As an FYI to everyone - I just sent the following message out to every major resort and tourism enterprise on Bonaire:

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Greetings fellow members of the Bonaire Tourism Community!

I am writing to you because the Bonaire WebCams face an uncertain fate, and there's a very real chance they may soon cease to exist.

As you may be aware, Linda and I are moving out of our rented waterfront home in Hato, away from Small Wall, to our own house inland in Belnem.

As we will no longer be located at the water's edge, it leaves the question as to what to do with the Bonaire ReefCam, and more generally, with the Bonaire WebCams as a whole.

The Bonaire WebCams are world-famous, and have achieved cult-status.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of Bonaire visitors (and locals) visit the WebCams each week in a form of pilgrimage, to share images of themselves with the thousands of people each day who view the WebCams via the Bonaire WebCams Web site.

We have received countless comments from new Bonaire visitors that they discovered Bonaire through the WebCams site. In short, the Bonaire WebCams have become an important part of Bonaire tourism in the four years they have been active.

However, we (Dan Senie, my partner in the Bonaire WebCams effort, and I) have operated the Bonaire WebCams at a significant annual loss, with the cost coming indirectly out of our pockets. New land cameras runs several hundred dollars. Replacement ReefCams, made out with a Titanium housing and connected to shore with a Kevlar coated cable are many thousands of dollars, the WebCam capture server on Bonaire has custom hardware and software and full time (slow) Internet connection, our Bonaire WebCams Web server in the U.S. requires a high speed connection (over 512Kbps at all times), etc. The list of costs could go on.

Membership fees on the Bonaire WebCams site have offset some of our on-going expenses, but we have absorbed the rest of the costs ourselves. However we cannot afford to continue doing that any more.

Now, faced with our upcoming move in a few weeks, and the subsequently required move of the WebCams, leaves us at a critical juncture.

To be blunt, if we do not find a new home for the WebCams, and a partner to help cover the on-going expense of continuing to run the WebCams and WebCams Web site, the Bonaire WebCams will cease to be, and Bonaire will lose a phenomenal marketing benefit and resource.

And the many thousands of people a day who get their daily Bonaire fix from watching fish and divers on the ReefCam, sunsets and waves on the BeachCams, and enviable tourists posing with diverse signs on the StreetCam will be left with a dark screen, and may well start looking at the Cayman Turtle Farm WebCams or WebCams in some sort other non-Bonaire destination.

Over the last several months Dan and I have approached a number of resorts we felt had the right facilities to be able to properly support the WebCams with a partnership offer to buy into the WebCams and thus own half the project for US$20,000, which included the cost of moving the WebCams (no easy effort) and would cover operating costs for at most a couple of years. In each case after some (or even no) deliberation, our plan was rejected by the highest levels of management at these resorts (off-island in most cases), even when on-island support was high. And almost universally, we were also told that if we simply wanted to place the WebCams at the resort at no expense to the resort, they were sure that could be worked out.

However, as already stated, we can no longer afford to continue to pay for the WebCams out of our own pockets. And, we feel very strongly that in order for a resort to support the WebCams properly and give them the attention they need on-property, the resort needs to have some sort of financial stake in the WebCams.

Recently, we were approached by a company in the U.S. which would invest in the WebCams, both in an effort to help reduce the cost of having the WebCams on-site at a resort, as well as get exclusively rights to market advertising on the WebCams site. Due to that promised investment offer Dan and I have been able to structure what we believe is a more affordable deal for a resort to take the WebCams on-property.

That leaves us with our last gasp effort at finding a home on Bonaire for all four of the Bonaire WebCams. If this fails, the WebCams will go away.

To not burden those of you with no further interest in this topic, we have put the details of the deal needed to keep the Bonaire WebCams running at:

http://www.caribbeanwebcams.com/SaveTheWebCams.html

Unless we find a resort willing with work with us, the WebCams go dark on Sunday, June 20, 2004. They certainly can go "bright" again a few weeks later if someone is willing to partner with us to keep the WebCams going. But if not, they will stay dark.

Please feel free to pass this e-mail on far and wide. We certainly will be doing so ourselves. For example, this e-mail is being CC'd to Extra, the Bonaire Reporter, and MegaFM, among others. We will also be posting it on BonaireTalk. All in the hopes of finding someone willing to help save the WebCams. We really don't want to see the WebCams die, but we also really cannot continue to operate them at a significant financial loss.

