Best Bonaire Sites for Macro + Wide Angle Photography

[Rainer]

Headed to Bonaire in two weeks and bringing our camera. While I recognize most any site can offer good opportunities for both macro and wide angle photography, given that we're limited to one lens for each dive (10-17mm WA or 60mm macro), any thoughts on which dive sites might be best for each lens setup? Thanks!

 

[diver0008]

I have heard that "Something Special" is good for macro.

 

[tursiops]

Most of the sites are good for macro; Bonaire is the land of small stuff. My favorites are Salt Pier and wherever I'm staying....cuz' I can get lots of shallow BT there. My favorite wide-angle sites are Klein Bonaire, 18 Palm, and (sorry) Salt Pier at the right time of day with the sun coming through the pilings and deck.

 

[Rainer]

Most of the sites are good for macro; Bonaire is the land of small stuff. My favorites are Salt Pier and wherever I'm staying....cuz' I can get lots of shallow BT there. My favorite wide-angle sites are Klein Bonaire, 18 Palm, and (sorry) Salt Pier at the right time of day with the sun coming through the pilings and deck.

Unfortunately, it sounds like Salt Pier will be closed during our visit:

Salt Pier Temporarily Closed | InfoBonaire

We'll likely do one trip out to Klein, but otherwise just stick with shore sites. I'll plan WA at 18 Palm. Certainly for the Hilma Hooker. Any other good WA sites? Would you do macro or WA at Slagbaai?

Thanks!

 

[tursiops]

Unfortunately, it sounds like Salt Pier will be closed during our visit:

Salt Pier Temporarily Closed | InfoBonaire

We'll likely do one trip out to Klein, but otherwise just stick with shore sites. I'll plan WA at 18 Palm. Certainly for the Hilma Hooker. Any other good WA sites? Would you do macro or WA at Slagbaai?

Thanks!

I'd probably do macro at Slagbaai.
Take a look at Candyland and Taylor Made (spelling varies); good be good WA there with some large coral formations, mostly montastrea. Also, the East side would be WA; take a trip with Bonaire East Coast Divers to Turtle City and the White Hole.

 

[Doctorfish]

Forest on Klein has lots of big orange elephant ear sponges that would be good for WA. Hilma Hooker is a good WA site as well. I tend to shoot mostly macro on Bonaire and every site is excellent. Lots and lots of small critters especially at night.

 

[Rainer]

I'd probably do macro at Slagbaai.
Take a look at Candyland and Taylor Made (spelling varies); good be good WA there with some large coral formations, mostly montastrea. Also, the East side would be WA; take a trip with Bonaire East Coast Divers to Turtle City and the White Hole.

Worth doing a boat trip on the east side? Looks to be $120pp for two dives (about the cost for our entire shore diving package for the week). If it's a must-do, we'll fit it in.

Thanks, again.

 

[uncfnp]

....

 

[Doctorfish]

IMO, the trip to the east side to boat dive is well worth it. We have gone several times and never been disappointed. On the wall drift dive, there are often multiple turtles, sting rays, eagle rays and occasional reef sharks.
On the second dive if at White Hole, dozens of tarpon, and often rays in the sand and morays in the miniwall. There are large schools of grunts on the edge of the miniwall as well.

It can be rough on the east side so the boat trip, entries and exits, and safety stops in open water can be a bit of an adventure, but do not be deterred, it's worth the effort to do something totally different from Bonaire west coast diving. Bring your WA lens.

 

[Rainer]

In that case, we'll look to book a trip with East Coast Divers. Sounds like some nice WA opportunities.

IMO, the trip to the east side to boat dive is well worth it. We have gone several times and never been disappointed. On the wall drift dive, there are often multiple turtles, sting rays, eagle rays and occasional reef sharks.
On the second dive if at White Hole, dozens of tarpon, and often rays in the sand and morays in the miniwall. There are large schools of grunts on the edge of the miniwall as well.

It can be rough on the east side so the boat trip, entries and exits, and safety stops in open water can be a bit of an adventure, but do not be deterred, it's worth the effort to do something totally different from Bonaire west coast diving. Bring your WA lens.