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Discovery dive/snorkel
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This is our most popular program. We've combined some of the most intriguing fish, critters, behaviors, and interactions into one experience. Learn about cleaning stations, courtship and mating, and predator/prey interactions. Things you learn during this program will change the way you look at the reef and will keep coming back to you for years to come. It's a quick glimpse of what took years to learn. Click here to read customer's comments |
Things you can touch, things you can't and why
| If you like to hang out at the petting zoo or at the touch tank at the public aquarium, this is an excellent choice. This program helps you learn about many of the reef's creatures in a way that satisfies your tactile curiosity, yet is non-offensive to the animals. Several small creatures may actually come to you (without feeding them - we don't feed the animals). You'll also learn what not to touch and why these animals are better left alone. |
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Seagrass/mangrove ecosystems
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This is a step into the surreal. Bonaire's Lac Bay has extensive seagrass meadows and is surrounded by mangrove trees. When you snorkel (or dive) over a seagrass bed, it's like soaring over a miniature forest with all sorts of fish and invertebrates hiding among the blades. The mangrove trees put their roots right into the water and you can peek in among the roots and find all sorts of juvenile fish hiding there, as well as many colorful animals growing on the roots. Most people never get the chance to experience this ecosystem, and that's why we offer it. |
Fish ID & behavior
| This isn't just about memorizing names. Learn about sex change, hunting strategies, cleaning stations, courtship rituals etc. This program can be tailored to your knowledge and experience level. Some people want to learn basic fish ID while others are in search of rare species. We also train divers and snorkelers how to collect fish survey data that is used by REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) to better understand reef fish populations and distributions. |
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Creature & Coral ID and behavior
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Ever get out of the water and say to your buddy, "What was that thing?!"? There are so many fascinating animals on the reef, that we sometimes ignore certain ones just because we have no idea what they are or what they do. We'll take you for a tour of some very bizarre critters and we'll delve into coral biology and ID - whatever you're most interested in. |
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Night (town pier offered)
| Night exploration of a coral reef can be incredibly exciting and wondrous, especially when you know where to look and what to look for. Corals extend their fuzzy polyps, bioluminescence is everywhere, small shrimp with glowing eyes come out of hiding, and some fish nestle down for the night, while others begin hunting. We'll find these things & more on just about any reef you like. We also offer trips to the town pier. Bonaire's famous town pier offers an exotic mixture of bizarre fish and invertebrates both large and small, and a maze of delightful columns completely encrusted with a mosaic of colorful creatures. |
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Reef Explorers
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Click here to learn about our Creature Finder Club.  |
Morning programs where
kids learn about ocean creatures and ecosystems, improve their
water skills, interact with other kids, play learning games,
interact with sea creatures (sea cucumbers, brittle stars, feather
duster worms, etc.), do ocean artwork, and have a great time
while their parents enjoy some time alone. About half the time
is spent in the classroom, while the other half is spent in the
water discovering what was learned in class. Themes include fish
form & function, camoflage, plankton (we'll capture them
ourselves and take a peek under the microscope), mangrove/seagrass
ecosystems (life in the miniature forest), reef conservation,
etc. The kids snorkel at several different sites around the island
and often end up knowing more about ocean critters than their
parents! Click here to read customer's comments |
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| Bonaire's Marine Education Center |  |
The experience | Our programs |
Photos by Jim Brandon, Harley Moody and Caren Eckrich