Should we not find a partner by mid-June, we are contemplating offering the Bonaire WebCams Web site and the WebCams system separately on eBay. Perhaps some "angel" with deep pockets will be willing to absorb the costs of running the WebCams and keep them on Bonaire, or perhaps another resort at a different island destination will see the benefit of a wildly popular Web site and WebCams system.

In any case, should the Bonaire WebCams go away permanently, we will contact all current Bonaire WebCams members to arrange for a pro-rated refund of the then outstanding portion of their membership fees.

If you have interest in the WebCams under the terms mentioned above, please let us know by sending e-mail to info@caribbeanwebcams.com.

Thanks for your time, and for those who received this e-mail and find it irrelevant, please accept my personal apologies for filling your mailbox with material you're not interested in.

Jake Richter
COO, Caribbean WebCams

Oooooooo...day-m!

Jake, thanks for posting the update...btw, no need to refund any of my money for membership if you end up going that route...it has MORE than paid for itself

I'm keeping my fingers crossed SOME resort on the island will indeed be able to convince those "off island" that this is a no-brainer investment for the resort...heck, the sheer numbers of reservations will spike once the cams are moved! So frustrating!

I certainly hope some help comes through and no refund is expected here either.
Good luck and thanks for my daily Bon fix for the last few months.

Jake, if it were'nt for the WebCams Joe and I would not have rerouted from our annual Aruba gig over to Bonaire. We ended up purchasing a timeshare at the Divi our fist week on the island and have been returning since. We enjoy the heck out of Bonaire, her people and all she has to offer and we do spread our money around generously, as well, when we are on Bonaire. That is a tacky point to make, but, unfortunately it is very relevant here.

I hope someone will come forth very quickly responding to your/our plea to run with the Cams setup and structure. It will be a shame and a loss for Bonaire and everything it represents to lose the Bonaire WebCams and BT, too.

Cynde said it first....no need to refund any monies to our household "if" things do not turn out as we hope....we are forever in your and Dan's debt for being able to experience, enjoy and share the Web Cams and all of the knowledge, joy and information they have provided.

It is much, much more than just a few cameras pointing to the water or the front gate. Much, much more. The WebCams are an invaluable asset to Bonaire and I sure as hell (edit me, please!) hope someone opens their eyes quickly and enables this amazing phenomena to continue educating us and new and prospective visitors for a very, very, very long time to come.

If there is anything else any of us can do to spread the word, you just say it. We will do it.

Joe and I will be on Bonaire on June 20....I hope it will be a day of celebration and not "mourning".

WAKE UP businesspeople of Bonaire....this is a jewel and must be saved immediately!!! You can't imagine the exposure (all good/positive) you will receive being a sponsor/partner in this venture....you could't buy better advertising and "word of mouth" business if you tried.

Time is of the essence.....open your eyes and jump in there now!! Thank you. Carole Baker

Jake and Linda,
We just read your message concerning the future of the Bonaire WebCams with sadness. I guess we all just take for granted that the web cams would always be there! We forget that it takes someone to keep it operational and up and running along with capital expenditures. We wish we had the money to invest to keep it up and running which brings me to my next suggestion...I am sure the BonaireTalk community would rally to the need in order to continue their WebCam "fix". The BonaireTalk Community has rallied for umpteen different causes. This would definitely be a great cause as the WebCams are the heart of the BonaireTalk Community. Just a thought...

Thx 4 the update Jake.
I do hope some party will step forward! I think a lot of people underestimate the exposure Bonaire and the location of the webcams get through the webcams.
There are a lot of people out there who discovered Bonaire through the cams and all those people bring their money with them. If I would manage a resort I would jump on this opportunity 2 get this amount of exposure 4 my business.
Maybe another approach would be a party who benefits directly from the cam visitors (Karel's Beach Bar, Coconut Crash @ the Plaza, etc. come 2 mind).
I cannot believe the $5000 are a problem 4 the large resorts (I think they spend a lot more on advertising each year).
Please keep us posted and if we can do anything...

Thank-you for updating. The webcams have done so much for so many, I have my o/w, have met many wonderful people and many have done so much for us and Quinn.

Having the webcams at a resort would be great advertising/business etc for them.

I definately do not need a refund. As Cynde said, the membership has more that paid for itself. If there is anyway we can help too, let us know.

