Diving on Bonaire - Discover the underwater world from the shore
Bonaire is one of the world’s best shore-diving destinations. With more than 80 named dive sites, crystal-clear water and a fully protected coral reef, you can dive here at any time of day, at your own pace and straight from the shore.
Why Bonaire is every diver's dream
Bonaire has ranked among the top 3 dive destinations in the world for years, and that’s no coincidence. The entire coral reef surrounding the island is protected as the Bonaire National Marine Park. You’ll find more than 80 named dive sites here, almost all of them accessible from the shore. No boat needed. Just grab your gear, walk into the water and within a few metres you’re surrounded by coral, tropical fish and sea turtles.
What makes Bonaire unique compared to other Caribbean islands is the ease of shore diving. Along the west coast, yellow stones mark the names of the dive sites. You park your car, walk into the water and dive. Visibility is almost always 20 to 30 metres, the water temperature stays between 26°C and 29°C all year round and there is barely any current. Ideal conditions for both beginners and experienced divers.
From Casa Trankilo in Kralendijk you reach the nearest dive site within five minutes. Several dive shops are within walking distance, and you can rent equipment by the day or by the week. Whether you are earning your first diving certification or logging your hundredth dive, Bonaire is the place to be.
Bonaire at a glance
The key facts about the island at a glance
Language
Dutch, Papiamento, English and Spanish
Climate
Tropical, 27-33°C year-round
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Travel time
~9 hours direct from Amsterdam
The best dive sites on Bonaire
Most dive sites lie along Bonaire’s west coast, sheltered from the trade winds and the swell. Each site has its own character. At 1000 Steps you descend a limestone staircase to a spectacular wall reef. Hilma Hooker is a sunken cargo ship at 30 metres depth, completely overgrown with coral and sponges. And at Salt Pier you dive beneath the enormous salt pier, where schools of tarpon and barracuda circle around.
The more adventurous sites lie on the east coast, suitable only in calm weather. Here the reef is pristine and you will hardly meet another soul. Lac Bay also offers excellent snorkelling in the shallow water by the mangroves. The uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire, reachable by water taxi, has some of the finest snorkelling spots in the entire Caribbean.
What all these sites have in common: healthy coral, an enormous diversity of fish and exceptionally clear water. The Bonaire National Marine Park has protected this ecosystem since 1979. Visitors pay a nature fee that goes directly towards reef conservation.
What can you do on Bonaire?
From snorkelling and diving to windsurfing and exploring nature, Bonaire offers activities for every traveller
Diving
Kitesurfing
Nature & more
About Bonaire
Restaurants and bars
Windsurfing
Everything about diving on Bonaire
From your first try dive to night diving at the pier
Getting started with diving
Dozens of PADI- and SSI-certified dive shops operate on Bonaire. A Discover Scuba Diving session (try dive) takes half a day and puts you straight onto the reef. A full Open Water course takes three to four days. Bonaire’s calm conditions, barely any current, warm water and good visibility, make it an ideal place to learn.
Shore diving: the freedom of Bonaire
The great advantage of diving on Bonaire is that you don’t depend on a boat. You drive to a dive site, park your car by the yellow stone bearing its name and walk into the water. That means you can dive at any moment: early in the morning, during a lunch break or at sunset. No group, no schedule, your own pace.
Night diving
Bonaire is one of the few destinations in the world where you are allowed to night dive unguided. With a dive light you discover a completely different underwater world: octopuses hunt, coral opens up, crabs crawl across the bottom and tarpon shoot through your beam. Town Pier and Salt Pier are two favourite night-diving spots near Kralendijk.
Snorkelling
No diving certification? No problem. The reef starts just a few metres deep, so as a snorkeler you get to see just as much. Te Amo Beach near the airport and 1000 Steps are popular snorkelling spots. Klein Bonaire offers the finest snorkelling experience: white sand, clear water and a reef full of sea turtles at just a metre deep.
Equipment and dive packages
Dive shops on Bonaire offer complete rental sets: BCD, buoyancy vest, regulator, tank, dive computer and wetsuit (3mm, optional). Many divers bring their own mask, fins and computer and rent the rest. Popular packages include unlimited shore diving for a week, complete with a pick-up truck carrying tanks on the tailgate.
After the dive
After a day underwater there is plenty to do above the surface. From Casa Trankilo it is a ten-minute walk to the restaurants along the boulevard, where you can talk through your dive log over fresh fish and a cold beer. Or explore Bonaire’s nature above water: flamingos, salt pans and the Donkey Sanctuary.
Frequently asked questions about Bonaire
Do you need a diving certification to dive on Bonaire?
For independent diving you need at least a PADI Open Water or equivalent certification. Without one, you can do a Discover Scuba Diving session (try dive) under the guidance of an instructor. A full Open Water course takes three to four days and is a popular option on Bonaire thanks to the ideal learning conditions.
How many dive sites does Bonaire have?
Bonaire has more than 80 officially named dive sites, spread across the west and east coasts and around Klein Bonaire. Most are directly accessible from the shore. Popular sites include 1000 Steps, Hilma Hooker (shipwreck), Salt Pier, Andrea I and Karpata. Each site is marked with a yellow stone along the road.
What does diving on Bonaire cost?
A single guided dive costs $50 to $70 on average. A weekly package with unlimited shore diving, a pick-up truck and tanks costs $250 to $400, depending on the dive shop. An Open Water course is around $450 to $550. On top of that, you pay a one-time nature fee of $40 per person for the Bonaire National Marine Park.
Can you night dive on Bonaire?
Yes, Bonaire is one of the few destinations in the world where unguided night diving is allowed. With a dive light you discover a completely different underwater world: octopuses, crabs, sleeping parrotfish and hunting tarpon. Town Pier and Salt Pier near Kralendijk are two favourite night-diving spots.
How far are the dive sites from Casa Trankilo?
The nearest dive site is a five-minute drive from Casa Trankilo. You can reach most of the popular sites along the west coast within ten to twenty minutes. Several dive shops are within walking distance of our apartments in Kralendijk. After diving, it is a ten-minute walk to the restaurants along the boulevard.