Bonaire Diving: A Guide to The Ultimate Diver’s Paradise
Do you dream of taking a holiday with unlimited diving experiences? That is what you can expect when you visit Bonaire - the “Diver’s Paradise.” To help prepare you for this trip, SCUBAPRO has put together the ultimate guide to assist you in planning the ultimate dive trip to Bonaire. In it we’ve covered everything you’d need to think about, from diving conditions to the different types of diving you can expect to do while in Bonaire.
Why Bonaire is a Diving Mecca
Bonaire is frequently categorized as the shore diving capital of the world. Located in the southern part of the Caribbean, measuring 39 km long and 8 km wide, it is easy to explore all that Bonaire has to offer. From shallow reefs, to steep walls and historical wrecks, the endless options make Bonaire a “must experience dive” for every diver. With a myriad of shore diving sites, and several different boat destinations to dive from, you’d never have to dive the same site twice – unless you really just wanted to. With the great weather and amazing year-round conditions, Bonaire is a must-visit destination as you plan your diving trips for the year.
Best Time to Dive in Bonaire
While there is a defined official dive season, one of the aspects of Bonaire that makes it so great is that you can dive year-round. The official diving season, the island’s peak season, is December through April. May through August is the windy season and November through January is the rainy season, where divers will experience daily, light showers.
No matter when you plan your trip, the “best time” is really as soon as you can get there. Any chance you can, Bonaire is a trip worth making.
Bonaire Diving Conditions to Consider
Diving conditions in Bonaire vary based on the time of day, the month, and even from year to year. With Bonaire being located further south in the Caribbean, water temps stay a relatively warm and inviting temperature – averaging 27 degrees Celsius. These temperatures are perfect for warm water dive wear, designed for men and women.
Water clarity is typically the beautiful turquoise blue you expect to see in the Caribbean, and the clarity only improves the further you get off the coast.
The sea state can change depending on which side of the island you choose to dive from and when you decide to dive. The shape of Bonaire provides a natural shield on the west side of the island against the constant eastern trade winds creating numerous protected dive sites, accessible at all times. The North and East sides of Bonaire need more planning but make for beautiful dives that see less traffic, with untouched corals, and an abundance of marine life.
Types of Diving in Bonaire
As previously mentioned, along with the near-perfect diving conditions year round, what makes Bonaire amazing is the ability to easily switch between different types of diving. In the same day you can easily change between shore diving, to boat diving, and back again.
Shore Diving
Due to the geographical shape and location of the island, shore diving is the most prevalent type of diving in Bonaire. When you arrive your resort typically asks you to attend a quick diving class about preserving the local reefs. Then you rent a truck, grab your loaded tanks, and hit the road with your dive buddy hunting yellow rocks. A yellow rock signifies the location of dive site, and the specific name will be painted on the rock.
From there, all you need to do is park and head down to the water with all of your favorite SCUBAPRO dive gear and head out for your dive.
A few must-see shore dive spots in Bonaire are:
- 1000 Steps – an extraordinary entry into the water, where you take a stair case down to the water
- Karpata – a north side dive with beautiful coral and historical ship anchors
- Oil Slick – an extremely adventurous entry, where you can take a giant stride from a cliff, directly into the water
- Angel City – one of the most interesting double reef formations that divers can visit in the world
Check out our divers shore diving at Angel City, in Bonaire.
Boat Diving
If you prefer to dive from a boat, there are plenty of opportunities to experience boat diving while in Bonaire. Klein Bonaire, an uninhabited island across from Bonaire, is home to a variety of reefs. These dives are only accessible by boat and are beaming with life.
Wreckage Diving
Hilma Hooker, a historical wreck sunk in 1984, is also located off the coast of Bonaire. Resting in 30 meters of water, sitting between two coral reef systems, the Hilma Hooker is frequently visited by divers of all skill levels. Measuring over 60m in length, the wreck offers a lot to explore. We recommend bringing a dive light with you to explore all the wreck has to offer. Use your Nova 850 to look in port holes, light up swim throughs, and to search for critters. Wreckage diving really requires you to have your hands free as much as possible. Having a HUD style dive computer like the new Galileo HUD really can make all the difference by delivering easily viewable, essential dive information constantly right in front you.
Where to Get Your Dive Gear in Bonaire
Whether you are looking to replace a lost fin or upgrade to the newest dive computer, there are many great resorts, dive shops and gear rental locations in Bonaire. We’ve put together some of our favorite locations so you can find the best gear, wherever you may need it:
Scuba Retail Stores
Dive Rentals
If you’re thinking about updating your gear before going to Bonaire, we recommend SCUBAPRO’s Hydros BCD and the Mk11/C370 Regulator. With the fast drying material, and light weight design, the Hydros BCD makes for the perfect travel companion for any dive destination. The C370 regulator was designed to be the ultimate travel companion. It’s reduced size and weight, paired with a balanced valve, provides excellent air flow for all of your diving needs.
What to do in Bonaire Besides Diving
Underwater activities are the reason that you are planning a trip to Bonaire; however, you may want a break from diving to experience some of the other great things that Bonaire has to offer. Kite boarding and surfing are two very popular water sports, second to diving, that visitors flock to Bonaire to experience. With the constant trade winds conditions, the experience of these sports in Bonaire are unlike anywhere else. Other activities you can enjoy on your surface intervals are horseback riding on the beach, snorkeling, sailing around the island, caving (both dry and wet), and hanging with the island’s resident donkeys.