This will be such an incredible sad thing when it comes to the point where the cams do get black forever ... I really can't understand not a single resort-management does see this state-of-the-art advertisement opportunity. This thing will pay itself back in no time ...

Maybe you should've attached some webpage statistics on that mail Jake .. to convice them ..

Anyway .. I still have a good feeling something this good cannot just pass by, and has to be saved .. and will be ..

As said before .. if you need a hand, we'll be around until June 18th Jake ..

THUMBS UP !!

Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

The web cams and BT are a ready community for some enlightened business owners. It appears that the cost is less than a couple of trips to U.S or Europe dive shows. And with a lot less hassle.

I really hope you can make a sale and continue this service. I wish I was there to help you make the sale.

I could not be more depressed about this. This is like a best friend telling you he has terminal cancer. I guess I knew this was coming but it does not make it any easier.

The joy and the pleasure I have received over the years from a simple set of cameras is amazing. My world will shrink significantly when the cameras go blank.

I'm with John on this, they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. This community would be a gold mine for any resort who is smart enough to see this value.

One other thing, Jake, you really need to leave that concrete block behind. It's bad enough what's happening to us, you can't evict Charlotte. She is our mascot and star.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Jake keep the money. Given the pleasure I have received from the Web Cams, I figure I still owe you some money (but given my present financial state will you take an IOU).

I read this thread with great sadness and tears in my eyes. The web cams have kept me connected to my paradise until I can get there the next time. They have brought smiles to my face in times of sadness. I feel these cams would pay for themselves in a very short time with increased customers at their resort just because the cams are there. Personally, I would love to see them at the Divi where there is an abundance of fish life all around the cement pier. As everyone else has said, it's impact on tourism is huge!!! I am sure if the cams no longer exist,there will be a significant loss in new tourism to Bonaire.
Jake and Dan, thanks so much for your dedication to the cams and the whole BT community!!!
No refund is wanted here if no one steps up to the plate and this great loss comes to be.

I echo all the previous sentiments. The cams and board have brightened so many days for me. Made me smile (and many times laugh) when I was having a bad day. I turned to the cams (esp. the north beach) for quiet reflection when my mother died a couple weeks ago. I'm even taking an open water course next month with hopes of getting to Bonaire within a year.

Thanks to everyone who has made this community a possibility - Jake, Dan, Linda and the rest of the BT family. If the time does come where we have to say good-bye to the cams, please do not refund me either. The money spent was nothing compared to the joy received.

Hmmm, I 4got 2 mention: no refund needed over here either! If no party steps forward, please have an Amstel from me 2 honor the cams...

ps buddies, Jake explained earlier that the cams are not the same as BT, so even if the cams have 2 go, we still will have BT to mourn 2gether.

Thanks for all your nice comments folks. Hopefully the resorts and tourism authorities on Bonaire will see them and get a better understanding of how the WebCams (or the potential lack thereof) impact Bonaire.

Jake

Jake - thanks for the update. I am with everyone else - keep the money - I do not need a refund.

I am reading this with great sadness and feel that a big part of my world will go away if the cams disappear!!!

Jake, Dan and Linda - thanks for making this happen so far and I am hoping a resort will see the light and not let the cams go dark.

I do not know how to express myself in englisch about "going black of the cams", I think I also do not have the words in Dutch. But near by it are the words of Darlene Ellis.
If you are not on Bonaire but in the place where you live, there is always a paradise to look at and to make plans for trips to that paradise. Resorts, be smart and place the Cams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a crime this would be. The Cams, along with BT, are a fantastic way for all of us around the world to stay in touch with our favorite dive/vacation destination....even when we can't be there in person. The Cams are such a huge draw for both real life & internet visitors, I can't image a resort on the island wouldn't see the value in the investment. Take a portion of your marketing/advertising budget and invest in the cams, it'll be worth it!

Jake, you've worked so hard to keep this going, and I have literally incorporated this site into my life. The first time we went to Bonaire, I planned our vacation from the information received on BonaireTalk. Everything was accurate, and we had a spectacular time. Now I check it for updates, and for news for our next trip. It is so sad the tourist industry doesn't realize that sometimes a little money/energy spent results in a bigger return. You have to be able to see the forest, in spite of the trees, so to speak. I surely hope this site continues, and that you get what YOU need out of the situation, as you've given so much to all of us.

