Tan Lines and Lionfish

Woke up to a moist landscape after a light overnight rain shower. The day was mostly cloudy, but by midafternoon the sun burst through with intensity, making up for the cooler start. Despite applying sunscreen, J ended up with a very defined leg tan where the wet suit stops.

Our first boat dive wasn’t until 11 a.m., so we decided to squeeze in a morning shore dive beforehand. This time, we headed north along the reef—unfortunately, right into a strong current. Along the way, we spotted an abundance of marine life and various manmade features. The return trip was much quicker than expected, so we lingered for a few more minutes, watching fish dart through the shallows.

Our midday and afternoon dives took us across to Klein Bonaire. The first site, Sharon’s Serenity on the north side, featured a curious green moray eel that followed us through the hidden coral passages. We also saw a large crab, a lionfish, and a sizable pufferfish.

The Bonaventure site, located at the southern tip of Klein Bonaire, was probably the highlight of the week. Visibility was fantastic. We encountered another pufferfish, an urchin, a crab, and a couple of lionfish. Near a large white anemone, we spotted a pair of tiny cleaner shrimp. The dive ended with three large shrimp gracefully maneuvering near the boat.

The evening wrapped up with the much-anticipated raffle draw and charity auction—an uplifting end to a memorable day. We purchased a gift bag of treats from Hawaii: macadamia nuts, coffee, and more!Read more