Picture yourself on the beach suiting up and slipping into warm, crystal clear waters with little to no current – just you, your dive buddy and abundant schools of fish teaming below. If you were in Bonaire right now, then your biggest decision of the day would be choosing between a plethora of incredible dive sites. From shore entry sites just steps from your dive resort room, to wildly colorful reefs around the corner, this is an island of diversity both above and below the surface.
Bonaire is a gem in the dive world. Calm conditions and thriving reefs combine, and a world-class underwater world emerges. Let’s dive into Bonaire’s best dive sites.
1. One Thousand Steps
One of Bonaire’s most popular dive locations, this site is well worth taking the numerous steps down to the beach (not anywhere near 1,000). Right under the boat mooring you’ll see outstanding formations of star coral. They’re high-rising, pagoda-like structures with hollow cores where many reef creatures reside. Look inside for bluish eggs guarded by the slate-colored male sergeant majors. Keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles and manta rays. Some have seen passing whale sharks here too. Expect depths of 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).
2. Alice in Wonderland
Another popular dive site, this location offers a chance to really experience the double reef. Here, divers can see beautiful hard and soft corals, horse-eye jacks, barracuda, and, if you’re lucky, an eagle ray! Care should be taken to watch your depth gauge, especially when crossing from one reef to the other. Depths are 30-100 feet (10-30 meters) here.
3. Andrea 1 & 2
These sites are ideal for novice divers and snorkelers. You’ll find many anemones and soft corals, where both predator and prey like to hide. With a discerning eye, you’re likely to also discover seahorses on either dive site. Snorkelers and divers alike enjoy seeing huge parrot fish, each a different color and easy to identify: the blue parrot fish, the midnight and the rainbow — all over three feet (one meter) in length. Depths are about 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).
4. Bari Reef
Boasting a large number of fish species, Bari Reef is an easy shore dive that is usually very calm with no current. You may see tarpon swim by, and you can find seahorses and octopuses on the colorful reef. This site is #1 in the entire Caribbean for fish diversity, with over 300 species sighted and surveyed. Depths are 30-100 feet (10-30 meters).
5. Hilma Hooker
This internationally known wreck dive is located near the beginning of the double reef system. Access is available from a boat or the shore. If you’re diving from shore, you’ll find the shallows full of fish. Plus, you’ll get to see how corals have developed on this site, which was created in 1984. This encrusted freighter lies at 60-100 feet (18-30 meters) where you’ll find many photo opportunities.
6. Karpata
Known for its visibility and panoramic views, this site is great for wide-angle photography. You can swim along interesting coral formations and ridges and stop for a photo with one of the many huge ship anchors embedded in the coral. Accessible by shore or boat, this site is full of elkhorn coral, which stretches from ten feet (three meters) up to the surface. Depths are 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).
7. Salt Pier
You’ll find excellent wide-angle opportunities here with lots of growth on pilings and schooling fish under the shadow of the pier. Depth range is 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21 meters). Access is available from a boat or the shore, but if diving from shore, you must get prior permission. You should be able to do this through one of the local dive shops, but check first in case rules have changed.
8. Red Slave
As the southernmost dive site on the leeward side of Bonaire, Red Slave often holds currents and more challenging conditions when compared to other dive sites within the area. However, with strong currents come underwater spectacles! Divers have a chance of spotting turtles and eagle rays dancing amongst the fish and coral-rich reefs towards the right-hand side of the site. Maximum depth here is 167 feet (51 meters).
9. Something Special
After dropping off your car at “Between Two Buns” restaurant, a one-minute walk will lead you down to the dive site’s easy shore entrance (marked by the mural painting). One of the beauties of Something Special is the breadth of marine life found in the shallows and during night dives. Interesting eels, including the Sharptail Snake Eel, slither amongst shrimps, sea anemones, crabs and even Stary-Eyed Balloonfish within healthy sponge corals! Maximum depth here is 114 feet (35 meters).
Ready To Dive Into Bonaire?
With dive sites like these, it’s no surprise Bonaire is commonly ranked as one of the Caribbean’s top dive destinations! Marine life thrives here, thanks to healthy reefs and circling currents bringing fresh, nutrient-rich waters into the dive sites. As a result, divers keep returning (and probably bringing their friends) to venture into Bonaire’s underwater marvels.
Explore PADI Travel’s exciting selection of dive resorts in Bonaire below. And the best part? All of the listed dive resorts in Bonaire have PADI 5-Star Dive Centers onsite.