Scuba Diving in Bonaire

Bonaire is often called the shore‑diving capital of the Caribbean: warm, clear water, healthy reefs just a few fin kicks from shore, and dozens of sites you can dive on your own schedule by following the island’s famous yellow rock markers. It’s one of the easiest, most flexible places in the world to log a lot of relaxed reef dives in a week.

Bonaire’s entire coastline is a protected marine park and has been managed for decades with strict no‑take, no‑touch rules—one of the reasons the reefs are still in such good shape. Following local guidelines and the SCTLD protocols we outline below is essential to keep them that way.

Best Time to Dive Bonaire

Bonaire diving conditions are usually good year‑round. The island has a warm, dry climate with very little rain, and it sits outside the main hurricane belt, so weather is rarely a trip‑killer. Water stays roughly 80–86°F (27–30°C) all year, with the warmest months in August and September.

If you want to avoid crowds and still enjoy great conditions, we generally like February–July and November. The official busy season is roughly November–April, with peaks around Christmas/New Year and Easter. Wayward tropical systems can bring wind and swell—most often in late summer—but even then most leeward shore sites remain diveable.

Marine Life & Photography Subjects

Bonaire diving is not typically known for its larger creatures but there is plenty to keep you occupied with your wide-angle lens. Large sponges and sea-fans dominate the reef scape and the salt pier has excellent wide-angle opportunities.

There are a few shipwrecks and large tarpon are quite common as well as turtles, barracudas, and few decent size groupers.

You can often find tarpon on night dives using the lights to hunt. For macro and midrange subjects you'll have plenty to choose from. Angelfish, butterflyfish, seahorses, crabs, and shrimp are just a few of the many subjects that you can find.

Eels are very common, as are spotted drums, peacock flounders, octopus, and fireworms. Lettuce slug nudibranchs and flamingo tongue cowries are two of the best macro subjects.

See also: Bonaire underwater photos taken by Todd Winner

Are There Sharks In Bonaire?

Marine life in Bonaire is predominantly small to medium-sized reef life, with some notable macro subjects. It is very rare to spot any larger species, and shark sightings are extremely uncommon. Occasionally, nurse sharks may be seen on the east coast dive sites.

Bonaire Diving Conditions

• Water Temperatures: Range from 80 to 86 F (27 to 30 C). The warmest water is in August / September.
• Visibility: averages 40-100 feet (12-30M) but occasionally drops down to less. It can easily be over 100ft (30m) at Klein Bonaire.
• Weather: Bonaire receives very little rain and the average daytime temperatures range from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (29-33 C).

A Typical Bonaire Dive

Bonaire is most famous for its shore diving. It's easy and predictable, and not too deep (less than 70ft). There are not a lot of currents, nothing big in the water to bite you, and the dive sites are well marked.

The dive sites are easy to locate as they are all cleverly marked with a large yellow rock with the name of the site painted on it. Simply drive down the main road till you see a yellow rock, look up the description of the site in your dive guide and if it sounds good, go diving!

The sites in front of the hotels can be accessed from piers or stairs leading down into the ocean. The other shore dives range from "easy access" to "extreme", but most feature pebbled, coral rubble beaches or rocky shorelines so it is best to use booties and open-heeled fins. Do not leave valuables in your rental car unattended while shore diving - people have reported having items stolen out of their cars.

A typical dive day really depends on whether you are doing boat dives, shore dives or a combination of both. Most shops run morning, afternoon and often evening boat trips. Shore diving can be done at any time and with most dive packages you can check out multiple tanks. If you are staying at one of the hotels with a house reef these are accessible at any time and convenient for night dives and in between boat dives. The number of dives you can do in one day is only dependent on your energy and bottom time.

Fancy shore diving further afield? Take a look at our guide to diving Bali.

What to Expect When Shore Diving in Bonaire

Shore diving in Bonaire is perfect for those who enjoy the freedom and independence of diving to their own schedule. Simply hire cylinders (and equipment if you need it) from a local operator, pick up a dive map and guide to the island’s sites, and drive your rental car to whichever dive sites you want to explore. Each site is clearly marked by a yellow rock and has easy access from the shore. At the end of the day, take your cylinders back to the dive store for filling—in some places they will even fill them from the back of your car.

