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SCUBA Diving

Bonaire is a scuba diver’s paradise.

Just about everyone knows that “SCUBA” is an acronym for Self Contained Under Water Breathing Apparatus. The sport has become extremely popular in the last four decades due to places like Bonaire, which has taken great pains to preserve the underwater world by establishing one of the first marine parks in the Caribbean. The other reason Bonaire has become such a popular destination is the wide variety of fish life and the ease of diving that the island offers.

Dive Conditions

Bonaire’s pristine reefs and diverse marine life are unique to the Caribbean. Because the waters around Bonaire have been protected by an actively managed marine park for the past 35 years, Bonaire today ranks amongst the top best diving destinations in the world. The island’s location in the south Caribbean gives it an arid climate with little rainfall. Consequently, the waters are exceptionally clear of silt, calm, and dive-able year-round. It is an ideal destination for underwater photographers.

Water temperatures average a warm 78-84°F (25.6-28.9°C), with visibility averaging over 100 feet (30m), and occasionally reaching up to 150 feet (50m). Water temperatures do vary widely by season and location. Unless planning deep, technical dives, it’s doubtful that any thermoclines will be felt within normal recreational diving depths. Water temperatures are normally at their lowest in late December and January. By March and April, the water begins to warm up, usually peaking at its warmest from late August through November.

 

What You’ll See When Diving on Bonaire

 

Dive Shops

Most Dive Shops participate in establishing standards and uniform practices that, along with the Bonaire Marine Park Rules, have worked to preserve our reefs and the fragile ecosystem of the reef.

Bonaire Dive Orientation

If you are planning a trip to Bonaire that includes diving, you will be required to attend a Bonaire National Marine Park Orientation/Briefing prior to your first dive on the island. Check with your dive operator for times. One of the Bonaire Marine Park Regulations is for all visitors to do a check-out dive as part of the briefing process before taking off on their own to shore dive or going on a dive boat. The main reasons for this are to have each diver check buoyancy so that damage to the reef is minimized or eliminated and also to check out their dive equipment, whether it be rented or owned. Also, every diver on Bonaire must purchase a Marine Park Tag valid for one calendar year. Orientation procedures vary from dive center to dive center, so it’s a good idea to check in early.

During your dive orientation, you will learn about an invasive species, the Pacific lionfish, which is now found on Bonaire. Click here to learn more about this fish and the efforts which are being taken to contain its spread.

Recompression Chamber

In case of a diving accident or emergency, Bonaire has one of the Caribbean’s best-staffed recompression chambers. The chamber is located behind Centro Medico Central, and people in need of treatment must go to the hospital to gain access to the chamber.

The Bonaire Marine Park

 

 

The fringing reef surrounding Bonaire is a National Marine Park from the high water mark down to a depth of 200 feet/60m. Every diver who has not dived on Bonaire within the last calendar year must attend a diver orientation for the Bonaire Marine Park regulations and information. Additionally, you are required to pay a nature fee, which is necessary to enter Bonaire's waters legally. The nature fee cost is US$40.00 for all water activities, and proceeds help support park management and services. The nature fee can be purchased online.

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