(contact us for details). Depths range from 15 feet to more than 130. New divers wont want to miss Salt Pier. The payoff for divers? The 236-foot-long (72 m) Hilma Hooker is one of Bonaires best-loved dive sites, offering a spectacular wreck for advanced divers. VIP Diving is open 365 days a year from 8 AM to 5 PM. Travel Tip: Most flights leave and depart on Saturday, so plan accordingly. The official currency is the U.S. dollar. You'll wade in next to the concrete pier, and follow it until you can float out to the reef. With only a week to spend on holiday and so many excellent dive opportunities, repeat visitors to Bonaire have learned to be discriminating connoisseurs of the specific underwater attractions of particular sites and pay close attention to the variety of dive options offered daily when signing up for boat dives or planning their shore dives. Delta offers direct flights from Atlanta, and American Airlines flies nonstop from Miami. Park It: Located just before the restricted reserve in the northwest corner of the island, Karpata's parking lot overlooks the site. Scuba Diving may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. This Caribbean island has been named the best place in the world for shore diving in Scuba Divings annual Readers Choice for decades. Klein Bonaire is an example of what has gone right in the evolution of the Bonaire eco ethos. A car rental often included with resort packages allows divers to maximize the flexibility offered by the plethora of shore sites and 24-hour access. As shore diving is most common on Bonaire, we strongly advise the use of open heel fins with booties instead of full foot fins. Depths range from 25 feet to 125. The Bonaire government also enacted legislation to protect topside resources. Covid-19 infections are decreasing in Bonaire and there were 18 active cases as of May 17, 2021. September and October also offer less crowds and better package deals. Heres our divers guide to Bonaire in Covid times. Butterflyfish, triggers and angels flit about the reef in about 50 feet of water. The 6 days or more packages are consecutive. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. If you dive with us, you will have access to our gear room 24/7. Rainy weather is rarely a concern on this arid island. Are you with less than 4 people and do you want your own dive guide or instructor? Get In: Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds at this very popular site. Replace or update your card, buy a Special Edition or Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card, or go digital with the purchase of a PADI eCard. There is a helpful Q&A for travelers to Bonaire on the crisis website of the Public Entity Bonaire. Abraham Blvd #77 The dry season is recommended for those who value both beach time and dive time. Salt Pier While this pier is inaccessible to divers when a ship is moored and loading salt from the overhead conveyor belt system, it can be dived on most days either from shore or by boat. Bonaires dry season lasts from April to November. The rougher east coast offers some very exciting sites too though. Bonaire is located outside of the hurricane zone so is therefore less at risk than other Caribbean islands. Sunny days with a breeze you can set your calendar to it on Bonaire. Visitors to Bonaire can choose between boat and shore diving. Average air temperatures reach highs of about 87 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of about 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Dive It: This site features wall-like formations--unusual for Bonaire--with rolling slopes and sand chutes that lead down to 120 feet. Blessed by geographic synergy with the sea and the coral reef, Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. In 2001 the island became part of Bonaire National Marine Park. Copyright 2022 Scuba Diving. There are also natural staghorn forests and the typical Klein Bonaire attraction of clear water and a precipitous sponge-adorned dropoff from the 40- to 90-foot range. Mountain View These are the greatest places to explore unique geologic formations, according to our annual Readers Choice survey. It was privately owned for 131 years, and in 1995 its owners wanted to build resorts and holiday homes, which alarmed a group of local citizens and business owners, who feared the ecological ramifications of such development and in turn formed the Foundation for the Preservation of Klein Bonaire (FPKB). Schedule your diving trip to Bonaire today and see for yourself the astonishing beauty, welcoming climate and abundance of dive opportunities that exist for the taking. The waters are clear; there is minimal current; and the beach is idyllic. The options are endless. Dive It: Beginners can find lots to explore on the calm, shallow shelf that is loaded with marine life, including reef tropicals like angelfish and sergeant majors. If you choose to dive some of the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean from the comfort of the boat, know that the satellite isle of Klein Bonaire adds even more dives to the menu. Recommended Dive Equipment: A 3 mm suit typically will suffice, or even just a swimsuit and rash guard. