Are the waters clear year round or are certain months more clear than others??

Welcome to BT Robert,
Bonaire is temperate all year round so the waters usually stay pretty clear a little wind in the winter months if I am not mistaken. Usually there is at least 75-100 feet of Viz but I have heard that after a HARD rain that it gets down to 50 or so.. At the bottom of every page on Bonaire Talk there are some icons one is a Keyword search you might try to find something through that. Also check out the other icons as well, they sometimes come in handy especially if you want to post a photo.{Look under formatting for that} Again welcome to our BT family.

Also Robert if you go to the Webcams the underwater picture of "Willie the wreck" is about 50 feet or so from the camera. you can find a link to the cams just above the icons..Just remember that the underwater camera does not get cleaned regularly and that algae grows fast on it..

i remember our first trip to bonaire in february 1995. the divemasters were apologizing for the poor viz...and as i remember it was at least 100 feet. after diving in 5 foot viz at home bonaire was like diving in a swimming pool, warm and clear. worst viz i have ever seen was in the 40-50 foot range so poor viz on bonaire is better than the best at home.

If I had to pick, let me think? Yes, I know, I would dive sometime from Jan ist, and Dec 31st.
I live north of Boston MA. Vis on a very good day here is 6 feet, water tep, how about in the 50's.

Never poor vis for very long, a day or two at most after a heavy rain. Worry not, just enjoy.

when we were on bonaire last month we had viz in excess of 50' and temps in the mid-80's. i expect when we are back there for the winter that the water temps will be in the high 70's and low 80's. water temp here in ohio will be about 33 then.

I like the summer months the best! The south side is really calm that time of year and I would vote for the summer and September. I don't have any problems with the vis in February either when I am usually there for 3 weeks. More wind, but it feels so good as the sun is so hot. Different times a year is better for some dive locations is all I have found out in over the 10 years plus I have been going.

Robert,

I'll throw in for Feb-April as the best time. Debbie was right about the south end being much more calm (usually) that time of year. Of course it all depends on the day.

And although you only asked about the water temp, you may also consider that the island is much more green in those early months of the year. I have pictures from Washington/Slagbaai park in both March and August. The March pictures there are areas so thick with foliage it felt like we were in a rain forest. In August, it was very barren and barely any leaves on the trees.

Michael

We're thinking of doing our annual Bonaire trip the lst week of June this year. How is the heat in June compared to other months such as September, October and April? Thanks in advance for any input.

temps in june will be similar to april. usually the bonaire temps are pretty constant...mid-80s. september and october are in the "hot" season...temps are usually the same (this year they were up tho...low to mid-90s) but the winds die down and you don't get the refreshing breeze that you'll have the rest of the year. june should be mid 80s with the breeze.

just to give you an idea what it was like in october this year, someone (kelly?) on this board said she felt like she was living 3 miles from the sun. we have a windchime on our porch. i thought it either fell down or someone took it because i didn't hear it for two days in a row.