Long time reader, first time posting. My wife and I are going to be in Bonaire for the first time June 6th through June 13th.. We have booked a couple of boat dives and unlimited shore diving for 5 days.. We have looked and re-looked at most of the dive sites but want advice on which ones are considered to be ones not to miss making. We enjoy doing most any type of dives and have scheduled our AOW classes while there.. Anyone??

Hi Jim! I hope to run into you guys as I will be on island at the same time. I love the double reef down south - with Angel City being one of my favorite dives. Heading north, I like Andrea II, Witches Hut and Karpata. That said, there really isn't a bad dive on Bonaire. I would suggest picking up a copy of Susan Porter's Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. I'm on my second copy and love it! She does an excellent job describing entries/exits.

Thanks Tribs, we just ordered Susan Porter's book. We have only been certified since last Easter and have done some amazing dives in St Lucia (Superman's flight at the base of the Piton Mountains)and St Johns (The Cow and Calf) but all from boats so shore diving will be new to us. It was well worth the misery of getting certified while it was snowing (in Teaxs??)once we finally hit the clear blue..

(Message edited by deepquest4 on May 3, 2008)

I'm a relative "newbie" as I've only been to Bonaire twice (and will be going for a third trip next week!!!) but I have to say that I have had such different experiences on the same sites on different days that it is difficult to say which are best...they are all good in their own way. I also love the double reef system on the South end; last trip I enjoyed the South sites more, but the first trip I enjoyed the North sites more. You really can't go wrong in Bonaire!!

Hi Jim,

We will be on island while you are there also. I agree Angel City is one of our favorite dives. I also love Oil Slick leap along with the others mentioned.
Where are you staying? We'll be at Bel Mar.

Margy, Richard and Christina

Ask the DM's on your boat dives about frogfish and seahorses. Some our favourite sites are Margate Bay, Red Slave, Angel City, Something Special, Andrea 1 & 2 and any of the North sites. Dont miss Town Pier (has to guided by a DM)

Jim, I will be going back in 13 days for my third trip to Bonaire and Yvette is right, you can dive the same site multiple times and have a different experience each time. Some of my favorites are the southern sites, especially Red Slave, Salt Pier, and anything around Klein Bonaire. Since this is your first trip you may want to dive the Hilma Hooker wreck. Sits in about 90' on sand between two reefs. It's not great as far as wreck dives go but it is still a nice dive. You might also want to try and arrange a night dive at Town Pier. You need special permission for this dive so check with your DM and see if they will set it up.

Be sure to dive The Invisibles... I call it the Incredibles .

Jim, Welcome to BT. One tip on shore diving is to wear hard sole booties. This makes entry and exit easier. I have done shore dives with full foot fins, but the hard soles make it easier.
I am preparing for third trip to Bonaire, and do not recall a bad dive in past. You are in for a treat!

Thanks Guys. We are staying at Divi and have a long list of sites we want to hit. We have booked only 1 two tank and 1 one tank boat dive with the rest being shore (+ whatever we do for AOW). One of the boat dives is for Klein. So far our aggressive wish list includes: Karpata, Witches Hut, Town Pier, Angel City, Hilma H, Invisibles, Alice Wonder, Margate Bay, Small Wall, Jeff Davis, LaDania's, and Rappel. Are any of these boat only or are they all easy enough to do from shore?

Jim,
You can't miss buying Susan Porter's book - Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy. It is available on line or on island. www.bsdme.info
The advantage to getting one before you go allows you time to read and do some pre-planning.

Rappel is only by boat and it's fantastic! The rest are accessible from shore (but our group did Jeff Davis by boat).

Small Wall is by boat unless you are staying at The Black Durgan... Ron

Becky,
Why do you call it "The Incredibles"?

Jim,

You mentioned doing La Dania's leap and Karpata, you can't get out at La Dania's so you have to go north to Karpata to get out if the current is right. The jump in at La Dania's is only about 15' deep so make sure your BCD is fully inflated. You have to take your truck to Karpata and walk back get your gear on and have a great dive. If the current is going north take your time then after about 45 minutes come up to about 25 feet and look for the anchor that will let you know you are at Karpata.