Bonaire

Region: Dutch Caribbean (ABC Islands)
Type: Shore diving, coral reefs, marine park
Significance: Home venue of the Digital Shootout; underwater photography education hub; marine life research destination
First Wetpixel coverage: 2002
Key dive resorts: Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, Buddy Dive Resort, Captain Don’s Habitat, Sand Dollar Resort, Carib Inn

Overview

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean, part of the Dutch Caribbean (formerly Netherlands Antilles), that became one of the most important destinations in the history of underwater digital photography education. Nearly the entire island has been designed for access to easy shore diving, with dozens of marked shore dive sites accessible by car or boat, and the popular resorts all have house reefs ([1]). This combination of accessible diving, protected marine park waters, reliable macro subjects (especially blennies, jawfish, and reef squid), and classroom-friendly resorts made Bonaire the ideal venue for the Digital Shootout, the longest-running underwater photography workshop/competition covered by Wetpixel ([2]).

Bonaire’s reefs, particularly in the far north and far south of the island, feature nearly complete gorgonian and sponge coverage. Eric Cheng, who had spent extensive time in the south Pacific, described some of Bonaire’s reefs as “really healthy” and hosting “a ton of marine life” — unusual praise for a Caribbean destination from a photographer accustomed to Indo-Pacific diversity ([3]).

The island is also home to the Windjammer wreck, a notable deep dive site lying in 210 feet (65 meters) of water just past the end of the reef on the northwest end of the island, which became the setting for the first underwater Canon 5D Mark III video in 2012 ([4]).

Diving Infrastructure

Bonaire’s dive industry caters heavily to photographers. The island’s dive resorts typically offer packages combining accommodation, truck rental, unlimited shore diving, and boat dives. Community discussions on Wetpixel frequently compared the major resorts for photographer-friendliness ([5]):

Notable dive sites mentioned in Wetpixel coverage include Calabas Reef (Divi Flamingo house reef), Town Pier (a popular night dive with 25+ divers at peak times), Salt Pier, and the Windjammer wreck ([14], [15]).

Digital Shootout History

The Digital Shootout, the world’s premier underwater imaging workshop/competition, made Bonaire its primary home venue. The event was co-founded by Dan Baldocchi (Under Exposures) and Berkley White (Backscatter), and held annually at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort for most years from 2001 through at least 2022, with occasional editions held elsewhere (Palau in 2006, Little Cayman in 2010 and 2012) ([16]).

2001-2002: Early Years

The Digital Shootout began in 2001. By November 2002, the event was described as the “second annual underwater Digital Shootout in Bonaire,” with Jim Watt serving as speaker and judge ([17]). Jim Watt tested the Sea & Sea Canon D60 housing in Bonaire during this period, shooting more than 1,000 frames underwater ([18]).

2005: Fourth Annual

The fourth annual Digital Shootout was held July 23-30, 2005, at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort with approximately 40 participants. The staff team consisted of Eric Cheng (Wetpixel), Berkley White (Backscatter), Jim Watt, Dan Baldocchi (Light & Motion), and Jason Bradley. The event was sponsored by Backscatter, Light & Motion, and Wetpixel, with additional support from Kararu, Adobe, Optiquatics, Nikon, ReefNet, and others ([19]).

The package cost $1,299 per person (double occupancy, airfare not included) and included 6 days of 2-tank boat dives, unlimited shore diving, one night boat dive, studio accommodations, breakfast and lunch daily, all seminars, demo gear access, and contest entry ([20]). Prizes included a 7-day liveaboard trip to Komodo, Light & Motion Tetra housings, and Adobe software, totaling over $10,000 ([21]).

Eric Cheng’s daily webcast documented the event in detail, describing Bonaire as “the most diver-friendly place I’ve ever been to.” Marine life encountered on Calabas Reef included reef squid, jawfish with egg broods, frogfish, lizardfish, damselfish, French angelfish, and blennies in brain coral ([22]). Eric Cheng also posted animated images of “squid sex” from the event on the Wetpixel forums, drawing comments from Alex Mustard and other community members ([23]).

