Monday, March 16, 2020 - 10 
Multimedia
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.

