Bonaire Marine Life?

[mars2u]

I'm planning a trip to Bonaire and was wondering what Marine life I might be able to see there. The only info I have been able to get is that there aren't any "large animals" there. I've done searches but there really isn't that much on the underwater life.

Any info would be appreciated from either personal experiences or info you've heard.

Thanks in advance.

 

[herman]

I just got back from my 5th trip to Bonaire. It is kind of true that there are not many large animals on Bonaire. From what I hear, there are lots of them on the windard side but due to the normaly rough conditions, it is rarely dove. I understand there is a now operator that is starting to offer boat dives on the windward side on a regular basis. His web site http://www.infobonaire.com/larrys/
On the leaward side, where most of the diving is done, most of the marine life is smaller, 1 ft to almost microscopic. There are turtles and some huge tarpons, however. Octipi, eels and erchins are commor as well. There are hundreds of different kinds of fish on the reefs. There are several varities of parrot fish, butterfly fish, puffers, grunts, snappers, gobies, really too many different types to name. If you get one of the Hunn books and just open it to a page, most likely it can be found on Bonaire. I also see lots of shrimp and arrow crabs. Lobster can be seen at night. Basically, if you want to see large fish, sharks and similar animals then you will be disappointed but if you like tons of med to small fish then you will be pleased. I can't wait to get back.

 

[Sergeant Major]

You probably won't see anything really big in Bonaire, but I think you've got a decent chance to see some intermediate-sized creatures. When I was in Bonaire in May 2002, we see spotted eagle rays on two dives (one was a prolonged encounter on an afternoon dive, the other was a brief glimpse during a night dive). Additionally, on two occasions, we saw pods of dolphins during surface intervals. During one of these surface intervals, the dolphins raced the boat. We also saw the BIGGEST green moray I've ever seen.

Even if you don't see anything really big, the tremendous diversity of smaller sea life makes Bonaire special. While we were there, we regularly saw animals that I haven't seen in any of the other places I've gone diving (Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Florida) including squid, frogfish, and sea horses. We also saw really cool stuff like "stampedes" of Blue Tangs feeding on the reef. Bonaire is a great place, and the diversity of its sea life is definitely one of its strengths. Have a good time.

 

[nwscubamom]

I've got photos (labeled with the ID's too!) from my last trip to Bonaire last December on my website:

http://www.pnwscuba.com/bonaire.htm

Take a look and enjoy!!

:turtle:

 

[mars2u]

nwscubamom once bubbled...
I've got photos (labeled with the ID's too!) from my last trip to Bonaire last December on my website:

http://www.pnwscuba.com/bonaire.htm

Take a look and enjoy!!

:turtle:

Thanks for the photos!

 

[Pettifogger]

You may also see some of the larger animals on the north side of the island, up in the Park... Not too many people will dive up there (a long drive to the middle of nowhere). The water is not as calm as the south east side that encircles Klein, but still not bad.

As for the comment concerning the Large Green Moray, I too saw the biggest Greeny ever - it made that one from the movie "The Deep" look like a guppy...

It was at Angel City reef, I swam right by it through a valley in theh coral and then saw it -- I kid you not - its head was bigger than a Rugby ball... and I was only a foot away, It seemed accustomed to divers though. I have seen smaller cars in Italy...

I asked at the shop about it and they said that I saw the unofficial largest Moray on Bonaire... (I think he even had a name Larry)

Is that where you saw your big greeny?

 

[Sergeant Major]

Pettifogger,

We may have seen the same green moray. I can't remember whether it was Angel City or not, but I know the site was very close to the Hilma Hooker (and as you may know, Angel City is adjacent to the Hilma Hooker). Anwyay, we were about 60 feet down, and 20 feet below us, the eel was swimming along the reef in the opposite direction. At the time, I seriously wondered if the eel was swimming freely because it was too big to find a hiding spot in the reef. I've never seen another eel that was even close to the size of this eel. You're not exaggerating when you say its head was the size of a rugby ball.

In light of the proximity of dive sites, and the size of this eel, I think you and I saw the same animal. That, or there are at least two gigantic eels in Bonaire!