2007: Sixth Annual — Video Category Added

The sixth annual Digital Shootout was held June 16-23, 2007, attracting 60 participants and 10 staff members. This edition added a video category for the first time. Staff included Eric Cheng, Berkley White, Jim Watt, Dan Baldocchi, and video instructors Mary Lynn Price (DiveFilm) and Russ Sanoian (Backscatter) ([24], [25]).

Nearly 400 entries were submitted across 4 still categories (Wide-Angle Traditional, Wide-Angle Unrestricted, Macro Traditional, Macro Unrestricted) plus video. Winners included Clark Miller (1st, Wide-Angle Traditional; prize: Kararu liveaboard trip), Brad Brown (1st, Wide-Angle Unrestricted; prize: Wakatobi trip), Jody Elliot (1st, Macro Traditional; prize: Sea & Sea DX-D200 housing), Randy Johnson (1st, Macro Unrestricted), and Susan Brown (1st, Video; prize: Light & Motion HID lights) ([26]).

The package price had risen to $1,399 per person ([27]).

2008: David Fleetham Joins Staff

The 2008 Digital Shootout was held June 7-14, with 58 participants. Professional underwater photographer David Fleetham, with over one hundred magazine covers to his credit, joined the staff ([28]). Additional staff included Daniel Brown, Len Bucko, Russ Sanoian (Backscatter), and Jim Decker (Backscatter) ([29]).

Best of Show went to John Muhilly, an award designated “The Jim Watt Award.” Erin Quigley placed 2nd in Macro Unrestricted and 2nd in Wide-Angle Unrestricted with an additional Honorable Mention. Other notable winners included Rusty Childress (1st in both Macro Traditional and Macro Unrestricted) and Joel Penner (1st in both Wide-Angle categories). Judges were Berkley White, David Fleetham, and Eric Cheng for stills, plus Dan Baldocchi and Mary Lynn Price for video ([30]).

Daniel Brown, who was teaching Photoshop and Lightroom sessions at this event, wrote about how Backscatter shipped demo gear to the island, a strategy he described as “a brilliant mind-play” since participants were “essentially trapped on an island unable to escape the tractor-beam-like pull of new toys” ([31]).

2009: Eighth Annual — Compact Camera Category

The 2009 Digital Shootout, held June 6-13, added a compact camera category alongside the standard macro and wide-angle divisions. Staff included Berkley White, David Fleetham, Dan Baldocchi, and Mary Lynn Price. The package price was $1,599 ($1,399 for shore diving only) ([32]). Wetpixel sponsored the event, with Karen Doody, Ron Lagerloff, and Richard Younger winning 1-year subscriptions to Wetpixel Quarterly Magazine as prizes ([33]).

2010: Little Cayman Detour

The 2010 Digital Shootout moved to Little Cayman but planned to return to Bonaire the following year ([34], [35]).

2011: Tenth Anniversary — $45,000 in Prizes

For its tenth year, the Shootout returned to the Divi Flamingo with 60 participants. Jeff Honda won the Jim Watt Award for Best of Show with his artistic use of Snell’s window. Staff included Berkley White, Erin Quigley, Sterling Zumbrunn, Mary Lynn Price, and Jim Decker. Sponsors sent staff and gear to Bonaire, including Jim Decker and Russ Sanoian from Backscatter, Jean Bruneau of Aquatica, Chris Parsons of Nauticam USA, Charlie Mazel and Ross Kniffin of NightSea, Ed Meyers of Canon USA, and Marissa Wiganowske of Pegasus Thruster. Over $45,000 in prizes were awarded — the highest total mentioned in Wetpixel coverage ([36]). Staff also used the event to test new prototype gear and produce reviews for manufacturers ([37]).

2013: Return After Second Little Cayman Edition

After another Little Cayman edition in 2012, the Shootout returned to Bonaire in 2013 with 60 participants and nearly 20 staff. Guest speakers included Berkley White, Sterling Zumbrunn, Joel and Jennifer Penner, and Ed Meyers. Erin Quigley held Lightroom sessions and Mary Lynn Price taught video production. Philip Seys won the competition with a dramatically lit macro portrait of a seahorse ([38]).

