Bonaire Is To Conservation What Greenwich Is To Time
((C) Captain Don Stewart)

2009 is poised to be an exceptional year for Bonaire with numerous significant events for visitors to enjoy. Starting in March the island will begin year-long festivities in celebration of Washington-Slagbaai National Park's 40th Anniversary and the Bonaire National Marine Park's 30th Anniversary.

These continuous years of joint nature protection and conservation once again reinforce why Bonaire continues to be the leader in sustainable tourism practices and the Caribbean's #1 diving destination. (Scuba Diving Magazine, January, 2009).

Activities will include special dives and snorkel trips, full-moon walks, mountain-bike rides, historical excavations, and open houses at the Washington Slagbaai National Park Visitor's Center. Additionally, there will be events held in Wilhelmina Park in Kralendijk, to which all visitors are welcome.

This will be a year to remember Bonaire's parks; what are you celebrating this year? Whatever it is, why not celebrate in Bonaire!

Take a look at some of Bonaire's special deals and start making your plans today!

Hotel Specials:

Belmar Oceanfront Apartments is offering a Bring a Buddy for Free promotion, valid for travel between April 18 and May 31, 2009. Book a Drive, Dive, & Stay package, and every second diver dives for free. Rates begin at $497.00 per person for the whole week, based on six persons in a three-bedroom apartment. [email protected], www.belmar-bonaire.com

Bonaire Seaside Apartments offer "value with a view" in their newly discounted three bedroom villas. Previously priced at $500 per night, these spacious, modern apartments are now priced at $320 per night up to quad occupancy, $350 per night if shared by five or six people. Oceanfront, fully air-conditioned studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments are also available. Seven night Drive & Dive Packages are now only $756.00 pp based on six people sharing a three-bedroom villa, including one manual transmission truck, 3 days of 2-tank boat diving, plus 6 days of unlimited shore diving, free upgrades for Nitrox divers and government room tax. Prices are valid through April 17, 2009. [email protected], www.bonaireseasideapartments.com

Buddy Dive Resort offers their Super Spring Saving. Book a Drive & Dive package and get 50% food and beverage discount with a maximum of $75.00 discount per person. This offer is valid for travel between April 18th and May 22nd, 2009. Rates begin at $734.00 per person for a week's visit, based on 6 persons in a three-bedroom apartment. [email protected], www.buddydive.com

Captain Don's Habitat is offering one free night on accommodations, valid for stays from April 25 to May 30, 2009. The 7-night dive package is available from just $834 per person (based on double occupancy) and includes accommodations in an ocean-view room, welcome rum punch, buffet breakfast daily, manager's rum punch party, 6 single-tank boat dives, 6 days of 24-hour unlimited shore diving, taxes, service charges, and energy surcharge. [email protected], www.HabitatBonaire.com

Caribbean Club Bonaire is offering a Bring a Free Diver Promotion, valid for travel between April 18 and May 29, 2009. To take advantage of this offer, book a Dive & Explore package and every second diver dives for free. Rates begin at $475.00 per person for the whole week, based on four persons in a two-bedroom apartment. [email protected], www.caribbeanclubbonaire.com

Coral Paradise Resort is offering two specials: Those booking three or more rooms for 7 nights at the property, along with a dive package, receive one free truck rental for 7 days, valid February through November, 2009. Additionally, for the months of September and October, 2009, the Drive, Dive, & Accommodation package is priced at $670.00 per person, based on double occupancy, for a seven-night stay. [email protected], www.coralparadise.com

Den Laman Condominiums is offering special rates during September, 2009 for Solo Traveler Month. During this month, solo travelers vacationing at the property receive specially discounted rates of $85 per night for studios and $150 per night for one bedroom apartments for stays between August 29 and September 25, 2009. Seven night packages for one person including 12 boat dives, plus 6 days of unlimited tanks for shore diving, free upgrades for Nitrox divers and government room tax are only $906 for studio accommodations and $1296 for one bedroom accommodations. [email protected], www.denlaman.com

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino is offering an "Early Booking" special. When booked by February 27, get 25% off the room cost (valid for travel now through March 14, 2009) or 30% off the room plus $100 food & beverage credit (valid for travel March 15, 2009 through December 23, 2009). F&B credit is per room. Cannot be redeemed for cash and is not transferable. Credit will be applied to F&B expenses at time of check-out. This promotion applies to hotel only rates. Minimum stay is 3 nights, no maximum stay. [email protected], www.diviresorts.com

Golden Reef Inn is offering a savings up to $280.00 during the months of June, July, and August, 2009 on their Stay, Dive, & Drive Package when booked now through June 1, 2009. Discounted rates begin at $409.00 per person, based on quad occupancy for a seven-night stay, extra nights can be added on at additional cost. This offer is subject to availability and other restrictions do apply. Please reference "Recession Buster" special when booking by phone, or put in the comments section when booking on line. Payment must be made in full at the time of booking in order to qualify for this special. [email protected], www.goldenreefinn.com

