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Explore Bonaire

Nestled in the southern Caribbean, Bonaire stands out as a premier dive destination, captivating enthusiasts with its year-round tropical climate and pristine marine environments. The island's reputation for exceptional shore diving is well-earned, with its vibrant coral reefs just a few fins away from the beach. Divers can explore an underwater paradise teeming with over 470 species of fish, thanks to the island's longstanding commitment to marine conservation. The clear, warm waters create an inviting environment for both novices and experienced divers, enhanced by the absence of strong currents.

Bonaire's dive sites offer a diverse array of experiences, from the thriving coral gardens at the Bonaire National Marine Park to enchanting underwater landscapes dotted with shipwrecks. Shore dives are particularly popular, providing easy access to the island's underwater treasures. For those seeking more adventure, daily boat trips venture to further sites, ensuring there's always new marine life to discover. Bonaire's dive centers and liveaboards cater to a variety of preferences and budgets, making its underwater wonders accessible to all who seek them. Whether pursuing certification or simply enjoying the vibrant marine life, Bonaire promises an unforgettable diving experience in its azure waters.

Upcoming Events

SSI Try Scuba – Discover the underwater world of Bonaire

SSI Try Scuba – Discover the underwater world of Bonaire

Have you always wanted to try scuba diving? This is your chance to discover the underwater world of Bonaire!With the SSI Try Scuba program, you’ll get introduced to diving in a safe and relaxed way. You’ll first receive a brief introduction and learn the most important basic principles of diving. Then, you’ll head into the water with your instructor for your first real dive.At Scuba School Bonaire, we keep it personal. You’ll take the Try Scuba course in a private setting, together with your own family, friends, or acquaintances. With a maximum of 2 participants per instructor, you’ll receive all the attention and guidance you need. If you’d prefer to do this dive one-on-one with an instructor, that’s also possible!How does the Try Scuba program work?We’ll start with a short theory and introductory session. You’ll learn how your diving equipment works, how to breathe and communicate underwater, and what important safety rules you need to know.Then, together with your instructor, you’ll make your first dive. We’ll take our time to help you get comfortable with the water, the equipment, and breathing underwater.What will you learn?How to Breathe Underwater with a RegulatorHow to Communicate Underwater Using Hand SignalsHow to Use Your Mask and RegulatorThe Basics of Buoyancy and TrimHow to Stay Calm and Comfortable UnderwaterWhat’s included?Short theory and introductory sessionPersonal guidance from an experienced SSI instructorDiving EquipmentDiving TankOne Try Scuba DiveSSI Try Scuba Program and RegistrationYour First Dive on BonaireBonaire is the perfect place to get started with diving. The clear, warm water and the beautiful underwater world make your first dive extra special.During your dive, you can explore the colorful coral reef and the many fish that live around Bonaire. Who knows—you might even encounter a sea turtle, a stingray, or other extraordinary marine life along the way!Your first dive should above all be fun, relaxed, and comfortable. That’s why we work with small groups and a maximum of 2 participants per instructor.You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions and get comfortable with diving at your own pace. No large groups and no rush—just personalized guidance from start to finish.Private experience • Maximum of 2 participants per instructor • Theory & practice • Equipment & tank included • First dive • BonaireThe SSI Try Scuba program is ideal for anyone who has never dived before and would like to discover what it feels like to breathe underwater and experience the beautiful underwater world of Bonaire.Maybe this is the start of your new diving adventure!

Scuba School Bonaire, Kaya Scorpio 18b, 0000CN, Kralendijk Bonaire, BES
September 24, 2026 +41 More
$125.00
SSI Open Water Diver – Learn to Dive on Bonaire

