AWARDED:
Brian Neumann & Melinda Montgomery

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Randy Olson

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Brenda Brown, Thomas & Meredith Lucas, Diane Wiel

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Rainer & Elisabeth Ramcke

AWARDED:
Bill & Alice Miller

AWARDED:
Eddie Cox (November 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Mike Marks (October 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
William Burton (July 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Lothar Doehle (April 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Howard, Benjamin, Daylan Josephs (April 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Don & Karin Denley (April 2007)

 

 

 

AWARDED:
Hans & Metje van de Hoef (April 2007)

 

 
  

AWARDED:
Mrs. Ursula Vogt (April 2007)

Recently, Mrs. Ursula Vogt was honored with the bronze ambassador medal for visiting the island of Bonaire for the last 10 years. Two friends of her told her about Bonaire one day and of the nice, friendly little resort Palm Studio and Blue divers, where they spent their holidays.

10 years ago she came here with her husband, who is a dive-instructor like she is, and their two children Dominik and Martina. Since then they have spent their diving-holidays in Bonaire, years after years. Every year she organized a two-week trip to Bonaire, also for their friends of their diving-club. The groups varied from 5 to 10 people, who’ve enjoyed every day they were here.

Ursula says that since the first day she was in Bonaire, she got infected with the “Bonaire virus”. She loves Bonaire and its beauty on land and under water. She likes the friendly people and how Bonaireans keep their culture.

They stayed at Palm Studio/Blue Divers during all thier visits and were very satisfied. They like the garden with the palm trees and the little pool.

On their homepage they have some pictures of Bonaire and nearly every week somebody is asking her about Bonaire and diving in Bonaire. The only thing that she tells them then is: “Go there, you must see it, you must feel it, you must smell it – it’s something special, it’s beautiful!”

Mrs. Ursula Vogt from Switzerland is one of Tourism Corporation Bonaire’s Ambassadors.

Congratulations and thank you on behalf of the island and its people! !

AWARDED:
Hans & Brigit Pape (March 2007)

Hans Jürgen and Brigit Pape read an article about Bonaire in Germany and decided to spend their holidays here in 1994.
They had a great time and found our island very beautiful, clean and enjoyed especially the tranquillity very much. They found the people very friendly and the service in the hotels quite good. As a diver Ms. Pape was enthusiastic about what she saw in our underwater world. Mr. Jürgen surfed at Sorobon also and has been surfing ever since. They have now brought their daughter for the second time, who is also an enthusiastic wind surfer.
The second time they came here they brought along Ms. Pape’s sister and brother-in-law, who are also divers. They’ve now been here for the 9th time.
In the course of the past 10 years they have persuaded several of their friends to spend their holidays here, and they have been repeating their visit year after year.
“This is a fantastic island; we feel at home here and hope that nature will be preserved so that your people and the tourists can continue to enjoy it.“
Hans Jürgen and Brigit Pape are real ambassadors for Bonaire and contribute to promoting our island.

Hans and Brigit from Germany is two of Tourism Corporation Bonaire’s Ambassadors. Congratulations!

AWARDED:
Chet & Jean Wood (March 2007)

We started diving in Wisconsin and Illinois, USA in 1994.  After our son graduated from college, we decided to treat ourselves to a Caribbean dive trip. Jean gets sea sick easily, so we looked for some place with good shore diving. The Cayman Islands were suggested by associates at work, but once we discovered Bonaire, it seemed perfect.  We were not disappointed!  The short boat trips here are great for Jean and all the wonderful shore diving is more than we could imagine.

We stayed at Sand Dollar and we have never seen any place we would like better.  Jean has many food allergies so we need a full kitchen. For seven years we have been renting from the Zale’s who own an excellently taken care of 2 bedroom condo at Sand Dollar.  The second story view, screens, and breeze are icing on the cake.

Bonaire has the highest fish species count compared to any other island in the Caribbean; and the Sand Dollar house reef (Bari Reef), has the highest count on Bonaire.

Bonaire Dive and Adventure is right here and the set-up is very convenient. The pier is perfect for a giant-stride in. There are benches, multiple rinse tanks, and a fresh water shower right on the pier. Small lockers, the gear room, and dive shop are also close to the pier. Den Laman restaurant is right next to the pier. 

