Kiters
- Thread starter kilroy63
- Start date
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I can’t imagine the whole SW shore being opened full-time to kites, or closed full-time to divers (even though that’s what the article says). I can certainly see policy types looking for a way to split the baby. I assume there are those who think that the divers will come no matter what (guilty as charged), and the boarders are an excellent candidate for tourism-revenue enhancement. Some sites were opened up for kiteboarders for a few hours over a couple of recent days. Ironically, this appears to be a reaction to kiteboarders almost hitting divers.
Folks who would know have said on Facebook that it is the public authority, not STINAPA, kicking these tires, not that I really understand the politics. We’re heading down on Tuesday, it’ll be interesting.
Folks who would know have said on Facebook that it is the public authority, not STINAPA, kicking these tires, not that I really understand the politics. We’re heading down on Tuesday, it’ll be interesting.
scubbq
Contributor
Sent an email and will share the message. That will just lead to problems.
CT Sean
Contributor
What article? Headed down next month and want to keep up on the latest. Maybe try to get my tourist tax reduced if they are going to reduce my access to the reefs.
Article starts on page 3: "Our Marine Park Manager speaks out" and the reference to the dive sites is on page 6.
Thanks!
The text of the article indicate very early stages.
Raming explained that government
representatives Frank van Slobbe, deputy
Hennyson Thielmans and Debbie Rauw-
ers have met with the kite surfer associ-
ation representative Audra Groeneboord.
Consideration is being given to allow the
kiters from Tori’s Reef to Belnem. Raming
was unable to comment as consideration is
ongoing
From Facebook today:
By law, kitesurfing is not allowed within the boundaries of the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) - the marked zone (about 150m of coastline) at Atlantis Kite Beach is the only exception. This area, marked by flags on land and buoys in the water, is used as an entry and exit point for kite surfers. Outside the marine park, in the dark blue water (about 75m from shore), kitesurfing is allowed everywhere except for Klein Bonaire. As the island continues to grow, the amount and variety of recreational activities in the marine park also grows. Kite surfing is a popular sport with the number of people kiting on Bonaire growing steadily year by year. Because of this growth there is a need to expand the area within the BNMP that can be used for kitesurfing. This is to accommodate and protect all locals and visitors using the park. Unfortunately growth does not come without growing pains and we are well aware of the conflicts that sometimes arise between the different users of the park.
Together with the local government (OLB), we are looking at all possible options to safely accommodate all users and to improve our enforcement capacity. Because Atlantis falls within the boundaries of the Pekelmeer RAMSAR site (an area protected by international treaties because of its importance for bird populations globally), it makes it very difficult to create the facilities needed to accommodate this growing sport. Together with the OLB, we are looking carefully at all options, including the relocation of kite beach. Of course, all the relevant stakeholders such as, but not limited to, the Kitesurf Association Bonaire (KAB), kite surf operators, Cargill and CURO are/or will have the possibility to be involved and provide their input to aid in the decision making process. On June 3rd and June 4th, we had the first try-outs at an area south of Angel City, one of the potential new locations for kite beach. We want to clarify some misinformation - we are not considering closing any dive sites; our priority is to ensure the safety of divers, kitesurfers, fishermen and all other users.
No decisions have been made yet and we are still in the scouting phase. We highly appreciate all the feedback given to us; we strive to take the interests of all users under consideration during this process.
STINAPA Bonaire
𝙆𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 - We've noticed there's a lot of questions about kitesurfing. Please allow us to clarify and explain some of these.By law, kitesurfing is not allowed within the boundaries of the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) - the marked zone (about 150m of coastline) at Atlantis Kite Beach is the only exception. This area, marked by flags on land and buoys in the water, is used as an entry and exit point for kite surfers. Outside the marine park, in the dark blue water (about 75m from shore), kitesurfing is allowed everywhere except for Klein Bonaire. As the island continues to grow, the amount and variety of recreational activities in the marine park also grows. Kite surfing is a popular sport with the number of people kiting on Bonaire growing steadily year by year. Because of this growth there is a need to expand the area within the BNMP that can be used for kitesurfing. This is to accommodate and protect all locals and visitors using the park. Unfortunately growth does not come without growing pains and we are well aware of the conflicts that sometimes arise between the different users of the park.
Together with the local government (OLB), we are looking at all possible options to safely accommodate all users and to improve our enforcement capacity. Because Atlantis falls within the boundaries of the Pekelmeer RAMSAR site (an area protected by international treaties because of its importance for bird populations globally), it makes it very difficult to create the facilities needed to accommodate this growing sport. Together with the OLB, we are looking carefully at all options, including the relocation of kite beach. Of course, all the relevant stakeholders such as, but not limited to, the Kitesurf Association Bonaire (KAB), kite surf operators, Cargill and CURO are/or will have the possibility to be involved and provide their input to aid in the decision making process. On June 3rd and June 4th, we had the first try-outs at an area south of Angel City, one of the potential new locations for kite beach. We want to clarify some misinformation - we are not considering closing any dive sites; our priority is to ensure the safety of divers, kitesurfers, fishermen and all other users.
No decisions have been made yet and we are still in the scouting phase. We highly appreciate all the feedback given to us; we strive to take the interests of all users under consideration during this process.
FishWatcher747
Contributor
Interesting. As I have been diving the island of Bonaire for the last 11 days I will add the following. When diving Vista Blue and Margate Bay in the morning I have taken note of the kiters primarily located at their entry and exit beach. When surfacing in the shallows an hour later some kiters and their support motor dinghy are not necessarily in the blue water but are in the shallows at these sites. Pretty scary.
Makes you think when one would normally think nothing of gophering to spot the dive exit point.
I assume these are beginners who can get going but are not skilled at reversing direction yet. Or restarting on their own easily. I suspect the proficient kiters don't have a support motor dinghy and can stay in the blue water and not endanger divers.
Makes you think when one would normally think nothing of gophering to spot the dive exit point.
I assume these are beginners who can get going but are not skilled at reversing direction yet. Or restarting on their own easily. I suspect the proficient kiters don't have a support motor dinghy and can stay in the blue water and not endanger divers.
We dive the sites adjacent to the kite school quite often and the kiters have definitely started moving out from the boundries and closer to shore outside those boundries. And they are good enough at what they are doing that sometimes they almost seem to be targeting divers. I am talking at the shoreline. I am 5’2 so lets say I stand when I hit about 3.5 feet of water. Definitely not dark blue water and I have had them pass just feet from me.
I am all for sharing the water but on their part as well. If it means the kiters will follow the rules or that the rules are enforced, that they stay in the dark blue water outside their zone, I am all for an additional site.
I am all for sharing the water but on their part as well. If it means the kiters will follow the rules or that the rules are enforced, that they stay in the dark blue water outside their zone, I am all for an additional site.
FishWatcher747
Contributor
Given the choice of being hit by a kite board or getting hit by a turning prop of their support dinghy I would choose the kite board.
I thought I only needed to fear the kite board when I came here but now realize it is two separate hazards.
Edit: There is a third hazard. If for some reason one needs to surface in the blue water for some emergency reason then it doesn't matter if they stay out of the shallows.
I thought I only needed to fear the kite board when I came here but now realize it is two separate hazards.
Edit: There is a third hazard. If for some reason one needs to surface in the blue water for some emergency reason then it doesn't matter if they stay out of the shallows.
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