Turtles, Sunsets, Tide pools, and a lot of Parrotfish: Bonaire

    

Dr. Enz: Bonaire 2025

"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living." -David Attenborough

    This quote perfectly embodies everything that I learned and felt while in Bonaire. There are few things that can touch the human soul on the same level as seeing some of the marine plant and wildlife most people only see through pictures. There is a lot more preparation that goes into this trip compared to others, but there is no other trip that allows you to see what the ocean has to offer. With a daily routine of getting up, eating breakfast, and either getting on a boat to a more exclusive dive site or getting in to the house reef and then doing it all over again in the afternoon, there is really not much more you could ask for out of a scuba diving trip. Everything was very well organized. I never felt like I was in danger or didn’t know what I was doing due to the guidance and preparation of our professors and dive masters. Besides my certification dive, this was my first diving experience and it’s safe to say I am hooked for life. 

Dr. Enz: Bonaire 2025

    The marine life is so intricate and intriguing. There is no where you can dive where you won’t see something interesting or learn something new. Whether it’s the live effects of coral bleaching, how well flounders camouflage themselves in sand, or how aggressive a little damselfish can be when protecting its home, diving with all these creatures allows you to engage with them in ways you never thought possible even though you can’t touch them. There really is no better feeling than watching a turtle wake up in soft coral and swim to the surface and take a breath or watching an octopus change colors. Just watching these creatures live their lives and all their mannerisms is truly overwhelming. I never knew just how exciting fish can be. Learning something about the animals you’re going to see allows you to appreciate them more and see things you would otherwise miss. For example, in order to see a cleaner shrimp you need to know where to look, like inside sponges and coral. You also really feel like you’ve learned something when all the time spent learning the names of fish comes very naturally in the water when they’re right in front of you. You will never feel more connected to the world and present than being underwater and just feeling the ocean around you. 

Dr. Enz: Bonaire 2025

    Besides the water Bonaire has a lot to offer on land as well. There were numerous iguanas and wild donkeys running around the whole island. We also went birding where we got to use our identification skills further and saw different parrots and flamingos as well as numerous other birds. Since we did so much preparation work for this trip, we were able to know when we were looking at a rare bird and what sounds to listen for. The island itself is also so beautiful and for the most part very welcoming and nice. You can’t go wrong even on a dry day taking a tour of the island and learning about some of its history and seeing the salt flats. Every evening, the sunsets are indescribably more beautiful than any you’d seen anywhere else. 

Reese Bailey: Bonaire 2025

    I understand that this kind of trip with fish and swimming and being underwater for long periods of time isn’t for everyone, but I could not recommend a study abroad trip more for anyone who wants to build a connection with their peers in a way that can’t be replicated on campus. Despite going to the same school as some of the people that went on this trip for three years, most of them I felt I didn’t really know until going to Bonaire with them. We all got to treat each other as family and cut out some of the pressures and competitive spirit that comes with academics and can be a hindrance to relationships and just be a group excited to experience things together. For the people I knew before going into this trip, I thought I was close to them before but there is nothing that could have bonded us like this experience. For anyone who may be interested in seeing the beauty of marine life and looking for a reason to get scuba certified, GO TO BONAIRE. For everyone else, do a study abroad trip. Make it work and I promise you won’t forget it. 

By Ashley Hilbelink

Program: Tropical Ecology in Bonaire