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Editorial Placements

Over the past few months feature articles on Bonaire have been in a number of key North American publications.  In August alone two feature articles were in Skin Diver and Sport Diver, two of the top dive magazines ... and this is just the tip of the iceberg!  Read on ...

Skin Diver (circulation 227,014)

In the August 2001 issue of Skin Diver, writer Ty Sawyer penned a 6-page feature article on Bonaire, entitled “Moonlighting in Bonaire.”  Describing the night dives at Bonaire’s Town Pier, “that could’ve made us permanently nocturnal bubble blowers,” the article describes the fascinating world of night diving, stating that “it’s a bit unnerving to have a five-foot Tarpon suddenly appear, inches from your face, from the 2:00 a.m. darkness.”

In addition to night diving, the article describes the daytime attractions of the island, the Dutch-inspired architecture, the old slave huts and the “famous and photogenic Willemstoren Lighthouse.”  Of the 10 four-color photos included in the article, six are of the underwater nightlife.  Accompanying the article is a section called Skin Diver Guide Bonaire which includes details on getting to Bonaire, island facts & tips and names of dive operators and resorts. TCB’s 800 number is also included.  In addition a world map is shown indicating Bonaire’s location as well as a close-up of the island, highlighting points of interests, such as Washington-Slagbaai National Park.

Sport Diver (circulation 115,000)

The August 2001 issue of Sport Diver, features a cover story titled “Maxing out: Bonaire’s Ultimate Dive Day.”  The story, written by the magazine's editor, Pierce Hoover, describes his day of diving in Bonaire, which calls for about a half-dozen "submersions."  Stating that “the good news was that Bonaire is the one island in the Caribbean where such a dive profile is not only possible, it is actually fairly common,” Mr. Hoover goes on to mention his explorations to the “coral-rich slopes” on the southern side of Klein Bonaire, detailing that the “health of the coral reefs are no accident”, but are due to Bonaire establishing an “island-wide marine park, outlawing spear fishing, and educating divers.”

Accompanying the article are 4 four-color photos, as well as a photo of Bonaire’s coral reefs in the table of contents of the magazine.  A Travel Planner section at the end of the article includes information on island resorts and dive operators (telephone numbers, e-mail and website addresses are included).

Rodale’s Scuba Diving (circulation 185,000)

Accompanying a recent issue of Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine was the 2001 supplement for travel agents selling scuba diving and snorkeling vacations.  Featuring an article on the ease to dive in and around Bonaire, the guide states that divers visiting Bonaire can dive a variety of ways including shore and boat diving at reefs which are very accessible from shore.  Also pointed out is the ease of snorkeling, the ideal weather conditions and optimal average water temperature.  Further highlighted are Washington-Slagbaai National Park, cliff walls at Boca Onima, the island’s varied bird species, and mountain biking.

Included in the article are a number of pertinent Bonaire travel facts, including what entry documents are necessary to enter Bonaire and TCB’s 800 number and website address.

Porthole (circulation 65,000)

The June 2001 issue of the bi-monthly magazine, Porthole, features a three-page article on Bonaire, entitled “Basking in Bonaire.”  Stating that “Bonaire is to divers and snorkelers what Everest is to mountain climbers,” the article in addition to mentioning the history and climate of the island, indicates Bonaire’s role in “protecting its ecosystem,” and providing dive information and educational programs to its visitors.  Describing this as the number one reason for the island having “created a large number of superb dive sites,” the article showcases these sites by including 4 four-color photos of the island, one of which was in the magazine's table of contents. 

Also mentioned in the article are the flamingos at Goto Meer, windsurfing which is “fast becoming known” due to Bonaire’s ideal conditions, as well as various recreational activities including visiting Boca Onima’s limestone caves, and mountain biking.  TCB’s 800 number and website address are included in the article.

American WindSurfer (circulation 200,000)

The March/April 2001 issue of American WindSurfer features an article titled “Fresh Air Bonaire.”  The article focuses on the 24 kids from Bonaire that competed at the 16^th Annual Midwinter’s Windsurfing event in Florida (the event was aired on CNN News and “received major international attention”).  Stating that “suddenly windsurfing and the island of Bonaire have a new level of prominence,” the article goes on to mention the new flights from Puerto Rico on American Airlines. 

The article chronicles the evolution of windsurfing in Bonaire, which began when Elvis “Piskechi” Martinus, discovered windsurfing through his kids who “adapted to the sport remarkably well.”  Following this he and his partner, Patun Saragoza, “managed to teach and maintain a flock of over seventy kids” from Bonaire.

Accompanying the editorial are  a two page spread with four-color photos depicting the kids from Bonaire windsurfing and enjoying the water. The article also mentions, that American Windsurfer magazine has initiated a summer windsurfing camp on Bonaire, and has included the dates and telephone numbers to call for more information.

Tropical Fish (circulation 62,000)

The July 2001 issue of Tropical Fish has an extensive 12-page article titled “Bonaire The Tropical Fish Capital of the Caribbean”.  Belkis Kamback, the author who visited Bonaire in September 2000 with her photographer/husband on a one-on-one press visit, writes of Bonaire’s “350 species of colorful tropical fish and over 120 types of coral”, and describes the island’s roots of different cultures, creating a mix of heritages and languages. 

Stating that the “water around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire” and the “Diver’s Paradise” license plates, emphasize the “efforts Bonaireans have taken to preserve the underwater world by establishing one of the first marine parks in the Caribbean," the article goes on to mention other places of interest on the island, such as the Willemstoren Lighthouse, the flamingo sanctuary and Goto Meer.

There are 12 four-color photos displayed in the article.  The pictures range from the orange cup coral to the ancient petroglyphs and sea life.  Complementing the article is a four-color photo of a flamingo with a caption on Bonaire in the table of contents. In conclusion the authors state that “Bonaire was the best island choice we could have made.

New York Times (circulation 1,691,287)

The May 13, 2001 travel section of the New York Times featured a listing of the Bonaire Dive Festival in the International Date Book section.  This weekly section details a selection of key international events, giving a brief description of the event’s activities.  The Dive Festival listing included information on the purpose of the Festival - that it is geared towards divers and snorkelers who are concerned about the state of the world’s coral reefs - and included TCB’s toll free number for those who want more information.

This placement also appeared in the New York Times National Edition, circulation 340,061.

Caribbean Travel & Life (circulation 115,000)

In the July 2001 issue of Caribbean Travel & Life, Associate Editor Jessica Chapman gives an overview of her picks for the top 20 snorkel sites around the Caribbean (this was the cover article), including Bonaire and its shore snorkeling options as one of the top spots.  The one-page section devoted to Bonaire, titled “Have car, will snorkel,” details Ms. Chapman’s experiences shore snorkeling at Pink Beach, Alice in Wonderland, and Invisibles among  moray eels, parrotfish, trumpet fish. Ms. Chapman visited Bonaire in March 2000.  In addition, Bonaire’s Town Pier was also included in the article as one of the best night snorkeling sites in the Caribbean.                    

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