Every thing we could want for a relaxing, fish counting, and an easy dive vacation are right here! So, why would we go anywhere else?  For ten years we have come every winter to Bonaire and stayed at Sand Dollar.

We plan to keep coming every year as long as we can. 

Chet and Jean Wood from McHenry, Illinois are two of the Tourism Corporation Bonaire’s Ambassadors. Congratulations!

AWARDED:
Steve and Lajos Magocs (January 2007)

Lajos and his father, Steve, enjoy visiting Bonaire. They both enjoy the natural beauty of the island. Snorkeling, diving, walking in the desert, and even watching the waves on the South-east coast are their favorite activities on the island.

Lajos is 10 and became a certified diver on Bonaire in late 2005 (thanks Wannadive!). He already has over 60 dives logged. Steven was certified in Holland and even speaks a little Dutch which can make some funny translations. Their favorite dive sites are Angel City, Oil Slick Leap and Eden Beach. The shore diving on Bonaire gives divers the chance to closely examine sea life in a way you can’t do from a scheduled boat dive.

On the island they stay with Lajos grandparents at Eden Beach Resort. Staff and management there are very helpful and friendly.

Bonaire is a great place to visit with plenty of outdoor activities. The Magocs family looks forward to visit Bonaire again.

Thank you and congratulations Steve and Lajos Magocs!!

AWARDED:
Steven Householder (January 2007)

HE BROUGHT FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HIS SECOND HOME
Hardest thing is getting on the plane to leave Bonaire

This is my story:
I have been visiting Bonaire for many years and it always feels like I am coming home when I walk of the plane. I started coming to the island with my wife to experience the diving and soon found out that it is just one of the wonderful things about Bonaire. We were able to come to this island and make wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. After many years of enjoying the island together with my wife Linda, she was able to get her bronze medal just before she passed away of cancer. I have since remarried and have brought my wife (Jill) with me for the first time on this trip. She is just now finding out about the magic this island has on people. So many great things have happened to my friends while on Bonaire. Aaron West met his wife, Melissa while they were both on a dive trip here and their first kiss was captured on the reef cam on the Small Wall. I have met so many new friends from all over the world while sitting at the Green Parrot. Yes I do have a very large collection of wooden figures on a stick. Whenever someone asks me where is my favorite place to dive? I just get a big smile and say BONAIRE, is there any other place? I just want to thank the people of Bonaire for letting Linda and I enjoy your home and call it our home. I will be returning many more times with my wife Jill and we will be making many more memories. The hardest thing to do on Bonaire is to remember when you can get milk (not that hard anymore), and to get on the plane to leave.   

Thank you and congratulations Steven Householder!!

AWARDED:
Aaron West (January 2007)

AMBASSADOR MET HIS WIFE ON BONAIRE
Bonaire is also a love island

This is my story:
I started coming down with some friends I met on the internet. It was great fun but the real story is I met my wife with my friends from Salt Lake City. She was down here for 16 days with our group. We met and fell in love, 2½ years later we got married, she moved to, my hometown, Kansas City. This is a proof that long distance relationship does work. We married in June 2004 and spent 3 wonderful weeks on Bonaire for our honeymoon. This island is my little slice of heaven, without it I would never met my “true love” Melissa. Also without my friends Steven and Linda Householder I would never discover Bonaire.

Thank you and congratulations Aaron West!!

A little longer then 10 years ago, I started to dive. I am now 64 years old with 320 plus dives. I need a little more help with tanks, etc. and Captain Don’s Habitat provides it all. Bonaire is my favorite with the beautiful reefs and relaxed diving; how could I ask for more. As long as I can keep diving I will return to wonderful Bonaire. – Bronze Ambassador Karen Pace.

Congratulations to Dennis and Rosie Jarboe with their bronze medal!!

This is their 11th consecutive year visiting our island and, according to them, there will be many more. Dennis and Rosie have continued and will continue to visit Bonaire for the wonderful diving, beautiful reefs and friendly atmosphere. While Bonaire is not the easiest place to get to, it is worth the effort. They have seen many changes over the years and they hope that all the new constructions don’t result in damage towards the reef environment. “Coming to Bonaire and staying at Happy Holiday Homes is like visiting our extended family” according to the couple.

Thank you for being part of Bonaire.

The Lesser Family is a heavy-set cliff on Bonaire because they’ve been visiting Bonaire and staying at Habitat for 12 years now and we are sure there will be 12 times 12 more years of visit to come.

