Marvin's Bonaire Freediving

Bonaire, N. A.

Most recent: May 6 through May 20, 2003
Previously: Apr-97, Apr-98, Mar-00 and Apr-01

 

Marvin at Klein, BonaireThis dive was in May, 2003. The picture is Marvin freediving at Klein. We went out with Big Blue Freedive Bonaire and the picture was taken by Dominique Serafini. We also dove at Blue Hole (on the windward side) with him. Quite a trip!!

 

 

Marvin at Klein, BonaireAnother picture of Marvin at Klein. Dominique used a video camera for the trip. We then converted the tape to a DVD and captured the frames we liked.

 

 

These pictures were taken with an Ikelite Auquashot underwater camera case that uses disposable Fuji (or Kodak) 35mm flash cameras. It does a very good job for what it is. I am pleased with how well most of the pictures came out. The photographs were then scanned and compressed for this web page.

These pictures are a "selection" of some of the best pictures taken in all the visits to Bonaire over the past four years. Truth be told, many of these pictures were taken while scuba diving -- versus freediving. But, Bea, with my urging, has taken up freediving and finds she thoroughly enjoys it. During this last two week visit to Bonaire, we did freediving exclusively.

 

Blue tangs and sea fansBlue Tangs and Sea Fans. This picture was taken prior to the "backwash" from Hurricane Lenny (probably in 1997).

The wave surge from Lenny ripped out most of the large sea fans on the most exposed shorelines. The fans are now coming back nicely.

  Bonaire Marine Park placardMarine Park placard on cement-filled 55-gallon drums used as a mooring tie-point.
All of Bonaire from the shoreline out to a depth of 30 meters - the entire circumference of the island (and, Klein Bonaire) - is a marine park.
 
BONAIRE MARINE PARK
RESEARCH IN PROCESS
DO NOT REMOVE
ANYTHING FROM THE REEF

  Purple tube spongePurple tube sponge.
These are among my favorite underwater attractions. Again, the storm surge from Lenny broke many of them off. I was pleased to see, on this last visit, that they are making a strong comeback.

Notice the clarity of the water! Some of these shots look more like natural history museum dioramas.
 
Purple tube spongeAnother purple tube sponge.
They are pretty easy to photograph -- because they don't move! :-)

Fish, especially small fish, are hard to photograph because they are constantly on the move. And, the most colorful and attractive fish, are - of course! - the most animated. :-)

With an expensive underwater camera - capable of fast shutter speeds, loaded with high-speed film, and employing close-up lenses and stereo flash lamps - one can take very good pictures of fish. I choose to spend my money elsewhere. (Bea speaking: The savings go for more trips!!)

  Brain coralBrain coral.
As well as other soft corals and gorgonians.

  Finger coral, Fire coralMore coral...
The finger coral on the left has a velvet-like surface in contrast to the more predominate hard corals.
The coral at the lower right is Fire Coral. You don't want to touch that! You'd soon learn the origin of its name if you did.

  Karpata anchorAnchors!! Yes, there are other unmoving things for me to photograph!

This anchor is at a depth of about 50 feet at Karpata. This picture is a freediving picture from our April, 2001 trip.

I was quite pleased, because Bea was able to freedive to this depth.

  Calabas anchorThis anchor was about 25 feet deep at the Calabas dive site.

  Sea cucumberVery well -- I can take pictures of slowly moving marine life!

Here we see a large sea Cucumber.

  Wire coralAgain, another picture that seems to be a diorama in a natural history museum.












Using your clicker on the "Bonaire" icon below will take you back to the home page for our Bonaire trip(s).

Clicking on the "Anguilla" icon will take you to my Anguilla Freediving page.
From there you can go on up to the the home page for our Anguilla trip.

  Jones vacation to Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles - Land Pictures Jones Anguilla Freediving