Frequently Asked Questions about Bonaire Shore Diving

If you have Bonaire shore diving questions, we have answers! Watch this video to learn answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about Bonaire shore diving. UPDATE - beginning Jan 1, 2023 the nature fee (marine park fee) for divers will decrease from $45 to $40. The fee for non-divers will increase from $25 to $40. The $40 will include entrance into Washington Park (new for non-divers).
00:00 - Intro
00:46 - Disclaimers
2:04 - Why shore dive vs boat dive?
3:44 - What is the marine park fee and how do I pay it?
4:26 - Are you required to do an orientation dive?
4:59 - What are the water temps?
5:44 - Do you need a wetsuit?
7:31 - Are there heavy currents?
9:06 - Do you need a surface marker?
9:20 - Are you required to have a local dive guide?
10:24 - Do you need any special equipment?
13:07 - How can you learn about the different dive sites?
14:26 - How do you find the different shore dive sites?
14:49 - Are there any sites you shouldn't dive?
15:33 - How can I find dive buddies while on Bonaire?
16:23 - Should I lock my truck at the dive sites?
17:36 - What do I do with my "stuff" while diving?
18:28 - Should I purchase a Stay/Dive/Drive package?
19:30 - Where do I rent tanks?
20:25 - What are your favorite Bonaire dive sites?
21:44 - Outro
This video was filmed at Jordan Lake, NC.
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A special thanks to our favorite Bonaire dive shop, Tropical Divers, for allowing us to use their sign in our opening montage! tropicaldiversbonaire.com/
Opening montage music (licensed thru artlist.io) - I Promise performed by Ian Post
Links to purchase items mentioned/seen in this video (Check with your LDS too):
Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy www.bsdme.info/order.html
Reef Smart Guide to Bonaire amzn.to/3i3Ak4S
Trekking Poles (Walking Stick) amzn.to/3Fa1ClR
Latex Tubing for tank straps amzn.to/3BLqs7C
Bungee Material for tank straps amzn.to/375dQKA
Bare Evoke 5mm women's wetsuit amzn.to/3nC7ivM
NeoSport 3mm X-SPAN jacket amzn.to/3so54SE
Frogskins 1.5mm neoprene top www.probewetsuits.com/shop/ca...
Fourth Element Amphibian Dive Boot amzn.to/3x8Q1vN
Tusa Imprex Dive Boot amzn.to/3ycfFB6
Tusa Spring Straps for Fins amzn.to/3BPSzT0
Universal Spring Straps for Fins amzn.to/376xqpA
Fin Keeper amzn.to/3TtBnvi
Suunto Dive Compass amzn.to/3BNQNBR
Small Dry Box amzn.to/3zJzwIy
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** SCUBA diving can be dangerous. Dive at your own risk. **

[@ckschnabel]

Great info! We're heading to Bonaire Buddy Dive from December 25th -31st. Used to diver there a lot in the late 80ies/early 90ies as we lived in Venezuela and sailed a boat over to Las Aves and Bonaire multiple times each year. Haven't made it back since then.

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Hey folks, thanks for watching! We've time stamped the questions in the video description for easy reference. They're also marked as chapters on the scrub bar. Enjoy! *UPDATE* - beginning Jan 1, 2023, there will be only one calendar year fee of $40 that covers all water activities in the Bonaire National Marine Park. This one fee also includes entrance to Washington Slagbaai National Park.

[@patrickcarnathan5862]

Thanks for all the great Vids on Bonaire, Going to make our first trip great. We are going December to January and plan on doing 3 to 5 dives a day. With your help its going to be Awesome.

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Thanks Patrick! Have a great trip!

[@shotsbyscott6243]

Great video with your Q&A's. Regarding currents, on my previous three trips I recall current twice out of 54 dives. However, I was there the third week in August and was surprised how strong the current was on several dives. More than I have seen before. This is similar to what you noted in your video. Everone has their favorite dive sites - mine include Tolo, Karpata, Invisibles, Angel City, Something Special. This past trip we dove Vista Blue for the first time and it was very beautiful especially the soft corals.