This is their story and own thoughts about Bonaire:

“My first trip to Bonaire was for business, and since my wife previously had been frightened on a SCUBA dive in the Pacific she reluctantly agreed to make at least one dive with me on the trip. After that first one, however, she was also hooked, and for the rest of the trip we spent more time underwater than on land. While the diving is fantastic, what keeps us coming back every year is the people; we have met many people here on the island we now consider to be good friends, and almost everyone we meet has a kind word. We look forward to sharing your beautiful island with you many years into the future.” - Rick Lesser

“I can stare at our pictures of Bonaire and feel a relaxing warm feeling. My family and I are so very fortunate to have traveled to Bonaire and have very special friendships with many people who live there. The kindness everyone has shown us is like nothing else, and every time we go there we feel like we are at home. I am big on our family bonding, as my kids are 22 years old, 20 years old, and 16 years old, I fear the time when I don't see them very often. So in Bonaire we are always bonding with dinners out at the great restaurants and have made great friends with a lot of people, great food, great wine, and great scuba diving experiences.” - Jan Lesser

“My first trip to Bonaire I, unfortunately, only remember bits and pieces, but as the years went by, the people and Habitat and the town have become engraved in my memory. Bonaire is my second home almost. Even though we only spent about a week out of the year there, each week has had such a strong and positive impact. We were very fortunate to be able to come back every year we did, and hopefully we will returnfor many more to come. Bonaire isn't just a place we go, it has become part of us and our lives, and we will never forget it.” - Alese Lesser

“On one of the first visits I had to Bonaire, I remember playing polly pockets with Jack and Karen's daughter Tracy. That was about ten years ago, and for some reason that memory sticks with me today. Not only was the ocean gorgeous with flourishing coral everywhere you would look, it was the memory of jumping off of baby dock with my brother and sister that I also remember so vividly. Unfortunately, one year in the late 90s there was a hurricane that hit the reefs and shores of Bonaire on the west side, but that wasn't going to stop us from going each year. This way it made it more exciting to see the growth of the coral each year. The people that our family has come across in Bonaire also made a big difference in our lives. I have to admit that despite how amazing the water is, the friends we have made over the years, new and old, continue to light up our lives, and for that we are so fortunate and thankful. One year I remember the biggest volleyball team that we put together by the pool... we kept adding more to each side that if the players didn't announce that the ball was theirs, then four people would be going after the same ball. Good times...Good friends...Good family... I couldn't ask for more.”
- Kathleen Lesser

Bonaire has been like a second home to me and my family for quite sometime now. The diving is exceptional; the weather is great but most importantly the people are wonderful. If it were not for the people who have been so welcoming, I sincerely doubt we would have returned. Bonaire has now claimed a special place in my heart and I can't wait to go back.
–Ricky Lesser

Their journey to an island called Bonaire began in March 1995 and since then they’ve been visiting us for more then 10 years. Their first acquaintance with open water diving was in the cold water of northern Ohio and, on recommendation of their dive master/instructor, they visited the “Divers Paradise” and have no regrets and have returned year after year. This year the TCB is honoring Jay and Donna as official bronze ambassadors.

While the diving is easy and superb for both novice and expert, it's not what has prompted their continued return to Bonaire. When they speak to friends and neighbors about Bonaire, the pristine diving is almost an after-thought. What always strikes them is the natural beauty of the island. There's something for everyone on Bonaire. One can hike or cycle in the cactus-strewn countryside. Kayaking, marine sports, horseback riding and wind-surfing are just a few of the available activities. If you are a bird watcher, you will be delighted with the abundance of parrots, frigate birds, flamingos, osprey, pelicans, chibi-chibis, etc. Animal lovers will enjoy the variety of wildlife that includes goats, donkeys, lizards, and iguanas. And the seemingly constant winds provide a welcoming relief from the warm, sunny days.

The island is extremely safe with a sound infrastructure. However another important factor that keeps them coming back is the sincere and genuine warmth of the local people. Bonaire is a model of sincere and genuine friendship. Their experience with hotels, car rentals, dive operators, restaurants and shops has all been very positive. Everyone goes out of their way to assist both friend and stranger.

When we went to honor them, these were the exact words used by Jay and Donna: “Returning to Bonaire is indeed like being welcomed home. We enthusiastically recommend the island to all we meet. We are always sad to leave, but are already planning our next visit to Bonaire.”

