I'm curious as to what people's favorite dive sites on Bonaire are and why?

Jake
Bonaire E-News

Our group dove on maybe one third of the various dive sites. We're looking forward to going back this July to cover many more. I think two that everybody liked was Hilma Hooker and Pink Beach. Wreck dives are always interesting (we have numerous ones off our coast of N.C.) but each one is different and fun to explore. This freighter is on her starboard side in about 100 feet of water. The Prop is on the top side and a great place to take "we were here photos". Pink beach is so beautiful and peaceful;;;; such an easy dive!!! Just walk in from the smooth sandy beach and glide down the gentle slope to the reef . This is also a super night dive site because of the easy entry. Try them - you'll love em.

I don't dive but I love snorkeling. Where is a good place to snorkel and what did you see there?

Hi Joyce,

One of my favorite snorkel sites is Small Wall (and not just because it's behind my house :-) ).

There's a huge variety of fish there, and from land we frequently see parrot fish (mostly Stoplight and Queen) with their fins out of the water in the shallows as they munch on algae-coated rock.

My favorite snorkeling critter (or critters) there are a pair of large Rainbow Parrotfish that wander on by on a regular basis, but there are also schools of Tang & Surgeonfish, Creole Wrasses, Boga, and Chromis to enjoy.

Jake

Another great snkorkel site (in case jake does not invite you) is the beach at the airport...It is called windsock among other names and is an easy place for beginners and experienced snorkelers...

I would add to Jake & Michael"s suggestions Andreas I & II (Need booties for this one), 1000 steps, and in ffront of Habitat. Habitat is a good night snorkel. Also try Klein Bonaire via the "cow boat" water taxi. He does a great drift snorkel. Anywhere you go there are abundent fish. Enjoy!

My favorite dive spots:

1. Hilma Hooker- shipwreck!
2. Do a SUNRISE dive! It's a new perspective in the reef
3. Town Pier- beautiful photography
4. Playa Franz- lovely winding reef, but it's not a main divesite. Ask your Divemasters about it.
5. Take a day trip to Washington Park (and cliff jump!). Most dives are drift (that includes Playa Franz if you ask).

Hope this helps! Be prepared for the best visibility and warm temps! Not too hard to prepare for that :-)

Bon Bini!
Shanz.

I'm also a snorkeler, Joyce. There is GREAT snorkeling around Klein Bonaire-incredible coral, and lots of fish I'd never seen before. Pink beach was pretty good-I saw some very large squid there. In front of Lion's Dive, Buddy's, etc., there is terrific snorkeling. Saw eels, a 3 foot barracuda, and all kinds of tropical fish.

I'd advise boots if you're going to do any offshore snorkeling. Some of the entryways are treacherous. Enjoy-it's wonderful!

I read an article in Sport Diver magazine about two wrecks on Bonaire. One is an iron-hulled sailing vessel in 80 feet of water off Boca Spelonk, and the other is located southeast of Willemstoren . Where are these locations? Has anyone been on these wrecks?

I don't know of any wrecks off Willemstoren Lighthouse. Sitting on the stern of the sailing vessel at Spelonk Lighthouse is a cabin crusier. If I remember correctly, the cabin cruiser is in about 85 feet while the the bow of the sailing vessel is in about 100 feet. There isn't much left of either of the wrecks though. Spelonk is about as far east as you can go on Bonaire. I've dived there twice - once from an inflatable and the other on a trip in which we circumnavigated the island. Both trips were with Bruce Bowker of the Carib Inn.

I have been snorkeling for three years and I have not seen an angel fish yet!!! This is my quest for my trip to Bonaire. No one has mentioned angel fish. Are they in abundance in Bonaire and what sites would I find them at? thanks

French angelfish are relatively common in Bonaire. By this I mean that in most sites, on a 1-hour snorkel trip you are likely to see one, or a pair, or a trio, at least once each three attempts. See Carolyn Matheson (Stupid Iguana Questions) and Deborah Campbell (Trip Report) in this Newsgroup. Queen Angelfish, I have seen in Klein Bonaire, but not so common. Once, my wife and I were snorkeling in No Name Beach and were followed by a pair of (friendly) french angelfish for the whole trip. You can also find the beautiful (and very different) juvenile french angelfish, which are in the "cleaning station business", and run their own "shop" until they grow up and go to do something else (whatever it is!)

Darlene,

I was diving at Town Pier today (doing a clean-up dive as part of the monthly underwater clean-up dive Green Submarine and NetTech sponsor), and my wife an I were tailed by a juvenile (just starting to transition to adulthood) French Angel, and even a rare (on Bonaire) adult Grey Angel. I also saw a baby french angel nearby.

And, as Antonio mentions, French Angels are quite common at all dive sites - so common that I don't really notice them as being out of the ordinary. Queen Angels are a little less common (I see them on about 50% of my dives). I only see grey angels on about 10% of my dives here on Bonaire.

Jake

check out Divi Flamingo's renovation progress .
As the the renovation progresses, this web page wil be updated.
http://www.divibonaire.com/renovplan.htm

Michael,
Masa, masha Danki for the new web site on Divi renovation progress. Right here for us to see.
Terrific!
I will start buying the Folger's and Cherrios now!