2017: Last Confirmed Bonaire Edition in Wetpixel Coverage

The 2017 Digital Shootout was held at the Divi Flamingo from June 17-24, attracting 60 participants ([39]).

2022: Continued Operation

Forum comments confirm the Digital Shootout continued at Bonaire as late as June 2022, with participants discussing macro photography of blennies in Christmas tree worms and testing Retra Pro X strobes ([40], [41]).

Other Photography Workshops

Beyond the Digital Shootout, Bonaire hosted additional photography education events:

Marine Life and Natural History

Blennies and the Bonaire Blenny Challenge

Bonaire became a globally significant site for blenny research and photography. Ned DeLoach and Anna DeLoach conducted the “Bonaire Blenny Challenge” during their annual multi-week stays as resident naturalists at Buddy Dive Resort, inviting local and visiting divers to help locate as many blenny species as possible. Susan Porter, author of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, served as their guide ([44]).

Species documented during their 2013 Bonaire work included the Shorthead Blenny (Emblemariopsis bottomei), Two-bar Triplefin (Enneanectes deloachorum), Orangespotted Blenny (Hypleurochilus springeri), and Tessellated Blenny (Hypsoblennius invemar). They also found Ninelined Gobies (Ginsburgellus novemlineatus) under rock-boring urchins in extremely shallow, surgy water, and documented several species of clingfish including the Barred Clingfish (Tomicodon fasciatus) and Red Clingfish (Acyrtus rubiginosus) ([45], [46]).

Ned DeLoach spent over four hours underwater to capture a single image of a Shorthead Blenny looking backwards at the camera with both eyes rotated to the back of its head ([47]).

Anna DeLoach created “Blenny Week on YouTube” as a humorous alternative to Shark Week, featuring clips from Bonaire, Florida, Baja California, the Philippines, and Indonesia ([48]).

The majority of underwater time for the second edition of Reef Fish Behavior — Florida Caribbean Bahamas (published 2019 by New World Publications) was spent in Bonaire, where Ned and Anna DeLoach photographed fish behavior daily for months at a time ([49]).

Spawning Events

Bonaire’s coral spawning cycles, occurring after the full moons of August, September, and October, drew photographers and naturalists. The DeLoaches documented Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) spawning, Giant Star coral spawning, and Feather Duster Worm spawning during these events ([50]). Reef squid mating behavior was another frequent photographic subject, with Eric Cheng famously posting animated images from the 2005 Shootout ([51]).

Other Notable Marine Life

Community members regularly shared Bonaire photo galleries on Wetpixel showing jawfish with egg broods, frogfish, spawning barrel sponges, juvenile drums, seahorses, and the island’s signature Christmas tree worms ([52], [53], [54]). Ellen Muller, a Bonaire-based daily diver, was named INON Feature Artist in 2006, praising the reliability of her INON equipment given the daily workout it received ([55]).

Conservation

Marine Park Regulations

Bonaire’s marine park enforced strict conservation rules that affected underwater photographers. Wearing gloves was prohibited, and community discussions debated whether muck sticks (pointer sticks used for stabilization during macro photography) were also banned. Forum members noted that while the prohibition was unclear, muck sticks had been used in Bonaire without incident before COVID-19 ([62]).

Gear Testing and Innovation

Bonaire’s accessible diving made it a natural gear testing ground. Notable equipment milestones on the island include:

Community Discussion

Bonaire was one of the most discussed destinations on the Wetpixel forums. Threads covered resort recommendations, dive site reviews, photo galleries, gear setup for shore diving conditions, and travel logistics. Shore diving in Bonaire required photographers to protect equipment during entries and exits from rocky shorelines, a topic that generated practical advice threads ([68]). The island’s popularity with repeat visitors was evident, with forum members describing trips as their 11th or more to the island ([69]).

