Unmissable
Klein Bonaire
A small uninhabited island with a marine reserve. No Dive Name, Angel City, and Twixt are among the best sites. Boat access required.
One of the world's last truly accessible reef systems. Over 80 dive sites, shore entries, and crystal-clear water — all in the Visit Bonaire app.
Bonaire has been a protected marine park since 1979 — one of the first in the world. The result is an intact coral reef that wraps around the entire island, with visibility regularly exceeding 30 metres. Unlike many dive destinations, most of Bonaire's best sites are accessible directly from shore. You park your truck, gear up, and walk in. No boat schedules, no crowds, no rush.
The island attracts divers at all experience levels. Sites like Klein Bonaire and the Salt Pier draw experienced divers, while calmer areas like 1000 Steps (despite the name) offer perfect conditions for beginners. Year-round water temperatures of 26–29°C mean no thick wetsuit is required — a 3mm shorty is fine for most visitors year-round.
Every one of these sites is mapped with GPS coordinates and entry instructions in the Visit Bonaire app — available fully offline.
A small uninhabited island with a marine reserve. No Dive Name, Angel City, and Twixt are among the best sites. Boat access required.
The legs of the salt loading pier are encrusted with coral and surrounded by schools of fish. One of the most photographed dive sites in the Caribbean.
One of the best wall dives on the island. A steep coral wall dropping to 30m+, with eagle rays and turtles common. Located at the island's northwest.
Despite the name, it's 67 steps. A beautiful reef slope with good coral health and excellent snorkeling in the shallows.
A 75m cargo ship that sank in 1984 now sits at 20–29m depth, covered in coral. One of the best wreck dives in the world.
A shallow bay on the east side of the island — perfect for snorkeling and ideal for beginners. Seagrass beds attract turtles and rays.
All divers and snorkelers pay a one-time annual nature fee (currently around $40 USD). This covers unlimited diving in the marine park for 12 months from the date of purchase. Buy it at your dive shop when you first arrive — you'll receive a tag to attach to your equipment.
Bonaire enforces strict no-touch, no-anchor, no-take rules across the entire marine park. Buoyancy control is essential — even brushing the reef with a fin can cause damage that takes decades to recover. The park wardens take these rules seriously, and so should you. The reef's health is why you came here in the first place.
Most sites are accessible by car — a pickup truck or 4WD with a flat bed is the classic setup for gear. Gear up at the site, enter via the beach or rocky shore, and fly your surface marker buoy (SMB) on ascent. Mark your vehicle so the dive site attendants know someone is in the water. Most sites have a concrete block or yellow stone marker identifying the site name.
You don't need to be a certified diver to enjoy Bonaire's reef. Snorkeling is excellent at dozens of sites around the island. Lac Bay, Sorobon, and the shallows at most dive sites offer clear, calm water with healthy coral right at the surface. Turtles are common, parrotfish are everywhere, and the colours of the reef are visible from above without ever diving below 2 metres. Bring a mask, fins, and curiosity — that's all you need.
The Visit Bonaire app marks the best snorkeling spots alongside the dive sites — all offline and ready before you land.
The Visit Bonaire app has every dive site mapped with GPS coordinates, entry instructions, and depth information — all available offline. No signal, no problem.
Looking for tours? See Bonaire island tours · Travel guide