Congratulations and thank you!

 

Stan and Betsy tell us: " We came to Bonaire in 1997--the year we got married. Stan was a long time diver, but I had just gotten certified.
After diving in the cold lakes in Michigan, the warm waters in Bonaire were a welcome change. The ability to do shore dives and explore at will is a big draw for us. Every year we find new things and have new stories to tell.

"The Black Durgon is the place we stay every year. It is a small hotel with a very friendly, homely atmosphere. Over the years we have made many friends at the Durgon. Now many of us coordinate our trips so that we’ll be there at the same time.

"Over the last 10 years we’ve seen many changes in Bonaire. As the island becomes more popular, it is easier to get here. More airlines provide service to the island. There are more good restaurants from which to choose. We used to love seeing the donkeys wander the island freely. Now that they are cared for in a sanctuary, we miss them.

"Bonaire is the kind of place where we try to have longer and longer vacations. When we retire, we will measure our Bonaire time in months instead of weeks."

Congratulations, Stan and Betsy, with your bronze medals.

John and Mary Gallagher made their first trip to Bonaire in 1995.  They enjoyed the island so much that they returned each year, first bringing their children, then other family members, and continued coming to Bonaire year after year with many of their family and friends.  This most recent trip in April saw them here with a group of 8 people; three of the group celebrated their birthdays here on Bonaire!   We understand that they mark down their holiday to Bonaire on the calendar, and cross off the days until it is time for them to return again.  I wonder if diving in the nice, refreshing water in Maine might have something to do with it! 

Over the years, John & Mary have introduced a lot of new people to Bonaire.  Sand Dollar Resort is delighted to have such great Ambassadors for our island.  We look forward to their return. 

 

From left to right: Ambassadors Ed and Joan from New Jersey, Rian (Sorobon Beach), ambassadors Larry and Dee from North Carolina, Joanny(TCB), and ambassadors Neil and Sandra from the United Kingdom. They all celebrated their tenth visit to Bonaire at Sorobon Beach this year.

The party met ten years ago at the resort and became friends since then. They decided to visit Bonaire on a yearly basis at the same time, in April, and stay at Sorobon each year. They have even made yellow t-shirts with the words “Sorobon Reunion” and the various years on it. It has become a tradition for them to wear them when they are having their daily game of petanque (bolas) and happy hour drinks at the bar of Sorobon, afterwards.

Ed and Larry are divers, the ladies enjoy the beach, and Neil and Ed are also fanatic kiters and bring a new spectacular kite every year. They leave the kites when their vacation is over to the children of one of the employees of Sorobon.

Ed, Joan, Larry, Dee, Neil and Sandra all have been honored with the Bronze Ambassador medal for the past ten years that they have been visiting our island. For TCB, it is an honor to be able to present them this special token of appreciation. We thank them for visiting us and hope to see them back in Bonaire year after year.

Congratulations!

Thomas and Sally have been coming to Bonaire for 10 years. They are from Kentucky and traveled through Houston down to Kralendijk. They are in love with Bonaire, as they say,“It’s a different kind of vacation because it’s laid-back, with limited development, with never a need to fight traffic, with no traffic lights, and with very natural and total diving freedom.

Bonaire is like a second home for Thomas and Sally. They like to come at least once or twice a year to relax and sometimes come with their family or friends on a dive trip. They have met some people on the island traveling from other countries with similar interests as they have and have built good relationships with them over the years.

According to them: “Bonaire gets in your blood; there is something addictive in the water.” They called their first boat “Karpata” and will call their current sailboat “Bonaire.” Thomas and Sally always take their time to explain the beauty and all other information about Bonaire to people.

Thomas and Sally have been staying in lots of places on the island and have noticed an improvement in restaurants and the service in general. The last three years they have been staying at Belmar and would like to say “danki” to all employees at Belmar and especially to Henriette from the reservation office. They also want to thank the Toucan Dive crew for their personal treatment. They hope the island stays just the way it is!!!!

Throughout their 10 year visits, the highlights were meeting Captain Don Stewart and seeing some dolphins. For them this was the best trip in 10 years!!!

It is a pleasure for Tourism Corporation Bonaire to recognize Thomas and Sally as Bonaire Ambassadors. We thank them for their visits, the love they share for the island and are happy to see them year after year.