• Drive‑through tank stations and easy pick‑up/drop‑off at many resorts.
• Dozens of clearly marked shore entries on the leeward side.
• Guided dives required / recommended for Klein Bonaire and the wild east coast.

Bonaire Diving Rules

All of the dive operators in Bonaire are very protective of Bonaire's reefs. In general, wearing gloves is not allowed. If a divemaster sees you touching or destroying the reef, you are usually warned the 1st time, and removed from the water the 2nd time. You are not allowed to take anything from the water, including seashells - the entire island is a preserve.

Overview Of Areas

• North dive sites - these dive sites are part of a fringing reef, with a more gentle slope. They are easier dives in general.
• South dive sites - the dive sites on the south have a little more current, and they are a little deeper - usually consisting of a steeper drop-off to the white sand.
• East side - the east side is usually a washing machine.
• Klein Bonaire - this small island boasts better visibility than the mainland, due to the lack of runoff.

Bonaire's Best Dive Sites

Here are some of the best dive sites in Bonaire.

1. Hilma Hooker - The Hilma Hooker is a 236-foot long freighter that has been on the bottom since 1984. She rests on her starboard side on a sandy bottom at about 95 feet. The top of the wreck is in about 65 feet of water. Access is available from boat or shore. It's a big wreck, usually with good visibility - and it looks like a boat, not like a hunk of junk.

2. Salt Pier- The Salt Pier offers excellent wide-angle opportunities with lots of growth on the pilings and schooling fish under the shadow of the pier. The depth range is 40 to 70 feet. Access is available from boat or shore but if diving from shore you must get prior permission. You should be able to do this through one of the local dive shops but check first in case rules have changed. We believe that currently, you must do this site with a registered "guide".

3. Karpata - Karpata is a bit harder to dive from shore than many of the other sites but well worth the effort. The reef slopes almost to a vertical wall down to the sand at around 130 feet. The majority of the best diving is in the 30 to 80 feet range. This is a good place to see pelagics out in the blue water. Access is available from boat or shore.

4. Old Blue- Next to Karpata is Old Blue, which has huge plate corals. You can get deep very easily here.

5. Bari Reef- Bari Reef is located right in front of the Sand Dollar Resort. It is an easy shore dive with steps leading directly into the water from their pier. It is a great mid-day dive or night dive with a lot of great macro subjects.

6. Alice in Wonderland- This dive site in the south has lots of complex reef structure, lots of variety and good corals in the shallows that you can use as a "deco stop".

7. Klein Bonaire - Some nice soft corals and sea fans, with healthy reef and Caribbean fishes. Because you must come here by boat, it's less frequently dived. Klein Bonaire offers some of the better diving and the best visibility. Some people do all of their boat dives here.

Why Is Bonaire Diving So Great?

Nowhere is perfect, but Bonaire is certainly close. The island boasts some of the best-protected and diverse reefs in the Caribbean, accessible by boat and from shore, and with plenty to entice divers of all levels. The beauty of diving Bonaire is that the diving infrastructure is one of the most advanced in the world, offering not only a great range of dive resorts but the option of drive and dive packages where you dive as often as you like, when and where you want to. To top it all off, Bonaire lies outside the hurricane belt, so the weather is rarely a limiting factor and you can dive here all year round.

What is Happening With the Coral Disease in Bonaire?

Updated June 15, 2023

Bonaire has sadly been affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), prompting local authorities to enforce dive site closures to prevent the spread of the disease to healthy reefs. As of June 15, 2023, the closure applies to all dive sites north of Karpata to Malmok, including Washington Slagbaii National Park, while Klein Bonaire accepts divers during restricted hours.

Every visitor to Bonaire and other areas in the Caribbean experiencing SCTLD are responsible for protecting the worlds coral reef systems from this ravaging disease. Disinfect your gear before and after every dive, avoid any contact between the reef and you/your equipment, and follow all local guidelines and restrictions. By doing your part, you can help prevent the spread of SCTLD to healthy reefs in Bonaire and elsewhere.

Learn more about SCTLD and the situation in Bonaire on the STINAPA Bonaire website, including maps, detailed restrictions, and guidelines for preventing the spread of SCTLD.

What Type of Wetsuit for Diving in Bonaire

Water temperatures sit in the low to mid-80s year-round and the warmest months are August and September. While you may find some divers dont use a wetsuit at all, we recommend a 3mm or at the very least a 1mm skin to give you some protection. Remember that your body starts to cool as you do repetitive dives, so if you feel the cold you may want to bring a thin hood or additional layer. Gloves are not permitted in Bonaire.

