Bonaire · 8 snorkel spots · 7 from shore
Bonaire snorkeling: walk-in reefs along the west coast
Bonaire snorkeling works like its shore diving: park at a yellow stone, gear up and swim out. On the west coast the reef starts a short swim from shore at spots like 1000 Steps and Andrea I and II. Sorobon on Lac Bay is the calm choice on the windward side, with seagrass and mangroves where turtles feed.
Diving too? The Bonaire dive guide maps 15 dive sites and 8 stays.
Where to snorkel
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1000 Steps
Shore67 concrete steps down to a coral-rubble beach; reef starts about 6 m out, with green and hawksbill turtles, especially in the afternoon.
Water shoes needed for sharp stones; parking fills early, arrive before 9:00.
Nearest stays
- Hamlet Oasis Resort 5.4 km Check dates
- Captain Don's Habitat 5.6 km Check dates
Position: 12.2106° N, 68.3217° W
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Andrea I and II
ShoreTwo entries marked by yellow stones about a 10 minute walk apart, with hard and soft corals, turtles, barracuda and seahorses.
Coral growth starts around 6 m; parking and parasols at the beach.
Nearest stays
- Hamlet Oasis Resort 1.7 km Check dates
- Captain Don's Habitat 2.0 km Check dates
Position: 12.1881° N, 68.2966° W
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Bachelor's Beach
ShoreSmall sheltered 70 m beach under a low cliff, reached by a 7-step staircase, with the reef a short swim from the sand.
Showers, changing rooms, toilets and shaded tables; parking 15 m from the stairs.
Nearest stays
- Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 471 m Check dates
- Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire 1.9 km Check dates
Position: 12.1253° N, 68.2874° W
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Klein Bonaire (No Name Beach)
BoatUninhabited islet off Kralendijk with large coral formations, tropical fish and regular sea turtles; visibility up to 30 m at No Name Beach.
Water taxi from Kralendijk, about $25 round trip; no toilets, showers or shade on the island.
Nearest stays
- Harbour Village Beach Club about 3 km Check dates
- Sand Dollar Condominium Resort about 3 km Check dates
Approximate position: 12.1575° N, 68.3095° W
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Sorobon (Lac Bay)
ShoreSheltered snorkeling in seagrass lagoons and among mangrove roots on the windward side, where sea turtles feed; suited to beginners.
Nearest stays
- Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 6.4 km Check dates
- Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire 6.6 km Check dates
Position: 12.0921° N, 68.2359° W
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Te Amo Beach
ShoreWhite-sand entry with no sharp rocks opposite the airport; lettuce, brain and rock star coral start about 50 m out.
Toilets, shade trees, a food truck and free gravel parking.
Nearest stays
- Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire 600 m Check dates
- Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn 969 m Check dates
Position: 12.1346° N, 68.2796° W
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Karpata
ShoreAbout 20 stone steps lead to a concrete entry platform; much of the reef sits under 5 m before dropping off steeply.
Possible strong currents, for experienced snorkelers; the King Willem-Alexander Reserve on the north side is closed.
Nearest stays
- Hamlet Oasis Resort 8.5 km Check dates
- Captain Don's Habitat 8.7 km Check dates
Position: 12.2194° N, 68.3520° W
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Salt Pier
ShorePier pillars covered in sponges and corals with fish schools, tarpon, barracuda and frequent turtles.
Ask permission at the yellow guardhouse; snorkel only when no ship is moored; rocky entry.
Nearest stays
- Oasis Guesthouse Bonaire 4.3 km Check dates
- Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire 6.1 km Check dates
Position: 12.0828° N, 68.2835° W
Bonaire snorkeling questions
Do snorkelers pay the Bonaire nature fee?
Yes. The STINAPA nature fee is $40 per person per calendar year, the same for snorkelers, swimmers and divers. It covers the marine park and Washington Slagbaai National Park.
Do kids pay the nature fee?
Children under 13 are exempt unless they scuba dive. Residents of the Dutch Caribbean islands are exempt with ID, and cruise passengers can pay $10 for one day.
How do you show you paid?
Pay online through STINAPA. A QR code arrives by email; carry it with your ID when you go in the water. There is no physical tag.
What sunscreen is allowed?
STINAPA requires reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate. It also asks you not to touch, move or grab marine life, and not to wear gloves.
When is the best time to snorkel?
The water is 26 to 28 °C all year, with 15 to 30 m visibility. Mornings from 8:00 to 11:00 are calmest, and afternoons are better for turtles.
Sources
Every spot and answer on this page comes from one of these pages, read in October 2026. Parks, regulators and tourism boards come first. We name our sources rather than link them: the only links that leave this page are the Stay22 "Check dates" links.
- Bonaire.com (bonaire.com/en/snorkel-spots) · 1000 Steps; Andrea I and II; Bachelor's Beach; Sorobon (Lac Bay); Te Amo Beach; Karpata; Salt Pier; When is the best time to snorkel?
- Bonaire.com (bonaire.com/snorkeling/best) · Klein Bonaire (No Name Beach)
- Bonaire.com (bonaire.com/en/travel-info/nature-fee) · Do snorkelers pay the Bonaire nature fee?; Do kids pay the nature fee?; How do you show you paid?
- STINAPA Bonaire (stinapabonaire.org/rules-and-regulations/diving) · What sunscreen is allowed?
How we picked and measured
Every spot here is named as a snorkel spot by a source above that is not a dive or snorkel business: a marine park, a tourism board, a magazine or a guidebook. We left out spots that only an operator or a snorkel directory vouches for. Conditions change with wind and swell, so check with a local shop on the day.
Stay distances are straight lines between two points on our map, not walking routes, so the walk is longer. A figure marked "about" has one end at a town-level point. The same method ranks every dive stay on our walk-to-the-reef list. "Check dates" links go to Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How we make money.