3 dive sites within 1.5 kmArea photo
hotel
Harbour Village Beach Club
Yellow Sub645 mSomething Special770 mThe Cliff1.3 km
PADI 5-Star dive center with private boats and a private marina; Something Special reef is at the marina entrance.
Shore diving on your own schedule
Diving in Bonaire: Shore Dives and the Stays Closest to Them
Dive sites, places to stay and trips to book, in one place
15 dive sites mapped · 8 hand-picked stays
Where to stay in Bonaire for diving
Stay close to the shore sites. All 8 of our picks in Bonaire have a dive site within 1.5 km. Harbour Village Beach Club has the most, with 3 inside 1.5 km: Yellow Sub (645 m), Something Special (770 m) and The Cliff (1.3 km).
Map of Bonaire
Every dive site we map and every stay we picked. Pick a dive site to see the stays closest to it.
Pick a dive site
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Stay
Pick your dates in the map to see live prices in Bonaire from the big booking sites.
Hand-picked stays for divers in Bonaire
Picked for divers, sorted by how close they are to the dive sites
Photos show the area. View Deal opens the property's own photos.
3 dive sites within 1.5 kmArea photo
condo
Sand Dollar Condominium Resort
The Cliff694 mYellow Sub1.2 kmSomething Special1.3 km
Oceanfront condos from studios to three bedrooms, with pier and beach entry and a Dive Friends shop next door.
2 dive sites within 1.5 kmArea photo
dive resort
Buddy Dive Resort
The Cliff487 mYellow Sub1.4 km
Full dive operation on site with boat and shore diving, plus a tank delivery service for shore dives.
1 dive site within 1.5 kmArea photo
villa
Hamlet Oasis Resort
24 self-catering cottages steps from the sea; access point for The Cliff dive site, about 2 miles north of Kralendijk.
1 dive site within 1.5 kmArea photo
hotel
Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire
Toucan Diving (PADI 5-Star) on site and the Eighteenth Palm reef off its beach. Renovations under way; pools and beach remain open.
1 dive site within 1.5 kmArea photo
dive resort
Captain Don's Habitat
Unlimited 24/7 shore diving on the house reef with an on-site dive shop offering nitrox and technical diving.
1 dive site within 1.5 kmArea photo
guesthouse
Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire
Family-run guesthouse in Belnem with a communal kitchen, gear rinse and storage, and Scuba School Bonaire on site; minutes from the southern dive sites.
1 dive site within 1.5 kmArea photo
dive resort
Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Small, long-running dive inn in Kralendijk with a PADI 5-Star shop and diving from its own pier.
No hand-picked stays match those filters. The map above shows everything available.
The closest Bonaire stay to a dive site, Hamlet Oasis Resort at 145 m, ranks #4 of 58 across all our destinations. See every stay ranked by distance to the reef
Dive sites in Bonaire
Sort
-
Something Special
BeginnerReef and sand next to the Harbour Village marina entrance, with eagle rays over the sand. Currents vary.
Closest stay: Harbour Village Beach Club 770 m
12.1590, -68.2810 -
Yellow Sub
BeginnerHouse reef in front of Dive Friends Bonaire with a sandy training area to 5 m. Tarpon, seahorses and frogfish are seen here.
Closest stay: Harbour Village Beach Club 645 m
12.1596, -68.2820 -
Bachelor's Beach
BeginnerSeven steps down to a small beach in Belnem, gradual reef slope, free parking on EEG Boulevard.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 471 m
12.1253, -68.2874 -
Alice in Wonderland
BeginnerDouble reef: first reef 8-20 m suits beginners, second reef past 30 m. Turtles and barracuda.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 2.4 km
12.0999, -68.2855 -
Andrea I
BeginnerEasy coral-beach entry marked by yellow stones, reef to a wall at 8 m. Common check-out dive site.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 1.7 km
12.1881, -68.2966 -
Salt Pier
BeginnerCoral-covered pier pillars with schooling fish and turtles. Only dive when no ship is docked.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 4.3 km
12.0828, -68.2835 -
1000 Steps
BeginnerLimestone staircase (67 steps) down to the beach, reef plateau to about 9 m then a drop-off past 40 m.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 5.4 km
12.2106, -68.3217 -
Eighteenth Palm
IntermediateSandy beach entry in front of Plaza Beach Resort, double reef with a sand channel at about 15 m. Non-guests need a resort day pass.