SSI Open Water Diver – Learn to Dive on Bonaire

Have you always wanted to learn to dive? Start your diving adventure on Bonaire!With the SSI Open Water Diver course, you’ll learn the basic skills and knowledge you need to dive independently to a maximum depth of 18 meters with a certified buddy.At Scuba School Bonaire, we make your Open Water course a personalized experience. You’ll take the course in a private setting, together with your family, friends, or dive buddies, so you’ll get all the attention you need, and we can tailor the training to your experience, pace, and comfort level.How does the course work?The SSI Open Water Diver course consists of a combination of online theory and open-water dives.You’ll start with the SSI theory, which you can complete largely online and at your own pace. You’ll learn everything about diving equipment, dive planning, safety, buoyancy, communication, and the basics of diving.Then, you’ll head into the water with your instructor to practice the most important skills. Once you’re comfortable with the basic skills, you’ll move on to the open-water training dives.During these dives, you’ll learn to apply the skills you’ve learned in the ocean and become increasingly comfortable with diving.What you’ll learn:How Your Diving Equipment Works and How to Use It CorrectlyHow to Prepare and Check Your Diving EquipmentHow to Breathe and Communicate UnderwaterThe Basics of Buoyancy and TrimHow to Descend and Ascend SafelyHow to Keep Track of Your Air Consumption and Dive TimeHow to Plan and Conduct a DiveImportant buddy and safety proceduresHow to Dive Responsibly and with Respect for the Underwater WorldThe course includes:Online SSI theory, to be taken at your own pace5 open-water training divesdiving equipment & tanksPersonal guidance from an experienced SSI instructorThe required SSI training materialsGuidance on learning and practicing all required diving skillsSSI Open Water Diver certification upon successful completionLearn to Dive on BonaireBonaire is a fantastic place to learn to dive. The warm, clear water and the beautiful underwater world provide a special setting to take your first steps as a diver.During the course, you will not only learn the required skills, but you will also have the opportunity to explore Bonaire’s unique underwater world.Together with your instructor, we’ll choose the training locations based on your experience, the weather, sea conditions, and the skills that will be the focus of the dives.Private & Personal GuidanceYour first diving experience should above all be safe, relaxing, and fun.Whether you’re coming alone, with your partner, family, or friends, we’ll provide personalized training that focuses on your comfort and development.After Your CertificationUpon successful completion of the course, you will be an SSI Open Water Diver and will be able to go on recreational dives worldwide within the limits of your certification.Would you like to go on even more dives during your stay on Bonaire? After your course, you can, of course, book guided dives with Scuba School Bonaire. This way, you can continue to explore Bonaire’s various dive sites and underwater life under the guidance of an instructor.Online theory • 5 open-water training dives • Private course • Personalized instruction • Certification to 18 meters • BonaireThis course is ideal for beginner divers who want to learn to dive and earn their first full dive certification in the warm, clear waters of Bonaire.Your first scuba certification starts here.

Scuba School Bonaire, Kaya Scorpio 18b, 0000CN, Kralendijk Bonaire, BES
September 24, 2026 +356 More
$550.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Bonaire

Bonaire, a diver's paradise in the Caribbean, offers over 60 dive sites with a rich variety of underwater experiences. Shore dives dominate the scene with vibrant coral gardens and rainbow reefs teeming with colorful fish, making it ideal for underwater photographers. The Hilma Hooker wreck is a must-visit, accessible from the shore and suitable for divers of all levels.

For those seeking unique encounters, Bari Reef is a popular shore dive where divers can spot octopi, seahorses, and over 300 fish species. Just a short boat ride from the mainland, Klein Bonaire offers liveaboard options for exploring its dramatic underwater landscapes and walls brimming with marine life. Whether exploring from the shore or a boat, Bonaire's dive sites promise unforgettable underwater adventures.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Bonaire

Like most places in the Caribbean, there isn’t a wrong time to dive in Bonaire. It benefits from a year round agreeable climate, so it’s a great part of the world to choose your next diving vacation no matter the time of year. Bonaire does experience mild seasonal climate differences, with air temperatures averaging around 28°C/84°F in winter and 31°C/89°F in summer. Ocean temperatures similarly vary, at around 25°C/78°F in winter and 29°C/84°F in summer, which is comfortable year round. The drier season is April to November, and the rainy season, December to March, however Bonaire has very little rainfall, with most showers passing quickly.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Bonaire

As marine life has been successfully protected in Bonaire for over 35 years, a wealth of thriving marine life lives healthily here. Mostly famed for its breathtaking reefs, sea fans and reef fish, such as at Bari Reef, and amazing coral structures, such as the elkhorn coral that stretch ten feet towards the surface at the Karpati dive site, that’s not only what you can encounter here. At the One Thousand Steps site divers have had encounters with hawksbill turtles and manta rays, and even passing whalesharks.

Among other things, you can see many more awesome marine critters at all of bonaires dive sites, such as parrotfish, schooling fish, seahorses, octopi, groupers, pretty anemone fish and various soft and hard coral species. Popular spots to see such life include Alice in Wonderland, Andrea 1 and 2, and Salt Pier.

For macro lovers, smaller creatures like frogfish, juvenile spotted drums, seahorses and filefish can be spotted at sites dotted around Bonaire, however, a notable site for encounters is Rappel, just north of the capital, Kralendijk.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

10k Sightings
J
689
F
764
M
870
A
605
M
644
J
773
J
1.1k
A
996
S
946
O
876
N
880
D
864

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

6.5k Sightings
J
385
F
470
M
609
A
378
M
422
J
330
J
648
A
718
S
608
O
599
N
697
D
621
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

5.9k Sightings
J
357
F
361
M
513
A
457
M
371
J
442
J
658
A
664
S
578
O
520
N
498
D
504

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

2.5k Sightings
J
121
F
133
M
313
A
104
M
225
J
250
J
189
A
200
S
312
O
197
N
173
D
257

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

1.4k Sightings
J
77
F
89
M
147
A
143
M
136
J
153
J
141
A
148
S
100
O
93
N
100
D
119
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

