Bonaire - Profile
Facts
- Bonaire together with Aruba and Curacao form the ABC islands. They are the three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean.
- Bonaire is the easternmost of the ABC islands. It is now a special municipality of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.
- Aruba is a flat island, exposed to the ocean currents. Bonaire and Curaçao are surrounded by reefs, and so are much more sheltered from the weather.
- Both Bonaire and Curaçao's reefs form popular tourist destinations. With its stunning underwater scenery, Bonaire is ranked as one of the top three dive spots in the world, and the whole island is a protected marine park.
- Bonaire is less densely populated than its neighbour Curacao and also less developed. The slow pace of life on the island and its relaxed population have an enduring charm.
- For visiting sailors the attraction also lies in the better than average repair and service facilities. Marina berths & services are available at Harbour Village Marina (also known as Bonaire Marina), Plaza Resort Marina and Club Nautico.
Security
Based on reports to Noonsite from cruisers, petty theft from yachts is on the rise in the Caribbean in general. Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when leaving the boat or going ashore at night. Dinghy thieves operate throughout the Caribbean and best advice is to place your dinghy on deck and chain it overnight.
Free Cruising Guides have completed the Caribbean Security Index (CSI) review of 2013 and updated the country ratings. The latest update of the CSI contains new information that may be important to you to “route around crime.”
See this report at http://www.noonsite.com/General/Piracy/caribbean-crime-caribbean-security-index-csi-review-of-2013
Check the Noonsite's Piracy Pages and the Caribbean Safety & Security Net for information on the current island situation.
The Caribbean Safety and Security Net (safetyandsecuritynet@gmail.com) gather information by anchorage or by island, so sailors can plan their cruising in the Caribbean with an eye to appropriate behaviour and precautions wherever they decide to go. Should you have suffered a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the CSSN homepage and click on the "Report an Incident" icon. The associated form is quick and simple to complete and ensures that all the necessary details are reported. The CSSN is the most comprehensive source of Caribbean security incidents against sailors on the net. Remember, it is every cruiser's responsibility to ensure that incidents are reported.
Last updated April 2014
Weather
Bonaire lies outside the hurricane zone.
For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page
Main Ports
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