Harbour Village is offering a summer special where divers can dive for free. This special is valid between April 18 and December 18, 2009, and the second diver in your party dives for free when both book the Dive Into Luxury Package, which includes 7 nights in a one- or two-bedroom suite based on double occupancy, full American breakfast daily, six days of diving (1 tank boat dive per day) and unlimited shore diving, tanks, weights, and belts, unlimited use of the fitness center, tennis courts, kayaks, and sailboats, and airport transfers to/from Harbour Village. Valid for certified divers only, c-card must be presented upon check-in. [email protected], www.harbourvillage.com

La Pura Vista is offering a $75.00 per person discount on any new bookings made prior to May 1, 2009 for their Dive and Dive Special. This package includes 7 nights stay, 6 days unlimited shore diving, daily fresh breakfast, meet & greet at the airport, 7 days pick-up truck rental including taxes and CDW insurance, private dive locker, welcome drink, welcome basket with drinks and snacks, unlimited free coffee and tea, and prefect personal service during your stay. Prices begin at $749.00 per person based on double occupancy, and can vary depending upon the time of travel. To receive discount, mention "ScubaDiving.com" at the time of booking. [email protected], www.lapuravista.com

Plaza Resort Bonaire is offering two free nights when a dive package is booked. This special is valid from April 18 through December 19, 2009. Discounted rates begin at $620.00 per person for a two-bedroom unit based on quad occupancy, and include 7 nights, 6 days unlimited airfills, resort tax and service charge, energy surcharge, plus 7 days of truck rental, including full insurance, taxess, and unlimited mileage. [email protected], www.plazaresortbonaire.com

Sand Dollar Condominium Resort and Bonaire Dive & Adventure are offering free entry into the Summer 2009 Fish ID Challenge, with fish identification experts, Patti and Scott Chandler of ReefNet, to guests of Sand Dollar. The resort's "Ride to the Reef Packages" are priced at US $904.00 per double diver for seven nights studio accommodation, free Nitrox upgrades, 6 days unlimited shore diving, daily breakfast buffet, truck rental with Fish ID Challenge sponsor Budget RentaCar, and government room tax. Packages including boat dives and other accommodation types including one-, two-, and three- bedrooms are also available. [email protected] www.sanddollarbonaire.com/FishID2009.htm

Tropicana & BonaireFun Apartments is offering a 5% discount on accommodations. To receive discount, mention "ScubaDiving.com" at the time of booking. www.tropicanabonaire.com, www.bonairefun.com

Enticing Activities and other Deals:

Bonaire East Coast Diving is offering a free, waterproof dive map of Bonaire, valued at $10.00, when any dive excursion is booked online. [email protected], www.bonaireeastcoastdiving.com

Dive Friends Bonaire allows a rebate to anyone who has had to pay fees to check their luggage on their trip to Bonaire. The program will provide a rebate of up to $40.00 per person, when any Suunto dive computer is purchased at the retail store of Dive Friends Bonaire on Kaya Grandi in Kralendijk (Dive Friends Dive Retail Outlet), or at the Dive Friends Yellow Submarine, Dive Friends Port Bonaire, or Dive Friends Dive Inn locations. To apply for the rebate, choose from any model dive computer from the Suunto line. When presenting payment, also present and turn in the original receipts for the first and/or second bag, and the rebate amount (which will equal the fee charged by the airline up to a maximum of $40.00 per person), will be deducted from the total cost of the dive computer. Receipts must be in the name of the person purchasing the dive computer, and the dates must be related to the Bonaire itinerary. Other restrictions may apply. This offer is valid through June 30, 2009. www.paradiserebates.com/bonaire_dive-friends.html, www.dive-friends-bonaire.com

The Mangrove Info & Kayak Center is offering a downloadable coupon good for 10% off a two-hour kayak/snorkel excursion. To be valid, coupon must be presented at time of check-in for your excursion. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Other restrictions may apply, and the coupon cannot be combined with any other special. Offer is valid from May 1 through December 15, 2009. www.paradiserebates.com/bonaire_mangroveinfocenter.html, www.mangrovecenter.com

Woodwind Snorkel & Sailing Charter is offering a 10% discount for groups of ten and more. [email protected], www.woodwindbonaire.com

Good Eats:

Bistro de Paris is offering a soup & salad menu for only $12.00 per person for dinners ordered between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM until September, 2009. With this special menu, a glass of house wine glass is only $4.00 per glass. [email protected]

Cactus Blue Bar & Restaurant offers customers free Wi-Fi when enjoying lunch or dinner. Coupon vouchers for dining discounts are also available for downloading from their web site. [email protected], www.cactusbluebonaire.com

Caribbean Club Bonaire offers a downloadable coupon good for a 10% discount when having lunch at Caribbean Club Bonaire. This coupon is valid for a maximum of four people and cannot be combined with any other special. Other restrictions may apply; valid through July 1, 2009. www.paradiserebates.com/bonaire_caribbean-club.html, www.caribbeanclubbonaire.com

China Nobo Bar & Restaurant offers a downloadable coupon good for one order of shrimp chips free with any dinner or lunch meal of FL 15.00 (USD $8.43) or more. One coupon per customer and the coupon must be presented at time of ordering; it cannot be combined with any other special. Offer is valid through June 30, 2009. www.paradiserebates.com/bonaire_chinanobo.html, <a target="_b