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Bonaire

Introduction

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are located off Venezuela. Bonaire belongs to the Netherlands Antilles, a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire (14' 190 inhabitants, capital Kralendisk) is, as written on the car number plates, a diver's paradise. The island looks like a croissant (see map below), and is mainly desert. One finds cactus everywhere, especially to the north of the island, where the Washington National Park is located with an ornithological reserve. Nothing to see inside, except some iguanas (found everywhere on the island)! On the other hand, the south of the island is more interesting: beautiful mangroves are located in the area of Lake Bay.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs. However, diving takes place only on the western part of the island and on Klein Bonaire (small island near the capital): indeed, the east part is very windy. Bonaire is famous for shore diving: all the sites are indexed and announced by a yellow landmark next to the road, often with car parking spaces! Cars specially equipped to carry the tanks can be rented.

In Bonaire, great quantities of fishes are found, probably as much as in the Red Sea! Morays, cornet-fish and parrot-fish can be seen during almost every dive... but unfortunately practically no pelagic...

Travel facts

Calendar

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best period
acceptable period
not recommend
air temperature
water temperature

Diving type

Destination
easily accessible
easily accessible
bargain destination
bargain destination
Diving level & type
for beginners
for beginners
for advanced divers
for advanced divers
shore diving
shore diving
liveaboard
liveaboard
Diving Characteristics
pelagics
pelagics
lots of fish
lots of fish
lots of corals
lots of corals
interesting underwater scenery
interesting underwater scenery
Other activities
attractive natural spots
attractive natural spots
gastronomy
gastronomy
night life
night life
beach
beach
snorkeling
snorkeling

Map

map

Infrastructures

  • hotel and diving center
    Captain Don's Habitat Bonaire
    Captain Don's Habitat Bonaire (hotel and diving center)
    telephone : 00599 7 178290
    fax : 00599 7 178240
    rerservation : For Europe, reservation through the efficient representative in Germany:
    Katharina
    Inter-Connect-Marketing Ltd.
    Arnulfstr. 44, 80335 München
    phone: 0049 89 51703 180
    fax: 0049 89 51703 120 and 0049 89 51703 160
    web page: www.sonnenreisen.de
    rating : 4 / 4 starsrating : 4 / 4 stars
    comments :
    When you want to go diving, just take a tank, jump in the water, follow a rope lying on the bottom of the sea, and in 2 minutes you will reach two great dive sites (one of the most beautiful of the island)... Unlimited shore diving (24 h / 24)! Boat dives are also available, with 3 or 4 departures every day. The hotel is entirely dedicated to divers, which is very pleasant! Nitrox is also available, as well as Trimix.
      picture  picture
  • hotel and diving center
    Plaza Resort Bonaire
    Plaza Resort Bonaire (hotel and diving center)
    telephone : 011 599 717 2500
    fax : 011 599 717 7133
    rerservation : For a booking from USA and Canada:
    Travel Marketing Services
    343 Neponset Street
    Canton, MA 02021
    phone: 1800 766 6016
    rating : 4 / 4 starsrating : 4 / 4 stars
    comments :
    Probably one of the most luxurious hotels of the island... and also one of the biggest. The diving center is located on the lagoon, which is very convenient to carry the tanks from and to the cars... but which is far less interesting to do shore diving: fortunately, during the opening time of the dive center, your material can be carried by an electrical car to the beach. The rest of the time, and especially after a night dive, you will have to carry it yourself!
    Several restaurants and snacks are proposed in the hotel, as well as other activities (including windsurfing or sailing): however, prices are rather high. It is a resort of choice if you are traveling with non-divers, as they might enjoy different activities (a beach is also available).

  • restaurant
    It rains Fishes
    It rains Fishes (restaurant)
    rating : 4 / 4 starsrating : 4 / 4 stars
    comments :
    Those who enjoyed a dinner at the famous Bonaire's restaurant La Mangerie de la Mer will be delighted to learn that the owners have now a new restaurant, called It rains Fishes. This one is, today, a good address in Bonaire.
    Service is quick and friendly, while the choice is rather large. Fish is especially famous in this restaurant.

