Bonaire Caves and Snorkel AdventureAre you thinking about doing some adventurous exploring to seek out one of the many Bonaire caves?
Take caution! Bonaire caves are home to the only native endangered animals found on this island- bats. The stink that comes from a cave that is home to bats is overwhelming. It penetrates every pore of your body, which is mother nature’s warning of the threat that bat poo (aka guano) represents to people. Anyone who gets a whiff of guano is in danger of contracting histoplasmosis, a fungus found in guano.
Once you have breathed in histoplasmosis you may experience symptoms much like those of a common cold. After 7-10 days, the symptoms can worsen to include headaches, fever, chest pain, coughing, muscle pain and possibly shortness of breath or impaired vision. Because the symptoms of histoplasmosis can be almost identical to those of a flu, it's probable that it won't be diagnosed until your health severely declines and you start to show signs similar to tuberculosis. If not treated properly, the last symptom may be death! And with the possible exception of having your head cryogenically frozen until technology allows for a head-to-body transplant and reanimation, there really haven’t been any successful treatments for this symptom. So do the bats and yourself a favor and don't go sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!
Now that you’re excited about the prospect of cave exploration and the possibility of having your head frozen for eternity, let’s look at a better way to do this. Semi-private tours by experienced guides who know which Bonaire caves are the best for exploring can be arranged. There are a maximum of four people per tour, and the guides will take you to caves you would never find on your own. Going this route significantly decreases the risk of death by guano inhalation.
The first cave you enter by climbing a ladder. If you are at all afraid of heights then spelunking may not be for you. But you’d be losing out, since you would have less opportunity to use the word “spelunking”. Upon entering the spooky darkness, you immediately leave the Caribbean breeze behind and discover why these secret caves are Bonaire's natural saunas...they're hot and stuffy.
The second cave is a little fear-inducing as well. You start off by watching your guide tie a rope and throwing it into a seemingly endless hole. Have no fear though, it's an easy and fun rappel down into the cave, and the crystal clear waters waiting for you at the bottom are very inviting. Here you will find perfect formations of stalactites and stalagmites. It is at this moment that you will get to experience the thrill of using “stalactite”, “stalagmite”, and “spelunking” in the same sentence!
When it comes to caves on Bonaire, conservation is the main issue. You won't find any man-made items in the caves. The Bonaire caves are almost untouched and well preserved. So put on your spelunking shoes, and revel in the splendor of the stalagmites and stalactites. (See, that was awesome!)
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