Welcome to Bonaire -- Mesmerizing Minnows

Our very first dive in Bonaire was the perfect re-introduction to this great dive location.  Bill Tullo, from the Caribbean Court apartments where we are staying introduced us to a dive he called the "fish ball." 

The dive site, officially known as Andrea II in Bonaire diving circles, is tucked into an exclusive neighborhood of oceanside mansions, features a shaded overhang to shield you from the brilliant tropical sun while you suit up.  Then short steps down a dock where you stride into bathtub warm water swirling with millions of bait fish.

Looking down at the sand bottom as you swim out towards the reef you are immediately attracted to the namesake fish ball, a twisting, rotating ball of herring being harassed by marauding jacks.   The school of six-inch fish rotates in unison as predator fish dart in to snatch a meal, forcing the school to reverse direction, divide and reform to secure the mass from attack.

Follow this link to an entertaining You Tube video of Susan swimming through the fish ball. http://youtu.be/TQGGFQXLrvM

Beyond the fish ball, the sloping reef teems with abundant fish life as we swim lazily along its face, poking into hard coral nooks observing a medium sized lion fish, sharp tailed eel, spotted moray, a mature spotted drum and schools of goat fish, french grunts, black margates, horse eyed jacks, yellow tail snapper and a large grouper getting his teeth cleaned.

Lion fish are interesting to look at but a wreaking havoc on caribbean reefs.  An invasive species from the Indo-pacific region, they have no natural enemies and are guilty of eating their weight in grouper every day.

Descending the reef, I was reminded of a walk through the desert.

Spotted drum are very territorial.  In all likelihood, this guy will be hanging out in this same crevice tomorrow.



This 40 pound grouper has a cozy hiding place inside a bush-like sea rod soft coral.  Not visible in this shot are smaller fish busily eating parasites inside the grouper's gill plates.  A variety of smaller fish offer "cleaning" services at sites all over the reef.  Large fish lounging in place are usually holding still while small shrimp, wrasses and gobis remove dead skin and parasites.

With the bait ball dive, our Bonaire adventure is off to a good start.



At first glance, this 18-inch sharp tail eel looked like a snake.