How Much Does It Cost To Dive In Bonaire?

Diving is such a big attraction in Bonaire that there are dive resorts and accommodation types to suit all budgets. Some resorts offer all-inclusive packages, and many also have accommodation and dive packages available. There are often deals and specials available, especially out of season. You can expect to pay around $2,000 - $2,500 per person for a 7-night stay in mid-range accommodation with breakfast, diving, equipment rental, and vehicle rental.

Bonaire Diving Packages

Bonaire resorts and dive operators offer some great packages with flexible accommodation, meal, and diving options. You can opt to stay bed and breakfast, half board, or even full board at some resorts, and also choose how many shore or boat dives you would like to do each day. Many resorts also offer drive and dive packages with a rental vehicle included.

Check out these great packages from our favorite Bonaire dive resorts.

There are often direct flights from Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), and Houston (IAH), Texas. These flights depend on demand, so they may not be offered in the low season. Bonaire’s airport is Flamingo International Airport (BON).

Bonaire Diving Resorts

Bonaire is a land-based diving destination. Diving and staying at a dive resort averages at around $100-$200/person/night. Some Bonaire diving resorts, such as Captain Don's Habitat and Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino offer full-board accommodations.

Buddy Dive Bonaire is another great option, which offers various 'Dive & Stay' packages. Their packages typically include breakfast only, but they offer great on-site restaurants and a kitchen in every apartment. The resort has received PADI’s highest dive shop classification, the PADI Career Development Center designation, recognizing many years of dedication and hard work by the entire dive team.

Expert Tip: Dive resorts in Bonaire often offer special deals all-year-round. Don't forget to check our 'specials section when selecting a resort!

Options For Combination Trips

Aruba and Curacao are very close to Bonaire, hence their collective nickname the "Netherlands ABC Islands". Aruba is a great party island with many casinos, and Curacao is really neat with more of a "real" city and more shopping/shops than Bonaire, to service the cruise ships that visit it. Curacao is known for having some exceptional dive sites, especially on the less-visited west end.

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

There is plenty to do on Bonaire, like golf, thorny hiking in a park with lots of cactuses, visiting a nice limestone cave you can snorkel in, and going to the butterfly museum.

Is Bonaire good for beginners?

Yes. Most leeward sites are shallow, calm and easy to navigate, which makes Bonaire an excellent place to build confidence and practice skills. Newer divers usually start with guided dives or easy house reefs, then progress to independent shore diving as they get comfortable.

Do I need a guide, or can I dive independently?

One of Bonaire’s big attractions is the freedom to shore dive independently—pick up tanks, follow the yellow rock markers and dive on your own schedule. That said, we recommend hiring a guide for your first day or two, and a guide is required for Klein Bonaire and strongly advised on the wild east coast where conditions are more challenging.

Do I need to pay a nature fee or entry tax to dive?

Yes. Bonaire’s entire coastline is a marine park, and visitors pay a tourist entry tax plus a nature fee that supports reef protection and enforcement. These fees are mandatory for all divers and snorkellers; most operators will help you pay and register online before you arrive.

Can I see sharks in Bonaire?

Marine life in Bonaire is mostly small to medium‑sized reef life. Sharks are rare on the leeward side, but nurse sharks and the occasional reef shark may be seen, particularly on the east coast. If you want guaranteed shark action, we’ll often recommend combining Bonaire with other shark‑focused destinations.

What wetsuit should I bring?

Water temperatures sit in the low‑ to mid‑80s°F (27–30°C) year‑round. Some divers are comfortable in just a skin, but we generally suggest a 3 mm full suit (or at least a 1 mm) to protect against cooling on repetitive dives and give you a bit of exposure protection. Gloves are not permitted in Bonaire.

• Currency: USD
• Electricity: 127V /50Hertz, some appliances may overheat
• Vaccines: None
• Visa: None needed for many countries, check the list here. You can stay for 3 months.
• Entry tax: Visitors to Bonaire are required to pay a tourist entry tax of $75 per person, per visit. Pay online here.
• Language: English, Dutch, and Papiamentu
• Safety: Bonaire is fairly safe, but do not leave valuables unattended in your car or room.