Bonaire - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 167

Just a Nice Dive pretty much says it all about this east coast spot. It's not
a good beach, but coral is in very shallow water, so snorkeling is great.
However, take care not to kick or stand on the reef. Impressive boulder
coral is less than six feet down.
Jerry's Jam , also on the east side, is not a sunbathing spot, but snorkel-
ing is terrific. A wide assortment of corals are found in shallow water, and
there is an underwater cave where sea creatures hide out.

WARNING: It's against the law to catch turtles or
disturb their nests. If you see a nesting turtle, report
the sighting to the Bonaire Marine Park,

717-

8444, or Sea Turtle Conservation, 717-8399.

Diving & Snorkeling
Snorkelers and divers who plan to do only a couple of dives
with a guide during a multi-activity vacation will find suffi-
cient information about the top sites listed below.
The BMP publishes a Dive and Tour Map identifying 60
dive and snorkel sites on the main island and 23 on Klein
Bonaire. Most resorts have an on-site dive shop and offer dive package
vacations. Operators usually schedule morning, evening, and night dives
by boat, and will arrange transportation to shore-dive locations.

Since the Bonaire Marine Park (BMP) is too extensive
to be covered in a general travel guide, serious divers,
especially those who enjoy independent shore dives,
should pick up a copy of The Dive Sites of Aruba,
Bonaire and Curaçao by Jack Jackson or Diving
Bonaire by George Lewbel and Larry Martin.
Bonaire Diving Made Easy by Jessie Armacost is a
helpful

addition for anyone planning independent

shore dives.

Fifty-one of the marked dive sites can be reached from shore, and several
resort-based dive shops provide tanks around the clock once you show your
C-card and buy a $10 Marine Park admission tag. This means you're free
to explore on your own any time of the day or night.
Because the island is an underwater preserve, certified divers can expect
to have a buoyancy-control check before they go out in order to limit fin
damage on the reef. Park regulations prohibit touching (divers are not
allowed to wear gloves), collecting, or otherwise damaging anything living
or dead under the water or on the shore. As a result of strict regulations,
ongoing research, public education, and periodic closing of over-visited
sites, Bonaire's Marine Park is a healthy, densely populated ecosystem.