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Located in the southern Caribbean, Bonaire offers the perfect combination of location and weather that make diving possible all year round. According to the Reuters Covid-19 tracker, there have been 1,610 infections and 17 coronavirus-related deaths in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba since the pandemic began. This island oasis enjoys year-round pleasant temperatures with average water temps ranging from about 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter to 84 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. It is an ideal spot for underwater photographers. There is also a huge ship anchor embedded in the coral. Because of this, marine life abounds with more than 470 fish species found in Bonaires waters. Azure vase sponges decorate the shallow reef at Karpata. Whether you are a novice who is planning your first diving experience or a seasoned diver looking for that perfect diving spot, Bonaire is where its at for two simple reasons. If you plan to travel to the Caribbean during early fall, Bonaire is your best bet to avoid tropical storms and hurricanes. The weather in Bonaire allows you to dive all year round! Please know it is prohibited to wear gloves. Maybe it was the contrast of seeing so little of it elsewhere in the Caribbean, but more likely it was the combination of the healthy and abundant natural staghorn formations along with the prolific outplanting efforts of the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB). Most of the island is a protected reserve and sea turtle hatchery, though beach lovers can spend some time on Playa Neme off the northwest coast. It might be a good idea for the non-divers to sign up for our PADI Discover Scuba Diving program! Dive It: There's practically no shallow terrace on the northwest corner of Klein, just a continual downward slope. Park It: At the entrance for the radio towers, there's a small parking lot just across the street from the winding staircase (there are actually only about 64 steps) that leads down to the cove. Park It: Park across the street from the stone path. We offer a whole range of different shore dive sites: from the most famous of the island to some unmarked sites off the beaten track. 1,000 Steps This iconic shore dive is really only 64 steps instead of 1,000, but as you hike back up after the dive with your tank, weights and camera youll understand how it can feel much farther. The Cayman Islands present only opportunities to underwater photographers, which calls for a disciplined approach. May and June offer some of the most consistent weather, fewest visitors and best travel bargains of any time of the year. VIP Diving believes in a personal approach. Dive It: A sandy plain swarms with razorfish and sennets; at the drop-off at about 40 feet, currents have shaped barrel sponges into flat discs. Get In: An easy entry down a stone path that leads to the water's edge. Free maps at the airport guide you to every named site on the island, but its easy to find the entrances to Bonaires many shore dives, even if youre a first-timer. Formerly the site of two plantations on the northern part of the island, the Washington Slagbaai National Park is a 22-square-mile preserve established in 1969. Sitting off the coast of Venezuela and surrounded by a marine reserve, Bonaire is a biodiversity hotspot with thriving reefs, wrecks and more than 60 dive sites but is it open for business? J.A. The CDC Bonaire guide outlines what to do after returning to the U.S., including when to self-isolate and when follow-up tests are required. All rights reserved. Bonaire also advises all travelers to make sure their health insurance will cover the costs of medical care during their stay, including care related to Covid-19. Its no surprise that Bonaire is considered the premier Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. By the early 2000s it was choking the reef, and the health of the islands ecosystem was in jeopardy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .reading-box-container-1 .element-bottomshadow:before,.reading-box-container-1 .element-bottomshadow:after{opacity:0.5;}, Bonaire Visitor Entry Tax starting July 1, 2022, Belmar Oceanfront Apartments Bonaire 2022 Specials, Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire 2022 Specials. For the past 25 yearsScuba Divingmagazines Readers Choice Awards have designated Bonaire as the best shore-diving destination in the Caribbean for good reason. We cannot be held responsible for any errors on the site and for any actions you may take after viewing its content. If you travel to Bonaire without providing a negative test result, you will have to go into quarantine for 10 days at your own expense. An easier way to dive the east coast is going by boat with our partner Bonaire East Coast Divers. Salt pans within the park are home to Caribbean flamingos, a species also found along the south end of the island in the salt pans used for the solar evaporative process that yields the huge mounds of white crystalline salt that is loaded onto freighters at the end of Bonaires famed Salt Pier. Because we use a truck instead of a boat to get from one site to the other, our guides get the opportunity to explain more about the island, show our guests beautiful places and introduce them to the local culture. The swim to the drop-off is a bit long; make sure you have enough air for the way back in case you encounter current. Another small island about a half mile offshore would have corals growing around the entire circumference. Well help you plan a customized vacation. With these temperatures for most people diving is very comfortable in Bonaire. The attractions here include abundant star corals and pillar corals along with large schools of blue tangs, parrotfish, French angelfish and creole wrasses. While the propeller is a popular subject of photographs, impressive rope sponges adorn portions of the hull, providing a crimson offset to the monochromatic steel. A printed copy of the health declaration and Covid-19 test result must be provided at check-in, boarding, and arrival on Bonaire. Take a short walk into Bonaires turquoise waters and youll find pristine coral reefs, thriving seagrass beds, fascinating wrecks and mangroves all of which are bustling with Caribbean marine life. We have more, Bervoets, head of Bonaire's Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, supports conservation across the region from managing MPAs to securing shark protection after a career in. In general, Bonaire has a nice and quiet atmosphere, even in high season. All rights reserved. The pilings that support the pier are richly decorated with sponges and frequently grazed by both queen angelfish and French angelfish. