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Dive Sites
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Bonaire
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Alice In Wonderland
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Located along the double reef system, average depth is 30-100 feet with easy access by shore or boat. For intermediate skill levels, current is light most times. The two distinct reef systems are separated by a sand channel. Lots of friendly French angels and parrot fish are generally present. Sand channels are host to garden eels and stingrays.
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Andrea II
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Located just past the desalination plant, Andrea I and II can be reached from boat or shore. Currents are mostly light, so they are ideal sites for beginner divers. With an average depth of 20-100 feet, there are many anemones and soft coral offering shelter to hungry trumpet fish. Both these sites offer a good chance of seeing sea horses.
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Angel City
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Shore or boat dive, with moderate currents and suitable for all skill levels. This double reef dive was named for the friendly angelfish in the area which accompany divers. The depth is from 30-100 feet and there is a "swim-through" coral arch near the mooring, which provides a good frame for photographs.
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Aquarius
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Shore or boat dive, with mild to moderate currents. All levels of divers will find this an easy site with depths of 30-100 feet. Sandy bottom shallows offer an opportunity to see rays and turtles.
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Atlantis
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This is a shore or boat dive with moderate to strong currents. Intermediate skill levels are required, with depths ranging from 30-100 feet. Turtles and larger species of fish are generally seen in this area.
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Bachelor's Beach
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A great boat dive, the novice diver will find Bachelor's Beach also easy to do from shore. Located just past the airport, the 30-100 foot site has lots of soft coral in the shallows and mild currents. Also, chances of seeing sea turtles are good here.
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Barcadera
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This boat dive is located directly opposite the Bonaire Marine Park Headquarters. Moderate currents and depths of 30-100 feet are great for novice to intermediate divers. The shallows are covered with elk horn coral and host schools of algae-eating blue tangs.
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Bari Reef
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Located at the Sand Dollar Beach Resort in 20-100 feet of water, it has light to moderate currents and is an ideal site for the novice or non-diver to learn scuba diving. Access is from the shore at the dive shop pier. A popular night dive, with friendly tarpons darting back and forth in front of your light beam!
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Bise Morto
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Another Washington Park dive, this boat dive site can have moderate to strong currents and is recommended for the intermediate to advanced diver. Depths of 20-100 feet offer shallows loaded with elk horn and stag horn coral, hence the name, which means "dead deer." The deeper waters provide an opportunity to see larger species, including whale sharks and manta rays.
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Bloodlet
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Too difficult for shore diving, Bloodlet has moderate currents and is for the intermediate boat diver. Averaging 20-80 feet, there is a dense reef structure that is home to schools of algae-eating blue tangs. Yellow and green tube sponges are also evident. Bloodlet is one of the places where sea turtles are often sighted.
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Blue Hole
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More often called White Hole, this is a shore dive that is for advanced divers only. It lies off Lac Bay and requires a long walk in shallow water to the drop-off. The dive begins in 15 feet and slopes down to 100 feet. Numerous tarpon are found here, as are rays and a chance of sharks.
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Boca Bartol
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This shore dive is the northernmost site in the Marine Park. Advanced divers may encounter strong currents. The recommended depth is from 20-80 feet, with interesting coral formations in the shallows. Many of the larger fish species abound, and there is a chance to see rays and garden eels in the sandy bottom.
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Boca Slagbaai
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Located in Washington Slagbaai National Park, this site is known for its moderate to strong currents and is recommended for intermediate to experienced divers. With depths of 20-100 feet, you may have a chance to see mantas or other smaller rays. At the southern end of the cove, there are cannon in just 10 feet of water. Slagbaai is also accessible by boat.
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Bon Bini Cas
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"Welcome Home" in the native language, this site lies just next to 1000 Steps and is a boat dive only. With light to moderate currents, beginner and intermediate divers will enjoy schools of Creole wrasse and blue tangs in depths ranging from 20-100 feet.
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Buddy's Reef
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Located in front of Buddy Dive Resort, this shore dive has mild currents and is perfect for beginners. With depths of 30-100 feet, expect to see black crinoids perched on coral heads in the shallows. A resident school of tarpon almost always greets night divers.
