonaire had in           endless supply, although it took back breaking slave labor to produce it. In the early days of the industry, the most important use for            salt was in the preservation of food, since refrigeration was still centuries away.

By 1837, Bonaire was a thriving center of salt production. The government, who by then controlled the industry, built four obelisks, each painted a different color, red, white, blue and orange (the colors of the Dutch Flag and the Royal  House of Orange). They were erected strategically  near areas of the salt lake. The idea was to         signal ships where to pick up their cargoes  of salt. A flag of the corresponding color was raised atop a flagpole, thus signalling the       ship's captain where to drop anchor. Three of the obelisks can still be seen today.

The abolition of slavery in 1863 signaled an end to the era of exploitation of those first Bonaireans. It was almost a hundred years     later that the salt industry was revitalized. oday it is a division of Cargill, Incorporated, one of the largest businesses in the world.          It also was during this time that the island began to attract visitors.

Tourismwas born when the island government constructed the first ship's pier in the harbor. It allowed  cruise ships to tie up alongside the wharf  and discharge passengers. It also made it  easier to bring in goods and supplies for the island's residents. Hotels began to spring up and cater to the early visitors who enjoyed the tranquility of Bonaire. In 1943, the construction of a modern airport south of Kralendijk made it even easier for tourists to reach the island.

The  history continues to be written. The people of Bonaire are part of the past and are proud of what they have accomplished on an island   that was abandoned hundreds of years ago and deemed useless by the Spanish. As for the future, Bonaireans welcome progress but have made a conscious decision to take time out  and step back and to look at how it will impact their island and their lives. They have learned to balance their growth with the environment.

Nature at its Best Arguably, Bonaire's main attraction is its natural beauty, both above water and below.  Below the water, colors and movement abound, dazzling the eye, while the mysterious crunching and clicking one hears offers a soothing balm to the soul. Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by the life below the waves. Corals, fish, crustaceans, nudibranchs, and even the occasional aquatic mammal are among those giving live to Bonaire's fringing reef and marine environment. Don't miss a quick look at Bonaire's Underwater Web Cam, additional web cams show the shoreline as well.    Cactus and aloe Above the water line, Bonaire's hauntingly beautiful and serene landscape, carved by millennia of wind, water, and earth movements, stimulates the senses. Cactus of numerous species, divi trees, and a variety of other flora dot the land, with patches of fossilized coral, natural caves, and volcanic rock fill the spaces. Fauna of the avian kind fill the air, including the rare flamingo, while Bonaire's own version of squirrels -- iguanas and other lizards -- can be found in the vegetation. While not native to Bonaire, donkeys and goats can also be found in and about that same vegetation.   And, above the land, the sky is decorated with amorphous, soft wisps clouds but rarely does rain touch Bonaire's arid land. Sun touches it all day long while the constant wind cools the land. Bonaire's weather is a key contributor to its nature, and to the island's popularity with its residents and visitors.  Overview Did you know that world-wide, snorkelers outnumber divers by a wide margin? The fact that less than 50% Bonaire's visitors are scuba divers is also a statistic that proves that you don't have to go under the water to enjoy our beautiful marine park.   If you can swim, you can put on a mask and start enjoying the wonderful sea creatures and the coral formations. You will be able to float effortlessly and observe the feeding and courtship rituals of the reefs many residents. There is nothing in Bonaire's water that is dangerous, but be sure not to touch anything as you may harm it and disturb the delicate natural balance of the reef.   Snorkeling is great entertainment for all member of the family no matter what the age. Be sure to protect yourself against the sun by using a waterproof sun block, especially on your shoulders and the backs of your legs.  Night Snorkeling is another experience that should not be missed Everything changes at night. All that is needed is a flashlight and some protection for exposed arms and legs. Night snorkeling can be done in any snorkeling area you are familiar with (snorkel it during daytime first). Enjoy the wonders of the ever changing ocean at night while some fish are sleeping and other critters are just starting their day.  Snorkeling Tips If you can float, you can snorkel. In the calm Caribbean Sea you will find it easy to float due to the fact that salt water is more dense than fresh, so you will be able to "ride" higher on the surface than in lakes or swimming pools at home. If you have any doubt at all about your ability or comfort level while swimming, just find a beach with a sandy bottom, walk in to waist deep water and lay down on your back. 99.9% of the people will float comfortably. Of course, you are not going to snorkel on your back, so stand up, put on a mask, and insert the mouthpiece, put your face in the water and breathe. (Those that don't float naturally can avail themselves of a flotation device, such as a snorkeling vest.) It's a bit difficult sometimes for first timers to get used to the different breathing pattern, but with a bit of practice, you should be able to master the skill. The next thing to do, if you are still timid, is lie down on your stomach and try breathing with your face in the water. Try to swim a few strokes. If you were not using fins as yet, now would be a good time to try them out.   Overview Just about everyone knows that "SCUBA" is an acronym for Self Contained Under Water Breathing Apparatus. The sport has become extremely popular in the last two decades, due in part to places like Bonaire, which has taken great pains to preserve the underwater world by establishing one of the first marine parks in the Caribbean. The other reason Bonaire has become such a popular destination is the wide variety of fish life and the ease of diving that the island offers.    Dive Conditions Bonaire's pristine reefs and diverse marine life are unique to the Caribbean. Because the waters around Bonaire are designated as an official marine park, diving Bonaire is like diving the Caribbean the way it used to be - untouched and unspoiled. The island's location in the south Caribbean gives it an arid climate with little rain fall; consequently, the waters are exceptionally clear of silt, calm, and diveable year round. It is an ideal destination for underwater photographers. Water temperatures average a warm 78-84°F (25.6-28.9°C), with visibility averaging over 100 feet (30m), and frequently reaching up to 150 feet (50m). Bonaire Web Cams offers above and below water web cams plus  complete current weather conditions.  The dozen or so Dive Operators are all members of CURO, the Council of Underwater Resort Operators. As members, they participate in establishing standards and uniform practices that, along with the Bonaire Marine Park Rules, have worked to preserve our reefs and the fragile ecosystem of the reef.  Bonaire Dive Orientation If you are planning a trip to Bonaire and have a dive/hotel package you will be given a thorough dive orientation and briefing before your first dive on the island. One of the Bonaire Marine Park Regulations is for all visitors to do a check-out dive as part of the briefing process before taking off on their own to shore dive or going on a dive boat. The main reasons for this are to have each diver check buoyancy so that damage to the reef is minimized or eliminated and also to check out their dive equipment, whether it be rented or owned. Also, every diver on Bonaire must purchase a Marine Park Tag valid for one calendar year. Orientation procedures vary from dive center to dive center, so it's a good idea to check in early.  Recompression Chamber In case of a diving accident or emergency, Bonaire has one of the Caribbean's best staffed recompression chamber. The chamber is located adjacent to the San Francisco Hospital Emergency Room, and people in need of treatment must go to the hospital to gain access to the chamber.  The Bonaire Marine Park The fringing reef which surrounds Bonaire is a National Marine Park from the high water mark down to a depth of 200 feet/ 60m . Every diver who has not dived on Bonaire within the last calendar year must attend a diver orientation dealing with Bonaire Marine Park regulations and information. These orientation sessions are usually held at around 9AM the morning after you arrive on Bonaire, and you are required to attend and to obtain your Marine Park tag, which is necessary to legally dive in Bonaire's waters. The cost of the tag is US$10, and proceeds help support park management and services.