My mission on Bonaire: saving the coral reefs

As an official Reef Renewal volunteer, I am committed — for all of us. My religion is the earth, and my holy book is the sea.

The here and now, and contributing something positive with my physical presence, is all I have. For years, I thought about (marine) life and worried about the poor state of the oceans and reefs worldwide. But now I am on Bonaire to turn those thoughts into something positive. No more thinking, just doing.

Salt water flows through my veins — that is how deep my lifelong love for the ocean goes. Duiken is naast mijn gezin mijn grootse hobby. De zee is mijn comfortzone.

Sinds 1996 duik ik op Bonaire en er is ongelovelijk veel aan de hand. De koraalriffen hier hebben zwaar, veel te zwaar. Door global warming, lokale vervuiling en onderwater virussen. Ik besloot dat ik wilde helpen. Niet meer alleen doneren, maar echt iets doen!

So I took the Reef Renewal course—and what an experience. I learned so much: fragging and outplanting corals, cleaning nurseries, and diving into the theory.

And yes… I passed. I am now officially a PADI Reef Renewal Diver.

A dream come true — and one that benefits us all. Because without healthy coral reefs, we are all in trouble. So: time to roll up my sleeves and literally do my part. It is desperately needed.

For those wondering why this concerns us all, a few facts:

• Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands.

• Coral is not a plant, but an animal.

• Coral reefs are the nursery of the ocean — the Amazon of the sea.

• Only 1% of the oceans consists of coral reefs, yet 25% of all marine life depends on them.

• Reefs worldwide — including those in Bonaire — are under severe pressure due to human activity.

• Climate change, pollution, diseases, and overfishing have thrown the ecosystem out of balance.

• Sea urchins, which normally eat away algae, have almost disappeared, causing corals to suffocate.

• Reefs protect the coast as natural breakwaters, just as dunes do in the Netherlands.

• They provide fish and income for local fishermen.

• Dive tourism is a major source of income for Bonaire — without reefs, jobs will also disappear.

• In the last 30 years, 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost. If we do nothing, there may be nothing left in 30 years.

• Many sunscreens are harmful to the sea, even if they claim to be “reef-friendly.” Choose wisely.

• Warming seawater causes bleaching: corals turn white and eventually die off.

That realization was the turning point for me. I was done with just watching or donating. I wanted to truly help.

So here I am. On Bonaire. Ready to get to work.

I am learning, working, planting corals, and helping to rebuild new reefs. And it works — I see it with my own eyes. But there is still so much to do. If we don’t act now, the reefs here will disappear completely.

I am now a volunteer at Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire and work underwater daily to make the world a little more beautiful — for us, and for the generations after us.

And yes—I am also continuing my work as a super-fast and pro voice-over artist. You won’t notice a thing, because I have a very professional studio on Bonaire as well, and I deliver high-end audio for TV, radio, and online within one business day, just as you’re used to.

And live sessions are no problem either! So: feel free to book me. When I’m on Bonaire, I work during Dutch office hours, and after that, I help the reefs and marine life.

Unfortunately, I (and my family) cannot live on volunteer work alone. But fortunately, I can combine both — with a positive mind and an aqua-green heart.

Want to know more about the Reef Renewal Foundation? Check it out here.

Take care,
Barb