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BONAIRE -- WHERE TO DIVE
by Sport Diver Staff
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Image by Susan Swygert for Bonaire Tourism

WHERE TO DIVE

The question is…where NOT to dive? Bonaire is one of those destinations where diving is available everywhere you turn, from your hotel beach or dock to dive boat excursions…and many are just a 15-minute boat trip away. There are approximately 83 dive sites on Bonaire (this varies according to each source!) and you can bet there is such a variety that you will not be disappointed...no matter what your level or what you want to experience.

 

TOP TEN TO DIVE

Blue Hole
One of Bonaire's popular shore dives for experienced divers, Blue Hole is also called White Hole and offers depth of 15 to 100 feet with sightings of tarpon and rays. Be prepared for a long walk to shore, though. Invisibles At a depth of 20 to 100 feet this is a dive for all levels, and offers good snorkeling as well. It can be reached either from shore or by boat and offers views of garden eels.

Pink Beach
One of the most popular beaches on Bonaire, Pink Beach can be reached from shore or by boat, and the dive is good for snorkelers with depths from 25 to 90 feet. The dive offers a sandy bottom with a good chance to see stingrays and bonefish. The pink sand results from a small creature that builds a nest from colored minerals in the sand.

Hilma Hooker
One of Bonaire's famous wreck dives, it lies at a depth beginning at 60 feet and continues down to about 100 feet. A great place to see how the corals have taken over this wreck since its sinking in 1984.

Lighthouse Point
At depths of 30 to 100 feet, with moderate currents, this is a great place for snorkelers and divers alike to spot rays gliding along the sandy bottom.

Town Pier
A popular dive/snorkel site due to the depths of only 9 to 30 feet Town Pier offers some of the best photography opportunities on the island. Massive sponges can be seen amongst the pilings of the pier. This dive must be approved by the harbormaster and divers must be accompanied by a dive master.

Bari Reef
A not-to-be-missed dive in Bonaire due to the diversity of fish seen here. This site is reported to have more than 300 species of fish, and offers great shore diving and depths of 30 to 100 feet.

Kalli's Reef
Although this is a boat dive exclusively, it offers a great reef dive for divers and snorkelers. At depths of 30 to 100 feet, this is also one of the best places to spot seahorses and turtles.

Oil Slick Leap
While this is a popular boat dive, the very skilled can attempt to enter via a steel ladder from shore. Although the name suggest otherwise, the dive is a favorite and offers large schools of barracuda. The site have been originally scheduled to be an oil storage terminal.

Alice in Wonderland
This dive is often mentioned as a great place to see a double reef on one dive. At depths of 30 to 100 feet, however, divers need to be alert to depth variations when moving from reef to reef.

DIVE SHOPS

DIVE RESORTS/HOTELS

 

 

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