One of the questions I often get is: “What are the best dive sites in Bonaire?” And to be honest, that’s not an easy question to answer. Bonaire has so many beautiful places to dive, and what makes a dive special really depends on the person I’m diving with. Some people love watching small marine creatures, others are hoping to see bigger fish, and some simply want to relax and enjoy the underwater world.
I’m Kim, the owner and dive instructor at Scuba School Bonaire. I’ve been diving for many years, and since moving to Bonaire in 2017, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many of the island’s beautiful reefs. I definitely have my favorite spots, especially in the south of Bonaire, but I don’t automatically take everyone to the same locations. For me, choosing the right dive site starts with getting to know the diver.
Where I Like to Start: Bachelor’s Beach
When someone hasn’t been diving for a while or is still relatively new to scuba diving, I often like to start at Bachelor’s Beach. It’s a beautiful dive site, but what makes it especially suitable is the sandy area at the beginning of the dive.
This gives us some space to get comfortable in the water without worrying about accidentally touching or damaging the coral. We can take our time, check that everything feels right and then continue towards the reef. Even though it’s a place I regularly choose for a first dive, there’s still plenty to see underwater.
I think it’s important that people feel relaxed before we start exploring more challenging dive sites. There’s no need to rush. Once I know how someone feels underwater and how comfortable they are with their equipment and buoyancy, it’s much easier to choose where we go next.
Some of My Favorite Dive Sites in Bonaire
Where I Like to Start: Bachelor’s Beach
When someone hasn’t been diving for a while or is still relatively new to scuba diving, I often like to start at Bachelor’s Beach. It’s a beautiful dive site, but what makes it especially suitable is the sandy area at the beginning of the dive.
This gives us some space to get comfortable in the water without worrying about accidentally touching or damaging the coral. We can take our time, check that everything feels right and then continue towards the reef. Even though it’s a place I regularly choose for a first dive, there’s still plenty to see underwater.
I think it’s important that people feel relaxed before we start exploring more challenging dive sites. There’s no need to rush. Once I know how someone feels underwater and how comfortable they are with their equipment and buoyancy, it’s much easier to choose where we go next.
Some of My Favorite Dive Sites in Bonaire
There are a few dive sites on Bonaire that I think everyone should experience at least once, depending on their diving experience and the conditions.
Salt Pier is definitely one of them. It’s one of Bonaire’s most recognizable dive sites, with its large pillars and the marine life that gathers around them. There’s always something interesting to look at, and it’s a wonderful place for underwater photography. Of course, diving here is only possible when conditions allow and there is no ship at the pier.
I also really like Invisibles and The Lake. Both are beautiful dive sites in the south of Bonaire, with lovely reefs and plenty to discover. These are places I enjoy taking people who want to experience Bonaire’s underwater world without necessarily looking for a very challenging dive.
But if you ask me which part of Bonaire I personally prefer, my answer is definitely the south!
Some of my favorite locations for more experienced divers are Margate Bay, Red Beryl, Vista Blue, Sweet Dreams and Red Slave. I love the underwater scenery in this part of the island. Some of these locations can have stronger currents or more challenging conditions, so they’re not necessarily suitable for everyone.
That’s also why I don’t have a fixed diving schedule where we simply visit a different famous dive site every day. I look at how many dives someone has made, when they last went diving and what they feel comfortable with. I also want to make sure we protect the reefs. Some places are simply too beautiful and delicate to take unnecessary risks.
And although I have a soft spot for the south, the northern part of Bonaire also has some wonderful dive sites. Andrea, Tolo and Karpata are definitely worth visiting, and I also enjoy diving at Bari Reef.
Every Diver Enjoys Something Different
One of the things I enjoy most about guiding dives is that every person has different interests. Before we go diving, I usually ask what someone would like to see or experience underwater.
Not long ago, I guided a woman who was particularly interested in underwater photography. When someone wants to take pictures, you dive differently. You slow down, spend more time looking around and give them the opportunity to photograph whatever catches their attention.
That’s one of the reasons I prefer diving with individuals, couples, families or small groups of people who already know each other. We don’t have to rush because someone else in a large group wants to move on. We can simply enjoy the dive at our own pace.
Of course, I can never promise that we’ll see a particular fish or marine animal. We’re diving in nature, not swimming around in an aquarium!
And sometimes nature surprises you when you least expect it.
Recently, I experienced a beautiful bait ball, where a large school of fish was moving together in the shallow water. It’s incredible to watch how all those fish move almost as one. You can swim through the school, and the fish simply move around you before coming together again.
Experiences like that remind me why I love diving so much. You never really know what you’re going to see, even when you’ve visited the same dive site many times before.
Discover Bonaire at Your Own Pace
For me, a great dive isn’t necessarily about going as deep as possible or visiting the most famous location. Sometimes the best dives are the ones where we take our time, notice the smaller details and simply enjoy being underwater.
At Scuba School Bonaire, I offer personal guided dives for individuals and small groups. We can plan one dive or two dives in a day, depending on what you’d like to do. If we’re doing two dives, we can take a relaxed lunch break in between. I like to keep things flexible because, after all, you’re on holiday!
And you don’t have to stay at Oasis Guesthouse to dive with me. Although our dive school is located at the guesthouse, everyone is welcome, whether you’re staying with us or somewhere else on Bonaire.
If you’re planning a diving holiday and would like some advice on which dive sites might suit you, feel free to get in touch. I’d love to hear about your diving experience and what you hope to discover underwater.
Hope to see you underwater!
Kim
Scuba School Bonaire