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Cai
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Definitely a shore dive for advanced divers. Currents can be strong and unpredictable. Entry is made off the mouth of Lac Bay and depth ranges from 30-100 feet. Large species are often seen. This is truly a dive for strong swimmers with lots of experience
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Calabas Reef
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Located in front of Dive Bonaire at the Divi Flamingo Resort, this reef is well suited for all levels of divers, with mild currents and a depth of 20-100 feel. All species of reef fish abound, with the occasional turtle or ray passing by.
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Chez Hines
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Sometimes called South Belnem, Chez Hines is accessible from both shore and boat. With moderate currents, the beginning diver can expect a depth of 30-100 feet. This is another site where turtles are often seen.
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Cliff
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Accessed either from shore or boat, Cliff is located in front of the Hamlet Villas, north of Habitat. With light to moderate currents in 20-70 feet of water, the novice diver will have a chance to see Capt. Don's underwater Stone Memorial to the "divers who have gone before us," which is marked with a plaque and dive flag.
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Country Garden
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A boat dive with moderate currents for the beginner to intermediate skilled diver. The average depth is 20-80 feet, and the shallows are covered with large boulders that have fallen from the cliffs and provide shelter for school masters, grunts, and goat fish.
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Eighteen Palms
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This shore or boat dive lies directly in front of the Lt. Governor's house, which, coincidentally, has at least 18 palm trees planted in the front yard. Accessed from shore at the Plaza Resort, it has mild currents and ranges from 20-80 feet for the novice and intermediate divers. Southern and eagle rays are often seen in the sandy bottom.
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Front Porch
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Truly an easy dive, with light to moderate currents, Front Porch is located at the Sunset Beach Resort. Access is always from shore. The prolific fish life begins at 15 feet, right under the pier, and continues down to 80 feet, where a small wreck of a tug boat lies upside down.
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Hilma Hooker
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This internationally known shipwreck lies at the beginning of the double reef system. With light to moderate currents and an average depth of 60-100 feet, it is recommended for advanced divers. Can be a shore or boat dive. For penetration, some wreck and deep dive training should be taken.
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Invisibles
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With depths ranging from 20-100 feet, this is one of the few places divers have a chance to see garden eels in shallow water. One of the last of the double reef dives, beginner to intermediate divers will have a chance to see "islands" of coral separated by sand chutes. The currents are generally mild to moderate.
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Jeannie's Glory
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Another easy shore or boat dive for all skill levels with mild to moderate currents and depths ranging from 30-100 feet. Lots of soft coral in the shallows and sandy bottom for rays to hide in. Turtles are often seen along these southern dive sites.
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Jeff Davis Memorial
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Accessible from boat or shore, this site is great for beginners, with light to moderate currents and a depth of 20-100 feet. The shallows are covered with soft coral and are a good place to see a turtle or sea horse. There are a number of large coral accumulations, forming chutes that lead to a sandy bottom.
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Karpata
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One of Bonaire's most popular shore dives, Karpata can also be reached by boat. With depths ranging from 20-100 feet and light to moderate currents, novice and intermediate divers can pose for pictures alongside one of the many huge ship anchors embedded in the coral. Known for great visibility, wide angle photographers can enjoy panoramic vistas to frame their subjects.
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La Dania's Leap
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Known for the practice of "leaping" off the shore and then doing a drift dive to Karpata, this site has been recommended for intermediate divers by boat only. With light currents and depths of 15-100 feet, La Dania's is one of Bonaire's few vertical walls, with numerous canyons and sand shoots.
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The Lake
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The second of the double reef dives. Lake is 30-100 feet and has moderate currents. Accessed from either boat or shore, the beginner diver will find soft coral in the shallows and schools of colorful reef fish.
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La Machaca
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Situated off Capt. Don's Habitat, this site with mild to moderate currents allows the novice diver a chance to do a "wreck dive" in relatively shallow water. The 45-foot locally built boat lies in 40-50 feet of water, 30 yards from shore. It is the home of a large green eel, who is used to seeing divers, so approach him with caution.
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Larry's Lair
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This intermediate level shore or boat dive has mild to moderate currents, with a depth ranging from 30-100 feet. Expect to see rays and large groupers at cleaning stations. The entry for shore divers tends to be a bit rocky, so booties are advised.
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Lighthouse Point
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Located in the southern part of the island, this shore or boat dive has moderate currents for the intermediate diver. With a depth range of 30-100 feet, Lighthouse Point has a sandy bottom, with plenty of soft coral.
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