Hi there!

I am in the process of planning a 1st anniversary trip to Bonaire for my husband and I.

We went to Moorea, Bora Bora, and Tahiti for our honeymoon and loved the snorkeling there - the visibility was amazing and we saw a nice variety of fish.

How does snorkeling in Bonaire compare to French Polynesia?

I know Bonaire doesn't have "big fish" encounters like FP (ie, sharks, rays), but I have heard the reefs are better and the amount and variety of fish is greater.

Is this correct? Any and all insight is so appreciated!! Thanks so much!!

Vicki, having been to FP but not Bonaire (lots of other Carib. Islands), my humble opinion is it'll be great, different but great. Bonaire has a great reef system with lots of soft coral and juveniles where Tahiti has a rougher reef (more surf), less soft coral but bigger fish. The other big advantage to Bonaire is the reef is right next to the shore vs. out on the Motus. Many more opportunities to snorkle different reefs, basically anytime you feel like it.

Vicky...You can walk out right from the beaches....there are rays, turtles, sharks (if you are in the right places) dolphins, morays,octopus's,,,,and Very nice size tarpon.....It is the ease of getting into the shore dive that is the draw...to me anyway...hope you get to visit.....

Hey Vicky

Great question! We also went to Moorea/Bora Bora last year for our honeymoon and are planning our 1st trip to BON.

I am thinking that the snorkeling will be GREAT in Bonaire, I am not sure if the water will be as calm though, BOB was so calm it was like you were in a pool!

Happy planning!
Sera

Vicky,
I have also been to FP (Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa) and though I haven't been to Bonaire yet I anticipate (i will be there in 9 days)the visibility will be comparable and that the smaller marine creatures will be more abundant. Also, I hear the night diving/snorkeling there is excellent and one needn't worry about hungry 15 foot Tiger sharks. Though I'm not sure anything could really compare to diving the Rangiroa passes, I expect Bonaire to be different but just as exciting. Besides, it's so much closer to the States...

Vicky and S. Douglas, look at the Beach Cam pictures posted on the Webcams threads, that should tell you about the surface water conditions. The biggest rock on the North cam is about 1 - 1 1/2 feet high out of the water, so that should give you an idea of what the normal 'surf' is. The wake from a boat is usually responsible for the 'big surf'.

Hi everyone!!

I want to thank you so much for the responses!!

I am even more excited to go to Bonaire now than I was before!! What a surprise this will be!!

I agree, I'm sure the water isn't as pool like, but the fact that we can go right from the shore is so wonderful. And, yes, it is SO much closer for us - we are from New York, and the trip to FP was quite a journey to say the least!! And I'm sure it's slightly less expensive!!

Thanks so much again - I'm sure I will be back very soon with lots more Bonaire questions!!

Vicki

Woops - forgot to add this -

Meryl -

This is regarding the bigger marine life that you mentioned we could possibly encounter...

Where would you suggest we go in the hopes of spotting these beautiful creatures??

Thanks so much - my husband and I are HUGE wildlife lovers, both in the water and on land!!