  • restaurant
    Richard's
    Richard's (restaurant)
    rating : 4 / 4 starsrating : 4 / 4 stars
    comments :
    Located in a magnificent surrounding, as the terrace is almost on the water, this restaurant is one the most-known on the island. Having a dinner over there during the sunset is really an enjoyable experiment... increased by the friendliness of the staff. The menu is presented on a blackboard.
    Finally, the food itself is great. We can recommend the pasta and the dorado.

  • restaurant
    Tipsy Seagul
    Tipsy Seagul (restaurant)
    rating : 1 / 4 starsrating : 1 / 4 stars
    comments :
    This is the so-called luxurious restaurant of the Plaza Resort hotel. Nothing really appealing in that place, with a limited choice, an awful service and a cooking without fantasy (for example, fish are served with french fries). At least there is the surrounding, as the restaurant is close to the seaside. 

  • restaurant
    Zeesicht
    Zeesicht (restaurant)
    rating : 2 / 4 starsrating : 2 / 4 stars
    comments :
    In the center of the main city, facing the bar, this place could have been a must-do in Bonaire. Furthermore, the eating proposed is rather good. Unfortunately, the level of the service is varying from day to day: correct the first time we were there, the staff was extremely unpleasant just the following day. That is really a pity.

Diving Sites

  • rating : 4.0
    1000 Steps
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    From the plateau located under the boat, one goes along the reef, observing many corals forming some small cavities. 4 barracudas, 2 enormous parrot-fish and 4 lizard-fish. Also some angel-fish, unusual in Bonaire. From the boat, we saw a couple of dolphins, very close to us.
        
  • rating : 4.0
    Bloodlet
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    On the north of Don's Habitat, a dive site with lots of fish, but especially a great quantity of barracudas (10 during a single dive!). 7 octopuses were seen very close to the boat. The corals are particularly beautiful.

  • rating : 4.0
    Country Garden
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 30 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    The classical underwater relief of the island, with a sandy bottom at 6-10 meters, and then a gentle slope. One interesting spot is located on the north of the boil, where large pieces of stone have fallen in the water and are now covered with corals and surrounded with many fish.

  • rating : 4.0
    Forest

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 35 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Splendid flora, corals in abundance and many fish at shallow depth. Dive site with an interesting relief: many passes and valleys, a large variety - and beauty - of soft corals, giving the impression of swimming in a forest... Mostly small fish can be seen during this dive, which takes place in the current. However, some pelagic are present from time to time, like a ray at 35 meters...
      
  • rating : 4.0
    Hilma Hooker
    rating : 4.0
    type of diving : wreck
    depth : 30 m
    visibility : 10 m
    description :
    The only large wreck in Bonaire, Hilma-Hooker was sunk voluntarily the 12th of September 1984, after being confiscated for drugs trading. The diving professionals decided to sink it on this site, which has the same configuration as The Lake (strip of sand between 2 reefs). The wreck (71 meters long and 11 large) lies on starboard, at a maximum depth of 30 meters. It is possible to enter the hold (where one finds trapped air), but all other penetration is prohibited. The propeller can be observed in detail. A huge tarpon winds around the wreck. The visibility is unfortunately reduced, and thus the wreck is not entirely visible.

  • rating : 4.0
    Jerry's Sponges

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 22 m
    visibility : good
    description :
    A significant number of turtles (at least for Bonaire), with 6-7 seen during the dive. Large barracudas and, overall, lots of fish.

  • rating : 4.0
    La Machaca
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 15 à 30 m
    visibility : 20 m
    description :
    Reef located at less than 50 meters in front of the hotel Captain Don's Habitat (on the right), and very easily accessible from the shore (just by following a rope lying on the bottom of the sea). Large tarpons, parrot-fish, scorpion-fish, morays (up to 5 in only one diving!), etc... There is a great underwater life: almost each time we could see a river of fish going along at a depth of 18 meters, and over a length of... 10 minutes!! Many schools of surgeons are regularly met. Enormous tarpons (more than one meter length, including one called Charlie) sometimes come to greet the divers, especially during the night dives. It is not unusual to spend a significant part of the dive together with a turtle.
    200 meters away from the hotel is located a small wall with a break, which looks like a mountainous path.
    But this diving is particularly extraordinary during the night: the fish follow the divers, catching the small prey illuminated by the torches. And close to the pontoon, one can easily see 3 or 4 lobsters. It is a few meters to the side of this pontoon that one finds the scorpion-fish...
    The fish are not frightened at all by divers: some even come to be petted! All this makes diving so interesting that one can dive in this site half a dozen times each week...
    Also, notice the presence of decompression bars between 12 and 3 meters: this makes the diving safer.
        
