Tourism Corporation Bonaire has announced that Carl Roessler will become the third North American recipient to receive Bonaire’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Roessler will travel to Bonaire during Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award Week August 20–27, 2011, a highlight week of the Bonaire Dive Into Summer Program. He will lead various seminars for visitors and residents on oceanography and photography and will share his knowledge and experience through myriad activities.

Roessler is an internationally recognized pioneer of the dive-travel industry whose services were recognized by induction into The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame and the NOGI Award from the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences.

With longtime friend Captain Don Stewart, he was one of the earliest voices promoting sustainable diving on Bonaire. He also actively promoted Bonaire’s beautiful reefs through a variety of photo articles in Skin Diver Magazine, and he brought top dive manufacturing companies to Bonaire to make a promotional film on the wreck of the Windjammer. He logged over 100 dives on the wreck.

Roessler is now retired from the diving industry and volunteers his time to the Historical Diving Society, The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame and The Journal of Diving History.

The Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award honors long serving, high performance professionals whose careers have truly made a difference. It is for achievement over a period of several years rather than a single contribution and it is awarded for achievement that distinguishes the individual’s worked and provides a legacy for future generations.

The Award Week’s host hotel is Captain Don’s Habitat Bonaire, and Continental Airlines is the official airline sponsor of Bonaire Dive Into Summer.

Tourism Corporation Bonaire, 800-BONAIRE (266-2473), www.tourismbonaire.com