This is TERRIBLE!!!! But fully understandable from the cost to Jake point of view. On my very recent visit to Bonaire most everybody I met visiting there was also involved with BT. The business community will truelly be effected if they don't step up to the plate.

Maybe this is why the dive masters at the Divi thought the cam was no longer in operation. We straightened them out on this misconception, and visited Small Wall :-) Jake good luck, I am sure we all wish we could dig deep in our pockets and find the $. If the darkness does come to be, keep my $ as well.

Mary,

Just to be clear. In the event that the WebCams go dark permanently, that would have no impact on the continued availability of BonaireTalk to you or anyone else.

Mind you, this particular discussion area may end up moved to the end of the topic list, and ultimately closed to new posts, as it would no longer be relevant, but BonaireTalk would continue to exist, both because Linda and I have made a commitment to continue to provide the resources necessary to keep it operating for the foreseeable future (i.e. years), and because the burden of moderating BT is being shared by and with our great co-moderators, Cynde and Martin.

Hope that clarifies things a bit.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions which would help convince a local resort that it would be a good idea to take on the WebCams under the plan we have developed, please post it here. We don't want to see the WebCams go dark either.

Jake

I sent the following email to the Divi Resorts. I suggest we all send a similar request to our favorite Bonaire resort and/or dive operation.

I am very glad to hear the BT would continue. And although my interest is actually in the BT not the cams, I do believe the cams are the initial draw to the site....

my email to the Divi .....
Please consider supporting the Bonaire Web Cams http://www.caribbeanwebcams.com/SaveTheWebCams.html . I have been to Bonaire 5 times in 9 years, our most recent visit just this month. We spend our money at the hotel, the Chibi Restaurant, and dive 3 boat dives a day with the dive operation and in the casino as well. Investment in the Web Cams would be a significant marketing tool. During our visit this month we met a number of people visitng the island and all were very vocal about the web cam being a major reason why they chose to come to Bonaire. The web site is a source of information regarding just about anything you can think of on Bonaire. There have been a tremendous amount of postings in which people discuss and recommend the various resorts, restaurants, and dive operations. These people would clearly be vocally appreciative of any business who supports the cams, and would in many many cases choose to spend their $ at such a business as well.

If you have already made a decision to not do this, I ask that you research further and reconsider.

I am coming back to Bonaire in January and hope that the Divi's support of the web cams gives me reason to once again come back to the Divi.


Denise Kacavas

Thanks for the clarification, Jake. But I would still greatly miss checking out the cams, especially in the winter in Michigan, and because both Craig and I were on it. I know you spend a lot of time maintaining them, and it's been to everyone's benefit to see what's happening in paradise. Hope that someone in Bonaire wises up and sees what a valuable asset it could be for their business

Carole hit on something that I forgot...I didn't even know that Bonaire existed until I found the cams! I read about them in a dive mag, and decided to take a look, and see what this "Bonaire" place was all about! It was watching them addictively that got me to Bonaire the first time, and what continually draws me back...

Again, Bonaire Resorts, if you are reading this, you have no idea how many "lurkers" are out there and never post...thousands...and everyone always wants to know "where the cams are" so they can visit them when on Boniare...so you not only would have increased patronage to your resort, you would have more folks stopping by to buy an amstel and get their face on the internet...

HEY LURKERS...now is the time to come out of the dark and post how you feel about the cams!!!!

I think it's a great idea to send emails EN MASSE to the large resorts, or the resort of your choice. I will send one to Buddy and one to Divi, I suggest everyone do the same. Maybe even cc it to the Tourism Board??? Let's get on it guys.... we need to pull together and do something for Jake. I could never ever repay Jake and Linda for all their hospitality and friendship. But I will try.

There seems to be ground swell of support here. Several of us are discussing a preliminary plan/program to keep this situation viable, even if the cams have to go dark for a short interval (we hope not). I would like to personally hear from Cynde, Cecil and/or anyone else that may wish commit a bit of time, and be more involved with the process as it evolves.
Nothing will be undertaken without Jake, Linda and Dan's blessing. You can reach me at brians.eee@comcast.net.

Thank you for your support.

Here are a few email addresses.

