Netherlands

Diving in Bonaire

45 sites98 species26–29 °C20–40 m vis

Photo: Pascal Ingelrest / Pexels

Bonaire, a special municipality of the Netherlands, is renowned as the world's shore diving capital. Part of the ABC islands in the Caribbean, it boasts pristine fringing reefs, a vibrant marine park, and consistent year-round diving conditions. Divers can explore a vast network of easily accessible shore dive sites and enjoy an abundance of marine life including turtles, eagle rays, and diverse coral formations. The island is dedicated to marine conservation, offering a unique and sustainable diving experience.

Bonaire National Marine Park, established in 1979, protects all the island's surrounding waters from the high-water mark down to 60m (200ft) — one of the world's oldest marine reserves.Bonaire is known as the shore-diving capital of the world, with more than 60 dive sites marked by yellow-painted stones along the coastal road.The island's nickname, 'Diver's Paradise', appears right on its license plates.Every diver pays an annual nature fee to STINAPA, the foundation that funds and manages the marine park.Bonaire is the 'B' of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) and lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt, giving it calm diving year-round.Klein Bonaire, the uninhabited islet off the west coast, is a protected sea-turtle nesting site ringed by pristine reef.Salt Pier, beneath the island's salt-loading pier, is one of Bonaire's most iconic dives, famous for schooling fish and macro life among its pillars.Spearfishing has been banned in Bonaire since 1971, and boats use fixed moorings instead of anchors to protect the coral.

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Conditions

Water temp

26–29 °C

Visibility

20–40 m

Depth

5–40 m

Current

Mild

Best season

Year-round diving; calmest seas and best visibility December to April, outside the August to November hurricane season.

Month	Summary
Jan	January offers calm, protected leeward diving with water around 26°C and visibility easily reaching 24-30m; expect classic Bonaire macro life like seahorses and frogfish, plus turtles on the reef.
Feb	Diving stays excellent and consistent in February with cooler water near 26°C and superb visibility; the calm west coast is ideal for shore diving while the windward east side runs a touch breezier.
Mar	March continues Bonaire's reliable dry-season diving with water around 26°C, 24-30m visibility, and abundant reef life; night dives reward divers with tarpon hunting in the lights.
Apr	April brings gently warming water and the same calm, clear conditions Bonaire is known for, making it a great month for relaxed shore dives and spotting turtles and macro critters.
May	May diving is excellent with water nearing 27°C and consistently strong visibility; the sheltered leeward reefs stay calm and welcoming for divers of all levels.
Jun	June offers warm, calm water around 27°C with great visibility and lively reefs; sitting below the hurricane belt, Bonaire stays a dependable diving destination through the season.
Jul	July diving is warm and inviting with water near 28°C and excellent visibility; the calm west coast remains perfect for unlimited shore diving day or night.
Aug	August reaches the warmest water of the year at about 28°C with superb clarity, ideal for long, comfortable dives among turtles, tarpon, and rich macro life.
Sep	September stays warm near 28°C with outstanding visibility; a few nights after the full moon, divers may witness the spectacle of coral spawning on the reef.
Oct	October offers warm water around 28°C and reliably clear conditions, with another chance to catch coral spawning a few nights after the full moon on Bonaire's protected reefs.
Nov	November diving remains excellent as water begins to ease back toward 27°C; visibility stays in the 24-30m range and the calm leeward coast keeps shore diving easy.
Dec	December closes the year with calm, clear, year-round diving; water cools gently toward 26°C while turtles, tarpon, and macro life keep the reefs lively.

Dive Sites (45)

1000 Steps

3–20m · Beginner

Shore dive · Limestone staircase · Reef traverse

18th Palm (Eighteen Palms)

3–20m · Beginner

Shallow reef · Palm tree lining · Easy shore entry

Alice in Wonderland

5–20m · Intermediate

Shallow reef · Sandy slope · Photography

Andrea I

5–20m · Beginner

Shallow reef · Cleaning station · Coral formations

Andrea II

5–20m · Beginner

Coral garden · Wall

Angel City

5–25m · Intermediate

Double reef system · Sandy channel · Eagle rays

Aquarius

3–10m · Beginner

Shallow reef

Bachelor's Beach

3–15m · Beginner

Shallow reef · Shore dive · Gentle slope

+37more sites in the appGet the app →

Marine Life (98)

must-see

Bull Shark

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

must-see

Great Hammerhead

must-see

Southern Stingray

must-see

Splendid Toadfish

must-see

Nassau Grouper

must-see

Hawksbill Turtle

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Spotted Eagle Ray

must-see

Caribbean Reef Shark

must-see

Nurse Shark

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

+86more species in the app

Dive Shops (48)

VIP Diving

★ 4.9Moderate

Resort diving, Dive courses, Private guides

Diving in Bonaire

Explore the map

Conditions

Dive Sites (45)

1000 Steps

18th Palm (Eighteen Palms)

Alice in Wonderland

Andrea I

Andrea II

Angel City

Aquarius

Bachelor's Beach

Marine Life (98)

Dive Shops (48)

VIP Diving

Xprodiver Bonaire

Beyond the Corals

Wannadive

Dive Diva Bonaire

Flamingo Diving

Div'Ocean

Goood Resort

Hilltop Divers

Great Adventures Bonaire

Touch the Sea with Dee Scarr

Captain Don's Habitat

Blue Divers

Dive Inn

Divi Dive Bonaire

Belmar Dive Shop

Black Durgon Scuba Center

Buddy Dive Watersports

Wanderlust Dive Center Bonaire

Bonaire Dive & Adventure

Blue Classroom Freediving Bonaire

Dive Factory

Reef Divers Bonaire

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Sand Dollar

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Dive Inn

Let's Go Dive Bonaire

Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn

4 Wheel Diving Bonaire

Toucan Diving Bonaire

Technical Diving Services (TDS Bonaire)

Bonaire East Coast Diving

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Yellow Submarine

AB-Dive Bonaire

Private Divers Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

Tropical Divers

Scuba School Bonaire

Bonaire Freediving School NV

Area9 Mastery Diving Research Center

Dive Friends Bonaire Retail Shop @ Retail & Dive

Dive Center Scuba Do Bonaire

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Hamlet Oasis

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Delfins Beach

Wannadive Bonaire South

Scuba Elite - PADI 5 Star IDC Resort on Bonaire

Dive Friends Bonaire @ Port Bonaire

Dive Experience Bonaire

Tropical Divers Resort Bonaire

Guides

Top 7 Dive Sites in Bonaire: Shore Diving at Its Best

The Complete Bonaire Diving Guide: Shore Diving Capital of the World

Bonaire Dive Conditions: Temperature, Visibility & Seasons

Safety

Bring Bonaire underwater