Congratulations and thank you!

Marina and Reinhard Kowalke come from Berlin and have been visiting Bonaire since 1992. They were recently honored as Bonaire Ambassadors by the Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

They love the friendly and helpful people from Bonaire and the fantastic reefs on the west side. When returning to Berlin in 1992, they were so impressed that they told a lot of members of their dive club, Duc Berlin, about Bonaire. Since then more than 10 other couples have visited Bonaire for diving and relaxation.

Since 2004 they have been staying at Tropicana Apartments, after meeting Bob and Annemieke, and are happy with the accomodation. Marina has also learned the Papiamento language and can even speak and understand it.

It is a pleasure for Tourism Corporation Bonaire to recognize Marina and Reinhard as Bonaire Ambassadors. We thank them for their visits, the love they share for the island and are happy to see them year after year.

Congratulations and thank you!

Grace West has been visiting Bonaire for 10 years. She has been coming to the Caribbean since theearly 1960s.

She found Bonaire through the Divi Resorts, as she owned first in Aruba. Now she owns two weeks here, also.

Grace loves the natural environment of Bonaire and says that it is like no other island. She loves the people, the water, the snorkeling and the “visitors” who stay at the Divi Flamingo. She hopes things never change – no high rises, traffic lights, or buses.

For Tourism Corporation Bonaire, it is a pleasure to honor Mrs. Grace West as a Bronze Bonaire Ambassador.

Congratulations!

When they came to Bonaire in 1996, it was upon advice from a travel agent. Needless to say, they fell in love with the beautiful island. It is the most casual, friendly and relaxed island ever. They immediately bought a time-share at Divi Flamingo and within a few years purchased another week.

They hope that the future does not hold a busy, bustling, traffic-cockling island like Aruba.

Sue Ellen and Chuck received the Bronze medal for visiting the island for 10 consecutive years.

For Tourism Corporation Bonaire it is a pleasure to have Sue Ellen and Chuck Dougherty as Bronze Bonaire Ambassadors. It is certainly a pleasure to see them back year after year.

Congratulations!

Rudy van Geldere, our recent ambassador, is a fanatic and experienced underwater photographer. Rudy has been taking underwater pictures for 31 years now! Upon his 4th dive he already had his underwater camera with him. He advises though, to start with underwater photography after approximately 100 dives.

Rudy first visited the island 15 years ago upon invitation from Pascal and Kali de Meyer, and, since then, he’s been visiting on a yearly basis where he stays for a period of 2 months on island.

Rudy says that Bonaire is a marvelous nature island, both on-land and below the water. The underwater nature belongs to one of the best and most beautiful in the Caribbean.

Rudy has produced two underwater photography books, from which his last one includes many of the underwater scenery of Bonaire. The book is titled “4000 Duiken in Beeld” and is for sale at different dive shops on island, among them Divi Dive shop.

Rudy has won different underwater photography competitions worldwide, his first one in 1988, and he instructs people also on how to take underwater pictures.

Rudy highlights that something he does not want to leave out of this piece, is the People of Bonaire, friendly people with good heart!

Rudy’s wife is also in love with Bonaire and they both share this passion.

For Tourism Corporation Bonaire it is a great pleasure to have Rudy as a Bonaire Ambassador. “We thank Mr. van Geldere and his wife for their numerous visits, and are delighted with their decision to return year after year to our beautiful, tranquil and friendly island. We are confident that Rudy can find plenty of material in Bonaire, for his passion which is underwater photography” according to Ronella Croes, Director of Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

Peter and Sigrid Assor from Sweden have been visiting Bonaire for 15 years, with a total of 16 visits. They had heard about Bonaire through a cousin living in Caracas, Venezuela. Since being introduced to the island, they always wanted to return, and, in fact, kept coming back all the time. Why? Because of the quietness and nice people. One of their first friends in Bonaire was Pascal de Meyer.

Receiving awards as Bonaire ambassadors is a real honor, but they have been promoting the island since they first visited. Many of their friends have followed their advice to visit.

They have made quite some friends through their visits, whom they meet year after year during the same time on Bonaire.

They have made about 800 dives in Bonaire and feel a bit sorry that the Windjammer is closed now.

As long as their health permits, Peter and Sigrid will be back again and again!

