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Bonaire
Captain Don's Habitat
May 5-12, 2012
Bonaire is located in the Southern Caribbean about 50 miles off the northern coast of Venezuela. The fact that it lies outside the hurricane belt makes it an ideal vacation spot throughout the year. Capt. Don’s Habitat Dive Operation is a PADI 5-Star Gold Palm Resort and is located approx. 3 miles from down town Kralendijk.
Total Diving Freedom has always been the concept at Capt. Don’s Habitat. Over 50 world class dives are within a 15 minute boat ride. Diving Freedom means 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no rush or anxiety. Take a giant stride off our divers-only pier "baby dock" and you’re already looking at clusters of starlet coral, surrounded by colorful wrasse and gobies, and the drop-off starts in 30 feet, only a few kicks away. Shore diving is a must at Habitat and around the island of Bonaire rated as the top shore diving destination in the world!
 All the waters around Bonaire form part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. The south western coast is protected by the natural bay and Klein Bonaire and, as a result, offers great diving and swimming conditions with very little waves or currents. The rugged north eastern coast line (aka, the "wild side") on the other hand, bears the burden of the trade winds and waves.
On the northern tip of the island lies Washington National Park. Numerous indigenous plants, birds and animals thrive in this protected area which was the first Nature Sanctuary in the Netherlands Antilles. The southern tip of the island is dominated by salt flats. Here the salt company, Cargill, and the largest breeding colony of flamingos in the Caribbean region have coexisted in harmony for many years.
Download
the flyer HERE!
 While Cayman has its wall diving, and Cozumel its drift diving, shore diving is Bonaire's thing. You'll find dozens of dive sites, marked by more than 60 highly visible yellow stones along the road. We'll load up our double cab pick-up trucks with gear and some tanks and pick a site.
The island has some of the most pristine and healthiest reefs in the world, thanks to the protection afforded by its marine park. Bonaire's marine park authority, STINAPA, strictly enforces marine park rules, including no anchoring, no spearfishing and no gloves.
Typically, Bonaire's small beaches continue under water in a sandy plain dotted with a few corals that slopes down to 30 feet. The reef drops off gradually to another sandy plain at about 140 feet. You don't have to go that deep, however, to see healthy stands of gorgonians, dense coral formations and every imaginable species of Caribbean reef fish. There are another two dozen or so sites off Klein Bonaire, located about 500 yards from Bonaire's west coast. Klein is a quiet, undeveloped 1,750-acre island.
Weather: Temperatures hover between 75 and 85 degrees, depending on the season.
Onshore trade winds keep humidity at bay.
Average Water Temp: Water temps average 80 degree in summer and mid-70s in winter.
Average Visibility: 60 to 100 feet or greater, depending on currents and plankton.
Travel Savvy: A passport is required for U.S. citizens. Before your first dive, you will be required to make an orientation dive and purchase a $25 marine park dive tag.
Destination Links: Bonaire Tourism Corporation, www.infobonaire.com, and Bonaire Marine Park, www.bmp.org.
  
Captain Don's Habitat
Captain Don's Habitat has evolved into a world renowned resort catering to today's most demanding diver. Set amidst lush green gardens with colorful decor and landscaping, the resort offers many amenitites including a fresh water pool, delicous dining at Rum Runners Restaurant and, of course, a top rated house reef.
Our Deluxe Ocean View rooms are fully air conditioned rooms with a lovely view of the
freshwater pool and the Caribbean Sea. Each room offers 2 queen beds, desk, cable TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, laptop safe, full bath w/tub, telephone and secluded balcony or patio with comfortble furniture. These rooms also have free wireless internet.
Trip
includes:
• Roundtrip air from St. Louis (Delta Airlines)
• 7 nights accommodations (Deluxe Oceanview)
• 6 boat dives
• Unlimited shore diving
• Free tanks & weights
• Pick-up truck (double cab) with A/C (one per room) includes daily $3.50 govt. truck tax and 5% sales tax on truck & insurance
• Daily breakfast
 • "Meet the Captain" party
• Most taxes and energy service charges
Trip
does not include:
• Lunch & Dinner
• $25 per person Marine Park fee
• Nitrox
• Gratuities
TRIP COST:*
Deluxe Oceanview Room
Double Occupancy:
$1,975 per diver / $1,820 per nondiver
Triple Occupancy:
$1,895 per diver / $1,735 per nondiver
Single Occupancy:
$2,360 per diver / $2,195 per nondiver
An initial booking deposit of $400 per person is due by Feb. 1, 2012. Final payment is due by March 5, 2012. Trip cost is subject to any fuel surcharge or additional fees imposed by the airlines. Deposits and payments are nonrefundable unless we can fill your space. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip cancellation insurance. Protect your dive vacation investment with CSA Travel. We also encourage each diver maintain DAN membership and diver insurance coverage.
We
strongly recommend travel
insurance.
Contact Bruce Tanner at 314-469-8722.
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