  • rating : 4.0
    Mi Duchi

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 32 m
    visibility : 20 m
    description :
    Corals and huge sponges, at 15 minutes of the Captain Don's Habitat. A turtle, a scorpion-fish, a murray and a sea horse.

  • rating : 4.0
    Monte's Divi

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 15 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Lots of fishes between the surface and 15 meters, as well as magnificent corals. Because of its configuration (slide slope), this diving site is readily accessible to beginners. Note that there is nothing really interesting to see deeper. Several morays have been observed, including a huge green one.

  • rating : 4.0
    Ol'blue
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 25 m
    visibility : 20 m
    description :
    Easily accessible from the shore (a large parking for cars is even provided), this great dive starts on a sandy bottom at 8 meters. There, many hard carols forming small cavities (huge crab and small shrimps) are found. Fishes are often present in schools: snappers, bigeye trevally, ...
    Exit from the water to the shore might be difficult due to the waves.

  • rating : 4.0
    Red Slave
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 30 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Exceptional diving site located at the far south of the island. Because of its remote situation, this site is only accessible by car. For this reason, it is not unusual to dive without seeing the single diver underwater... and on the beach. The dive begins after some 50 meters of swimming from the shore. There is a slight current, and this gives the opportunity to observe large schools of big fishes, which is unusual on the island.

  • rating : 4.0
    Reef Scientifico
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 15 à 30 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Very next to La Machaca, but on the left when diving from the shore of the Captain Don's Habitat. This dive site is as great and interesting as the other one! A wreck is located near the hotel at 8-12 meters, in which big animals are sometimes found (but not often)...
            
  • rating : 4.0
    The Lake
    rating : 4.0
    depth : 25 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    One of the most interesting underwater relief: the coral falls in a gentle slope down to 20-25 meters, then one finds a strip of sand (about 20 meters broad), before going up along a second coral reef, which is parallel to the coast. On this quite long strip of sand, one has the impression of being on a mountain lake: that is why this dive site is called The Lake. Some current might be encountered during this dive. 3 barracudas and a moray were observed. It is also possible to reach the Hilma Hooker wreck from this site, as it is located at only 50 meters of The Lake.

  • rating : 3.0
    Alice in Wonderland
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 30 m
    visibility : 10-15 m
    description :
    Double reef system, with a large sandy tongue between the two reefs (50 meters large at about a depth of 30 meters). Diving usually start on the external reef, at a depth of 20 meters. However, only few fishes are seen there. The internal reef is much more interesting: a lobster, many porcupine fish, box-fish and a couple of small morays. Corals are also more interesting on the internal reef.

  • rating : 3.0
    Captain Don's Reef

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 5-15 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Under the buoy, the coral is mainly dead, giving the impression of a cemetery. The interesting part of the diving ranges between 5 and 15 meters. Moreover, one turtle stays close to the buoy, and is often seen by the divers. 2 rays were also seen.
        
  • rating : 3.0
    Carl's Hill

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 35 m
    visibility : good
    description :
    Fauna and flora similar to the ones at La Dania's Leap. The corals are particularly beautiful. A sea horse was seen there.

  • rating : 3.0
    Cliff
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 32 m
    visibility : 20 m
    description :
    Also to the north of the island, this site presents some beautiful corals, but with fewer fish.

  • rating : 3.0
    Kalli's Reef
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Seen about ten barracudas and a scorpion-fish.

  • rating : 3.0
    La Dania's Leap
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 26 m
    visibility : 20 m
    description :
    Fall located at 30 minutes by boat from the Captain Don's Habitat, with very beautiful corals. Although the visibility is great, there are only a few fish.

