Diving Bonaire's Restricted Reserve ep 22 | A Diver's Life

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Welcome! Diving Bonaire's Restricted Reserve ep 22 | A Diver's Life

Pristine, critically endangered coral like few have ever seen! Come with us as we take you into Bonaire's restricted Willem Alexander Reserve. Largely untouched and unseen by humans for over 40 years, it is one of two restricted reserves on the island. Yet, STINAPA, Bonaire's National Marine Park association, has granted us 3 dives to film this international treasure. Imagine seeing pristine, critically endangered, elkhorn coral as well as areas where coral coverage is 90%. You will see how marine conservation has produced a, truly magical, coral garden rich in life, which we must continue to preserve for future generations. We will visit this amazing reserve in the day and at night. Yes at night! Nobody has filmed this place at night! To ensure we don’t harm the coral by a night shore entry, we will make the night dive by entering from the sea with a drop from the boat in 140 feet of water, near dark, well away from the reef and swim in.

How does this area compare to other places you have visited? How rich is the coral? What is the impact of lionfish on a restricted area?

It is likely this is the first time any of you will ever experience this rare and beautiful part of Bonaire.

==== Chapters ====

0:00 Drive By Willem Alexander Reserve
1:55 Monologue - Diving the Reserve
3:31 A Diver's Life Intro Theme
4:31 A Coral Wonderland
6:12 The Wall
7:07 Action on the Sand Channel Drop Off
8:21 Cruising the Drop Off
10:15 Let's Pick Up the Pace
11:20 Let's Go Down the Wall
12:14 The Shallow Coral Garden and Park History
14:31 Tolo to Bloodlet
13:40 Heading to the Reserve at Night
15:45 Dusk approach from the sea
17:04 The Coral Garden at Night
18:50 Lionfish Come Out
19:36 The Colors Come Out
21:47 A large Southern Ray

=====

Special Thanks:
We would like to thank STINAPA for granting us access to the Willem Alexander Reserve to make this video for you. We would also like to thank Rick Davis for taking us out to film the reserve at night and Bob Burks for crewing the boat.

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Cast:

Bob Burks
Rick Davis
Rich Schwertfeger
Doreen Schwerdtfeger

Cinematography, script, editing - Rich Schwerdtfeger
Filming Doreen and I on the boat - Bob Burks

Camera Equipment:
Big Blue 15,000 lumen lights
Panasonic GH5s with Nauticam housing
GoPro8 for some above water shots

Music:

A Brand New Tomorrow - Kikoru Epidemic Sound
Bedtime for Babies - Claude Signet Epidemic Sound
Blue - Eklo feat. Jordin Laine (RFM youtube)
Here’s Hoping - Fabien Tell Epidemic Sound
Hope Whispers - Johannes Bornlōf Epidemic Sound
Never Losing Hope - Kikoru Epidemic Sound
Once Upone a Lifetime - Philip Ayers Epidemic Sound
Rebirth of Earth - Phoenix Tall Epidemic Sound
Views From the Other Side - Magnus Ringblom Epidemic Sound
Walk Tall - Johannes Bornlōf Epidemic Sound

#oceanconservation #bonairediving #bonaire