Bonaire scuba diving

The warm water, the beautiful coral reefs and the colorful tropical fishes - explore the breathtaking underwater world during a Bonaire diving vacation. The Caribbean island is called 'Diver's Paradise' for good reason. There is no better place in the world to snorkel, to scuba dive, to follow a diving course or to get your diving certificate. The island of Little Bonaire is a populair spot for scuba diving trips and vacations. It's not just the view, the coral reefs and the brightly colored fish that are a sight to behold, the island is also a known and important nesting spot for sea turtles. When can we welcome you to one of our diving resorts on Bonaire?

Impression of diving on Bonaire

Dive Friends Bonaire

You can head to our resort for all your snorkeling and diving experiences, in collaboration with 5-star PADI diving school Dive Friends Bonaire. Resort Bonaire is one of the 8 full service locations of Dive Friends Bonaire on the island. They ensure diving on Bonaire is as easy and comfortable as possible for all our guests. For instance, they offer PADI certified diving courses and specialy courses. You can also leave your own diving equipment in a lockable locker. That's handy. If you do not have your own equipment, you can easily rent it at the diving school. Use our facilities and activities at the resort or at the other Dive Friends Bonaire locations on the island. The diving location is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our favorite diving spots

You'll recognize all diving and snorkeling spots by the yellow rocks by the side of the road. We recommend snorkelers use water shoes.

Tip 1: Salt Pier

The must-do diving and snorkeling spot on Bonaire! The pillars and platforms create shade and attract lots of underwater life. It is a shallow dive, making it suitable for divers of all levels. It's also a great spot for snorkelers. Turtles, seahorses, and octopi are frequently spotted in the shallow area between the waterside and the pier. Good to know: when a ship is docked at the pier diving and/or snorkeling is not allowed!

Tip 2: Andrea I and II

You'll find Andrea I or Andrea II in a quiet bay. A beautiful diving and snorkeling spot with hard and soft corals. Perfect for beginner divers/snorkelers. There often are boats from organized snorkel trips, but you can easily reach it from land in water shoes.

Tip 3: Bari Reef

Bari Reef has easy access to the water. The location has a lot of biodiversity. Snorkelers are recommended to focus on the collapsed pier right after the entrance. There is a small derelict building on the waterside. There usually are lots of fish between the pier blocks.

Tip 4: Hilma Hooker

The Hilma Hooker is the only 'true' wreck dive on Bonaire. There are multiple small wrecks, but the 72-meter Hilma Hooker is definitely the most interesting. The freighter sank between 2 reefs on September 12, 1984. The wreck is on its side, parallel to the coast. The top is at around 18 meters deep, and the lowest point is at around 28 meters deep. This makes the wreck suitable for advanced recreational divers. Entering the wreck is not recommended.

Tip 5: Karpata

From the parking lot you take a few steps down to the coral beach. It's best to enter the water on the right side of the platform. The bottom is very rocky, with lots of petrified coral. Once in the water, it's only a short swim to the beautiful, hilly, coral reef. On windy days the water can be a bit more rough here.

Frequently asked questions about diving in Bonaire: