Hello everyone! We are new to BT, although we have been reading for quite some time. We will be there Mar. 29-Apr.4 for a great week of diving and would like to know any updated water temp. I read the other temp posts, but am hoping that maybe it is getting a little warmer?? We were there 2 1/2 years ago in October with great water and am wondering if we need to bring hoods this time. I (the wife!) get chilled fairly easily but prefer to dive w/o a hood when possible. Everyone sounds so helpful and kind on BT, I thought I would ask this question again!! Thanks in advance and we love Bonaire-can't wait to get there!!

Hi Sheila and welcome to BT! If you get chilled, bring the hood. You have to go with what your body tells you. I dive with a full 3mm and hood and still get chilled on multiple dive days. I know some people who dive without even using a wetsuit. Go with what works for you.

The water is much colder now than in October. In October this year we had 85F temps...right now it is 78F.

Bring hoods , 5mm wetsuits if you got em.
It is very chilly for the tropics .

Ummmm, the water temp here is HARD... won't be wet til mid April.... a hood.... your head will celebrate the freedom....leave the hood at home...11 days til I "shiver" in the gin clear waters of bonaire... yes!!!!!!!!!

Sheila, it really is personal preference. I wear a skin and a 3mm, and beanie. In January, I found I was getting cold on the third dive of the day, and night dives. A friend on Bon had told me the temps seemed cooler, so I brought my dry suit hood and ended up using that for the night dives, and a couple of second dives of the day. I was toasty and very comfy.

My husband wears a a skin, no beanie or hood and is comfortable with that. So again, it really is a personal preference issue.

Hope I didn't sound snarky.... just poking a little fun from the frozen north...to the frozen potato state... no insult meant... just getting excited about warm water diving...

Sheila - Tribs pretty much sums it up and Bas has current temp data for you. Really whatever works but better to be warmer than colder. Sounds like a hood is a good bet. Maybe a 5 mm full wetsuit would work or a 0.5 - 1mm skin under a 3 mm. And as Tribs said - some people dive without any wetsuit.

Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions. No, Bill, no insult taken from us here in the frozen potato state as we, too, look forward to the diving; and we are literally still frozen here! Only 11 days for us too and I'm sure the waters will feel like a hot tub to us, well almost, anyway!!

Am I the only one on the island that dives with just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt?

A couple of weeks ago water was 77-78 . I saw folks diving in swim trunks and t shirts . 3mm shorty's , 3mm full suits , 5mm full suits , 7 mm full suits .
I tried the 3mm but soon jumped into my 5mm. I always use a 3mm beanie .
I asked those in shorty's and swim trunks if they were cold . No problems .
It is all about the individual . I do not like to get chilled , it is not fun and can cause problems as you are not as alert when shivering.
When I first started diving I was the guy in t shirt and shorts . The longer one dives the slower our metabolism works U/W .
I can honestly see myself diving dry in 78 degree water if I dive another ten years .

The last thing I want to worry about on a dive is being cold so we wear our 3/5mil suits and I always wear a beanie. I also wear a skin under my 3/5mil but that's just because it's easier to put the wetsuit on - slides up easier. Besides keeping my hair out of my eyes & untangled from my mask it keeps me warm.

Dave I used to dive with just a t shirt... then I got old and skinny from running.... now I've moved from a shorty to a full suit... oh me...

I wear a drysuit...extremely comfortable.