Scuba Diving in Bonaire
One cannot talk about the top scuba diving spots in the world without talking at great length about Bonaire. Voted as being one of the top four scuba diving locations in the world, Bonaire has led the way in marine preservation in the Caribbean and, thus, is home to some of the most breathtaking, pristine, and unharmed corals in the world.
Bonaire began its legacy in marine preservation more than 25 years ago when it established one of the first National Marine Parks in the Caribbean region. While the whole island is known for its keen interest in natural preservation, its marine endeavors have attracted most of the attention. In fact, Bonaire, located in the southern Dutch Caribbean, is known primarily for its scuba diving and preservation of marine habitats.
Bonaire’s economy is driven by tourism and scuba diving. There are numerous dive shops, resorts, aquariums, and attractions that earn a living off of showcasing and highlighting Bonaire’s diverse and protected marine environment. In addition to scuba diving, visitors to Bonaire can enjoy numerous other activities including snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, cycling and mountain biking.
The island of Bonaire is actually the tip of a submerged mountain jutting up from the ocean floor. Just a short distance offshore, only a few hundred yards are so, there is a fringe reef that surrounds Bonaire. Here divers will be delighted to find a plentitude of coral and an amazing array of marine life and fish. Some of the most prized sightings include the tiny seahorses and gargoyle-like frogfish of Bonaire. Other sightings include sea fans, sting rays, crabs, and corals of breathtaking beauty.
The waters surrounding Bonaire are crystal clear, calm, and ideal for scuba diving year round. There are more than 85 dive spots clearly marked along the shore of Bonaire as well as numerous off-shore destinations that can be reached by boat.
The protected nature of the reef surrounding Bonaire requires that all divers be trained to respect the reef and know proper dive techniques to minimize accidental damage to the protected environment. Everyone wanting to go scuba diving in Bonaire must take a quick orientation course before they are allowed to dive. Also, anyone who has not attended the course for more than a year must take a refresher.
If you are a beginner scuba diver and want to take it slow or are not inclined to dip in the waters at all, Bonaire offers unbelievable underwater views of the reef through several aquariums. Here you feel as if you can actually reach out and touch the wonders of the reef without having to suit up or get your fins wet. These attractions are also great for hard-core divers on off days.
There are good reasons why Bonaire is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. Bonaire’s pristine, protected, and untouched marine environment has long been a favorite among beginning divers and advanced divers alike.
