8th Annual Bonaire Dive Festival | June 5-19, 2004
The Bonaire Dive Festival has reached a milestone and become the
island's most important conservation and dive event. This two-week-long
event focuses on the protection of the world's coral reefs and
marine ecosystems and educates divers and snorkelers about what
role they can play in conservation efforts. Together with sponsors
Tourism Corporation Bonaire, CORAL and Rodale's Scuba Diving,
Bonaire is hosting two weeks full of informative seminars, underwater
photography, important environmental awareness projects, nightly
cocktail parties, and last but certainly not least diving that
will take you to a complete new level! You can rub elbows with
some of the dive industry's
environmental and photography greats and become part of the Dive
Festival family sharing experiences with our friends who have
been visiting us for years.
This year's festival is honored to have Philippe Cousteau Jr., son of legendary Philippe Cousteau Sr. who is best known for the award winning documentary series "The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau". He will be giving presentations on his current and future projects as well as diving with the participants.
You can stay at any resort on island, dive with any dive shop and participate in as many or as few activities as you choose. "This year's festival gives attendees the freedom to truly customize their own program, staying as long as they choose, doing as little or as much as they choose, and participating in those activities that interest them most," commented Burney el Hage, Commissioner of Tourism for Bonaire. "Our goal is to have our visitors return home having had the experience of a lifetime at the Dive Festival, and looking forward to returning to Bonaire in the very near future," he concluded.
Located 86 miles east of Aruba and well outside the hurricane
belt, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round
sunshine, low annual rainfall, pristine coral formations and the
most thriving fish population in the Caribbean. Ideal for adventurers,
explorers and sun-worshippers alike, Bonaire offers myriad eco-adventure
activities including the world renowned scuba diving and snorkeling,
windsurfing, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature
tours, hiking, bird watching, sailing and deep sea bone fishing.
http://www.bonairedivefestival.com/
EVENTS
Guided daily dives, gear and equipment demonstrations and educational activities related to the protection of our marine environment will remain the key elements of the 2004 Bonaire Dive Festival, a variety of topside activities have been added to the schedule. Depending on when you come during the two-week festival, you could experience any of the following activities:
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Arrival and check-in
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Official opening of the 8th Annual Bonaire Dive Festival
"Taste of Bonaire" with live music on Wilhelmina Square
Daily guided dives
Monday, June 7, 2004
Scuba Challenge/Fish ID
Presentation by Philippe Cousteau
Daily guided dives
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
BBQ with live music at Sorobon
Daily guided dives
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Dive and Sportswear Fashion Show
Daily guided dives
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Slide shows at several hotels/resorts
Daily guided dives
Friday, June 11, 2004
Mid-Event/Good-Bye Party at a resort
Daily guided dives
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Arrival, day off
Daily guided dives
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Lac Bay/Mangrove discovery with afternoon BBQ
Informal opening ceremony for second week of the Bonaire Dive Festival
Daily guided dives
Monday, June 14, 2004
Local and international photo pro demonstration
Presentation by Philippe Cousteau
Daily guided dives
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Rincon market and Simadan
Daily guided dives
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Surprise underwater event
Restaurant Tour
Daily guided dives
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Dive and Sportswear Fashion Show
Daily guided dives
Friday, June 18, 2004
Downtown Good-Bye Party
Music Festival
Daily guided dives
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Departures
