North sites

[Brad J]

Hi, we're coming back in November and would like to get recommendations on northern dive sites from recent visitors. We've only dove Karpata and Tolo.

We've done many in the south and would like to spend more time this trip up north.

Thank you!

EDIT: Shore sites only (no boat) and really only looking at the sites south of Karpata.

 

[tursiops]

Karpata is the last open STINAPA site going north. The sites in the National Park are closed to diving, There are a couple of informal sites north of Karpata (and the oild tanks) but south of the Park; they are quite nice. The various guide books speak of them, but theya re ot on the STINAPA map. Many of the sites south of Karpata are boat-only, and are definitely worth doing to. Rappel, for example, and Bon Bini Na Casa. Country Gardens has some really interesting huge boulders at the reef edge that have lots of life around them.

 

[Carlymegsmom]

We like the Cliff next to Hamlet's Oasis neighborhood, as well as the Andrea I and II dive sites in the Sabadeco/Crowns area. Followed by Oil Slick which is north of the Andreas. Jeff Davis past Oil Slick is nice but the entry over the years has become more difficult (for short people like me!). We usually dive Weber's Joy the next yellow rock north of Jeff Davis. 1,000 steps is nice if you are able to get up the steps with your dive gear on! Definitely purchase the Reef Smart Bonaire book for guidance. We arrive this Saturday for 2 weeks of diving bliss!

 

[Carlymegsmom]

We like the Cliff next to Hamlet's Oasis neighborhood, as well as the Andrea I and II dive sites in the Sabadeco/Crowns area. Followed by Oil Slick which is north of the Andreas. Jeff Davis past Oil Slick is nice but the entry over the years has become more difficult (for short people like me!). We usually dive Weber's Joy the next yellow rock north of Jeff Davis. 1,000 steps is nice if you are able to get up the steps with your dive gear on! Definitely purchase the Reef Smart Bonaire book for guidance. We arrive this Saturday for 2 weeks of diving bliss!

I forgot to mention looking forward to diving Bari's Reef now that the new park is open. And Something Special near Between 2 Buns.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Oil Slick is one of my fav's on Bon. If you go the right of ladder platform there's a perfect "bench" seat that's "naturally carved" into the rocks to sit down...put fins on and then just step forward with your giant stride!

 

[BigDaddyGlad]

Oil Slick Leap is a great dive, particularly the Leap part.

The Tolo/Karpata duo is a great dive pair, but recently I've been dropping off gear and buddies at Dania's Leap, parking the car at Karpata then walking back. You can then do your entry at Dania's, swim to Karpata, have your SI on the shore at Karpata and then do the Karpata dive.

 

[wwguy]

The Tolo/Karpata duo is a great dive pair, but recently I've been dropping off gear and buddies at Dania's Leap, parking the car at Karpata then walking back. You can then do your entry at Dania's, swim to Karpata, have your SI on the shore at Karpata and then do the Karpata dive.

So you're basically diving the same section of Karpata reef twice in a row? I.e. south of the Karpata entry/exit point?

I ask because the restricted King Willem-Alexander Reserve—where diving is prohibited—begins about 100 yards north of the Karpata parking area and entry/exit point. The short section between that's open to diving is a great place to enjoy any remaining air after diving Karpata to the south, but it's not worthy of an entire tank IMHO.

 

[BigDaddyGlad]

So you're basically diving the same section of Karpata reef twice in a row? I.e. south of the Karpata entry/exit point?

I ask because the restricted King Willem-Alexander Reserve—where diving is prohibited—begins about 100 yards north of the Karpata parking area and entry/exit point. The short section between that's open to diving is a great place to enjoy any remaining air after diving Karpata to the south, but it's not worthy of an entire tank IMHO.

Correct.

The entry at La Dania's Leap is fun; I love jumping off the cliff here (and Oil Slick!).

My buddies and I really enjoy the reef walls at Karpata. The sand channels often have some nice surprises, the reef is in relatively better shape than in the south, and there's always lots of wildlife to see. We will typically do the first dive at 15-18m, and then do Karpata proper at much lower depths, just along the top of the reef before the drop off.

It's not an usual route; it was recommended to me by another diver a couple years ago, and I've seen many folks making that walk back to La Dania's Leap along the road. Of course, you don't have to repeat Karpata! We've also had mornings where we did Oil Slick or Tolo, then did the La Dania-to-Karpata dive.