Trip Report Bonaire March 2024–Dead reefs

[Kharon]

Not sure why you would bait folks but not reveal the better sites. Keeping them to yourself for another year?

I understand completely. 1. Protecting the little that is left from asshats and too much traffic. And 2. Darm straight. Keep it to yourself.

I found an unmarked site a while back that no one, not even the dive shops, know anout. It's pristing and you actually think I'm going to give directions. Grow up.

 

[Charred]

No one will ever tell you their favorite spot. Go ask a fisherman or a hunter where there favorite spot is and watch the laughter.

Part of the process is finding YOUR favorite spot. Or your favorite spot this trip.

 

[ancient diver]

Sad to say…the reefs of Bonaire are dead. Currently in Bonaire—last here 5 years ago. The change is dramatic, in a bad and sad way. We dove Klein Bonaire, Salt Pier, and a house reef. All in terrible condition. Dead reef everywhere. If I had know this in Nov 2023 when I prepared my trip, I would have canceled. I think the Caribbean is doomed due to SCTLD and climate change. Only two green dive sites at the Southern tip. All others are orange and red. Cozumel and the East end of Cayman are better than Bonaire.

Trying Karpata, 1,000 Steps, and more boat dives off of Klein Bonaire tomorrow. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised, but not counting on it.

My recommendation: cancel if you have plans to dive Bonaire (and can still cancel). Sad situation. Don’t believe it if you hear that the reefs are nice. Ask for photos.

Like they said in Monte Python ... I'm not dead yet.

 

[Nicolas Pottier]

We've been here a few weeks. This is our third trip in about six years. The reefs are very sick. There is still lots of life and I hope the reefs recover but it is definitely depressing. As others have said, salt pier strangely has the most life but other sites have much less than before.

Hope it all recovers.

 

[JCG_HeliCam]

Hi Everyone, Just found this tread in time... we are leaving for Bonaire in 3 weeks.
My Wife and I have been diving there over the last 10 years. Our last trip was about 3 years ago. Some areas were hit hard but most of the diving was good. I have not read all the post yet, but plan to get all the info so we will know which sites to avoid.
Has anyone been there during this month (May 2024) with an update?

I also see that there is a Scuba Board trip scheduled while we will be there. We are not staying at the Plaza but would like to stop by and say HI. Any Idea on how many people will be attending that week. Thanks

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Hi Everyone, Just found this tread in time... we are leaving for Bonaire in 3 weeks.
My Wife and I have been diving there over the last 10 years. Our last trip was about 3 years ago. Some areas were hit hard but most of the diving was good. I have not read all the post yet, but plan to get all the info so we will know which sites to avoid.
Has anyone been there during this month (May 2024) with an update?

I also see that there is a Scuba Board trip scheduled while we will be there. We are not staying at the Plaza but would like to stop by and say HI. Any Idea on how many people will be attending that week. Thanks

From what I understand there will be about 90 of us.

This will be my first trip to Bonaire and first time my daughter and I will be diving together. Definitely going to need all the help and insight from you regulars about where to go for best conditions, best fishies, and easiest access for shallow dives and snorkeling.

 

[JCG_HeliCam]

From what I understand there will be about 90 of us.

This will be my first trip to Bonaire and first time my daughter and I will be diving together. Definitely going to need all the help and insight from you regulars about where to go for best conditions, best fishies, and easiest access for shallow dives and snorkeling.

Sounds like a good size group. Maybe we'll stop by and meet some other SB members. My wife and I are looking forward to getting back into the water and having a good steak dinner at the Patagonia Restaurant. Thanks Joe

 

[JCG_HeliCam]

Definitely get yourself to the south! Vista Blue is our favorite site. Also for a totally different experience book a trip with East Coast Diving on the wild side and get to see dozens (or more) of turtles!

Planning a trip to Bonaire in a few weeks, I been diving the island for over 10 years and never dove on the wild (and windy) side. So I looked at East Coast divers, They are completely book for the month of June 2024.
I was surprised at the price. Do they take walk-ons or do you have to charter the whole boat. just to find the price for a Single diver, I picked an open date and entered that I was "One" Diver The cost at checkout was over $2,000.00 That's out of my price range for one day of diving. Can you book a spot on the boat through a local dive shop? thanks Joe

 

[tursiops]

Planning a trip to Bonaire in a few weeks, I been diving the island for over 10 years and never dove on the wild (and windy) side. So I looked at East Coast divers, They are completely book for the month of June 2024.
I was surprised at the price. Do they take walk-ons or do you have to charter the whole boat. just to find the price for a Single diver, I picked an open date and entered that I was "One" Diver The cost at checkout was over $2,000.00 That's out of my price range for one day of diving. Can you book a spot on the boat through a local dive shop? thanks Joe

You are looking in the wrong place on their website. Go to Reserve a Seat - Bonaire East Coast Diving

 

[Jake 10]

Bonaire reefs are not dead.. that is a hyperbolic comment OP @Catito

We were there June-July 2023, our first time to Bonaire. The evidence of climate change, coral bleaching, storms, human activity, new next to shore buildings, and SCTLD may be visible, but these problems are everywhere throughout the Caribbean. The reefs we dive were full of life, (fish, rays, squid, crabs, shrimps, turtles, soft corals, sponges, elkhorn, staghorn, anemones, elephant ear, brain, etc.).

We encountered SCLTD restrictions on the North sites, Washington Slagbaai National Park, and The Cliff. We planned 100% shore diving and dive accordingly. We stay at Capt. Don's Habitat and wash our gear every time we dive the near reefs (Machaca, Scientifico, Buddy's, Bari).

Kudo's to Dive Friends as they provided rinse/wash stations on the island. We used the stations near Delphin Beach when diving South (Pier, Lake, Aquarium). The station near Te Amo Beach when diving near the airport reefs (Calabas, Windsock, Corporal, Bachelor). The Stations near DIVI when diving Front Porch, Something Special, Chachacha.

We plan on returning with Scubaboard Invasion 2024 on June 15, 2024 and looking forward to it. Around 84/85 participants based on the latest crew list posted by Cardzard