Diving in Bonaire

"DIY shore dives encircles the island. Unlimited 24/7 scuba diving. No boat needed. One of the best is off the pier at Black Durgon Inn; it's called Small Wall. Easy access from pier and sites on Small Wall change with each dive. Warm water. Perfect. Good for drift diving."
Darlene, June 2017

"Clear water and a big variety of organisms full of color and life"
Sophia

"Wonderful coral. Easy dive profile. 30 meter + vis. Great places to dine and comfortable places to stay. Also, the island is safe and friendly. What's not to love?
We really liked the Hilma Hooker dive site. Big, big wreck with nice sponges on it and fish in the vicinity. Plus it lies on the sandy bottom of a beautifully reefed slope. Pristine coral. Terrific soft fans and loads of fish. A dive with something for everyone."
Jim Reilly

"I really enjoyed Bonaire in November. The water was crystal blue and visibility unbelievable. The marine life set the tone and moray eels from spotted to green 6 footers. The weather was sunny warm and the people were very good hosts. I am a member of NABS (National association of Black Scuba Divers) and our summit was held at the Plaza Resort of Bonaire. A great trip and a lot of dive sites. They even have good off-shore diving day and night."
Terron (Mr.TEE) Whitehead NABS

"I had heard and read about Bonaire for at least 20 years and was prepared for excellent macro-life.
To be candid, I was disappointed: The coral was fair in some places, but very good to excellent in others. There was some incredible night life - specifically a group of LARGE tarpon that were habituated to night divers and would zoom around you all dive long, using your dive light illumination as a hunting aide. These were easily 5 foot long fish and it was quite a thrill to have one come up from behind you and pass within a couple of feet.
But the macro life was disappointing compared to places in Western Australia and the Philippines, amongst other places.
That said, unless you WANT to spend days getting across the Pacific, Bonaire is a completely acceptable dive destination and I would go back without hesitation - just with slightly lowered expectations.
The island is set up wonderfully for shore diving with what has to be at least 3 dozen spots marked on the perimeter road. As the reef starts not more than 15m from shore it is a very easy place to dive.
All-in-all the diving wasn't as good as some Pacific locations or the Red Sea, but was better than some other locations.
Unfortunately I'm too jaded from years of going to lots of good dive places, many remotely located.
If I had primarily experienced cold-water, or cloudy conditions, I would be thrilled with Bonaire. It is a fine place to go and my comments about being disappointed probably are MY problem, where most would have every expectation met or exceeded.
How can you complain, in reality, when in a week you go to three dive sites that have seahorses?"
Alan Gurevich

Review Bonaire

Video telling the story of the Hilma Hooker by Frank Lame

Reviews:

"We really liked the Hilma Hooker dive site. Big, big wreck with nice sponges on it and fish in the vicinity. Plus it lies on the sandy bottom of a beautifully reefed slope. Pristine coral. Terrific soft fans and loads of fish. A dive with something for everyone."
Jim Reilly

"Wreck dive-- very deep, but it was my first wreck dive and I was amazed!!!"
Shelly Gleaton

"Klein Bonaire, a km away from Bonaire, adds another dozen-or-two boat-only accessible sites"
Alan Gurevich

"The reputation of the is worth it for night diving, which is very easily done (though must be guided)."
Alan Gurevich

"Great site from shallows to deep. Staghorn coral."
Les Dunning

"Murky water with 100+ tarpons and then.....heaven. Eagle rays, stingrays, sometimes sharks. Big stuff.."
Edwin van Velzen

"Absolutely Breathtaking!"
Shelly Gleaton

"I spent a week staying and diving at Buddy Dive Resort on Bonaire and was very pleased with the operation. Actually, I don't think, in 28 years of diving, that I've been to a better organised, more diver friendly land operation anywhere.
They have the equipment room and tank storage set up so you can dive 24 hours a day, either off the dock or by taking tanks and gear and driving to tons of shore-dive spots.
The hotel part is made up of 1 - 3 BR condominium suites, with a couple of 1 BR hotel rooms available as well. There is a good on-site restaurant and the entire place is quite attractive with friendly staff.
One of the packages they offer includes a mini 4-passenger pickup, with a tank rack in the back, and they even have a drive through station to pick-up and drop-off tanks for shore dives, so you don't have to carry them to/from the dock. Nitrox is available at the dock and at the drive through."
Alan Gurevich