Divi: comments@diviresorts.com

Buddy Dive: reservations@buddydive.com

Capt. Dons: Jack@habitatbonaire.com

Tourism Board: info@tourismbonaire.com



These are just a few suggestions, but send your emails to all of them. If anyone has a better email address than what I have posted, please correct me. I just did a quick search on yahoo and came up with these. Get to work people!

Brian YGM

Kelly, thanks for the email addresses

More email addresses:
Harbour Village info@harbourvillage.com
Plaza reservations@plazaresortbonaire.com or info@plazavillas.com
Sand Dollar info@sanddollarbonaire.com

2 Lurkers right here signing on. My wife and I have watched the webcams for many months. We are making our second trip to Bonaire in July and staying at the Sand$. The webcams definitely led us to BT and keeps us coming back almost daily. Our July trip is on the same dates our local dive shop is running a charter flight/trip to Belize. One reason we decided to do our own trip to Bonaire is the many memories of our first trip the webcams kept fresh in our minds. One reason we decided to try Sand$ was the reviews provided on BT. Some lucky resort is going to make the call to host the cams and to us and many they will be the first resort we think of when we think of Bonaire.

Dan and Janet - WELCOME to BT and thanks for signing on and expressing your views!!! I know that there are many other lurkers who are out there that feel the same way!!! Hopefully they will also sign on and post their opinion!!!!

I like Cynde - never heard of Bonaire until I was sent to look at the web cams. I visited the island last year for the 1st time due mostly to the cams!!! I am going back again this year - again due in most part to the cams and the BT community that has built up around the cams!!!

When are you going in July? I will be at the Sand$ July 11 - 25!!!

Dan and Janet...WELCOME!!! Have a great trip! We stayed at the Sand$ our first trip in 2001, and loved the place. Got a chance to do a giant stride off the new dock a couple of times this last summer to dive Bari reef...one of my favorite all-time Bonaire dives!

Thanks for "coming out of the woodwork" to support the cams

A couple of weeks ago Patty and I made our 4th trip and met Jake and Linda for the first time and told them how we found Bonaire through the webcams, came back 3 more times and now own a lot on the island, to someday build our dream house there. All from the hard work of a few people, so Jake et al please know every email you answer, every moment you moderate a forum, is worth it. You never know when that question you answer on a thread will lead to a vacation, return trip, etc.

The people in my office go on the webcams daily, and I refer the site to everyone I know, especially in winter. If there's anything I can do to help keep them up, let me know. How about putting the cameras on my new lot? It will take me at least 30 years to save to build on it anyway! ;-)

Let us know what can be done to help.

Carl and Patty

Brian~ Count me in as a helper if you need someone. I'll see what I can do when the time comes.

I simply cannot believe that a prudent government and/or business establishment(s) wouldn't see how beneficial the webcams could be (and have been) to the tourism industry on Bonaire. The cams have been such a great tool promoting Bonaire as a place to visit.

Where is their business sense? "Opportunity" is knocking on someone's door! I just wish it were mine!

We've been visiting Bonaire since 1997, long before the cams came into being. In fact, we met Jake & Linda during their very first week as residents on the island, having just moved from the States. What a chance meeting that was...down in the locker area at Capt. Don's! I've personally seen the difference the webcams have made over the years, but more importantly, Jake & Linda have been extremely crucial to changing and improving Bonaire's tourism industry. YES, you heard me right! It's not just the little fishies you go to see that are crucial to Bonaire's tourism industry. Without Jake & Linda's "ambassador-type" can-do attitude, where would we be?

It's late and I'm rambling. Good-night!

Jake....In support of the web cams I just updated my membership for the next year......I have faith, and if the worst comes to pass....I do not want ANY money back!

LaDonna

LaDonna - the power of positive thinking - I'm with you, I just renewed my membership as well. Jake, I will not accept a refund of these fees if darkness is indeed our fate.

Thanks for the very detailed update, Jake. And thanks for the links Kelly and Mary...this is a very much needed campaign! I'm on board with everyone else in declining a refund of my recently paid membership which has certainly been worth every penny!

Oh, and Jake, I don't want a refund either!

Another lurker here, just adding my 2 pennies. I haven't even been to Bonaire yet (first trip next July), but my first knowledge of the island was a link to the webcams.

I know that I would make a point of supporting any establishments that stepped up to continue the existence of the webcams.

Yes, we'll save the cams.
I can't do a lot, but I am sendind an email to all the french language diving magazines explaining what's happening and asking some help via a feature article for their readers.