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Monthly Archives: November 2016

Activities, Bonaire, Caribbean, Divi Flamingo, To Do

How Scuba Diving Can Make You Feel Great

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At Divi Resorts, we love diving. It’s one of the few sports that can be relaxing, invigorating, and educational at the same time. And, here in the Caribbean, you’re never far from the next amazing dive site. Our clear waters and vibrant underwater life make sure of that.

The dive organization PADI recently published a blog post about the mood-boosting benefits of scuba diving. If you’re having a bad day—or a bad couple of months—scuba diving is a great way to relax, recharge, and reset. Immersed in a new underwater world, surrounded by fascinating marine life, your everyday worries can seem very far away.

That’s just one of the ways scuba diving can enhance your life. PADI’s blog post also mentions the connections you can form with other diving enthusiasts, the challenge of earning certifications, and the rewarding feeling of participating in marine cleanups. Diving can even promote physical health and lifelong learning, PADI asserts.

All our islands offer great diving opportunities, but the best vacation spot for anyone looking to “dive in” to the sport is Bonaire. The small Caribbean island is known for its world-class, yet easily accessible diving. Divi Dive Bonaire at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort teaches certification courses for all levels, and provides a wide variety of boat diving, shore diving, and truck diving packages. Shore diving is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Can you imagine recharging after the holidays with some firsthand oceanic exploration? You’d get a taste of our quiet, unspoiled Caribbean life on Bonaire—above and below the sea. You might even feel great.

Bonaire, Divi Flamingo, To Do

The Best Cocktail for Dreaming of Bonaire

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Photo credit Cadushy Distillery

If your trip to Bonaire can’t come any sooner, maybe a Green Bonaire cocktail will ease your pain for a while. The taste of Bonaire is undoubtably Cadushy of Bonaire Liqueur, a vibrant green cactus liqueur produced locally by Cadushy Distillery in Rincon, Bonaire. Visitors to Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino should make an effort to stop by Cadushy, the only distillery on the island. It makes a different type of specialty liqueur for each of six islands in the Dutch Caribbean, as well as rum, vodka and whiskey. You can sign up for a tasting and learn first-hand how the spirits are produced.

If you have a little Cadushy of Bonaire on hand, try mixing up the refreshing Green Bonaire.

The Green Bonaire (AKA the Cadushy Special)

-1 oz. Vodka
-1 oz. Cadushy of Bonaire Liqueur
-1 oz. Triple Sec

Pour all spirits into a ice-filled cocktail shaker. Add some apple juice and just a touch of blue Curacao to enhance the green color. Shake and strain into a cold martini glass.

Add a few drops of fresh lime juice. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Here’s to Bonaire! We hope you can come visit soon!

Activities, Aruba, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Village, To Do

4 Experiences You Must Have in Aruba

How do you like to vacation? Are you the kind of person who just needs some sunscreen, a beach towel, and a clear schedule? Do you prefer to try tons of new things and search for adventures? Or do your vacations fall somewhere in between? Regardless of the type of vacationer you are, Aruba offers so much to do. We’ve listed a few activities here that we’ve found to be crowd favorites. There’s something here that just about everyone will enjoy.

Arikok National Park

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The government of Aruba has dedicated approximately 18 percent of the island to this national park. It has many walking trails that are well-kept and remain open to the public for exploring. Some tour companies offer guided tours through this massive protected area that is practically bursting with scenic views and unusual wildlife. The park is safe to explore if you stay on the main path. You may encounter a few big iguanas—but they’re harmless, like most of the other animals that inhabit the area.

The Butterfly Farm

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Photo credit Jasmine Nears

A visit to Aruba’s Butterfly Farm is an unforgettable encounter with nature in all its beauty and diversity. Step into a tropical garden teeming with butterflies from around the globe, and prepare to meet some of the world’s most colorful and unusual creatures. Observe the life cycle of these fascinating animals from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Tour guides will entertain you with commentary on butterfly habits and the miracle of metamorphosis. Arrive early in the day and witness new butterflies emerging from their chrysalis and taking their first flight. The Farm also provides a rare opportunity for butterfly photography. It’s a sure delight for all ages.

pureocean at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort

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pureocean, an upscale restaurant serving globally inspired cuisine with a Caribbean twist, is hands-down one of the most romantic places on the island. Located at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, pureocean offers diners the opportunity to dine with their toes right in the sands of Palm Beach as they watch a stunning Aruban sunset. Executive Chef Anthony de Palm ensures culinary excellence. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance—you can do so via OpenTable.

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling

If you wish to learn how to dive, take a Resort Certification Scuba Diving Course. Don’t miss out on the beauty, not to mention excitement, of Aruba’s underwater world. Divers with Open Water Certification can enjoy the many diving sites Aruba has to offer—go wall diving, reef diving, or explore wrecks sunk during World War II.

If you’d prefer to remain close to the surface and snorkel, you can easily enjoy the beauty of the coral formations as well as the wreck sites, with a visibility of 100 feet at some locations. De Palm Tours offers a Snorkel Adventure tour that brings you to several must-see spots.

Did we forget to mention your favorite Aruba experience? Let us know about it in the comments!

Barbados, Divi Southwinds, To Do

This Is How You “Eat Local” When You Visit Barbados

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When you stay at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort on Barbados, a small garden plays a big role in the meals you eat. Executive Chef Henderson Butcher grows most of the herbs that flavor the pureocean menu—as well as a few fruits and vegetables—right on the resort property. It can be difficult for “locavores” to make sure they keep eating locally when they’re on vacation, but pureocean Barbados makes it simple.

Chef Henderson believes that fresh herbs and produce grown locally are far more flavorful than anything shipped in from elsewhere. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and he’s tasted it countless times as he prepares his meals.

He’s also a strong believer in the farm-to-table concept. “Every morning, our employees go out to the garden and gather only what they need for the day,” Chef Henderson says. “It’s best to keep it simple, and to use what we have right here.”

Chef’s garden changes according to the season, but a diverse array of herbs can usually be found there, including thyme, marjoram, rosemary, basil, lemongrass and chives. He also grows spinach, a common ingredient in pureocean’s vegetarian offerings, as well as several varieties of lettuce. “We’re growing a few different kinds of hot peppers now, too,” Chef Henderson adds. “Scotch bonnet peppers are a common ingredient in Caribbean cuisine—we keep a patch of those. We also grow ghost peppers, some of the spiciest peppers on record.” He laughs. “We use them more than you might think. We make a jerk sauce that’s pretty mean.”

In his recipes, Chef Henderson also makes use of other plants that can be found around the property, such as mangos, breadfruit, almonds and even the leaves of the sea grape tree. Whenever possible, he makes an effort to source his ingredients locally. “It’s good for our budget, but most importantly, everything tastes better when it’s fresh and straight out of the ground,” Chef says.

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