F.A.Q

Bonaire is synonymous with independent diving from the shore at over 50 dive sites. Thanks to crystal-clear visibility—often exceeding 30 meters—and generally weak currents, Bonaire is considered the “world capital of shore diving.”

Dive buddies and couples/groups enjoy maximum freedom and can dive around the clock, whenever they like. Long boat trips or organized dive excursions are not necessary. For divers with the necessary experience, diving without a guide is easily possible.

Bonaire stands for first-class, individual diving experiences. The island offers a variety of dive sites: from pristine coral landscapes to sandy areas where, with a little luck, you can spot turtles and rays. Since colorful underwater life is mostly found at depths between 5 and 20 meters, deep dives are generally not necessary but are, of course, possible. Instead, you can dive at a leisurely pace until your air is about to run out.

Divers with the necessary experience prepare their own briefing before the dive. Sonrisa provides an ideal guide for this with the book “Reef Guide Bonaire”. In addition, the Sonrisa team is happy to advise on suitable dive sites for beginners and advanced divers, underwater landmarks, good opportunities for fish sightings, as well as easy entry points and important tips for diving from the beach. Divers prepare their gear, check the fill level and nitrox content of their diving tanks, and load all their equipment into their Sonrisa rental car. The convenient drive-in ensures short distances for loading and unloading.

How far are the dive sites from Sonrisa?

The dive sites are only a 2- to 25-minute drive from Sonrisa. They are marked with yellow stones, each bearing the name of the dive site—making them easy to find. At the dive site, you’ll assemble and put on your gear and perform a buddy check. A yellow rock with an arrow often marks the best entry point. Sonrisa recommends that buddies help each other, especially at uneven entry points and coral ledges.

Experienced divers use a compass to locate the boat buoy and start their dive directly from the beach. Less experienced divers swim on the surface to the buoy and only descend once they reach it. A compass and navigation skills are recommended, even though there are easy dive sites with clearly visible landmarks. On Bonaire, you can easily make the mandatory three-minute stop at five meters while ascending—and often discover plenty more along the way.

Sidemount diving is generally possible on Bonaire, but it isn’t the best choice at every dive site. Since some entry points have cliffs and are uneven, diving with a single tank is often more comfortable and easier for many divers.

Sonrisa Bonaire offers snorkeling and diving options for beginners and advanced divers. These include equipment rentals, guided snorkeling excursions, introductory dives, and PADI courses ranging from Open Water Diver to advanced certifications. Certified divers rent 11-liter aluminum tanks with DIN valves; an INT adapter is available. The tanks are filled with air or nitrox. This makes Sonrisa the ideal destination for diving and snorkeling on Bonaire.