For Tourism Corporation Bonaire it is a great pleasure to have Peter and Sigrid as Bonaire Ambassadors. “We thank Mr. and Mrs. Assor for their numerous visits, and are delighted with thier decision to return year after year to our beautiful, tranquil and friendly island” according to Ronella Croes, Director of Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

When we first visited Bonaire in 1993, we were so taken with the island that we stopped on our way to the airport to leave for home and bought a timeshare. That was a spontaneous decision we’ve never regretted – Bonaire has become our second home.

The diving is spectacular, the weather is perfect, and the pace of the island is just right to ensure a relaxing time.
The best thing about Bonaire is the people. We’ve met new friends who we look forward to seeing on our vacations. We’ve enjoyed bringing friends from home with us to enjoy the island.

Our Bonairian friends have treated us like family and we think of them that way. They are the best !

Bonaire is home to us, one that we’ll keep coming back to for years.

The first Bonaire Ambassador for the year 2006 is a young gentleman of only 10 years old. His name is Aaron Zetley. He visited our island when he was a baby for the first time in 1996, together with his parents. This is the 10th time that he visits the island of Bonaire. His passion for the island is all about windsurfing. Aaron takes classes with Elvis at Bonaire Windsurf Place. For Tourism Corporation Bonaire, it is a great pleasure to have Aaron as the first Bonaire Ambassador for the year 2006.

Congratulations!

In the late 1980s, ALM had the heavy maintenance for their aircrafts done by AUA in Vienna and I did the test flights for them. The ALM Crews did awake my interest for this island, so in 1990 I flew the first time to Bonaire, made my dive certification here, and from this time on, I love to be here. There are several reasons for that.

First of all I like the friendly people and the diving, especially here at the Divi Flamingo Resort. I give great compliments to the dive crews, as they are very kind and helpful. So that’s the reason to come here almost every year, especially as I do most of the travels here alone and feel very relaxed and comfortable.

So I hope the island will stay as it is.

Mrs. Sandig has been coming to Bonaire since 1995, when she first visited her daughter and son-in-law, who live here. Mrs. Sandig has visited Bonaire 25 times in these 10 years, and we have the pleasure to name her a bronze Bonaire ambassador! Mrs. Sandig, who’s 81 years old, loves one thing in particular; cycling every day from Belnem to Kralendijk and back. In fact, she appeared in the Bonaire Reporter previously. She loves to snorkel also, which she does together with her daughter, and enjoys the water temperature. Mrs. Sandig loves the island! Tourism Corporation Bonaire, along with the entire island, hope we can see her many times again.

Mrs. Wilhelmina Sandig is one of the Tourism Corporation Bonaire’s Ambassadors. Congratulations!

Kamila tells us, "Each time I dive into the waters of Bonaire, I experience something new and rewarding. Every year I set a goal to see and experience the marine life that Bonaire's waters have to offer. The tranquility that I have when I swim among the underwater sea life is hard to explain, but that's why I come back every year to enjoy the stress-free life of Bonaire. Thanks for your hospitality of your wonderful island."

In December 1989 Vicki Miller read a Bonaire Tourism Brochure sent to a US dive operator. Beautiful pictures and the information about friendly courteous Bonaireans charmed her. She was attracted by the promise of a quite atmosphere in harmony with nature. Her first visit was September, 1990. Her friend in the States said, “Now you have found your favorite place in the world”, when she would tell them about Bonaire. Vicki has visited other Caribbean Islands, Honduras, the Atlantic coast, and Gulf of Mexico, but she always returns to Bonaire. This is her second trip in 2005. She has the Bonaire flag in her home in Seneca, South Carolina, USA.

In 2000, she met Al Catalfumo, owner of Black Durgon. His motto “come as a vacationer and leave as a friend” is very appropriate and explains all of this island. Vicki tell us, "Now, many times I am greeted “Bon Bini, Vicki”, even at Flamingo Airport. Her experience on Bonaire is not just to dive. She celebrates the customs and history, and looks forward to sharing in the plans and promise of the future.

Now as a Bonaire Ambassador, she will promote this island to children in the US, as an eco-tourist destination. Her dream is to start student exchange programs that would arrange trips for US students to Bonaire to study the island’s nature management and challenge them to share their experiences with others. She is a licensed counselor and specializes in children, teens, and their family relations. She hopes this will allow her to work with Bonairean foundations like Jong Bonaire, Maria Hoppner, and the youth with special needs or who are disabled. Like Don Stewart says, “There is more to life than diving.” When people ask, “What do you plan to do while on vacation?” I answer “The 4D’s--Diving, Dancing, Dining, and Dreaming--always about the beauty of Bonaire.”

