Diving Bonaire

Established in 1979, Bonaire's National Marine Park – one of the first and finest in the world – allows divers of all levels to easily explore pristine, unspoiled coral reefs with a huge array of colourful reef fish.

Bonaire offers easy accessibility to all its dive sites, many just a short swim from the beach.

You can choose from more than 100 pristine dive sites, year-round diving and the ability to dive 24 hours a day.

The reefs around Bonaire form a narrow fringing reef, which begins practically at the shoreline and extends to a maximum of 300m (984ft) offshore. Nearly 60 species of coral can be found on the reefs, but they do vary by habitat.

Starting from the high water mark, the park covers an area of 27km² (6672 acres), with a depth of 60m (200ft).

Diving on Bonaire can be independent – just rent a 4WD and head out on the island’s bumpy roads to any of 50-plus yellow dive markers, or join an organised expedition to an offshore reef.

Bonaire’s the closest you will ever get to feeling as though you’re swimming in an aquarium, with the largest concentration of parrotfish, triggers, jacks and other colourful reef fish in the Caribbean or just about anywhere else.

Coral type – Healthy hard and soft coral, mountainous star coral, stands of elkhorn and staghorn coral, fire coral, black coral, patch reefs, colourful sponges and dense stands of soft corals.

Marine life – Expect to see lots of damsel fish, butterfly and angel fish amid grunts, coneys, rock hinds, goatfish, hogfish and wrasse.

Peacock eye flounder, lizard fish, scorpionfish and sticky tentacled anemones. Sergeant major fish, moray eels, grouper, large parrotfish, snapper, shoaling chromis, yellowtail snapper and schools of various jacks.

Specials include tarpon, loggerhead turtles, seahorses, frogfish, nurse sharks, whale sharks, rays and dolphins.

Reef type – Huge pagoda-like structures, pillars, mounds, major drop-offs, shallow reefs and even sloping, overlapping, shingle-like structures.

Type of dives – 24 hour diving, wall dives, wrecks and night diving.

Water temperature – Average 27°C (80°F)

Visibility – Over 30m and frequently up to 55m.

Suit – 2mm or 3mm wet suit. During summer, shorties, 2mm wetsuits or dive skins.

Water entry – Shore and day boat.

Dive centres – Several dive centres offer complete dive facilities including Nitrox and Re-breather courses and equipment rental. Bonaire has one of the Caribbean’s best-staffed recompression chambers.

Dive courses – A full range of courses is available, from beginner to advance level and including all PADI courses and Nitrox certification.

Equipment – Quality dive equipment is available, including scuba tanks, wet suits, weights, belt, mask, flippers and refills.

Note: Divers must attend a diver orientation session to learn about the marine park's regulations and obtain a Bonaire National Marine Park tag. The cost of the tag is USD45, and proceeds help support park management and services.

For more information visit: Bonaire National Marine Park...


Top dive attractions on Bonaire

Carl’s Hill – A sheer wall begins 20m offshore and drops to a sandy bottom at 21m.

Covered with sponges and soft corals, barracudas, bar jacks and schools of blue tangs. A dream site for photographers, with light to moderate currents.

Special reef features – Include spur and groove formations, where the corals form fingers that protrude perpendicular to the shore.

Buttress formations, where corals have grown out to sea, forming a kind of headland with sandy valleys in between.

Wrecks – The most famous is the Hilma Hooker,a freighter that lies on its side at a depth of 30m.

Other activities Bonaire is laid-back and tranquil by day and lively by night.

Try windsurfing at Lac Bay or go sea kayaking or sailing, fish for marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dorado or tuna.

Inland you can rent a mountain bike and cycle through the ‘kunuku’ or outback; catch glimpses of close to 200 species of birds including the island’s signature bird, the pink flamingo.

Explore the Washington/Slagbaai National Park with its starkly beautiful vistas of cacti, divi-divi trees and wildlife – spot one or more of the semi-tame iguanas.

Bonaire has many restaurant choices, with a wide variety of tastes and cuisine catered for – from haute cuisine to fast food with a local flavour. Try the goat stew or local gumbo – unusual but tasty.

Enjoy a cocktail and dance the night away at one of Kralendijk’s trendy nightspots.

Best time to dive Bonaire
Good diving throughout the year, but best between September and December when the sea is calmest.

The weather is sunny year-round, with an average temperature of 27°C (80°F).


Latest update: Diving Bonaire's National Marine Park: 26 April, 2022



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