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Yep, not sure what was happening late Aug and early Sep with the currents. They were all over the place, as well as an ever changing thermocline. Glad you enjoyed Vista Blue. It’s Liz’s favorite site. Thanks for watching Scott!

[@bradford7694]

Dude. I'm with you on your 3 favorite sites, except my most favorite is margate, then tolo. Except sometimes its smallwall. No no... Its nukove. Wait, its the outer reef.... (thanks for your videos. I enjoy then immensely between trips)

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Love me some Margate Bay! It might even be a better site overall, but those Tolo shallows/top of the reef…

[@allenharris5397]

Thanks for information and recommendations. Can you recommend a truck rental company? Going down first November. Thanks , Allen

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

We use and recommend Telerin. They have older vehicles, but are great to work with and super responsive if you have issues. The best thing is that they meet you at the airport with your truck upon arrival. When you’re finished you just leave it in the airport parking lot; super easy. You can reach them via email at [e-mail] and [e-mail]. They do not have a website. Thanks for watching!

[@user-tt9kb1oz6l]

Are you planning on visiting Bonaire soon? I'm planning on visiting later this year. I don't see any videos newer than 6 months ago. I miss your videos!

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

We’re definitely heading back to Bonaire and will have more videos soon. Thanks for watching!

[@mahnkemachine3281]

Looking at the tanks you carry in the water there, they look like steel tanks, given the round bottoms and the top of boots they have on them. That seems odd, but maybe it’s not. Every place we have been, and granted, that’s not too many, as we typically dive around our home area using our own tanks, the tanks we end up renting are aluminum 80’s. The tanks in your videos look like steel HP80’s. We are preparing for our trip in a month, and trying to figure out weights, as we are used to diving fresh water in dry suits, with steel tanks. Any input on this is helpful! Thank you in advance!

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Hi Mahnke! Good catch, those are indeed steel 80’s (or something close to it). That’s why we use Tropical Divers as our on island dive shop. Most dive shops on Bonaire only rent out AL80’s. Even Tropical is phasing out their steel tanks and moving over to AL80’s. As you know calculating how much lead you need can be difficult. For me on Bonaire when using the steel tank and wearing my 3mm neoprene jacket over my frog skins top, I use 7 lbs (sometimes 8). I’ve tried 6 lbs a few times and it just isn’t enough for hanging out in the shallows at the end of the dive. I’m 6’0 and usually weigh 175 to 185. Liz uses 10 to 12 lbs and wears a 5mm full suit over a skin. I bring two 1 lb weights with me from home so I can fine tune what we need. You’ll be hard pressed to find a 1 lb weight on the island. Your dive shop will have plenty of 2’s, 3’s and maybe a 4. I hope that helps.

[@patrickcarnathan5862]

What about a SAD kit in the truck, I know it fair game, but is it likely to go missing?

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

It really depends on what’s in it. I’d just put an o-ring kit in the glove compartment and maybe hide a multi-tool somewhere in the truck or surrounding area. With so many dive shops around the island, anything major can be handled relatively quick.

[@saravellve4519]

How long does it take to drive the island end to end on the main road?

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

I don’t think I’ve ever timed it, but to drive a loop Kralendijk to Karpata to Rincon to Sorobon (back way) to Kralendijk (up west coast), or a figure 8 Kralendijk to Karpata to Rincon to Kralendijk to Sorobon (down west coast) to Kralendijk (past Donkey sanctuary) WITHOUT stopping, would probably take 1.5 hours (maybe 2). I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t include stops. The tour I cover in this video can be done probably in 5 to 8 hours depending on time at stops What to do with only ONE day on Bonaire! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJmpoGVtgap5pqc.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

You didn't mention the price for tanks if you're getting them from independent shops...standard air and Nitrox?

[@KevinandLizGrogan]

Pricing will vary from shop to shop. Most shops have a website that lists their pricing info. Thanks for watching Jonnie!

[@jonnieinbangkok]

@@KevinandLizGrogan Okay...will check them out.