Bonaire

The dive

Why dive Bonaire

A marine park where the reef starts at the shoreline — load a pickup with tanks and dive 60+ marked sites on your own schedule. The freedom is the draw.

Marine life

Dive profile

When to go

Best time: Year-round

Diveable 365 days a year on the sheltered west coast; outside the hurricane belt, conditions are remarkably consistent.

Readiness

Who it suits

Open Water-level site — suits Open Water divers and up. Typical requirements:

Not sure you're ready? Read our readiness guide or check yourself in the planner.

Logistics

Getting there & staying

Getting there	International flight; self-guided shore diving. Fly to Bonaire (BON) via Curaçao, Amsterdam or US hubs; pick up a truck of tanks and self-guide.
Where to stay	Drive-and-dive resort. Dive resorts with unlimited shore diving — yellow roadside stones mark 60+ entries.
Operator to look for	Reviewed Bonaire operators with the famous truck-and-tanks drive-and-dive model.

Sources

Further reading

• STINAPA Bonaire Marine park manager
• Diving Bonaire SSI
• Bonaire inspires hope for the future of coral DAN · Alert Diver
• Nourishing my inner tekkie at Bonaire Tek InDEPTH (GUE)
• Bonaire National Marine Park Wikipedia

Links checked 29 September 2026. They cover the site's location, protection status and background. Costs, difficulty and season windows are ScubaRogue's editorial estimates, so confirm them with your operator before you book. How we research