A unique underwater park has been created on Buddy’s Reef, the house reef of Bonaire’s premium (dive) resort Buddy Dive Resort. In an effort to create awareness and educate divers about the importance of our reefs, Buddy Dive Resort, with the consent of the Bonaire National Marine Park, decided to create an educational diving trail.

Initiated and created by Buddy’s Dive Operations Manager, Augusto Montbrun, the Underwater Park “has two diving trails allowing multi level dives that will take you from 15ft/5mts to a max depth of 80ft/24mts and back to 15ft/5mts after 45min bottom time. And for divers who can not reach the max depth due to level of certification or age (junior divers) we'll have a parallel trail that will start at 15ft/5mts and go to a max depth of 40 ft” says Augusto Montbrun.

“During the dive our guests will get to see different species of coral that grow in colonies at different depths along the topography of Buddy's Reef Underwater Park. The corals will be clearly marked with an underwater sign that has a printed photo, common and scientific name on it. The sign will be fixed to the bottom of the ocean at a distance and height that will not allow divers to damage the reef while they are looking at the specific coral. All signs and materials used are environmental friendly” adds Augusto Montbrun.

“The more we learn about our coral reefs the more we'll understand about the important role they play for the environment” says Buddy’s Managing Director Ruud van Baal. “We are very proud on probably being one of the first dive resorts to initiate this great idea and even more proud by the fact that our managers and staff are thinking outside the box by understanding that combining education and fun together with a top personal service at Buddy Dive Resort is a key factor in Buddy’s success” he adds.

The unofficial opening of Buddy’s Reef Underwater Park took place on Earth Day April 2007 and the first visitors were Oceanblue Divers from New York City. “We were thrilled that Buddy Dive gave us the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day by joining them for the opening of their underwater park,” said Oceanblue Divers founder and president Michael Feld. “Environmental issues are of special importance to scuba divers in general, and Oceanblue Divers in particular, because our oceans and marine species currently face enormous threats from all sides. This event gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness of these critical ecological issues.”

During the month of September Buddy’s Marine Life Education Program with world-renowned naturalists and marine life authors Ned & Anna DeLoach will educate and entertain Buddy’s guests for the entire month. “Without their help and advise this unique underwater park wouldn’t be what it is and we’ll ask Ned & Anna to do the official opening this coming September” says Ruud van Baal since originally it was supposed to be opened by them in September 2006.

Buddy Dive Resort strives to mix education with fun and considers educating its guest about the marine life as its mission. Although Bonaire is being considered as a dive destination also non-divers will feel equally at home at Buddy Dive Resort. It offers a wide-range of eco tours varying from mangrove kayak trips to snorkel cave excursions. Buddy Dive Resort was one of the first resorts that signed the cave covenant in 2003 and is in many respects a leader offering in eco-friendly tours and excursions. For children Buddy Dive Resort has its “Buddy Rangers” Kids Club where several programs are offered to educate the younger generation about the marine life and the need to protect and cherish it.

Buddy Dive Resort is an oceanfront resort situated on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. The resort offers accommodations including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens, living area and patios or balconies, and air-conditioned studios and hotel rooms, a full service PADI 5 Star Gold Palm and Universal Referral dive center, three swimming pools, two restaurants, pool bar, activity desk plus the famous drive-thru air and Nitrox fill station.

For all those who like to combine a relaxing dive vacation with education and fun Buddy Dive Resort offers a great Drive & Dive-packages starting at US$ 658,-- ^p.p./sext* and include accommodation, U/L-shore diving (incl. Nitrox), car rental, American breakfast buffet, airport/hotel transfer and all government taxes. Buddy’s “6 Days in 6 Ways” Activity Package allows non-divers to exchange the diving part of the package with an exciting Eco excursion package.^**

For more information please contact your favorite travel partner, call 1-866-GO-BUDDY, e-mail reservations@buddydive.com or visit www.buddydive.com.

* Based on 6 persons in a 3-bedroom unit during low season;

** When booking the boat dive package including boat diving;