  • rating : 3.0
    Nearest Point
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 25 m
    visibility : good
    description :
    Nice site for a slightly deeper dive, and hence not adapted for the 3rd dive of the day. Nice corals. Quite fishy, but nothing exceptionnal.

  • rating : 3.0
    Pier Town
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 7 m
    description :
    Reef down to 40-45 meters, with beautiful corals, but very few fish. One huge cornet-fish, about 1 meter long.

  • rating : 3.0
    Plaza Resort Beach Dive
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 15 m
    description :
    Located next the 18h Palm site, this shore diving is interesting for night dives, as the corals are especially beautiful. Furthermore, many morays are seen there (up to 10), even sometimes swimming in the blue. A crab and many shrimps.
    Usually, exit if the water is done at the pontoon of 18th Palm, where a huge lobster is usually located, as well as a large tarpoon which is not afraid of swimming very close to the divers.

  • rating : 3.0
    Sampler

       [(Klein Bonaire)
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 5-15 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    This dive site is in the extension of la Machaca, and thus is very similar to that one, with the difference that there is some current.
        
  • rating : 3.0
    Small Wall
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 25 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    The boat moored on a sandy bottom at 3-5 meters, from where we join a soft slope. There is nothing to see below 15 meters. But lots of life can be found between 7 and 15 meters, which make it ideal as a second (or a third) dive, despite the presence of a strong current. We saw there 2 morays, a turtle, a crab, a stone-fish and many puffer-fish. Lots of soft corals, and especially anemones.
    This site is dedicated to Captain Don, for his 30 years passed on this island.

  • rating : 3.0
    Weber's Joy
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 10 m
    visibility : 10 m
    description :
    One vertiginous fall on the north of the island, with medium visibility. Some large multicolored fish between 5 and 10 meters. At 20 minutes by boat from the Captain Don's Habitat.

  • rating : 3.0
    Yellowman's reef
    rating : 3.0
    depth : 35 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    Small vertical wall (there are few one in Bonaire: one of them is La Machaca) at a depth between 10 and 20 meters, and a couple of hundreds long. Although this wall seems almost ridiculous, there are some interesting things to see: 3 morays (1 huge green one) and 2 snakes, as well as 2 flat-fish.

  • rating : 2.0
    18th Palm
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 20 m
    description :
    To dive on this place it is necessary to obtain an official authorization and to be accompanied by a divemaster. The diving takes place directly under the pontoon of the pier, as a very shallow depth. This is of course an unusual diving site: lots of concretions are seen (yellow corals and tubes...), as well as lots of things that should have been in a trash: bottles, shoes...
    The fauna is also interesting, with a stone-fish, a box-fish and four small morays. A site that should be visited once during a stay in Bonaire.

  • rating : 2.0
    Andrea I
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : good
    description :
    Not a lot to see, but a couple of reef fish schools.

  • rating : 2.0
    Barcadera
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    This dive can be started either from the pontoon of the Plaza Resort hotel, or directly from a boat (in that case, the boil is anchored quite deeply, at about 20 meters). This site is not really suitable for a night dive, as the reef quickly goes rather deep. One crab and several box-fish have been observed. Near the pontoon, many trumpet-fish are often seen. They swim under the water and jump out of it: with the lights of the pontoon, they can be easily observed. However, at this place, all corals are unfortunately dead.
    By diving to the right, the site Plaza Resort Beach Dive can be reach. This one if more interesting for night dives.

  • rating : 2.0
    rating : 2.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : good
    description :
    Nothing special. Nice corals between 6 and 12 meters. On our way back, we met lots of dolphins swimming a hundred meters away from the reef in front of the Don's Habitat.

  • rating : 1.0
    Bon Bini Na Cas
    rating : 1.0
    depth : 20 m
    visibility : 15 m
    description :
    A Classic dive site, with interesting concretions: corals resembling giant mushrooms. Many fire corals. 2 barracudas and 1 big blue parrot-fish. The diving is not uninteresting, but remains a level below the others...
      

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