1.2k Sightings
J
93
F
53
M
74
A
105
M
83
J
104
J
128
A
155
S
105
O
116
N
112
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

1.1k Sightings
J
82
F
40
M
74
A
72
M
85
J
55
J
128
A
140
S
127
O
74
N
93
D
89
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

426 Sightings
J
41
F
27
M
12
A
34
M
47
J
42
J
66
A
35
S
37
O
47
N
26
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

12k Sightings
J
712
F
764
M
1k
A
638
M
732
J
1k
J
1.4k
A
1.3k
S
1.2k
O
1.1k
N
1.1k
D
1.2k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

8.9k Sightings
J
522
F
533
M
762
A
478
M
545
J
801
J
992
A
902
S
863
O
786
N
804
D
875

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

8.9k Sightings
J
496
F
546
M
740
A
469
M
641
J
685
J
1k
A
902
S
884
O
741
N
822
D
892

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

7.5k Sightings
J
379
F
397
M
557
A
486
M
509
J
564
J
930
A
831
S
811
O
775
N
684
D
598

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

6.8k Sightings
J
443
F
458
M
513
A
376
M
319
J
536
J
810
A
761
S
616
O
595
N
697
D
649

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

6k Sightings
J
335
F
330
M
573
A
196
M
443
J
506
J
686
A
619
S
574
O
587
N
535
D
628

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

5.4k Sightings
J
292
F
226
M
470
A
252
M
344
J
448
J
623
A
612
S
561
O
508
N
457
D
572

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

5.3k Sightings
J
342
F
273
M
464
A
375
M
347
J
407
J
615
A
538
S
451
O
429
N
534
D
532

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

4.2k Sightings
J
248
F
206
M
374
A
191
M
284
J
342
J
454
A
404
S
422
O
403
N
374
D
490

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

3.9k Sightings
J
161
F
279
M
367
A
177
M
265
J
248
J
337
A
364
S
443
O
417
N
427
D
426

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

3.8k Sightings
J
149
F
193
M
391
A
166
M
269
J
307
J
352
A
414
S
468
O
344
N
298
D
446

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

3.6k Sightings
J
141
F
147
M
373
A
171
M
272
J
342
J
294
A
377
S
378
O
333
N
347
D
429

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

3.4k Sightings
J
140
F
171
M
313
A
117
M
200
J
352
J
328
A
395
S
435
O
272
N
249
D
395

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

3k Sightings
J
175
F
176
M
303
A
118
M
206
J
163
J
267
A
342
S
407
O
334
N
268
D
288

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

2.4k Sightings
J
96
F
138
M
216
A
72
M
137
J
204
J
291
A
293
S
267
O
252
N
218
D
262

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

2.3k Sightings
J
130
F
138
M
254
A
157
M
114
J
218
J
232
A
271
S
241
O
227
N
128
D
219

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

2.1k Sightings
J
131
F
109
M
97
A
75
M
82
J
105
J
212
A
279
S
301
O
333
N
195
D
205

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

1.9k Sightings
J
123
F
99
M
319
A
65
M
88
J
99
J
211
A
285
S
242
O
87
N
152
D
142

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1.9k Sightings
J
124
F
58
M
173
A
114
M
73
J
190
J
213
A
128
S
263
O
93
N
107
D
325

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

1.4k Sightings
J
65
F
63
M
117
A
34
M
94
J
105
J
140
A
142
S
135
O
112
N
192
D
194

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

1.3k Sightings
J
38
F
55
M
58
A
79
M
143
J
158
J
163
A
263
S
141
O
47
N
128
D
73
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

1.1k Sightings
J
89
F
61
M
43
A
103
M
50
J
94
J
111
A
79
S
104
O
100
N
168
D
82

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.1k Sightings
J
40
F
73
M
134
A
62
M
66
J
84
J
126
A
124
S
128
O
57
N
97
D
72

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

987 Sightings
J
68
F
63
M
82
A
86
M
58
J
64
J
104
A
87
S
80
O
114
N
82
D
99

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

689 Sightings
J
35
F
31
M
78
A
12
M
32
J
50
J
106
A
110
S
34
O
85
N
56
D
60

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

640 Sightings
J
3
F
27
M
36
A
6
M
41
J
75
J
147
A
130
S
96
O
23
N
36
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

636 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
75
A
59
M
73
J
60
J
76
A
53
S
75
O
35
N
73
D
44

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

561 Sightings
J
25
F
21
M
29
A
25
M
14
J
45
J
52
A
51
S
54
O
74
N
81
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

417 Sightings
J
27
F
26
M
23
A
55
M
29
J
32
J
26
A
55
S
68
O
28
N
31
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

402 Sightings
J
23
F
34
M
18
A
33
M
16
J
23
J
28
A
74
S
51
O
45
N
28
D
29

Curated by Interest

Events by Lifestyle Category

Underwater Beginner