Notable Figures Associated with Bonaire

Timeline

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Daily Webcast
  2. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005
  3. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 4
  4. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2012: First Underwater Video From Canon 5d Mk Iii
  5. Forum thread: Bonaire Dive Resorts
  6. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast
  7. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2007: Photo Video Pro Positions Open In Yap And Bonaire
  8. Wetpixel article, Sep 10, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary September 2013
  9. Forum thread: Bonaire Suggestions
  10. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire
  11. Forum thread: Bonaire Dive Resorts
  12. Wetpixel article, May 4, 2007: Fisheye Photo Announces Bonaire Digital Summer Camp
  13. Forum thread: Bonaire Dive Resorts
  14. Forum thread: A Couple From Salt Town Piers Bonaire
  15. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2012: First Underwater Video From Canon 5d Mk Iii
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012
  17. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures
  18. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Watt And Sea Sea Housing
  19. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast
  20. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005
  21. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Prizes Announced
  22. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast
  23. Forum thread: Squid Sex In Bonaire
  24. Wetpixel article, Nov 10, 2006: Digital Shootout Bonaire June 2007
  25. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Daily Webcast
  26. Wetpixel article, Jun 23, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Winners
  27. Wetpixel article, Nov 10, 2006: Digital Shootout Bonaire June 2007
  28. Wetpixel article, Feb 28, 2008: Digital Shootout Adds David Fleetham To Workshop Staff
  29. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  30. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  31. Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2008: Dome Port Diaries Chapter 3 The Housing Crisis
  32. Wetpixel article, Nov 24, 2008: Join Us At The Digital Shootout Bonaire 2009
  33. Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2009: Bonaire Digital Shootout Particispants Win Wetpixel Quarterly Subscriptions
  34. Wetpixel article, Jun 25, 2010: The Digital Shootout Live Coverage Underway
  35. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: The Digital Shootout Updates Website With Winners Galleries
  36. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  37. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  38. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published
  39. Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2017: Official Coverage From The Digital Shootout Available
  40. Forum thread: Small Blenny In Christmas Tree Worms Bonaire
  41. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2022: Wetpixel Live Retra Pro X Flash Review
  42. Wetpixel article, May 4, 2007: Fisheye Photo Announces Bonaire Digital Summer Camp
  43. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2007: Photo Video Pro Positions Open In Yap And Bonaire
  44. Wetpixel article, Sep 10, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary September 2013
  45. Wetpixel article, Sep 10, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary September 2013
  46. Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary October 2013
  47. Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary October 2013
  48. Wetpixel article, Aug 9, 2011: Blenny Week On Youtube
  49. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Second Edition Of Reef Fish Behavior Announced
  50. Wetpixel article, Sep 10, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary September 2013
  51. Forum thread: Squid Sex In Bonaire
  52. Forum thread: Bonaire Gallery Wwwkdietzcom
  53. Forum thread: First Trip With D70 Bonaire
  54. Forum thread: Few More From Bonaire
  55. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2006: Ellen Muller Inon Feature Artist
  56. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire
  57. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire
  58. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2013: Human Wall Guides Baby Turtles To Sea
  59. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2015: Shark Sanctuaries Announced Around Dutch Caribbean Islands
  60. Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2016: Exposure Labs Is Still Seeking Uw Photographers To Help With Coral Bleachin
  61. Wetpixel article, Mar 13, 2017: Coral Reef Restoration With 3d Printing
  62. Forum thread: Are Muck Sticks Banned In Bonaire
  63. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Watt And Sea Sea Housing
  64. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast
  65. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  66. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2012: First Underwater Video From Canon 5d Mk Iii
  67. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2022: Wetpixel Live Retra Pro X Flash Review
