Central Area » Wannadive Bonaire - Courses, shore and boat diving

13. OL’ BLUE (Tolo)

This shore or boat dive site lies just off a long coral beach, east of 1000 Steps. Light to moderate currents and depths of 20-80 feet (6-25 meters) offer the novice and intermediate divers the chance to see numerous friendly French angelfish and schools of horse-eye jacks.

14. COUNTRY GARDEN

A boat dive with moderate currents for the beginner to intermediate skilled diver. The average depth is 20-80 feet (6-25 meters) . This site has three beautiful pillars, unique to Bonaire, that have broken from the cliff and provide shelter for schoolmasters, grunts, and goatfish.

15. BON BINI NA KAS

“Welcome Home” in the native language, this site lies just next to 1000 Steps and is a boat dive only. With light to moderate currents, beginner and intermediate divers will enjoy schools of Creole wrasse and blue tangs in depths ranging from 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).

16. 1000 STEPS

This site was named for shore divers, who will find that the 64 steps leading from the road down to the beach seem like 1000 on the way back up. Immediately under the boat mooring are some outstanding formations of star coral. These have grown into high rising pagoda-like structures. These “pagodas” arfe found in a few other places. Keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles, manta rays and passing whale sharks have been spotted here. Depth 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).

17. WEBER’S JOY/ WITCHES HUT.

This easy shore or boat dive, with light currents and a depth of 20-100 feet (6-30 meters), offers novice divers a chance to see mountainous star coral with abundant fish life. Angelfish, rock beauties, and butterfly fish make their homes in the rocky reefs. This site is a favorite of underwater photographers

18. JEFF DAVIS MEMORIAL

The shallows on this site are covered with gorgonians. It’s a good place for spotting a turtle or sea horse. There are number of large coral accumulations forming chutes that lead to a sandy bottom. Depth 20-100 feet (6-30 meters)

19. KALLI’S REEF

Named after a Bonaire National Marine Park Manager, and is considered a very popular stretch of reef. Although only accessible as a boat dive, Kalli’s Reef also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities and is a good location for spotting seahorses and turtles. Depth 30-100 feet (10-30 meters)

20. OIL SLICK LEAP

Though recommended as a boat dive, the adventurous can find a steel ladder leading to the water from shore or they can jump in from the rocks. Depth 20-80 feet (6-25) meters. It’s named Oil Slick Leap because this was the site originally proposed for the oil storage terminal, the area is, happily, still available to divers. Large schools of barracuda are often seen here.

21. BARCADERA

This boat dive is located directly opposite the STINAPA/Bonaire National Marine Park Headquarters. The shallows are covered with elk horn coral and host schools of algae-eating blue tangs. Depth 30-100 feet (9-30 meters).

22. ANDREA II

Located about a half mile north of the desalination plant, this site is ideal for beginning divers and snorkelers. There are many anemones and soft corals, which provide hiding places for both predator and prey. Seahorses have been found here. Snorkelers will enjoy the shallows here where all three of the “big” parrotfish can be seen, each a different color and easy to indentify: the blue parrotfish, the midnight, and the rainbow, all over three feet in length. Depth 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).

23. ANDREA I

24. PETRIES PILLAR

This is a shore dive only, good for the beginner. The terrain is much like that of Andrea I and II. It was named by Captain Don as a wedding gift for a friend. Depth 30-90 feet (9-30 meters).

25. SMALL WALL

Located in front of the Black Durgon Inn, this is generally a boat dive, as shore divers need permission to cross private property in order to access this site. A vertical wall beginning at 20 feet will lead divers to a cave at 60 feet, which sometimes shelters a sleeping nurse shark. Small Wall has probably the calmest surface anywhere on Bonaire. Depth 20-60 feet (6-18 meters).

26. CLIFF

Cliff is located in front of the Hamlet Villas, just north of Habitat. It is the site of Captain Don’s underwater Stone Memorial to the “divers who have gone before us”, which is marked with a plaque and a dive flag. A unique small partial cliff is another feature of this dive. It lies directly under the buoy. Depth 20-70 feet (6-23 meters).

27. LA MACHACA

Located just off Habitat, this site gives the novice diver a chance to do a wreck dive in relatively shallow water. The 45-foot, locally-built boat lies at 50 feet about 30 yards from the shore. It is the home of a large green moray eel that is quite accustomed to divers. Approach with caution. Depth 20-70 feet (6-23 meters).

28. REEF SCIENTIFICO

This site, located just south of La Machaca, was named for a grid system constructed to monitor the growth of algae on the reef. Conditions are much the same as at La Machaca. Night diving/snorkeling is good here. Free swimming morays and sleeping parrotfish are common after dark. Depth 40 feet (13 meters).

29. BUDDY’S REEF

Buddy Dive Resort’s house reef, this site is perfect for beginners. Black crinoids can be found perched on coral heads in the shallows here. A resident tarpon greets most night divers. Depth 30-100 feet (9-30 meters).

30. BARI REEF

This site, located at Sand Dollar, is #1 in the entire Caribbean for fish diversity, with over 300 species sighted and surveyed here through REEF. An experiment is going on here with ‘reef balls’. Depth 30-100 feet (9-30 meters).

31. FRONT PORCH (EDEN BEACH)

Front Porch, truly an easy dive. Front Porch is located at the old Sunset Beach Resort. Access is either from shore just north of the property adjacent to the Den Laman Apartments, or from the beach at Eden Beach (location of the underwater webcam). The wreck of a tugboat lies in 80 feet of water just off the old pier at Sunset. Inside its darkened recesses are schools of big tooth cardinal fish, seldom seen elsewhere. Depth 20-80 feet (6-25 meters).

32. SOMETHING SPECIAL

While this site is pretty much devoid of coral near the marina entrance, it does have a lot of fish. This is the place to study what coral rubble and fish have for each other. The sandy bottom is a great place to see rays. Night divers favor this spot for its ease of entry. There are more unique sightings of fish here than at any other site, mainly because the marina attracts so many fish. Garden eels can be found at 55 feet. Depth 20-80 feet (6-25) meters).

33. TOWN PIER is CLOSED

34. CALABAS REEF

Divi Flamingo’s house reef, a great place to do your check out as well as your first night dive. Lots of fish looking for a handout and an occasional turtle or ray. Depth 20-100 feet (6-30 meters).

35. 18TH PALM

This site lies directly in front of the Lt. Governor’s house, which has at least 18 palms growing in the front yard. Access this site from the northwest entrance at Plaza Resort. A great place for beginning divers. Southern stingrays and spotted eagle rays are often seen on the sandy bottom. This is the first site as you travel south, where the reef separates into a “double reef”, one part running along the bottom at about 90 feet, the other across a sandy channel close to the shore at Plaza Resort. One of the few sites where tarpon have been seen sleeping during the day. Depth 29-80 feet (6-25 meters).

36. WINDSOCK

A sandy beach with patches of shade provides a pleasant place to relax after diving; a favorite spot for picnics. Rays and turtles are often seen in the sandy shallows. Good for snorkelers and novice divers. Depth 20-80 feet (6-25 meters).