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Snorkeling in Bonaire

Options Abound in a Snorkeler's Paradise

If theme park developers were tasked with creating the ideal snorkeling destination, it would look a lot like Bonaire. The water is warm and clear, the weather is good year round, and there are miles of reefs to explore. Most sites have no currents or waves to deal with, and snorkelers never have to swim far, because coral gardens begin just a few feet from shore. The waters are home to hundreds of species of tropical fish that thrive under the protection of an all-island marine park. Explore when and where you want by wading in from shore or enjoying a short boat ride in calm seas.

Highlights

  • Best for: Everyone with a love of water and nature
  • Best season to visit: Year-round, as it's below the hurricane belt
  • Weather: 70s, sunny and dry in the winter, 80s in the summer, with occasional afternoon or evening showers

Bonaire Information

Snorkeling in Bonaire Overview

Bonaire's snorkeling sites are located along the island's western coast, which provides shelter from prevailing easterly winds and swells. A number of waterfront resorts have reefs right off their docks or beaches, and also offer boat rides to nearby sites. Many more sites can be reached from parking areas along the coastal highway.

Snorkeling in Bonaire Tips

To get the most out of a snorkel vacation, work with the water sports staff at your resort to create a mixed schedule that includes both boat and shore excursions. For the ultimate variety, book a rental car for access to miles of snorkel sites that are accessible from the coastal highway.

Best Places to Snorkel in Bonaire

At sites like Windsock and Karpata, groves of elkhorn coral grow close to shore and rise almost to the surface. A short boat ride brings snorkelers to the deserted island of Klein Bonaire, where star and brain coral are set against a white sand bottom at sites like Rock Pile, while forests of colorful sea fans cover Captain Don's Reef. For something very different, head to the east coast to snorkel a mangrove estuary.

What to Pack for Snorkeling in Bonaire

If you are bringing your own gear, and plan to do any snorkeling from shore, choose open-heel fins that fit into separate dive boots, as this combination will provide greater comfort when walking across gravel beaches and into the water.  Pack a jug of water for rinsing off afterward, and a large towel for changing.

Specials

Snorkeling

Bonaire

Captain Dons Habitat

BONAIRE FREE DIVING BOOK 1-6 BOAT DIVE PACKAGE AND 2ND DIVER DIVES FOR FREE includes 7 nights Deluxe Ocean View accommodations, 6 days of 1-tank boat dives + 6 days unlimited shore diving, roundtrip airport transfers, free WiFi, hotel tax and service charges.

Valid 8/30/25-9/27/25.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,022 per person double diver

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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Captain Dons Habitat

BONAIRE FREE HOTEL NIGHT–FREE DIVING–FREE NITROX 2025 MAY-JUNE DIVE DEALS!

Package includes 7 Nights Deluxe Garden View accommodations, 10 boat dives, 6 days of unlimited shore diving, free NITROX upgrade on all dives, roundtrip airport transfers, free WiFi, hotel tax and service charges.

Valid for travel 5/17/25-6/21/25 – rate from $1,129 per person, double diver.

Additional room categories also available in the shopping cart on the next screen! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,129 per person, double diver

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Packages

Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE 50% DISCOUNT ON CAR RENTAL-FREE NITROX!
DRIVE & DIVE PACKAGE includes 7 nights in your choice of Studio, 1, 2 or 3-bedroom accommodations, 6 days of FREE unlimited shore diving. Upgrades available for 1 or 2-tank boat dives, free Nitrox, breakfast buffet daily, 7 days vehicle rental with insurance, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers.
Drive & Dive Mania (50% discount on car rental) July 26 – August 29, 2025.

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,101 pp/quad(2bd) or $1,205 pp/dbl (stu)

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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE FREE SHORE DIVING-FREE NITROX!
DRIVE & DIVE PACKAGE includes 7 nights in your choice of Studio, 1, 2 or 3-bedroom accommodations, 6 days of FREE unlimited shore diving. Upgrades available for 1 or 2-tank boat dives, free Nitrox, breakfast buffet daily, 7 days vehicle rental with insurance, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers.

September Shore Dive Weeks (free shore diving-for certified divers) August 30 -October 3, 2025.

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,644 pp/quad(2bd) or $1,969 pp/dbl (stu)

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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE SAIL, DINE, DRIVE & DIVE PACKAGE - ENJOY BONAIRES FAMOUS SUNSETS! 7 nights’ accommodations, 6 days unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox (for certified divers), breakfast buffet daily, 7 days vehicle rental with insurance, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers.

One full 8 hour Sail Day (Mondays only) on board a 44ft Sailing Catamaran including 2 guided boat dives or 2 guided snorkeling excursions (for non-divers), open bar with ice cold drinks, sodas, beers, wines, prosecco, lunch and 4 course dinner with fresh water on shower deck.

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Exclusive Pricing and Information.
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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE SNORKEL PACKAGE 7 nights Studio Room accommodations, daily breakfast, 7 days single cabin manual transmission pickup truck rental, with CDW car insurance, and free WiFi and taxes.

SNORKEL PACKAGE includes Introduction to snorkel and equipment for 7 days, 1-trip to snorkel Klein Bonaire, 1-guided cave snorkel/exploration tour, 1-guided mangrove snorkel/kayak tour, 1 hour landsailing.