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. info@vipdiving.com. Dive in and youll discover a thriving reef with beautiful corals, numerous fish, barracudas, and passing turtles. Language: Officially Dutch, but everyone also speaks English. By submitting above, you agree to Scuba Diving's privacy policy. Dive It: The shallows feature hordes of chromis. It is also a way to maintain small groups. Photo by Stephen Frink. The strong coalitions he builds across the region deliver conservation wins time and time again. Want to dive today? RecompressionChamberBonaire.com. Even the words Divers Paradise are stamped on the islands license plates as a reminder to Bonaires well-earned reputation. Marine and terrestrial parks are only a part of Bonaires conservation endeavors. Likewise,Just a Nice Divealong the eastern tip of Klein Bonaire is far different fromForeston the western tip. The park prohibits spearfishing, wearing gloves (to discourage touching fragile coral), anchoring, and removing anything living or dead from the reefs. Large schools of French grunts, parrotfish, creole wrasses and sometimes horse-eye jacks are usually in residence. Live a life others only dream about. The site gets its name from the ubiquitous angelfish found here, but there's plenty more to see. Other than a private yacht or boat, the only way to get onto Bonaire is by plane. Stony coral tissue loss disease has decimated some regions of the Caribbean, so it is inspiring to see these brain, star and pillar corals in such spectacular shape. Plus, with just one major road encircling the 111-square-mile island, its practically impossible to get lost. More Information: ScubaDiving.com/Bonaire. Bonaire has long been one of the top dive spots in the Caribbean, if not the world. Our groups for both courses and guided dives have a maximum of 4 people. A certified cave guide will lead you into the correct caverns and make sure you dont inadvertently damage the delicate stalactites and stalagmites. Also, it is important to know that the dive sites that we visit do not have any facilities and that there will be no guide for the non-divers. These wrecks along the African islands north-western coast cater to every dive level, offering encounters from turtles and tuna to candy crabs and nudis. 650 Castro Street The Bonaire National Marine Park and enlightened sewage treatment have been transformational for the significant beauty of Bonaires underwater world, making the island a model for others to emulate if they value dive tourism. Hilma Hooker The premier wreck dive on Bonaire, theHilma Hookeris accessible by either shore or boat. Wind-driven waves are rare along the coast on the lee side, but it can sometimes be a sloppy ride home from Klein Bonaire without the protection of the main island. In the end, we believe more personal attention results in more fun and better diving. The neglected ship eventually began to take on water while still at the dock and had to be pumped. Using a flashlight, mask and snorkel you can swim through these crystalline waters, which tend to be a mix of both fresh and salt water, revealing frequent haloclines. And it helps being a bit out of the way. Visibility is 60 feet or greater. If you are planning to visit Bonaire during the high season, you are strongly encouraged to book your accommodation and dive package in advance. Even though they are near each other,1,000 Steps, Oil Slick LeapandJeff Davis Memorialare all quite unique. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Get In: There are fewer steps (about 50) carved into the cliff at Karpata than at 1,000 Steps. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. Carls Hill Located at the northwestern tip of Klein Bonaire, Carls Hill is notable for the vast coral-covered plateau that has zones of specific coral concentrations. Please email, crisis website of the Public Entity Bonaire, Breaking News: Socorro Vortex Runs Aground. Bonaires Flamingo International Airport receives flights from cities around the world every day. I like to dive this site from shore because of the many green sea turtles hanging around in the shallows. Sitting at around 100 feet (30 m) between two reefs, this freighter is encrusted with marine life and surrounded by huge schools of fish. Dive It: The drop-off starts in about 30 feet of water, and then slopes down to 125. 379 Survey Dives in 2020COVID Cant Stop This Bonaire Citizen Scientist, Native Caribbean Ocean Advocate Tadzio Bervoets Named August Sea Hero, How to Focus on One Photo Style in a Destination that Has Everything, Scientists Discover Incredibly Salty Underwater Lakes On the Floor of the Red Sea, A Year-Round Guide to the Best Diving in Florida, Say Hello to Hells Bells, the Worlds Largest Collection of Living Stalactites, The Best Destinations for Diving Caves, Caverns and Grottoes. Or get up early for a sunrise dive. Our drive-thru is open during the opening hours of the dive center, from 8 AM till 5 PM. Dive It: The 235-foot Hilma Hooker is Bonaire's biggest wreck, a steel-hulled freighter resting on its starboard side with a shady past (25,000 pounds of marijuana was found in a false bulkhead after the ship had engine problems and was towed to Kralendijk). The average topside temperature is 82F. Because Bonaire is located