Over 200 people came together on World Reef Awareness Day to celebrate coral restoration at Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire’s 7th annual ReeFiesta. The event featured guided dives and snorkels at 13 coral nurseries around the island, followed by a community celebration with speakers, reef education, and a raffle. With the support of 16 partner dive shops and official sponsors Orco Bank, Cargill, MCB, and WEB, ReeFiesta 2025 was the foundation’s most impactful edition yet.
27 May 2025
(Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean) — Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB) proudly hosted its 7th annual ReeFiesta on Sunday, June 1st, bringing together more than 200 people — including divers, snorkelers, dive shop instructors, RRFB staff, and sponsors — to celebrate World Reef Awareness Day on Bonaire.
The event kicked off in the morning with a coordinated series of guided coral restoration dives and snorkel tours at 13 nursery sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. Over 120 divers and snorkelers took to the water after an informative presentation about RRFB’s work and the value of healthy coral reefs, led by trained instructors from RRFB’s 16 partner dive shops: AB-Dive, Beyond the Corals, Buddy Dive, Carib Inn, Dive Friends Bonaire, Divi Dive, Harbour Village, Scuba Elite, Technical Diving Services, Toucan Diving, Tropical Divers, VIP Diving, WannaDive, Xpro Divers, and 4Wheel Diving.
In the evening, the community gathered for a celebratory reception at Van der Valk Plaza Resort. Attendees heard from a lineup of speakers who have each played a vital role in advancing coral restoration on Bonaire:
- Ernst Noyons, Chief Operating Officer of RRFB
- David Fishman, President of RRFB’s Board of Directors
- Ciaretta Profas, Project Leader for Nature Restoration at Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire
- Roxanne Francisca, Manager of Washington Slagbaai National Park, STINAPA Bonaire
Guests also enjoyed an interactive coral quiz, a festive atmosphere, and a highly anticipated raffle featuring a range of incredible prizes donated by RRFB’s supporters — including dive gear, branded merchandise, a private yacht charter from Bonaire Yacht Charters, a catamaran tour from Woodwind, and a two-night stay at Villa Carina.
ReeFiesta 2025 was made possible through the generous support of its official sponsors: Orco Bank, Cargill, MCB, and WEB. Their support made the event free and accessible to all participants, helping RRFB continue its mission to build a hands-on, informed community of reef stewards.
“It was so energizing to see the support, enthusiasm, and shared purpose from everyone involved in Reefiesta this year. We’re especially thankful to our dive shop partners, sponsors, and everyone who joined us in the water — they’re the reason this year’s event was such a success!”
– Perri Rappaport, RRFB Restoration Technician
About Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire is a non-profit organization focused on the protection and restoration of Bonaire’s biodiverse coral reefs. In collaboration with research partners and regional practitioners, RRFB uses researched-based techniques to increase the abundance and genetic diversity of vulnerable coral populations in Bonaire. Today, with the help of 16 partner dive operators around the island and a dedicated team of volunteers, RRFB has outplanted over 70,000 corals back to the reef, covering an area of over 13,000 square meters.
To learn how to get involved or lend support, please visit www.reefrenewalbonaire.org or email info@reefrenewalbonaire.org
Photos and Captions
Please contact caitie@reefrenewalbonaire.org to request high-resolution versions of all images