BONAIRE DIVING

Bonaire lies just 50 miles north of Venezuela and is widely recognised as one of the Caribbean's premier diving destinations. This crescent shaped island is just 21 miles long and together with its uninhabited sister island, Klein Bonaire, forms part of the Dutch Antilles.

It rarely rains and the waters surrounding the island are rich in nutrients, giving rise to its fabulous marine diversity and beautiful fringing reef. Over 300 different species of fish flourish in the seas off Bonaire. In 1979 the island recognised the importance of its natural marine habitat and so created the Caribbean’s first protected marine park, which has effectively looked after the island's coral and marine life.

DIVING FREEDOM

There are over 90 dive sites in Bonaire, the majority of which are accessible from the shore. On average, underwater visibility exceeds 30 meters, with average water temperatures consistently around 29°C. The fringing reef lies close to the shore, at usually no more than 10 meters. Although boat dives are available from all our centres, most divers hire a vehicle to dive and snorkel in their own time and at their own pace. Bonaire is the home of uncomplicated, stress-free diving. All dive packs start with unlimited air access, which is made available 24 hours a day. Shore entry dive sites (of which there are over 55), are generally neither crowded nor exposed to strong currents. 

DIVING FOR EVERYONE

Bonaire is one of those rare dive destinations that will appeal to divers of all qualification levels. Novice divers will appreciate the superb training facilities, the lack of currents and the clear waters. Experienced divers will enjoy the freedom of unlimited access to diving, day or night. Keen photographers will appreciate the visibility, excellent bottom times and the lack of currents. Snorkellers can benefit from access onto one of the world's most accessible reefs, which invariably has a shallow upper reef shelf brimming with marine life. Finally non-divers can enjoy a range of other active pursuits including world-class windsurfing. Alternatively, sit back and enjoy the relaxed laid-back atmosphere of this friendly island.

MARINE LIFE

Bonaire's sea abounds with beautiful marine life and a fascinating variety of multi-coloured tropical fish. The sea is remarkably calm and conditions remain superb year round for both scuba diving and snorkelling. Divers often encounter Turtles, Jacks and inquisitive Tarpon. Seahorses, the island's emblem, thrive in Bonaire's waters, alongside rarely seen Frogfish. The island’s corals are recognised world wide for their healthy state of preservation. Bonaire can make a claim for having two of the world's best pier dives with 'Town Pier' in the capital and 'Salt Pier' at the southern end of the island. Both dives are wonderful at night as the orange cup corals that cling to the pilings come to life. Alternatively, during the day, sunlight filtering through the piers lead to some excellent photo opportunities.

THE ISLAND OF BONAIRE

Bonaire is a small island in the South Caribbean, with approximately 3000 inhabitants. The atmosphere of this small island is tranquil and laid back, although there are numerous bars that provide great live music, some first class restaurants and plenty of fantastic activities.

The locals pride themselves on their friendly welcoming attitude, which, combined with the wonderful environment, goes a long way to explaining the large number of repeat visitors to the island. Bonaire has long been renowned for its pioneering role in marine conservation, which has kept the reefs of the island in immaculate condition for future generations. The island remains relatively untouched by outside influences both above and below the water, making it an attractive option for those looking to escape from a mainstream holiday destination.

Our chosen hotels are all within easy reach of the Dutch influenced capital, Kralendijk. Here you will find a variety of shops, restaurants and bars with live music and entertainment.

TIME
Bonaire is 4 hours behind GMT.

CURRENCY
Netherlands Antilles Guilder (NAG). £1 = 3.3 NAG approx.

We recommend that you take USD cash or travellers cheques. Most places will accept payment by VISA card but the automatic bank tellers generally only accept Maestro/Cirrus.

Banks opening hours: 9.30 – 15.30 Mon – Fri only. Please plan for this accordingly.

CLIMATE
Outside the hurricane belt, the annual rainfall in Bonaire is very low. Average temperature annually is 27.5°C. July/August is the hottest period reaching up to 30°C. Conditions are normally warm and humid with a fairly constant, cooling sea breeze.

CAR HIRE
One of the best ways to enjoy Bonaire is to hire a vehicle locally. There are a finite number of vehicles available for rental in Bonaire. Should you be travelling over a peak period you should consider pre-booking your vehicle prior to departure.

ACTIVITIES
Bonaire is the home of easy diving, dive sites around the island are well marked and easily accessed at any time of the day or night. The fringing reefs make for brilliant snorkelling for those not wanting to dive. Other activities include windsurfing at Lac Bai, a sheltered bay that is excellent for beginners and pros alike, cave snorkelling, sea kayaking and mountain biking.

With over 180 bird species, the island attracts ornithologists from around the world especially to the salt lakes where a huge colony of flamingos gather. The Washington Slagbaai National Park provides an excellent way of observing these incredible birds in their natural environment. Vehicles can be hired and there is a road that runs around the island and through the park. As the island is small everything is within easy reach.