posted : January 31, 2005 Post subject:

Bonaire Fun Travel have been presented with the Golden Flamingo award for tourism for a third consecutive year. An achievement no one thought possible.

The Golden Flamingo is presented by the Tourist Corporation of Bonaire, and is a coveted award, as it reflects the views of visitors to Bonaire. Throughout 2004 visitors were asked to nominate the travel company they believe deserved the Golden Flamingo, an award for customer service, efficiency and knowledge of the island. The nominations are judged by a committee: H. H Brookson, Minister of the Dutch Antilles; Roger Davids of Basis Communication, who manage Bonaire’s tourist affairs in Europe and Frits Hannenberg TCB member of the board.

Bonaire Fun Travel won the award in 2002 and, when Bonaire Fun Travel won the award for the second time last year, 2003 , a unique event, the Bonaire Fun Travel team were sure that a third consecutive Golden Flamingo was impossible.

In a spontaneous reaction, a stunned company Director, Coen de Rooij, said "I honestly believed it was not possible to retain the award. This award is a vote of confidence from our customers for the way we conduct our business and our customer service. It is a feather in the cap of the whole Bonaire Fun Travel team. But to be fair, in winning this award we owe thanks also to the effort and commitment of the authorities on Bonaire and to all those who are continually working hard to improve the conditions for visitors to Bonaire".

posted : December 8, 2004 Post subject:

Beginning December 3, 2004 divers can experience art in a unique setting, as the waters around Bonaire host the first ever exhibition of artwork underwater. Called “40 Feet Underwater": Moving Light into an Unlimited Territory,” the show will feature the work of Dutch artist Fred Ros.

Set in Bonaire’s pristine waters, where the natural environment is something to see in itself, enormous works of art will be sunk to a depth of 40 feet, creating an underwater museum in the Caribbean Sea. Distance, depth, colors, and shapes will constantly change as the natural light from the sunbeams through the water, giving visitors multiple perceptions of each work of art. Taking notice of the artwork coexisting with the natural underwater treasures – the fish, corals and sponges - the exhibition will not only challenge people’s perceptions of art but also call attention to the importance of preserving and protecting marine environment. The exhibit will showcase thirty-one photographic pieces created by Ros above the Wetlands, in Antarctica, and in the saltpans of Bonaire.

As divers approach the underwater museum, a cashier in scuba gear will greet them, ready to punch admission tickets. Guests will then swim their way through the “museum rooms” with a waterproof catalogue in hand. “40 Feet Underwater": Moving Light in an Unlimited Territory” will surely be an experience visitors will not forget easily.

The exhibit will run starting December 3, 2004 through January 27, 2005 at the dive site Front Porch, which is located at Bongos Beach at Eden Beach Resort. Visiting hours will be daily from 3:00 to 5:00p.m. and 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. The entrance fee is $5.
For more information on the exhibit and artist Fred Ros visit
www.40feetunderwater.com

Routing underwater museum admission tickets

The visitor may buy a museum ticket in various places on the island. This ticket will cost $ 5.00. These 15 locations vary from resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.The museum ticket must be surrendered at WannaDive. The procedure is mentioned on the museum ticket. On surrendering the museum ticket at WannaDive, the visitor gets a complete admission ticket. This admission ticket contains an information flyer with further data about the exhibition, a plan and diving rules and regulations (with security and environmental conditions).The documents are all plasticized and are kept together by means of a key cord with the idea to use it during the visit and then to keep it as a souvenir. The visitors must also show their dive certificate. If you do not have a dive certificate you must buy a special admission ticket through a resort dive. This means that a diving instructor will join you. The costs of this admission ticket will depend on the size of the group. WannaDive instructs the visitor, by means of a clear dive and museum rules. The cashiers and attendants take over these duties under water. They guide the visitors under water.

Above-water activities with respect to the museum The entrance of the underwater exhibition is at the pier of Bongos Beach at dive operation WannaDive.

At the entrance large canvasses will be shown with info about the exhibition, contents, the Stinapa Bonaire (National Parks Foundation) story and the story of the Island Executive Council on printed large size canvas, 19 metres long and 2.20 metres high. I will compose the contents of this information in a clear form and in close consultation with the Island Executive Council, Stinapa Bonaire, T.C.B. (Tourist Information Office) and other interested parties.

Furthermore I wish to have the visitors of the underwater exhibition filmed on Friday and Saturday evening. The pictures can be seen on a huge screen above the water at Bongos Beach, to let the people on shore join in the underwater images.

Furthermore a survey of my work will be exhibited in the exhibition rooms at Artebon, from November 15, 2004, till February 1, 2005. Address: # 34 Kaya Jan N.E. Craane, Bonaire N.A.

www.fredos.nl
www.40feetunderwater.com