Diving Bonaire
When the world started to open up after Covid lockdowns we jumped at the chance to dive in Bonaire. This small Dutch island in the Caribbean has a lot to offer when it comes to sea life. With multiple shore diving sites and several fringe reefs, we were not disappointed. We went with a group out of Melbourne, Florida arranged through Hatts Diving Headquarters. It made for easy arrangements and we were able to go with some old friends and make some new ones. Special thanks to Rob Huggins who was instrumental in putting this trip together (check him out on Facebook at Reefdragons).
Boat dives are amazing and Bonaire has a Reef Renewal Program that is committed to restoring the reef system surrounding the island. The resort even offers a course on Diver Reef Renewal. All of the boat dives were “out and back” which is nice for effortless diving with minimal current. The dives were well lead and it is great for the novice diver.
Just as advertised there are many places to shore dive all around the island. Our accommodations at Buddy Dive included a rental vehicle (small truck) so we were able to explore a few of the land sites, as well. One thing to note, some of the “shore” dives require some swimming out to a buoy if you want to optimize your time at the site, so expect a little more exercise than the average dive. Some of the sites we hit were the Salt Pier, Alice in Wonderland and Bari Reef. Highly recommend good booties as the shore is very rocky and it is easy to twist an ankle or knee entering and exiting the shore. These dives are independent dives so be sure to have a compass and mark your bearings (or go with an experienced dive master like Rob).
The dining accommodations at the resort are nice, and definitely get you into the island mentality. We also enjoyed exploring in town and found a few favorites we enjoyed. La Cantina Bonaire is probably one of our favorite spots on the island. The beer selection is amazing, the atmosphere is idyllic and it transports you into a place and time that demands you slow down and enjoy. The restaurant fills up quickly so make your reservations, we managed to find a spot in the bar and enjoyed the afternoon.
There is a lot of history to be discovered on this island so be sure to check out the Donkey Sanctuary, Flamingo Sanctuary and many dive and snorkle sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.
