Bonaire Diving
Most visitors come to Bonaire to dive, and almost all of it happens straight from the shore. The whole coastline is a protected marine park, the water on the leeward side stays calm and clear most of the year, and the majority of dive sites are a short drive from where you stay. This page covers the reefs, the marine park rules, the best-known dive sites, the best time to come, and the local dive centers we work with.
Shore diving on protected reefs
Bonaire is known for its easy shore dives. The island is often called the shore dive capital of the world, and the reason is simple: more than 60 marked dive sites are reachable directly from the coast, each one signposted with a painted yellow stone. Most diving happens in the calm lee of the west coast, where gentle reef slopes start in just a few meters of water. There is another side of the island too: the rugged Bonaire east coast.
Diving in Bonaire National Marine Park
Every dive on Bonaire takes place inside the Bonaire National Marine Park, which protects the reef from the high-water mark down to 60 meters. The park has protected the reef since 1979, which is part of why the coral and fish life are still in good shape. Before your first dive you pay a nature fee and do a short orientation dive; the park is managed by STINAPA Bonaire. The rules are easy to follow: do not touch or stand on the coral, take only photos, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
The wild side: east coast diving
The east side of Bonaire is known as the wild side. This is where the trade winds and currents come in, so it offers a more adventurous dive than the sheltered west. With almost flat, wide coral reefs and steep, rugged walls, the east coast feels completely different from the calm western dives. Conditions are stronger here, so east coast diving is best done with an experienced local guide.
Popular Bonaire dive sites
A few sites end up on almost every diver’s list. 1000 Steps is a relaxed reef where divers often see sea turtles. Salt Pier draws photographers for the light and the fish around its pillars. Klein Bonaire, the uninhabited islet across from Kralendijk, has bright, healthy coral. And the house reefs in front of many accommodations let you dive any time of day, straight from your doorstep. With the dive map below you can plan a different site for every day of your stay.
One of our favorite spots is not on any map. Opposite the Cargill salt sign, between Angel City and Alice in Wonderland, there is a double reef with no name and no yellow marker stone. Almost nobody knows it is there, and tourists swim straight past it. Ask us, and we will point you to it.
When is the best time to dive Bonaire?
You can dive Bonaire all year round. Water temperatures stay between roughly 26 and 29°C, and visibility is usually 20 to 30 meters. The island sits outside the main hurricane belt, so even the wetter autumn months rarely disrupt diving. Many divers prefer the spring months for the calmest seas and the easiest east coast access, but there is no real off-season here.
Diving for beginners
Bonaire is an easy place to learn to dive. The shallow, current-free reefs on the west coast suit an Open Water course well, and the simple shore entries mean you are never far from your starting point. Most local dive centers offer beginner courses and refresher dives in English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento. If you would rather snorkel, the same reefs are worth exploring just below the surface.
Selection of dive centers on Bonaire
VIP Diving believes that, as a sustainable diver, picking a green dive center matters. As a front runner they received a PADI Green Star Award.
Bonaire East Coast Diving runs daily trips to the east coast, not from shore but from a specially designed RIB with easy back-in access after the dives.
Wannadive works with a carefully selected range of properties, among them the Sunwise vacation rentals. Wannadive and Sunwise share one goal: to give you a good diving vacation.
Dive Friends Bonaire has several locations across the island, so swapping tanks is quick and usually close to your Sunwise accommodation.
4WheelDiving takes you to places only the locals know, including remote dive entrances that are not marked with yellow stones.
Beyond the Corals is a small, fully equipped 5* PADI dive resort that is good at introducing people to the underwater world of Bonaire.
AB Dive stands out with a drive-through tank service at low rates; they specialize in shore diving and run entirely on solar power.
Download the PDF with the Bonaire dive site map, shown below:
Stay close to the dive sites
The easiest diving vacations start at the water’s edge. Many of our Sunwise vacation rentals sit on or near the coast, with space to rinse and store your gear and a house reef within walking distance. Tell us how you like to dive and we will help you pick a place that fits your trip.
Bonaire, shore dive capital of the world!