Closest stay: Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire 211 m
12.1379, -68.2766 -
Tori's Reef
IntermediateSpotted eagle rays over a wide sandy bottom, between Salt Pier and the White Slave huts. Currents moderate to strong.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 5.7 km
12.0706, -68.2807 -
Ol' Blue
IntermediateAlso called Tolo. Healthy reef off the Queen's Highway, known for tarpon schools.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 6.9 km
12.2154, -68.3371 -
La Dania's Leap
IntermediateGiant-stride entry from a limestone cliff, often done as a drift toward Karpata. Advanced Open Water recommended.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 8.1 km
12.2182, -68.3480 -
Karpata
IntermediateSteep coral walls and overhangs on the northwest coast, entry by concrete platform with stairs, site marker 12.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 8.5 km
12.2194, -68.3520 -
The Cliff
AdvancedVertical wall dropping past 40 m, reached via Hamlet Oasis. Currents can be moderate to strong.
Closest stay: Hamlet Oasis Resort 145 m
12.1745, -68.2904 -
Hilma Hooker
Advanced72 m cargo ship sunk in 1984, lying between two reefs off Angel City. Advanced Open Water and nitrox recommended.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 2.2 km
12.1012, -68.2885 -
Red Slave
AdvancedSouthernmost leeward site by the historic slave huts. Strong, unpredictable currents; experienced divers only.
Closest stay: Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 11.2 km
12.0269, -68.2514
No dive sites match these filters.
The water here averages 26.9 °C (80 °F) in March and 29.3 °C (85 °F) in October. Bonaire water temperature by month, with the wetsuit for each month
Dives and trips to book in Bonaire
Top-rated on Viator. Each rating is that trip's own, with the month we checked it.
4 Wheel Diving
Small-group dive experience
See dates and prices
4 Wheel Diving
Discover Scuba Diving in Diver's Paradise
See dates and prices
Let's Go Dive Bonaire
Concierge two-tank boat dive (4 divers)
See dates and prices
Amazing Bonaire
Bioluminescent night dive
See dates and pricesViator
All scuba dives in Bonaire
Compare guided dives, courses and boat trips in Bonaire, with reviews and free cancellation on most.
See all on ViatorLiveaboards
No liveaboards operate from Bonaire right now. Divers here stay on land and dive from shore or day boats.
About diving in Bonaire
Bonaire is a shore diving island. Most of the marked sites sit along the west coast road, so you can rent a pickup, load your tanks and dive on your own schedule. The whole coastline is a protected marine park, and every diver pays the yearly nature fee before the first dive.
Nearby: Curaçao
How the Caribbean destinations compare, by stay-to-reef distance and water temperature: Best Caribbean diving
Planning questions answered from these maps: Field notes
- Water
- 27-29 °C
- Visibility
- Usually 18 m or better, often over 30 m at many sites
- Best months
- Year-round. Bonaire lies outside the main hurricane belt; coral spawning chances are best April to October.
Diving Bonaire: common questions
Where should I stay in Bonaire for diving?
Stay close to the shore sites. All 8 of our picks in Bonaire have a dive site within 1.5 km. Harbour Village Beach Club has the most, with 3 inside 1.5 km: Yellow Sub (645 m), Something Special (770 m) and The Cliff (1.3 km).
What kind of diving does Bonaire have?
We map 15 dive sites in Bonaire, all reached from shore. 7 are rated beginner, 5 intermediate and 3 advanced.
What is the best time of year to dive Bonaire?
Year-round. Bonaire lies outside the main hurricane belt; coral spawning chances are best April to October. Water temperature is 27-29 °C. Visibility: Usually 18 m or better, often over 30 m at many sites.
Are there dive sites for beginners in Bonaire?
Yes. Beginner-rated dive sites in Bonaire include 1000 Steps, Andrea I, Yellow Sub, Something Special, Bachelor's Beach and Alice in Wonderland.
What should divers know before diving Bonaire?
STINAPA nature fee and diver orientation
Every diver and snorkeler pays a STINAPA nature fee of 40 USD per person per calendar year (valid January 1 to December 31), which covers the Bonaire National Marine Park and Washington Slagbaai National Park; children under 13 are exempt. Independent divers must complete a mandatory orientation, a short briefing plus one supervised check-out dive, before diving on their own. Dive gloves, touching coral or animals, taking anything from the water and anchoring are prohibited, and reef-safe sunscreen is required.
Source: Bonaire.com
Are there liveaboards from Bonaire?
Not from Bonaire right now. Divers here stay on land and dive on day trips.