Bonaire: Caribbean, S. American or European dive site?

[drbill]

A few years ago I asked National Geographic for a definitive answer on whether Bonaire was considered a South American dive site. I was told it was considered North American (possibly a surprise to the residents of that island). Now I'm wondering why it isn't considered a "European" dive site since it is a Dutch island. Certainly it counts as a Caribbean dive site due to species composition.

Now San Andres, an island off Nicaraugua (near the Corn Islands) is owned by Columbia and considered a South American dive due to the political connection. Based on that Bonaire should be a European dive! Catalina is just 19.7 miles from North America, but some of my Spanish speaking friends would consider it a Mexican island (based on their reading the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo).

I'm looking for geographic, rather than political affinities as links to where a dive site belongs. Bonaire is not much further off the Venezuelan coast than Catalina is from LaLa Land. Why shouldn't it be considered as a South American dive site in terms of geography???

Enquiring minds want to know. What do the residents of Bonaire, Venezuela and the Caribbean think? Of course I have an ulterior motive... I want to dive somewhere in South America to add a fifth continent to my life list and Bonaire would be a piece of cake!

 

[Alex777]

Hmmm - well, it's part of the Netherlands Antilles, which comprises Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Maartens, & Eustatius - all in varying stages of dependence on or independence from the Netherlands. Around here, we think of them all as Caribbean islands because they are in the Caribbean Sea. OTOH, the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda are not in the Caribbean, notwithstanding what some guidebooks say. The TCI are part of the Bahamas chain, geographically. We also consider the Bay Islands of Honduras to be part of the Caribbean.

As for bagging another continent, perhaps the Galapogos?

 

[zf2nt]

A few years ago I asked National Geographic for a definitive answer on whether Bonaire was considered a South American dive site. I was told it was considered North American (possibly a surprise to the residents of that island). Now I'm wondering why it isn't considered a "European" dive site since it is a Dutch island. Certainly it counts as a Caribbean dive site due to species composition.

Now San Andres, an island off Nicaraugua (near the Corn Islands) is owned by Columbia and considered a South American dive due to the political connection. Based on that Bonaire should be a European dive! Catalina is just 19.7 miles from North America, but some of my Spanish speaking friends would consider it a Mexican island (based on their reading the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo).

I'm looking for geographic, rather than political affinities as links to where a dive site belongs. Bonaire is not much further off the Venezuelan coast than Catalina is from LaLa Land. Why shouldn't it be considered as a South American dive site in terms of geography???

Enquiring minds want to know. What do the residents of Bonaire, Venezuela and the Caribbean think? Of course I have an ulterior motive... I want to dive somewhere in South America to add a fifth continent to my life list and Bonaire would be a piece of cake!

Any geographer will tell you that Bonaire (along with Aruba and Curacao) are in South America. Likewise, they will tell you that San Andres is in North America. And, contrary to what the ScubaBoard moderators keep insisting, the Bay Islands off Honduras are firmly planted in North America.

It does get a bit weird sometimes. Trinidad and Tabago are considered South America, whereas Grenada is North America. Panama, which is well south of the northern part of South America, is distinctly North America.

 

[drbill]

Any geographer will tell you that Bonaire (along with Aruba and Curacao) are in South America. Likewise, they will tell you that San Andres is in North America.

As I mentioned, the US National Geographic Society stated that Bonaire is "North American." I considered them an authority, but don't accept this "verdict."

Of course here on ScubaBoard we have Central and South America linked in a forum when Central America geographically is part of North America (but culturally closer to South America).

Go figure!

 

[Hank49]

... I want to dive somewhere in South America to add a fifth continent to my life list and Bonaire would be a piece of cake!

This kind of reminds of my friend who claims he speaks three languages. English, American and Canadian. If it's THAT important to dive another continent, spend a night in Cartegena (they have such beautiful women there anyway, you old horndogger) and do a shore dive before heading over to Bonaire. Then no one can argue your claim to have dived S America. Hank

 

[drbill]

If it's THAT important to dive another continent, spend a night in Cartegena (they have such beautiful women there anyway, you old horndogger) and do a shore dive before heading over to Bonaire. Then no one can argue your claim to have dived S America. Hank

Why Hank, of course it's important. Life goal is to dive all seven of them thar continents, and every ocean/sea and all the Santa Catalina Islands of the world. Then I plan to establish world peace and invent a totally non-polluting alternate to fossil fuels, which of course I'll donate to all the nations of the world free of any royalties!

Seriously, I LIKE your thinking... an ulterior motive of mine for diving South America would be to meet all the pretty ladies down there (one of my buddies is 50% Bolivian)!

 

[Hank49]

Seriously, I LIKE your thinking... an ulterior motive of mine for diving South America would be to meet all the pretty ladies down there (one of my buddies is 50% Bolivian)!

Cartegena would be a good start. Actually you may never get out of there. I've been a few places in this world but per capita I've never seen so many head turners. I had a neck brace on for three weeks after leaving there.