Diving in Bonaire in November: what to really expect from water, wind and rain

Diving in Bonaire in November: is it a good idea in the middle of the wet months? We hear that question at Sunwise every autumn. Our answer is yes. The water is at its warmest, the dive sites are quiet and the holiday rush has not started yet. November does differ from March or June, though. Expect rain showers, a weaker trade wind and, after the full moon, jellyfish on night dives.

Below we describe what we see in November as island residents, above and below the surface, so you can plan your Bonaire dive trip in November without surprises.

Water temperature when diving Bonaire in November

In November, the sea around Bonaire reaches its highest temperatures of the year. Your dive computer will usually read between 28 and 29 °C (82 to 84 °F), sometimes a bit more in the shallows. In February the water often drops to around 26 °C (79 °F).

In practice:

• A shorty or a 3 mm suit is enough for most divers.
• Long dives and three or four dives a day stay comfortable, even if you get cold easily.
• Surface intervals in the sun feel more like a beach break than a warm-up session.

Warm water has a downside. Long periods of high temperatures can cause coral bleaching, so the marine park watches the reef more closely in these months. Don’t touch anything, watch your trim and use reef-safe sunscreen. The rules of the Bonaire National Marine Park are on the website of STINAPA, the organisation that manages the marine park. Pay your mandatory nature fee before you dive.

Diving in the Bonaire rainy season: short showers and occasionally lower visibility

The wet months roughly run from October through January, and in an average year November is the wettest of them. Don’t picture a grey, drizzly day back home, though. Most showers pass within half an hour, the sun comes out again and the cunucu (the countryside) turns green.

Sometimes a lot of rain falls in a short time. Bonaire’s ground is dry and rocky and barely absorbs it, so the water runs to the sea through the rooien, the dry riverbeds you see all over the island. It carries sand, soil and debris along. Visibility at Kralendijk and town sites such as Bari Reef and Something Special can then be noticeably lower for a day or two.

Our tips after a heavy downpour:

1. Skip the sites right next to town for a day.
2. Drive north instead, for example to 1000 Steps, Karpata or Oil Slick Leap, where there is less development and runoff.
3. Dirt roads get muddy. After heavy rain, Washington Slagbaai sometimes closes parts of the park.
4. Never enter the water during a thunderstorm; wait until it has fully passed.
5. Keep a dry bag in your pickup truck for your towel and phone.

Wind and waves: when the trade wind takes a break

The trade wind normally blows steadily from the east on Bonaire, which keeps the west coast (where nearly all shore dives are) sheltered and calm. In the wet months the trade wind can die down or even reverse. Then there is swell on the west coast, and entries and exits get much trickier. We explain how this works in our separate article on wind reversal in Bonaire.

What you need to know when you dive in November:

• Check the sea at your entry point before you set up your gear.
• When there are waves, choose a site with an easy entry, such as a small sandy beach rather than sharp rocks.
• Agree with your buddy how you will exit if the waves build during the dive.
• In doubt? Skip the dive. The reef isn’t going anywhere.

Such a period usually lasts only a few days. Calm weather sometimes lets dive operators head to the normally rough east coast. Only go there with a certified guide.

Jellyfish after the full moon: take care on night dives

Every year we see box jellyfish in the nights after the full moon. Roughly eight to ten nights after it, they gather in shallow water to spawn. They usually appear about an hour after sunset and are drawn to light, including your dive torch. Their sting is painful, but not dangerous for most people.

Our advice:

• Check a moon calendar and plan your night dives outside the jellyfish nights.
• If you go anyway, wear a full suit with a hood.
• Dim your light in the shallows and don’t linger at the entry and exit.

Daytime diving is fine during this period. Our separate post on jellyfish in Bonaire covers the exact timing and what to do if you get stung.

Why diving in Bonaire in November is actually a smart choice

After all these points, you might think November is a poor month for diving. We think the opposite. For many of our guests it is the best month to dive in Bonaire, for a few clear reasons.

• Quiet dive sites: you often have popular spots like the Hilma Hooker or Andrea I almost to yourself.
• Before the holiday rush: November comes before the busy holiday season on the island.
• Warm water: the sea is at its warmest of the year.
• A green island: after the rain the cunucu turns green, which you notice on your days above water.

November asks for some flexibility. Plan your dives day by day, check the sea and the weather every morning, and keep a backup site in mind. You’ll find practical planning advice in our shore diving tips, and our price overview shows what a stay costs.

Looking for a base? Our Belnem Breeze Kas Julia vacation home in Belnem is in a quiet area close to the southern dive sites, such as Bachelor’s Beach and the Hilma Hooker. You can find the details and book your Bonaire dive trip for November through our website.