south of the Caribbeans hurricane belt, divers rarely have to be concerned about tropical systems keeping them out of the water during the annual July through October period. There is very nice elkhorn coral, some of it natural and some recently planted and thriving, probably due to the excellent water quality washing along the face of the dropoff. Searching for a nice place to stay? And its rare for a day of diving to be canceled. If the computer programmer were prescient and considered that people would want to go scuba diving on this island, what would be the input characteristics? A PADI Worldwide Company. Fun Fact: Bari Reefs collection of 361 fish species is the most diverse array in the entire Caribbean, according to the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Known for its incredible underwater panoramas, the Karpata dive site is another perfect spot for photographers. In fact, most of the 25 or so inches of precipitation the island receives on average each year is in the form of brief showers that pass through rapidly during fall months. Go ahead and stay up late and sleep in. Located just north of the equator, Bonaire gets about 12 hours of daylight each day. There are hundreds of different fish species on the reefs, plus seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs and other prized critters. Launched in 2014 with funding from the European Commission and the Netherlands, the expensive vacuum sewer system has been an important investment for fish, coral and visiting divers. Travelers can move about the country freely as long as they comply with Bonaires safety measures. Bonaire is one of those out of the way, unspoiled spots in the world where perfect weather collides with astonishing natural resources to provide divers with the very best experience possible. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. Absolutely! From 10 years they can join a Discover Scuba Diving or PADI Junior Open Water Diver Course. Yellow stones make shore-entry dive sites easy to spot all around the island. Keep an eye out for turtles. Karpata has become very popular because turtles are commonly spotted. As long as the water is calm, snorkel out to one of them and then drop down on the wreck. A densely decorated wall is in the 30- to 80-foot range, and the black coral clusters that give the site its name are at 50 to 70 feet. Look for good-sized green morays hiding underneath coral ledges and cleaner shrimp on purple-tipped anemones. Because the islands dive sites are protected from any currents, this is one of the best places in the world to gain a new certification. Tina Wall, a longtime instructor at Buddy Dive Resort, finds that the independent spirit of Bonaire surprises divers. The island would have a vast lee side protected from the prevailing eastern trade winds on the opposite side of the island, allowing delicate corals to thrive in abundance. Every dive is a treasure hunt and spotting fish is her gold. Although the water temperature in Bonaire is comfortably warm, we do advise wearing a thin wetsuit while diving. Forest Giant structures of orange elephant ear sponges as well as colossal purple tube sponges for foreground color and dimension make this Klein Bonaire site one of my favorites, especially if I am shooting wide angle with a skilled model. (+599) 701 7701 With an unlimited air package, you can use as many tanks as you want, either Air or Enriched Air (Nitrox 32%). Get In: The bottom is rocky at the entry point, so you'll want to get underwater fairly quickly. Park It: The parking is south of the white cement huts. Explore the colors, wildlife and formations found in these unique environments. Dive It: There are small terraces of scattered coral heads, tube sponges, elephant ear sponge and gardens of anemones. We can set up a booking for you. The dive starts around 20 feet (6 m) and quickly drops down to 100 feet (30 m). It is habitat for about 340 species of flora, and its beaches are nesting grounds for green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Our rental wetsuits are 3 mm shorties. We can however not guarantee that there will be spaces left by the time you are here on Bonaire to dive with us. The following sites are some of my personal favorites. Like Witches Hut, there can be a fairly stiff surface current running. We will be glad to help you with your booking. While in port, routine inquiries discovered that Interpol and the FBI had been tracking the vessel as a possible drug runner, and inspectors found 25,000 pounds of marijuana behind a false bulkhead. This is the best diving for every season in a state with endless possibility. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The site is near the end of the island, so be careful not to get caught in the current. There are three buoys on the wreck--one is on the reef at 20 feet, one on the bow at 80 feet, and the third on the stern at 65 feet. They come away saying, Wow, I just did whatever I wanted all week long! and isnt that what vacation is all about?. Dont hesitate to contact us, maybe its your lucky day. Park It: Park across the street from the path. VIP Diving is an independent dive center with guests from a lot of different accommodations. What makes this tiny (Dutch) island so special? The water temperature in Bonaire varies from 79 degrees Fahrenheit/26 degrees Celsius in February and March to 84 degrees Fahrenheit/29 degrees Celsius in September and Oktober. The purple tube sponges on the bridge are prolific; look for sergeant majors guarding their eggs here. On Sept. 7, 1984, it was towed to an anchorage next to theAngel Citydive site, where it sank several days later, rolling onto its starboard side in 100 feet of water just seaward to the reef slope. We accept