Explore the ABC Islands

The ABC Islands, of the Leeward Antilles, are made up of three islands; Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. They lie in the Dutch Caribbean, in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Each island has a handful of dive centres and dive resorts which will help divers have an exciting diving holiday in these clear, flourishing waters. If divers prefer spending their diving holiday on a liveaboard, there are also a number of those that visit this region. The islands all have a range of marine environments and a high abundance of things to see. Some of the highlights include a high number of wrecks accessible to divers of all levels, vibrant coral reefs made up of corals of all shapes, sizes and colours, a plethora of marine fauna including many schools of fish, seagrass and rocky topography. What heightens the experience of diving here is the calm, clear waters which range between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The warm, tropical climate here also means warm air temperatures all year round. Whether divers want to increase their diving skills by taking dive courses, get their hearts pumping while diving into history in some of the many wrecks, or float overtop the many healthy reefs, it is all possible here.

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Activity

Diving in the ABC Islands

The ABC Islands – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao – offer exceptional diving experiences with a blend of wrecks, shore dives, and vibrant marine life. Bonaire is renowned for its easy-access shore dives, with sites like 1000 Steps offering stunning coral gardens and turtles. Wreck enthusiasts will find the Hilma Hooker in Bonaire a must-see, resting at a depth accessible to divers of varied skill levels.

Aruba's Antilla Wreck is one of the largest in the Caribbean, perfect for exploration. Curaçao provides a mix of shore and boat dives, with notable sites like Mushroom Forest featuring unique coral formations. The islands also offer night diving experiences, revealing nocturnal sea creatures and bioluminescence. Dive travelers can enjoy both shore and liveaboard options, catering to diverse preferences and ensuring a memorable underwater adventure.

Top Wildlife Sightings in the ABC Islands

The ABC Islands are renowned for their vibrant marine biodiversity, making them a haven for divers. Common reef fish include parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, often seen flitting among the coral gardens. Bonaire is noted for its protected marine park, offering frequent sightings of barracudas and groupers. Seasonal highlights vary across the islands. From May to September, divers might spot sea turtles near nesting sites, particularly around Bonaire. Shark sightings, including reef and nurse sharks, are more common in deeper waters, mainly around Curaçao. Rays, such as the spotted eagle ray, can be encountered year-round, with increased activity during warmer months.

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

18k Sightings
J
1.5k
F
1.5k
M
1.8k
A
1.5k
M
1.1k
J
1.2k
J
1.5k
A
1.6k
S
1.5k
O
1.5k
N
1.7k
D
1.8k
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

9.7k Sightings
J
718
F
715
M
972
A
883
M
526
J
617
J
830
A
808
S
874
O
853
N
982
D
963

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

8.6k Sightings
J
669
F
627
M
911
A
614
M
408
J
393
J
656
A
775
S
795
O
788
N
992
D
959

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

3.6k Sightings
J
255
F
202
M
435
A
162
M
253
J
277
J
275
A
323
S
405
O
265
N
309
D
402
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

2.8k Sightings
J
242
F
196
M
262
A
260
M
156
J
238
J
274
A
259
S
172
O
250
N
249
D
262

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

2k Sightings
J
171
F
98
M
164
A
155
M
104
J
104
J
115
A
224
S
202
O
194
N
241
D
230

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

1.6k Sightings
J
84
F
114
M
202
A
163
M
108
J
152
J
118
A
165
S
103
O
115
N
130
D
159

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

20k Sightings
J
1.5k
F
1.4k
M
2k
A
1.4k
M
1.1k
J
1.4k
J
1.9k
A
1.9k
S
1.8k
O
1.8k
N
1.8k
D
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

15k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
972
M
1.5k
A
1k
M
815
J
1k
J
1.3k
A
1.4k
S
1.4k
O
1.3k
N
1.4k
D
1.5k

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

14k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1k
M
1.4k
A
1k
M
872
J
933
J
1.4k
A
1.2k
S
1.4k
O
1.2k
N
1.3k
D
1.6k

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

13k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1k
M
1.2k
A
1.1k
M
632
J
921
J
1.3k
A
1.2k
S
1.1k
O
1.1k
N
1.3k
D
1.4k

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

10k Sightings
J
736
F
630
M
1.1k
A
634
M
615
J
681
J
977
A
888
S
906
O
855
N
936
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.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

