Our countries are surrounded by or border the warm Caribbean Sea, which is full of coral reefs, brightly coloured tropical fish, sea.

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1 Issue 18 April 2010 A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children E m a i l : z i g g c a r i b t o u r i s m. c o m It s me again, your Caribbean friend, Ziggy. Ever wonder where you can have lots of fun, filled with new experiences and adventures, right in your own country? Well, there s a whole new world of adventure waiting for you Under the Sea!! Our countries are surrounded by or border the warm Caribbean Sea, which is full of coral reefs, brightly coloured tropical fish, sea turtles, Welcome to Divers Paradise! dolphins, whales and a wide variety of plants and other animals. Visitors choose to come to the Caribbean mainly to enjoy our sun, sand and especially our clear, turquoise waters. They participate in scuba diving, snorkeling and taking submarine rides to see the sea life up close. The Caribbean Sea is home to about 9% of the world's coral reefs covering about 20,000 square miles (52,000 km 2 ). Most of the corals are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast. Coral Reefs are home to many types of fish in the world, and are fragile ecosystems. In the tropical waters a plant called the zooxanthellae provides food for the coral and gives them their color. So, let us take the plunge and see the amazing world that is Under the Blue Sea, our Caribbean Sea. Until next time. Ziggy IN THIS ISSUE Interesting Facts under the sea Environmental Corner Country Profile Snuba diving Colour Me! pg 6 pg 2 pg 3 pg 4 pg 5 Career Moves: Diver pg 7

2 Submarine Volcanoes Did you know that in the Caribbean there are submarine (under the sea) volcanoes? Kick em Jenny, 7.5 km north of Grenada, is the most famous of them all and is very active. Between 1939, the volcano s first recorded eruption, and 2001, its last, it is said that there were 12 further eruptions. When it erupted in 1939 there were earthquakes and tremors felt in the I T nearby islands. In 2003 scientists studying the volcano saw that it was releasing gas bubbles. Today there is a 5 km safety zone around the volcano to Kick em Jenny prevent snorklers and scuba divers from going too near and possibly getting into danger. Manatee (Sea Cow) Manatees (sea cows) are large, gray water mammals, with fat bodies that end in a flat, paddle-shaped tail. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. Manatees can live in both fresh and sea water and are found in slow-moving rivers, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas, especially where seagrass beds and freshwater vegetation are found, because this is Seahorse Seahorses are often found in corals or seaweeds in tropical or temperate seas. Some are orange, red, yellow, green and even grey in colour to blend into their surroundings. They have an interior skeleton and can live for as long as 1 to 5 years in the wild. During the late 17th century Port Royal was one of Jamaica s largest towns, an important port for trade, and many business persons and pirates, such as Sir Henry Morgan, could be found there. In fact, in the 17th century it was a main base for Caribbean pirates. The persons who made money from the trade and the pirates, especially the English and the Dutch, showed off their wealth and displayed all kinds of bad behaviour in Port Royal, 2 Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children what they feed on. They are gentle, slow-moving animals which spend Oddly, seahorses do not have stomachs or teeth, but must eat a lot to stay alive. A seahorse s tail cannot uncurl itself. The male seahorse gives birth by fertilizing the eggs Seahorses are becoming endangered because about 25 million seahorses are sold around the world each year. which is why it got the name The Wickedest City on Earth. However, in 1692, a massive earthquake hit Jamaica, causing many buildings in Port Royal to slide and disappear under the sea. About 2,000 persons were killed. Today there are plans to re-develop Port Royal into a tourism attraction, visited by cruise ships and showcasing its infamous past. You can go scuba diving to see Port Royal under the sea. most of their time eating, resting and traveling. West Indian manatees live in the warm, shallow waters of the northern and southern Caribbean and Florida. They are a highly endangered species. There are only 3,800 manatees in the United States of America (U.S.A.) and no one knows how many (or few) are left in the Caribbean. In the U.S.A. manatees are protected under federal law, which makes it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill them. The Wickedest City on Earth Port Royal, Jamaica Port Royal Under the Sea

3 ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER: Sewage and Waste Water There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority. Sewage disposal is a major problem, and raw sewage is actually piped into the sea in many countries. Industrial Waste Many factories use water to carry away waste from the plant and into rivers, lakes and oceans. Such harmful pollutants and chemicals can cause harm to marine life and the marine environment. Oil Pollution Shipping travel, drains and dumping, cause oil pollution. Oil spills can be very dangerous to local marine wildlife such as fish, birds and sea otters. Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the water. Marine Dumping Dumping of litter in the sea can cause huge problems. Litter items such as 6-pack ring packaging can get caught in marine animals and may result in death. Radioactive Waste Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific processes that use radioactive material. Ships carrying nuclear waste pass through the Caribbean Sea. Nuclear waste can have damaging effects on marine habitats, if there are spills or leakages. Global Warming Global Warming causes a rise in sea temperature that can result in the death of many marine animals and disrupt many marine environments. Eco-Schools is a programme to promote good environmental practices in schools. It encourages children and youth to take an active role in how their school can be run, for the benefit of the environment. Currently, the programme is being implemented in 47 countries around the world, involving 32, 156 schools, 9,125,460 students, 628,005 teachers and 5,013 local authorities. In the Caribbean participating schools are found in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Want to learn more about how your school can become an Eco-School? Visit the website Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children 3

4 COUNTRY PROFILE Bonaire is a small Caribbean island, covering roughly 111 square miles, with a width that ranges from 3 to 7 miles and a length of about 24 miles. Bonaire is located around 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Bonaire is the B of the ABC islands with her sister islands of the Dutch Caribbean - Aruba and Curacao. Bonaire is a Dutch speaking country, but papiamentu (a mixture of Dutch, English and Spanish) is the most common language spoken there. The capital of Bonaire is called Kralendijk and its money is called the Netherlands Antillean Florin. Approximately 14,000 people live on this island paradise. Bonaire is an island, whose economy is mostly based on tourism. About 15,000 DID YOU KNOW? That the divi-divi tree, common in the Dutch speaking Antilles, bends into sculptures by the wind. tourists and 175,702 cruise passengers visit per year. This island is known for its excellent scuba diving and is always rated among the best diving locations in the world. Isn t that AWESOME! In Bonaire you will notice that Bonaire s license plates carry the logo Diver s Paradise. Bonaire s entire coastline has been declared a marine sanctuary, preserving local fish life. Bonaire is also a favorite of birdwatchers. Over 170 species of birds can be seen on the island. Many of them are found by the Goto Lake, Pekelmeer, Cai and Dos Pos. Lets Speak Dutch!! Hello Kon ta bai Welcome Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Thank you Good-bye Bon bini Bon dia Bon tardi Bon nochi Danki Ayo 4 Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children

5 Popular Tourist Attractions in Bonaire Washington Slagbaai National Park - is located on the north side of the island. The highest point of Bonaire, the mountainous Brandaris, is 787 feet and is located in the park. Lac Bay, (also known as Lac Cai or Lac Cay) - is a windsurfer s paradise with steady winds, smooth, clear and shallow waters, ideal for beginners to advance windsurfers. Country Profile Cont'd Bonaire Marine Park The park's purpose is to ensure that Bonaire s marine resources are protected. On the reef you will find amazing corals and many types of fish that live among these corals, such as the butterfly and parrot fish. Ever heard SNUBA DIVING about SNUBA Snuba diving is the NEW scuba diving. Snuba diving is a mixture of snorkeling and scuba diving. Isn t that interesting? It involves swimming 15 feet underwater and breathing normally beneath the surface of the sea. Snuba diving is a shallow water diving system, that allows persons to breathe underwater through a 20-foot air hose that is attached to a scuba tank that floats on the surface of the water in a special raft. Snuba diving is safe and easy, and children as young as eight years old can enjoy it. There is also a programme for younger children called Snubadoo. Snuba diving has been around since 1980, when a group of California divers started Snuba International to export the sport. In the Caribbean you can snuba dive in Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia. St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos and the US Virgin Islands. Plunge deep in the ocean and swim on top of coral reefs and track colourful fish. This is an unforgettable experience any adventurer would enjoy. Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children 5

6 COLOUR ME! We live under the sea. Can you unscramble the letters and identify us. Make us beautiful by colouring us! pnilhod saheroes etrlut hfsi 6 Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children

7 Q. What is your Occupation? A. My occupation at Divetech is a Dive Master. Q. What kind of skills/knowledge do you possess in order to do your job? A. The skills I needed to learn to become a Dive Master were to become an open water diver, advanced open water diver, emergency first aid, rescue diver then Dive Master. You have to know how to fill tanks, help guests, obtaining diver gear, guided shore and boat dives. Dive Master Q. Describe a typical day on the job? A. A typical day at work is anything like hauling and filling dive tanks, assisting in training new divers, and doing guided dives. Q. What do you like best about your job? A. Working with the amazing crew, meeting new people every day and just being a Caymanian in the tourism field showing the guests a good time on the island and under the water. Q. Why did you choose this career? A. I chose this career because as a Caymanian I grew up around the sea and I feel honored to work in tourism field showing people a great time on the island. Carl Jackson Cayman Islands Q. What would you say are the most challenging aspects of your job? A. The most challenging part of my job is hauling tanks and keeping everything on schedule. Under the Sea Jobs: Diver Photographer Underwater Model Submarine Pilot Researcher Underwater Explorer Marine Biologist CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St. Michael, Barbados Tel: Fax: ctobar@caribsurf.com Making Waves A Tourism Bulletin for Caribbean Children 7