credit cards: VISA, Mastercard and AMEX. Thats a divers trifecta! Almost all dive sites are on the west coast of Bonaire. Either bring your gear or rent some at one of Bonaires dive centers, grab a rental truck with room for tanks in the back, and start exploring. Bonaires national marine park is among the best in the world. If you are 13 years or older, you can only travel to Bonaire if you provide a negative Covid-19 test result. Diving in Bonaire in Covid times is absolutely worthwhile. One of the most significant recent efforts is the wastewater treatment of effluent that is collected from the sewers now installed along the coastal areas of the capital city, Kralendijk, and that is also pumped and trucked for treatment from septic tanks and cesspools elsewhere on the island. You can pay online via our secure web form if you pay in advance. Dive It: On the reef slope, you'll find small shoals of reef fish like parrotfish, doctorfish and gray angels, healthy purple tube sponges and numerous cleaning stations. Park It: Turn at the yellow BNMP rock and park near the huts. You can rent 1 tank, or book an unlimited air package of 1 day or 6 days. The group raised money and awareness to help save the island. Buddy Dive Resort has a drive-through tank-filling station where you can swing through to trade out empty tanks for full ones. Imagine if the world were just a big blue marble without any land yet, and a cosmic 3D printer could create islands according to parameters entered into a computer. Its possible to arrange a private guide or instructor! The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. But more advanced divers will be seduced deeper: the reef drops off, with massive domes of mountainous star corals giving way to terraces of plate and star corals. Bonaires caves When I recently posted a few images from Bonaires wet caves on my social media pages, I was surprised by how many longtime repeat visitors were unaware that the island has an estimated 400 caves, a few of which are open for guided snorkel tours. This ideal location could easily describe the divers paradise of Bonaire and the small offshore island of Klein Bonaire. scubadiving.com is part of PADI Media, a division of PADI Worldwide. Depths range from 30 feet to more than 130, so keep an eye on your computer. In this scenario, the island would be well outside the hurricane belt so those pesky seasonal storms would not disrupt peoples vacations or bring giant waves to pulverize the shallow coral reef. This is almost an obligatory dive when visiting Bonaire. Scuba Diver Life We dont have any maximum age, as long as youre in good condition. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Dive centers, restaurants and other facilities are open, making Bonaire a great vacation destination. Bonaire is known as the crown jewel of Caribbean diving. Heres our guide to diving Bonaire in Covid times and making the most of this world-class shore-diving destination. Law enforcement arrested the crew and impounded the ship as evidence. This site, which is also known as Jerry's Jam, starts in water as shallow as 20 feet and drops down to 120. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. Goliath grouper spawning, manatee snorkeling, freshwater springs, shark diving: it's all here, and this is when you can do it. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. Bonaire is known as the shore diving capital of the world and we believe the most beautiful dive sites of the island are accessible from shore. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. Sign up for Scuba Divings weekly email and never miss another story. Upon departure for the United States, all travelers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated travelers) must have a negative Covid-19 test result no more than three days before they board their flights to the U.S. Visit from December to April to make the most of this island paradise. Theres a bit of a surface swim to reach the wreck, which is typically also dive-able by boat with your dive center. It would be an arid, flat island so neither rivers nor runoff from rains would diminish the water clarity. Red Slave Two large clusters of small concrete structures built in 1850 were used to provide sleeping quarters for slaves working in the salt pans in Bonaire. Surrounded by a marine reserve, Bonaire is a biodiversity hotspot and a perennial diver favorite, but is it open for business? At about 60 feet, look for a small cave along the slope where you might find a sleeping nurse shark. Recompression chamber:A recompression chamber is located adjacent to the San Francisco Hospital near Kralendijk. As we only take very small groups out it is highly recommended to pre-book as that is the only way we can guarantee availability. Travelers who provide a negative Covid-19 test result do not have to quarantine on Bonaire. The first sanctuary of its kind in the Caribbean, the Bonaire National Marine Park was established in 1979 with the goal of preserving the islands offshore resources. Get In: An easy shore entry, but it's a slightly long swim out to the drop-off. Come and dive the hidden jewel of the sea of cortez surrounded by the sierra la giganta mountain range and the islands of the marine part of loreto bay. If you've got a keen eye for fish behavior, you'll encounter cleaning stations where chromis and parrotfish hang out. VIP Diving offers tanks in different sizes all at the same price and including weights. Head down the reef to where the sand appears in about 60 feet of water; swim across to the outer reef, which falls away into the blue. The water temperature rarely falls below 77 F (25 C) and peaks around 84 F (29 C). Bonaire is open to travelers and has safety measures in place.