Best shore dives in Bonaire

[Tovster]

I am about to leave for my third visit to Bonaire, and for the first time I reserved a pickup truck for our 11-day trip. In the past, I spent my time diving off Captain Don's house reef and dive boats, and enjoyed the night dive at the piers. But this time around I am ready to follow the little painted rocks to the best that Bonaire has to offer.

I am so overwhelmed by the sheer number of marked dive spots, however, I don’t know where to begin.

Is the west side of the Island just fabulous and similar everywhere? What are your favorite shore dives in Bonaire?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[H2Andy]

wow... well... they're all good ... my two favorites are the Hilma Hooker and Tori's Reef ... not sure why, but i went crazy about them in my logbook

try to go to the Town Pier if you can (need clearance). Karpata was awesome.
i enjoyed Jeff Davies Memorial. Barcadera was very good. Andrea I and II good also. Petrie's Pillar was nice too...

they're all good =)

 

[bperrybap]

The Salt pier is good also. It seems to be less crowded than town
pier. It is not not as shallow and much older corals.

I liked "oil slick" (not really an oil slick). It has a nice place
to leap in and has a ladder to get out.

You can't miss 1000 steps. It has great views as you walk
down to the beach area.

--- bill

 

[wilkie]

Pretty much anything on the south end is accesable, just park your truck on the shore, gear up & get in - way easy, just eyeball the current,especially south of Pink Beach. There are only a few sights to the north that are "easy" or are "easially accesable" Oil slick is one that is easy in - out, 1000 steps is one that has good access, but isn't easy (out)

Herman will be along shortly to give you the latest - unless the little rat's in Bonaire

Do have dinner at Cactus Blue - you owe it to yourself. Hope the
Montserrat volcanic has settled by now,and doesn't cause you any airline grief.

Wish I wuz you, have a ball!



Herman: Just joking around here.....nnnnkay

 

[sasscuba]

Lac Cai.

 

[Boat Chick]

Salt Pier
Chocogo
Alice in Wonderland

If you don't have it already, make sure you get the Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy book. Susan's got a lot of unmarked sites in it that are really nice

Have a great trip

 

[dvrliz1]

Ok, here are some helpful tips and my favorite dive sites.

1. Northern Dives are morning dives as the reef actually starts a little deeper probably between 50-70 feet, some a bit more shallow. Southern Dives definitely afternoon Dives.

Favorite North Dives

Ole' Blue: There is a sandy area and a small BBQ area. Entry is not that difficult. Great large hard corals, lots of large fish.

Karpata: Love it! 3 huge old anchors, a couple of green morays, turtles, great large hard corals, cup coral, etc.


Southern Dives:

Hilma Hooker: Top of wreck at about 60 feet, anchor at 99-100 feet, enjoy the resident tarpons, between 3-5, barracuda, nice reef on the western side of the wreck.

Salt Pier: You cannot just "dive" this one. You need to schedule with your dive shop as they must optain a permit to dive, you must be accompanied with a dive master/instructor. EXCELLENT night dive. The fish life is incredible as are the soft sponges and coral on the pilings. FYI, you also need a permit to snorkel as well. Prior to permits, we snorkeled as my son didn't dive and we saw a school of at least 25-30 barracuda...great!

Tori's Reef: probably the best for macro photography. What a lot of dives don't know that if you take an immediate left out of the channel you enter through you will find large coral heads of fire coral with spectacular fishlife, mostly juvenile. Last time I was there I saw 6 types of eels, countless juvenile fish including angels (queen and french), spotted drums, so much! just have to take your time. Great snorkel to if your partner doesn't dive.

Margate Bay: This is great! Shallow reef to start, huge amounts of soft corals, lots to see in them, turtles. just Amazing.

Anyway, I think your best bet would be to purchase the book Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. You can get it at Amazon.com, I think, It is excellent, gives you a description of all of the dive sites, entries, degree of difficulty, what you can expect to see, etc. EXCELLENT FOR ALL DIVERS THAT COME TO BONAIRE!

Enjoy!

Liz

 

[undercbon]

Liz,
Appreciate the plug but "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" is not available on Amazon unless you buy an old version. The new revised guide can be purchased at any dive shop/operator on Bonaire, through divingguide@bonaireweb.com or www.bonairestuff.com


Thanks!
Susan

Cynde, thank you as well!

 

[timetraveler]

Susan, I bought your book the first time I went to Bonaire. I'd never been shore diving in the sea before and your book was extremely helpful.

I just sent a request to both amazon and barnesandnoble asking that they carry it.

Thanks for posting and thanks for writing Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy.

When does the fifth edition come out?

 

[M_B]

Don't want to sound or pose as an expert on the shore diving or diving in Bonair.
So, i'll say just based on our experience - all diving we did last year - was very good.

My wife was jumping out of her mask and fins on 70% of all dives, trying to point me to all wonders ( and i don't exaggerate ) she saw.

Prior to the departure, we compiled the list of the "best" dives.
But we ended up ( we stayed 10 days ) diving all sites consequently. They all are nice.
We loved those after Salt Pier - with double reefs.
The main rule, as for me : find the largest tank, put more air in the tank . And go diving. Don't worry about anything, but safety. Just enjoy it.

This year we are planning to visit Bonair again, but we will do different sort of diving this time. I don't like to talk about my plans before hand. So i'll report after they will become a history

P.S. And i do think that "1000 steps" is the local joke. I won't tell you anything. Go dive and, i think, you will understand it