Awesome story about the what a divers, p

Awesome story about the what a divers, politicians & others are doing for sharks & the ocean in Palau http://ow.ly/5IaWC

A whistle stop tour in the diving heaven of Bonaire

While whistle-stop tours are not my favorite way to visit a destination, when an opportunity to add 3 days in the island of Bonaire to my travel itinerary this summer, I would have been crazy to refuse! With little over 72 hours on this delightful jewel in the Dutch Antilles, I knew I had my work cut out for me to get the best sample I could of what allures avid divers by the thousands year after year.

With hubby, my two teenage divers and a newly certified friend in tow, our host for this fleeting visit was the infamous Buddy Dive Resort, who delivered all I had expected and more. Buddy Dive Resort caters to divers of all ages and experience levels, from those seeking to obtain their certification all the way through to technical diving and Instructor training, and provides for each of those levels superbly. With help-yourself tanks 24-7, a drive through fill station for easy loading into your included truck to explore the islands sites, beautiful dive boats and free unlimited nitrox, we truly had the diving freedom Bonaire boasts about.

It’s not just the fact that you are able to get up when you want with no boat to catch, or that you can look over at your buddy at 3 in the afternoon (or 3 in the morning for that matter) and say “fancy a dip?” It’s that you get to call the dive itself. You are governed only by your no-deco time and the air in your tank. Other than that, you can call not only the site, but the length, the depth, and the distance. It’s YOUR dive as you want it to be. You are your own Dive Master.

With great visibility, no currents, a large array of sites and diving literally available on your schedule any time day or night, Bonaire truly is an underwater photographers dream. My husband, who takes almost all of the photos in our family, was in his element, being able to spend as much time as he wanted working on his camera settings to get just the right shot.

But Bonaire is also a fantastic destination for many other types of divers. These same conditions make it the perfect place for a student or newly certified diver, but there are plenty of opportunities for experienced and technical divers to challenge themselves too.

The animal enthusiast in me was well provided for also, as I was able to spend time creating brief relationships with the critters below. Some dives I simply hung out on a single patch of reef that was teeming with life, giving the residents enough time to get used to my presence and allow me to watch an entire community get over their shyness and continue going about their business as usual.

My long, relaxing night dive, not only delivered all of the nocturnal creatures I had hoped for, but provided ample time and freedom to literally play with the six massive tarpon than joined us, using our dive lights to hunt. Underwater I am in my element, and it is not unusual to see me with a big smile spilling out the sides of my second stage, but I think this may be the first time I actually giggled through me regulator. Just for the record, my euphoria was not because I was using my potential underwater death ray to reveal otherwise hidden meals to the tarpon, that’s not my idea of entertainment…I shone it right in front of me at absolutely nothing and simply enjoyed the rush as two or three of these large, magnificent sparkling fish did fly-bys just a few inches from my face, all but causing wind to rush through my hair. At the risk of sounding like I don’t have any life, I have to tell you that made for a fun Saturday night!

There is so much more I could tell you about my all-too-short trip to the land of bubbles and barefoot living, but I have rambled way too much already. It turns out my visit turned into a fleeting but powerful affair that has left me wanting more. Sure, I have some good pictures and wonderful memories, but they are almost a tease – they are reminders that it wasn’t enough – I too, like many great divers before me, have fallen under Bonaire’s spell and I know in my heart it is only a matter of time before I have to return.

Posted a few photos on Facebook of my la

Posted a few photos on Facebook of my latest trip to Bonaire & Curacao. Both unique & great places for divers http://ow.ly/5BN0R

Great article about why travel agents ar

Great article about why travel agents are making a comeback & the invaluable services they provide http://ow.ly/4TRWJ

Enterprise/National/Alamo remove listing

Enterprise/National/Alamo remove listings from Orbitz. Don’t worry, your travel pro can still do it all! http://ow.ly/4qdKz

Costco stops selling 12 Red-listed seafo

Costco stops selling 12 Red-listed seafoods. Please support them for their efforts..shop Costco! http://ow.ly/4q1Q0

Guam becomes 3rd country to ban shark fi

Guam becomes 3rd country to ban shark finning! Thank you Guam!! http://ow.ly/4q1Kr