Add on a ½ Day Discover Scuba Diving course for $90. Additional tours and adventures available to purchase in the shopping cart.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE LEARN TO DIVE PACKAGE includes 7-night accommodations, Full Open Water Scuba Course including instruction, materials, and use of required equipment, daily breakfast buffet, 7 days vehicle rental with insurance, free WiFi, airport transfers, hotel tax and service charges.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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Book Now
Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

BONAIRE DRIVE & DIVE PACKAGE includes 7 nights in your choice of Studio, 1, 2 or 3-bedroom accommodations, choice of 6 days unlimited shore diving, 6 days 1 or 2-tank boat dives with unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox, breakfast buffet daily, 7 days vehicle rental with insurance, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers.

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Exclusive Pricing and Information.
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Book Now

Resorts

Snorkeling

Bonaire

Plaza Beach & Dive Resort Bonaire

Tranquil oceanfront resort on one of Bonaire’s finest beaches, with the adjacent house reef 18th Palms that is perfect for shore diving. On-site Toucan Diving offers tank fills and dive gear storage room plus top-side adventure activities. Accommodations include spacious suites. Enjoy the casual restaurant, beachside bar, outdoor pool, and day spa.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Captain Dons Habitat

BUILD YOUR OWN PACKAGE includes choice of room accommodations, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes and service charges.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional information.
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Snorkeling

Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort

Full-service resort with studios, 1, 2 & 3-bedroom apartments, 2 swimming pools and 2 restaurants. Professional PADI 5-Star CDC Center & Dive Academy. Onsite two-lane air/Nitrox drive-thru & digital photo center. Fully equipped dive & retail shop with a fleet of 6 dive boats, plus extensive technical diving facility on grounds.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional information.
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See Packages & Learn More
Snorkeling

Bonaire

Captain Dons Habitat

Since 1976, the original “home of diving freedom”. Varied accommodation types to fit all needs from standard rooms to three-bedroom oceanfront villas. Scheduled boat dives daily. Excellent house reef just a few fin kicks away from a dedicated shore diving pier.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional information.
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Passport and/or Visa Requirements

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Entry Requirments: US and Canadian citizens must have a valid Passport, valid for the length of stay. No visa is required for stays shorter than 90 days.

Exit Requirments: The departure tax is USD $36.05 per person, which should be included in your international airline ticket taxes, so there should be nothing to pay at the airport. Domestic departure tax is $9.27 to Curacao, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius or Aruba and should also be included in your airline ticket taxes.

Immunizations

No vaccinations or preventative medications are required for travel to Bonaire. Check with the Centers for Disease Control on recommended vaccinations for travel at cdc.gov

Culture and Customs

Bonaire provides a low-key take on island life. Bonairean culture blends the traditions of Spain, Africa and the Netherlands. Locals who may initially display the discrete reserves of the Dutch quickly prove warm and accommodating of visitors. And despite decades of tourism, the service industry mentality does not dominate the cultural psyche. Cruise ships now call at the Kralendijk waterfront, but divers remain the main source of business for on-island resorts. Nightlife is more likely to mean a sunset dinner at the harbor followed by a stroll to an ice cream shop, or tall tales of underwater adventures shared at a waterfront tiki bar, with a reasonable bedtime in anticipation of tomorrow's adventures. And there are ample adventures to be found. Washington Slagbaai National Park covers the entire northern end of the island, creating an outdoor playground for hiking, mountain biking, birding and day trips to small surf-washed coves hidden within iron shore bluffs. The trade winds that cool the island also power kite boarders, and the sheltered waters of Lac Bay are home to Jibe City, one of the Caribbean's epicenters of windsurfing action. Blue water fishermen don't have to travel far to hook up with trophy catches, kayakers can find shelter in mangrove channels, and sailing charters provide a relaxing way to skim the coastline without venturing into open ocean. An experience unique to Bonaire are the cave snorkel trips that take swimmers into clear pools of fresh water hidden below the island's limestone substrate.

Electricity, Phone and Internet Access

Electricity is 127 volt, 50 cycle. Many dive shops offer stations for charging lights, strobes or delicate equipment.

Most hotels offer WiFi and some local restaurants and bars offer WiFi. Surf-it hotspots are available with a Surf-it prepaid card from Telbo. Calling Bonaire requires dialing 011-599-7 and 6 digit number. Be sure to check with your cell phone carrier to see if they offer an international plan or you will be subject to roaming charges.

Water Quality

Bonaire offers desalinated sea water which is purified and safe to drink. Bottled water is also available for purchase.

Language & Currency

There are 4 main languages spoken in Bonaire, Dutch is the official one used in government and legal transactions, while Papiamentu is used in daily exchanges and spoken by the locals. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

As of January 1, 2011, the U.S. Dollar became the official currency of Bonaire. Credit cards are normally accepted in most restaurants, bars and stores. It is recommended you contact your credit card company before travel to make sure they know you will be using the card out of the country. ATMs are available which Cirrus, NYCE and other networks.

Time

Bonaire is in the Atlantic Time Zone (AST) and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Bonaire is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT).

Location, Size and Population

Bonaire is 24 miles long by 3-7 miles wide, approximately 111 square miles. The small island offshore, Klein Bonaire, which is uninhabited is 2.3 square miles. Bonaire is located just 30 miles from Curacao, 50 miles North of Venezuela and 80 miles East of Aruba. Bonaire is located in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea and outside of the Hurricane Belt. The population of Bonaire is 18,900 (2016).

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