Monday, March 16, 2020 - 10
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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Bonaire is a small island off the coast of
Venezuela that is a part of the Netherlands
and home to dozens of ethnic backgrounds.
It holds a special place in my heart, as I have
been there every single year since I was 9
months old. This spring break trip was my
19th time on the island. Every time that I
return, the ocean and the people capture my
heart all over again.
Most people visit Bonaire for scuba
diving or windsurfing. The windy west side
of the island provides perfect waves for
windsurfers, while the sheltered east side
is where all of the dive sites are located.
There are 86 dive sites on Bonaire, all on the
eastern side of the island.
My parents first visited Bonaire for
scuba diving in the 90s. I learned to dive
in Bonaire as soon as I was old enough,and
have been certified for 9 years. I have been
on approximately 150 dives in Bonaire over
the years. Before I even learned how to
snorkel, I would lay on a raft with a small
plastic viewing hole and watch my parents
scuba dive below me as my grandparents
were with me on the surface. Bonaire is
where I first discovered my love for wildlife,
and photography. I was mesmerized with
the whole other world that was beneath the
surface of the ocean, and I still get that same
feeling jumping into the water this trip.
After watching my dad take underwater
photos for years, I wanted nothing more
than to try it. I got my first camera,
waterproof up to 20 feet, when I was 7.
I was truly enamored with underwater
photography back then, and I still am today.
It’s interesting to think how I actually
learned how to photograph underwater, not
on land. Underwater photography presents
a lot more challenges than taking photos on
land and requires a different skill set.
In the coral reefs there is an abundance
of marine life. There is a large variety of
fish species as well as other interesting
creatures. In the shallows there are often
rays and sea turtles passing by. Every dive
has something interesting to see.
My second home underwater
JULIA SCHACHINGER
Daily Staff Photographer
JULIA SCHACHINGER/Daily
PHOTO ESSAY
Bonaire’s
main
industry
is
tourism,
however they also produce and export sea
salt. It is strange to be driving along the
coast, and suddenly see white mountains of
salt, that almost look like snow.
Bonaire is also a leading destination for
sustainable tourism. All divers must pay a
marine park fee to help fund reef restoration.
There
are
many
restoration
projects
happening all over the island. Visiting divers
can even take a coral restoration course and
help with the maintenance of some of the
projects. The coral reefs are diminishing
due to many stressors including rising ocean
temperatures, and increasingly common
severe storms. Common restoration projects
are coral nurseries and tying up sponges with
fishing line until they re-establish.
On land, Bonaire is very well known for
their flamingos. The island is one of few
breeding locations in the Caribbean, and the
birds are protected on the island. Flamingos
have become a mascot for Bonaire, tributes to
them found all over the island. Flamingos are
born with grey feathers that turn pink due to
the shrimp and algae in their diet.
Bonaire holds such a special place in my
heart, it is where I first discovered my love for
nature and photography, which are two very
big parts of my life.