Field note ·
Bonaire's beginner shore dives, and the closest bed to each
Every beginner shore dive on our Bonaire map, its depth range, and the nearest stay measured in a straight line from our own coordinates.
All 15 dive sites on our Bonaire map have a shore entry. 7 of those shore sites are rated beginner. So a newly certified diver can pick a site, drive there and walk in, with no boat schedule to fit around. The list below runs from the site with the closest bed to the one with the farthest.
Short version. 3 of the 7 beginner shore sites have a stay on our map within 1 km (Bachelor's Beach, Yellow Sub and Something Special). Salt Pier and 1000 Steps are more than 3 km from every stay we list, so plan to drive.
Bachelor's Beach
Seven steps down to a small beach in Belnem, gradual reef slope, free parking on EEG Boulevard.
Yellow Sub
House reef in front of Dive Friends Bonaire with a sandy training area to 5 m. Tarpon, seahorses and frogfish are seen here.
Something Special
Reef and sand next to the Harbour Village marina entrance, with eagle rays over the sand. Currents vary.
Andrea I
Easy coral-beach entry marked by yellow stones, reef to a wall at 8 m. Common check-out dive site.
Alice in Wonderland
Double reef: first reef 8-20 m suits beginners, second reef past 30 m. Turtles and barracuda.
Salt Pier
Coral-covered pier pillars with schooling fish and turtles. Only dive when no ship is docked.
1000 Steps
Limestone staircase (67 steps) down to the beach, reef plateau to about 9 m then a drop-off past 40 m.
Before the first shore dive
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.
Water and season
Water runs 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.
The Bonaire page has all 15 sites on one map, and all 8 stays with the sites inside 1.5 km of each.