The two new Bronze Ambassadors of Bonaire, Sherry and Les Fulton from
Illinois, love Bonaire because it is not over-developed. They started coming to the island in 1995 with their dive shop, then later on came by themselves. When they read about the ambassador programme in the Bonaire Reporter, they decided that they wanted to be ambassadors, too, but they still had about four years to go. Last Friday they reached their goal. Lisa Muehlemann, Operations Manager of Buddy Dive, had the honor of officially making them ambassadors. Sherry and Les Fulton plan on returning to Buddy Dive and Bonaire for many years to come.

Adam and Debbi Wetzel receive their bronze medals for the 13 years consecutive years they have visited our beautiful island, Bonaire. They have 10 top reasons that they come back to Bonaire, which they wish to share with everyone:

1. The Diving

2. Friendly local people

3. The breeze

4. Water is potable (drinkable)

5. Island makes you feel welcome

6. Kabrito stoba

7. Shoreline is accessible for diving and swimming

8. Turquoise blue water

9. The scenery is very different from Vermont

10. We wanted the Ambassador medal!

 

Richard and Kathleen Hart receive their bronze medals after 12 years of visiting Bonaire. Richard enjoys the windsurfing and Kathleen enjoys painting the flora and fauna. They have come to love Bonaire as they can relax and pursue their interests.

At Sorobon, TCB awarded two couples with their Bronze Ambassador Medals. Mike and Becky from the USA have visited Sorobon each year in February for the last ten years. They tell us that they are very happy to be celebrating three weeks holiday on Bonaire, not only because of the beautiful nature and friendly people, but also because they think of Sorobon as their true paradise!

David and Judy are from the UK, and have also visited Sorobon over the last ten years every year, and often times, twice a year. David is a fanatical windsurfer and he and his wife enjoy being on the beach of Sorobon and on the waves of Lac Bay!

After 13 yearly visits to Bonaire, Don & Martha received their Bronze Ambassadors Award. Don is a diver, while Martha snorkels, and they love to visit Bonaire as they enjoy the people here, and since it is one of the few islands in the world where both can enjoy their respective sports together! On this visit, they are enjoying the hospitality of Captain Don's Habitat, and they tell us they will begin planning their fourteenth visit right away!

Howard and Ginger received their Bronze Medals after completing their fourteenth year of visiting Bonaire. Over the years, they have made friends with various locals, who are very content to have them come back and visit. During their vacations, they have stayed at various places on the island, and, on this visit, they are staying at Sabal Palm, in Belnam.

Regina and Evert receive their Bronze Ambassador Medals on the occasion of their tenth annual visit to Bonaire. During this visit, they are staying on Kaya Rotterdam.

For ten consecutive years now, Jean and Edward Magocs from Pennsylvania have been coming to Bonaire. For the past three years, they have come for four months, and they say each visit they discover something new. Their two sons also come to visit them and one comes during the Christmas holidays and the other for Carnival. Each year they make their own t-shirt, and Bonaire is, for them, the perfect island, as they enjoy the warmth of its people and the tranquility. Jean told us that soon (2 years more) their eight-year-old grandson will also become an Ambassador, since he has been coming to Bonaire since he was a baby. He enjoys the ocean and can identify almost every fish in the ocean that he sees.  Two of their favorite spots on the island are: Playa Grandi and Spelonk. They are staying at Eden Beach Resort.

This father and his two sons, staying at Eden Beach Resort, were welcomed into the family of Bronze Ambassadors on December 29, 2004!

Jesse, Charlie, and Dave have been coming to Bonaire now for over ten years. This trip they are staying at Eden Beach Resort, and their awards were arranged by their good on-island friend, Jules Stabnik from Pirate Cruises.

Eric and Anita, from The Netherlands, have been visiting Bonaire twice each year for the past ten years! They enjoy the peacefulness of Sorobon Beach Resort.

Bill and PJ hail from the United States, and have also been visiting Bonaire for ten years now. They like to stay at Sorobon Beach Resort, too!

John and Nancy, staying at Sorobon Beach Resort, celebrate their Bronze Medals, after visiting Bonaire for ten consecutive years.