Would like to hear from divers whom have dived the double reefs in Bonaire. What sites are they at and tips for a safe dive.

The ones I know of are on the south end of the island around the Helma Hooker. I like Angle City and Alice in Wonderland, both are just south of HH. The sand channel in between them is in maybe 50 -60 ft wide in 60-80 ft of water. If you are diving in the channel, the biggest thing to watch is depth. NDL and air usage can slip up on you pretty fast at those depths. Watch carefully as you decend into the channel, garden eels are common but they will retreat into their holes when they see you.

Hi Jerry, the double reef system is in the south.
If you look on a divesite map of Bonaire, it goes from Windsock to the Invisibles,
although IMHO the better sites are around Angel City and Alice in Wonderland, because the two reefs are fairly close at that point, and the sand
channel between the two is narrower. Swim out to the farther, deeper reef first, then come back along the shallower one. The top of the second reef varies in depth, 40 feet in some places, 80 feet in others. The depth of the sand channel varies from 75 to 100 feet. The Hilma Hooker lies on her side in the sand channel. Hope this helps.

The Lake is an interesting dive. If you go south, the dive's turn around point is the beginning of the Hooker.

We keep planning to do the far reef at the Hilma Hooker, but keep forgetting to do it once we're there! We figure it should be fairly pristine there, as everyone spends more time at the wreck than at the far reef...

I agree that Angel City is a great site. The Lake is kind of interesting, as the second reef meets the first there...

Faith

we did both inner and outer reef at alice last summer. we snorkeled to the first reef, dropped down onto it and then swam across the sand to the outer reef. i dropped to the sand (about 95') and took pics of the garden eels. then we continued to the outer reef and went south. upon turning toward the inner reef the vis dropped drastically. we were at about 50' and vis was maybe 35'. we couldn't see either reef or the surface or the bottom and my wife got a little freaked. i followed the compass heading east and we got to the inner reef but she was still a little upset when we got out. we dove the same area a week or two later and had better vis and a better dive.

Faith,

Do it next time, it is nice.

One of my favorite dives in that area is to go to the second reef at the Lake, head south until one gets to the Hooker, then head back towards shore, enjoying the inner reef of that site as you go shallower.

A friend introduced me to this dive about eight years ago and I try to do it at least once during each visit.

Ok that one goes in my ToDo book
Sounds like a great dive Tom.
Thx 4 sharing!

I take the lazy diver approach. I go to the Hooker and then see which way the current is running (normally to the north) and then drift dive the outer reef. When tired, cold or run short of air, cross the sand and head for shore. Then flip a coin to see who walks back and gets the car.
Since the currents normally run north, I often go to the site south of Hooker and get out at Hooker.

I want to thank everyone for there insight on Bonaire's double reefs. Super Bowl Sunday my wife Barbara and I head to Bonaire for two weeks and I wish all of you were with us, would'nt that be great! Five years ago I visited Bonaire with my two dive buddies for the first time and Sunday will be my fourth trip back to Bonaire. The second week my two buddies will join us for a reunion. The world has changed so much in five years and who knows what the next five will bring. God bless all of you. Jerry

Jerry, Enjoy your two weeks of fun. Heading there on the 16th of February myself.

ok... here's my dumb question. What's a double reef?

I'm guessing that it's a shallow reef, then some sand, then a deeper reef (as you move away from shore).

If so, I've never seen one (that I was aware of). What other islands/locations have double reefs?

JoAn

That's exactly what they are.
I am not aware of others but I am sure there has to be some elsewhere.

If you dive the Angel city double reef, if you go to the outside reef and go north it gets deeper and eventually you'll want to midwater swim back in towards the inner reef. If you go south from the Angel City marker the outside reef is pretty nice and you can stay fairly shallow at your turnaround point and allthe way back in.