  68. Forum thread: Shore Diving How To Protect Equipment
  69. Forum thread: Bonaire Dive Resorts
  70. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures
  71. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures
  72. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Watt And Sea Sea Housing
  73. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast
  74. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2006: Ellen Muller Inon Feature Artist
  75. Wetpixel article, May 4, 2007: Fisheye Photo Announces Bonaire Digital Summer Camp
  76. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Daily Webcast
  77. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  78. Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2009: Bonaire Digital Shootout Particispants Win Wetpixel Quarterly Subscriptions
  79. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire
  80. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  81. Wetpixel article, Aug 9, 2011: Blenny Week On Youtube
  82. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2012: First Underwater Video From Canon 5d Mk Iii
  83. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published
  84. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2013: Human Wall Guides Baby Turtles To Sea
  85. Wetpixel article, Sep 10, 2013: The Blennywatcher Diary September 2013
  86. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2015: Shark Sanctuaries Announced Around Dutch Caribbean Islands
  87. Wetpixel article, Mar 13, 2017: Coral Reef Restoration With 3d Printing
  88. Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2017: Official Coverage From The Digital Shootout Available
  89. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2019: Second Edition Of Reef Fish Behavior Announced
  90. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2022: Wetpixel Live Retra Pro X Flash Review
  91. Jim Watt’s Digital Adventures (2002) (article)
  92. Watt and Sea & Sea Housing (2003) (article)
  93. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (article)
  94. Digital Shootout 2005 Bonaire — reminder (article)
  95. Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 prizes announced (article)
  96. Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005: Daily Webcast (article)
  97. Ellen Muller — INON Feature Artist (2006) (article)
  98. Digital Shootout Bonaire, June 2007 — announcement (article)
  99. Fisheye Photo Bonaire Digital Summer Camp (2007) (article)
  100. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Daily Webcast (article)
  101. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 0 (article)
  102. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 1 (article)
  103. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2 (article)
  104. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 4 (article)
  105. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 5 (article)
  106. Photo/Video Pro Positions in Yap and Bonaire (2007) (article)
  107. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Winners (article)
  108. Digital Shootout adds David Fleetham (2008) (article)
  109. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2008 Live Coverage (article)
  110. Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners (article)
  111. Dome Port Diaries Chapter 3 — Bonaire gear testing (article)
  112. Join us at the Digital Shootout Bonaire 2009 (article)
  113. 2009 Digital Shootout Winners (article)
  114. Digital Shootout participants win Wetpixel Quarterly (2009) (article)
  115. Digital Shootout 2010 — Little Cayman (article)
  116. Dr. Eugenie Clark to be honored in Bonaire (2010) (article)
  117. Digital Shootout 2010 winners galleries (article)
  118. Registrations for Digital Shootout 2011 (article)
  119. Full details of 2011 Digital Shootout (article)
  120. Blenny Week on YouTube (2011) (article)
  121. First underwater Canon 5D Mark III video (2012) (article)
  122. Digital Shootout 2012 — Little Cayman (article)
  123. Digital Shootout 2013 report (article)
  124. Human wall guides baby turtles to sea (2013) (article)
  125. BlennyWatcher Diary September 2013 (article)
  126. BlennyWatcher Diary October 2013 (article)
  127. Bonaire/Saba shark sanctuaries (2015) (article)
  128. Sea Save auction — Divi Flamingo prize (2015) (article)
  129. Coral bleaching documentation — Bonaire priority (2016) (article)
  130. 3D coral restoration (2017) (article)
  131. Digital Shootout 2017 (article)
  132. Reef Fish Behavior 2nd Edition (2019) (article)
  133. Wetpixel Live: Retra Pro X — Bonaire Digital Shootout 2022 (article)
  134. Forum: Bonaire suggestions (2002) (forum)
  135. Forum: Squid Sex in Bonaire (2005) (forum)
  136. Forum: A few Bonaire Shootout pics (2005) (forum)
  137. Forum: A couple from Salt & Town Piers, Bonaire (2005) (forum)
  138. Forum: Few more from Bonaire (2005) (forum)
  139. Forum: First trip with D70, Bonaire (2005) (forum)
  140. Forum: Bonaire Gallery (2005) (forum)
  141. Forum: Bonaire dive resorts (2005) (forum)
  142. Forum: Small Blenny in Christmas Tree Worms, Bonaire (2022) (forum)
  143. Forum: Are muck sticks banned in Bonaire? (2023) (forum)