"Must Dive" list for Bonaire

[ippy01]

Going to Bonaire 12/17 - 12-24, staying at the Sand Dollar. Needless to say, I can't wait!

Can some of you old Bonaire hands offer some suggestions for "Must Dive" shore dives? I have a pick-up truck and plan to spend at least 2 days doing as much shore diving as possible. From what I have seen, the list of good shore dives is quite long -- more than you can do in 2 days.

So, which shore dives should I be sure to do.

Thank you!

 

[scubatravelcouple]

we will be there on the 23rd just in time for you to leave , the reef at sand dollar is great ..one of the best on the island ... i like city of angels the best ... on the other
a must dio is the one wreck of the helma hooker
have fun

 

[scubaaaronh]

A few we really liked were
Margate bay.

City Pier guided with Dee Scarr probably one of the best dives we did was with her. The fish and eels know her and come right up to you looking for a handout.

Angel City. Windsock for a night dive was nice. Alice in wonderland. Invisibles was cool it is the double reef system there. Karpata and thousand steps.

 

[Dragon2115]

Well, you could put a map of Bonaire up on the wall and throw darts at it until you hit a dive site and then write it down. Seriously, it's hard to go wrong. Every site we dove had something about it that made it worthwhile.

One dive that really stood out though was Salt Pier. Maybe we got lucky on that particular day, that happens, but we had incredible amounts of sealife around us. We started off with huge (too dense to see through) schools of baitfish right at the shore. Then ran into tarpon, scorpionfish (2), octopus (2), several types of eels along with two large free swimming green morays, turtles, as well as the rest of the usual critters that you always see diving on Bonaire. About the only thing we didn't see on that dive was a ray of some kind. Again, we may have just gotten lucky to run into that many things at one time but it was really cool.

If you decide to give it a try it's a guided dive due to security regulations so notify who you're diving with in advance so they can make arrangements.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Well, you could put a map of Bonaire up on the wall and throw darts at it until you hit a dive site and then write it down. Seriously, it's hard to go wrong. Every site we dove had something about it that made it worthwhile.

If you decide to give it a try it's a guided dive due to security regulations so notify who you're diving with in advance so they can make arrangements.

Agreed. it is hard to pick just one site they are all great. Cant wait just 7 more months till we return again

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Make sure you bring some hard soled booties. The shore is is rocky.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

 

[scubaaaronh]

to expand on the hard sole boots. take your cold water hard sole boots they cushion more on the hard ground and sharp pieces of coral.

 

[diversteve]

Our "best" shoredive was probably Vista Blue. But the current was ripping in the afternoon. Cliff/La Machaca off Capt' Don's offers about the only vertical wall off Bonaire. We also liked Angel City, there's some huge purple sponges in the sand channel between the reef to the south. And Salt Pier, especially in the morning with the sun streaming through it might be the best dive there. DM escorted only now.

Rappel is a good boat dive that can't be done from shore. If you get out to Klein, there's a drift dive at Hands Off and lots of Black Coral to be seen at Forest. Bari Reef off your property is entertaining, I've seen squid there and it's an official REEF fishcount site, you can do one with BD&A while you're there. Supposed to be the most prolific reef in the Caribbean - at least for counted fish species. And it can be done as a long shallow dive that's still interesting. I filmed and watched the fish in 15' of water over some coral/hurricane debris for about 10mins just south of the dock while offgassing.

 

[Drewpy]

Throw a dart its all GOOD!!!
North-Karpata
South -Invisibles

and everything in between!

Have fun!

 

[ippy01]

Some great suggestions....I will try to get to as many as I can.

I guess I have to take my cold-water boots out of retirement (I find that they make it very hard to get my fins off when wearing them).

Again, thanks!