Bonaire offers scuba diving 24/7, 365 days a year and in a pristine underwater environment with access to many locations for shore and boat diving, it is an award winning diving destination that accommodates every skill level, from beginner to advanced diver. There are 63 official dive sites on Bonaire and 26 more on Klein Bonaire, of which 54 are shore dive sites. Bonaire is an underwater paradise that awaits you, with more than 350 fish species and 57 species of soft and stony coral.
Best time to dive?
Bonaire is dry most of the year, which makes it a great place to visit year round.
Bonaire is located well outside the hurricane belt, Bonaire is dry most of the year with the wettest months being October, November and December.
Sea Life
Some fish found throughout Bonaire’s waters include colorful Parrot Fish of all varieties, Blue and Rainbow included. Friendly Angel Fish, feisty Sergeant Majors, and beautiful Butterfly Fish dot the reef. Scrawled File Fish swim by sporting electric blue stripes. Grunts, Gobies and Groupers. Delight in schools of Blue Tangs and Jacks. Camouflaging Frog Fish blend in so well, but are certainly present. In addition, you can see Sea Turtles, Eagle Rays and Sea Cucumbers.
Dive Sites
Bonaire Marine’s Park offers a total of 86 dive sites, it is home to over 57 species of soft and stony coral and more than 350 recorded fish species. Many of the dive sites have access by boat or shore. From the shore, dive sites are marked with names on yellow stones. Please note that all users of the Bonaire National Marine Park must pay a Nature fee as admission.
1000 STEPS
This site was named for shore divers, who will find that the 64 steps leading from the road down to the beach seem like 1000 on the way back up. Immediately under the boat mooring are some outstanding formations of star coral. These have grown into high rising pagoda-like structures whose hollow cores provide homes for many reef creatures. Look inside for bluish of eggs guarded by the slate colored male sergeant majors. These ”pagodas” are found in a few other places. Keep an eye out for handbill turtles and manta rays. Passing whale sharks have been spotted here. Depth 20-100 feet (6-30 meters)
Alice in Wonderland
This Dive offers a chance to really experience the double reef. Care should be taken to watch your depth gauge, especially when crossing from one reef to the other. Depth 30-100 feet (10-30 meters)
Forest
Gorgonians flourish in the shallows, and in deeper water one find huge colonies of fern-like black coral, hence the name. At 75 feet, a large cave provides occasional accommodation for a green moray, a female loggerhead turtle or a nurse shark. Depth 25-100 feet (8-30 meters).
Hilma Hooker
This internationally known wreck dive is located near the beginning of the double reef system. The Top of the ship lies at 60 feet, the mast at 99. Shore divers will find the shallows full of fish. Boat divers will be limited in their bottom time due to the depth. This is a good place to see how corals have developed on an artificial site that was created with the sinking of the ship in 1984. It gives an idea of how long hard corals might take to recover from damage due to storms. Depth 25-100 feet (8-30 meters)
Nukove
Located on the northwest of Washington- Slagbaai. The experienced diver will be rewarded with some of the most pristine coral found on Bonaire. This site is also home to many of the larger fish species. Depth 15-100 feet (5-30 meters)
Playa Funchi
Located in Washington Slagbaai National Park. Horse-eye jacks can be seen out in blue water. The shallows are loaded with many of the smaller species that approach divers and snorkelers looking for a hand out. Depth 15-100 feet (4-30 meters)
Salt Pier
Easy entry for new divers and great for photography. The pillars here are fully encrusted with sponges and corals. Large schools of fish congregate in the shadows created by the salt terminal overhead. Depth 15-50 feet (5-15 meters)
White Hole
This site lies off Lac Bay. Also known as East coast diving. Check with East coast dive operators. Numerous tarpons and turtles are found here as well as rays, and occasionally sharks. Depth 15-100 feet (5-30 meters)
Info by Tourismbonaire.com
How to Arrive
Bonaire is accessible from Europe, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. You can visit Bonaire by Air or by Cruise.
Traveling to Bonaire is possible through flying to Flamingo International Airport. The airport receives local as well as international carriers.
For more information about the best travel connections see the details.
Latin America
Bonaire does not have direct flights from South America, however you can connect with Avianca, Copa Airlines, Gol, Lan Colombia, SBA, Aserca Airlines, Surinam Airways. In addition, inter island carriers EZ Air and Divi Divi Air provide service to Bonaire.
For complete routes and details please contact the airlines servicing Bonaire or your favorite booking agent.
North America
Direct flights from the USA are available with United Airlines from Newark and Houston. Delta Airlines has direct flights from Atlanta. American Airlines has direct flights from Miami. Also direct flights from Toronto, Canada are available with Sunwing. It is also possible to fly via Aruba or Curaçao to Bonaire.
For complete routes and details please contact the airlines servicing Bonaire or your favorite booking agent.
Europe
Direct flights from Europe come from Amsterdam with TUI or KLM they also serve as the gate way to other European Countries.
Caribbean
Inter-island carriers EZ Air, Aruba Airlines and Divi Divi Air provide daily service to Bonaire connecting via Aruba or Curacao. Winair provides daily service to Bonaire connecting via Sint Maarten.