9.3k Sightings
J
727
F
594
M
1k
A
664
M
457
J
519
J
695
A
888
S
986
O
882
N
873
D
1k

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

8.9k Sightings
J
656
F
615
M
937
A
748
M
515
J
570
J
781
A
759
S
782
O
728
N
888
D
890

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

7.8k Sightings
J
560
F
594
M
912
A
562
M
519
J
461
J
647
A
670
S
751
O
628
N
775
D
757

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

7.6k Sightings
J
426
F
466
M
619
A
567
M
470
J
537
J
777
A
745
S
817
O
834
N
739
D
646

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

6.7k Sightings
J
531
F
466
M
743
A
510
M
359
J
414
J
519
A
594
S
620
O
612
N
569
D
723

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

6.3k Sightings
J
474
F
409
M
763
A
419
M
407
J
423
J
566
A
529
S
686
O
476
N
454
D
698

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

6.1k Sightings
J
459
F
362
M
719
A
411
M
323
J
376
J
579
A
609
S
697
O
468
N
475
D
615

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

5.6k Sightings
J
339
F
291
M
676
A
392
M
342
J
406
J
434
A
533
S
573
O
498
N
562
D
590

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

5.2k Sightings
J
376
F
331
M
622
A
325
M
292
J
300
J
424
A
497
S
575
O
469
N
492
D
532

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

4.1k Sightings
J
410
F
316
M
630
A
320
M
193
J
209
J
312
A
384
S
355
O
212
N
367
D
402

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

3.4k Sightings
J
226
F
256
M
446
A
310
M
169
J
216
J
303
A
335
S
254
O
257
N
319
D
325

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

3k Sightings
J
177
F
166
M
335
A
146
M
121
J
191
J
292
A
308
S
360
O
310
N
276
D
348

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

3k Sightings
J
285
F
178
M
358
A
265
M
101
J
209
J
284
A
163
S
307
O
173
N
193
D
498

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

2.9k Sightings
J
211
F
158
M
215
A
170
M
97
J
134
J
252
A
319
S
432
O
396
N
258
D
289

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

2.8k Sightings
J
190
F
216
M
399
A
288
M
113
J
193
J
267
A
238
S
259
O
236
N
147
D
261

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

2.7k Sightings
J
213
F
135
M
298
A
188
M
138
J
129
J
197
A
233
S
236
O
229
N
355
D
337

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

2.6k Sightings
J
104
F
171
M
176
A
263
M
147
J
219
J
176
A
375
S
310
O
182
N
260
D
214
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

2.2k Sightings
J
130
F
99
M
131
A
206
M
148
J
212
J
271
A
194
S
188
O
203
N
236
D
185

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

1.8k Sightings
J
103
F
57
M
176
A
186
M
167
J
154
J
147
A
171
S
153
O
116
N
199
D
181

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

1.7k Sightings
J
152
F
127
M
184
A
237
M
87
J
85
J
101
A
157
S
141
O
106
N
165
D
134

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

1.6k Sightings
J
85
F
81
M
109
A
79
M
107
J
180
J
244
A
257
S
151
O
77
N
125
D
101

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

1.5k Sightings
J
163
F
100
M
134
A
137
M
99
J
144
J
151
A
175
S
129
O
122
N
82
D
107

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

1.4k Sightings
J
110
F
66
M
175
A
44
M
101
J
98
J
128
A
155
S
151
O
123
N
116
D
121

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

1.4k Sightings
J
127
F
82
M
106
A
112
M
72
J
107
J
136
A
111
S
110
O
145
N
123
D
154

The best Months to Dive in the ABC Islands

The ABC Islands offer excellent diving conditions throughout the year. The water temperatures range from a warm 26°C to 28°C/79°F to 82°F, ensuring comfortable dives in all seasons. Visibility is typically exceptional, often exceeding 30 meters/about 100 feet, which enhances the underwater experience, allowing divers to fully appreciate the vibrant marine life and coral reefs.

Weather conditions are generally favorable for diving year-round, with trade winds providing a pleasant breeze. However, during the hurricane season from June to November, the islands may experience increased winds and stronger currents, though they are outside the hurricane belt and rarely directly affected. Divers should be mindful of these factors, but overall, the ABC Islands remain a top choice for consistent and enjoyable diving experiences any time of the year.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites