Destination Fact File
The best shore diving around. Great for buddies who want to dive alone and explore.
Bonaire is the most eastern of the Leeward Islands in the southwest Caribbean, lying about 50 miles north of Venezuela. It is part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, Bonaire's pristine reefs and diverse marine life are unique to the Caribbean. Due to the fact that the waters around Bonaire are designated as an official marine park, diving Bonaire is like diving the Caribbean the way it used to be - untouched and unspoiled, it is often referred to as a “divers paradise”. The island's location in the south Caribbean gives it a dry climate with little rainfall; consequently, the waters are exceptionally clear of silt, calm and it is possible to dive there year round. It is an ideal destination for underwater photographers. Water temperatures average a warm 26-29°C with visibility often averaging over 30m and frequently up to 55m.
Bonaire, meaning “good air” is 24 miles long by 3-7 miles wide. Just north of the equator, Bonaire always enjoys the advantage of daylight for 12 hours and almost a constant air temperature of 27°C. Bonaire has a real community feel - your innkeeper may be your divemaster by day or your waiter at a restaurant at night.
Created through volcanic eruptions, Bonaire is an underwater mountain with fringe reefs that are easily accessible from the shoreline in front of every hotel or any part of the island. Most divers grab a tank and take themselves off in a truck around the island to discover the beautiful dive sites of Bonaire accessible from the shore; there are plenty of dive centres situated around the island where you can pick tanks up from. For those not comfortable diving with just a buddy you can join groups or do daily diving with dive centres dotted around the island. Boat diving adds another dimension to your dive experience on Bonaire, giving you the opportunity to visit sites on nearby Klein Bonaire where the topography will be noticeably different, or those not accessible from shore.
Located well outside of the hurricane belt and therefore protected from reef damage, Bonaire offers world-class diving 365 days a year.
Top Dive Sites:
“Funfi” The place in Bonaire to see eagle rays graciously flying by. Stingrays and turtles are common here and if you are very lucky you may even get to encounter manta rays. The reef is extraordinary healthy, a real delight to the eye. If you know where to look you may see nurse sharks and maybe reef sharks too. It is a 20 minute swim to the reef but on the way there you will see spotted lobsters, grey snappers and tarpon to make it worth your while. Depending on your air consumption you may have 20 minutes on the reef itself before its time to get back in the channel. If there is an outbound tidal current make sure you leave plenty of air to make it back to the shore. If the current is inbound you can let yourself be carried with it and you will drift back in no time. If you want to dive this site as a shore dive, take a good local guide with you. It would be advisable to take a boat to this dive site if you are not an advanced diver.
“Bari Reef” One of the most visited reefs off the Bonaire coast, and with good reason. For starters, this dynamic reef can be found just offshore near the capital of Kralendijk so it is relatively easy to access. A local dive operator is available for anyone who wants to enjoy a guided Bari Reef dive, though it's also possible to enter the water on your own. On solo dives, all you'll have to do is grab your gear and get down to the beach dock near the Sand Dollar Condominium Hotel.
Diving at Bari Reef is worth adding to the agenda; this reef is noted for its colourful array of marine life and there are plenty of corals and sponges to admire. Types of fish range from trumpetfish and trunkfish to parrotfish and moray eels. Tarpon are also known to frequent the waters around Bari Reef, as are seahorses and octopuses among a variety of other fascinating creatures. Both beginners and advanced divers can have fun on a Bari Reef dive, and this lends to the site's popularity. Beginners will be especially happy to know that the currents and surges are usually weak or nonexistent.
This dive site can be enjoyed during the day or at night. On a night dive you will most likely attract some curious fish with your lights as the more courageous ones like to use the lights to help them hunt. As long as you have some good lights, you'll be able to admire the colourful marine life around the reef without much issue on a night dive. Some divers choose to book an early morning dive as it can be fun to watch the reef come alive with the rising of the warm, Caribbean sun.
“Hilma Hooker” She came to rest on her starboard side in 18 to 30 metres of water and proclaims to be one of Bonaire’s premier dive sites. She hosts an abundance of marine life including star and pillar corals, tube sponges and crinoids that cling to the superstructure. This elite ecosystem in Bonaire’s warm, clear waters provides a perfect balance of temperature, light, food and grazing fish. Countless species cruise the wreck’s perimeter including jacks that veer in close and then head off toward an adjoining coral reef. Blue-head wrasse feed on algae that grows on the mooring buoy ropes; squirrelfish swarm around the capstan on the upper deck, while black groupers and graysbys hide among the shadows deep in the cargo holds. Spider crabs dwell next to sea anemones in symbiotic harmony on davits that hang over the main deck and coral-encrusted ladders and railings teem with sergeant majors and blue parrotfish.
The wreck is close to shore, midway between Punt Vierant and Salt Pier. The shallowest part is 18 metres to the port rail. The stern, with its rudder and propeller intact, points to the north. Shutterbugs favour the bow for its mast that extends to the reef with the crow’s nest still attached. The stern is popular as well for wide-angle images. Even though dive operators opened doors, cut cables and drilled holes throughout the ship before they sank her, penetration is not encouraged. Most divers prefer the open cargo holds and storage areas where sunlight seeps into the darkness.
The wreck, mainly a dive boat attraction, can also be reached from shore. Some offshore divers like the area just for its reefs; a fringe reef next to the ship is often overlooked - Its colonies of garden eels and coral ridges offer divers an added bonus.
“Karpata” According to many divers, Karpata is one of the most beautiful dive spots in Bonaire. The dive spot is well known for its good accessibility and beautiful underwater panoramic views. This makes the shore dive site ideal for underwater photography. The dive site is located on the north east coast of Bonaire. Along the beautiful coastal road lies a house called Karpata, this is how the dive site obtained its name. You access the dive site by getting into the water through the remainders of an old pier. You will see that the drop off is perpendicular on certain spots; if you descend along the reef, you encounter a number of caves - here you'll find many species of fish including emperor fish, parrotfish, triggerfish, snappers and more. Also sea horses have been spotted here on the odd occasion. For those of you coral lovers, there are also large formations of beautiful elkhorn coral.