Recommeded Spots for Snorkeling in Bonaire

A wonderful island in the Leeward Antilles blessed with natural beauty, Bonaire is recognized as a top vacation spot in the Caribbean. It is a leading shore diving destination with vibrant corals and rich marine life. Still, you don’t have to dive to enjoy its spectacular underwater world since there are many shallow reefs to explore for those seeking excellent snorkeling in Bonaire. This guide tells you what places to visit for the best chance to spot rays, turtles, octopuses, colorful fish, and lively corals!

Bonaire snorkeling conditions

This Caribbean island is known for its easy snorkeling places; most spots are accessible from the shore, so you can explore them on your own or by signing up for Bonaire snorkeling tours if you prefer that way. Moreover, all dive and snorkel spots are marked with yellow painted stone with the name of the place on it, so it should not be a problem to locate them.

Snorkeling in Bonaire is fantastic for all levels of snorkelers. Almost all of the island’s waters are part of the National Marine Park, which guarantees healthy corals and rich marine life.

With clear and shallow waters, the conditions are ideal for observing marine species even close to the shore, but advanced underwater explorers will also find a lot to see when exploring reefs further away from the shore.

The Caribbean Sea is warm enough any time of the year with temperatures around 79-80F/26-26.5C in winter and 83-84F/28-29C during the summer months. Thanks to the tropical climate, there is no bad time to visit Bonaire, but if you are looking for the best conditions for water activities, we recommend arriving between February and September, but keep in mind that UV radiation can be extreme, so don’t forget about sun protection.

Bonaire, along with the other ABC islands Aruba and Curacao, are outside the hurricane belt and, therefore, are considered safe destinations even during the Caribbean Hurricane Season.

Best places to go snorkeling in Bonaire

Bari Reef

When looking for easy snorkeling from the beach in Bonaire, Bari Reef is the spot you want to add to your places-to-visit list. With plenty of fish (lots of baby fish but also big tarpons), eels, octopus, and an abundance of corals, including elkhorn, fire, and sponges, Bari Reef is one of the best Bonaire snorkeling beaches.

The spot is located in front of Sand Dollar Condominium (which is a fantastic place to stay by the way) not so far from the capital Kralendijk. The beach provides easy water entry, but it is rocky, so wearing aqua shoes are recommended. Besides exploring the reef, swim along the old pier too where big shoals of baby fish can be observed!

Sorobon Beach – Lac Bay

Sorobon Beach has highly transparent waters and superb marine life on the island’s southern end. Although getting to the reef is challenging if you are a good swimmer ready to take the extra effort (and choose to go out on a low-wind day), you can explore one of the most excellent Bonaire snorkeling spots.

A small fishing hut on the shore marks where you should enter the water, about 200 m before the Sorobon Beach Resort. Since the water is very shallow, you might need to walk a little (200-250 m) until it gets deeper to put on your snorkel fins to start swimming.

Before you reach the reef, you will pass a sandy area. Look around here, too, because often rays hang around searching for food. Keep swimming another 200-250 m to reach the reef. Here -although the corals are partly damaged- a wide variety of Caribbean fish can be observed, such as wrasse, butterfly, and sergeant major fish, but if you are lucky, you may spot a turtle too.

To find the nicest part of the coral area, you need to go further out (like another 100 m), where an extensive staghorn coral field runs approximately 250 m long. This area is so healthy and lively that it would be a mistake not to visit Lac Bay when on the island. However, keep in mind that it is pretty far from the shore, so it is recommended for advanced snorkelers only. Also, it is good to carry an inflatable snorkeling buoy for your safety.

Boca Slagbaai

As part of the Slagbaai National Park, this area offers not only picturesque views for exploring the island but also superb swimming and snorkeling. Since it takes quite a long time to get to the beach once you enter the park (approx. 1 hour if you drive slowly on the unpaved, rocky road), there are usually not too many people around.

Although the shallows don’t have extensive reefs (unfortunately, the shallow corals are pretty damaged), there are many fish to see. Moreover, the sandy bottom provides a habitat for eels and rays. Recently, a restaurant opened here, too, in one of the buildings, so you can get some snacks and drinks if you get hungry or thirsty.

1000 Steps

The small beach called 1000 Steps, about a 15-minute drive from downtown, is undoubtedly the best place for snorkeling in Bonaire to see various sea life. Like most diving and snorkeling beaches in Bonaire, the spot is marked with a yellow rock.

1000 Steps is one of the top Bonaire snorkeling places to swim with turtles. Usually, several of them are around in the morning or late afternoon, a little outside the main beach area. The most beautiful part of the reef is about 70 m from the shore, with healthy staghorn corals.

This beach is our best recommendation if you are looking for easy and good snorkeling. However, don’t forget to bring beach shoes to protect your feet. There are many dead coral pieces on the beach, as well as sea urchins in the shallow water.

Andrea Dive Site

With a coral reef just meters from the shore, Andrea is one of our favorite places to snorkel in Bonaire. The beach is not that well-known, so it is usually very quiet. Due to the problematic rocky beach access, this spot has medium difficulty. Consider this when planning to come here.

The Andrea dive site is a transition zone between the shallow coral garden and the deeper reef, so rich marine life is guaranteed here. You can see lots of different fish, including huge tarpons, moray eels, octopuses, and turtles.

Tip: Are you curious about whether snorkeling in Curacao or Bonaire is better? Then make sure to check out our Curacao snorkeling guide, too!

The Lake Divingsite

As its name shows, The Lake is another spot where divers usually go, but it is very enjoyable for snorkelers, too. There are many fire and staghorn corals here, and gorgonians provide shelter to many kinds of fish and sea creatures.

On the right of the last building, big boulders are underwater that function as cleaning stations for fish and critters. A little further away from the shore, where the bottom is sandy, rays and green turtles can often be spotted.

Angel City

Just about 500 m from the Lake Divingsite, there is another Bonaire snorkeling spot you should not miss out on visiting. Angel City is easily accessible from the shore and has a beautiful underwater landscape with a double reef and many fish.

The first reef is suitable for snorkelers with a maximum depth of 16-20 ft (5-6 m), and the second one lies at about 60-65 ft (18-20 m). Angel City Beach was named for the angelfish that live here, so expect to see many of these colorful species!

Since this beach is a bit remote (you need a car to get there), it is a perfect spot for those who wish to stay away from the crowd and relax. Nearby, you can see flamingos, goats, and donkeys, too.

Tori’s Reef

Tori’s Reef can be found between the white slave houses and Salt Pier. It is better known as a dive site, but it is also an excellent snorkel spot with an abundance of marine life. Although the shore is pretty rocky here, the bottom is sandy between the reefs (this place has a double reef like Angel City) that attract eagle rays to the area.

The entry is easy, and there are lots of fish to see. Usually, only a few people are around, so Tori’s Reef is a great place to visit if you prefer relaxing on a beach.

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Pink Beach

It is an excellent spot to go if you are looking for a beach with idyllic views and good snorkeling. Pink Beach got its name from the color of the sand, which is pink because of the crushed shells of tiny pink sea creatures. If you come here, it is also worth looking at the nearby old slave houses.

The best is to enter the water at the northern end, where you can encounter a wide variety of reef fish, morays, eels, and squids. Near the sandbar, eagle rays are often around. There is even a chance to swim with turtles here, usually between the beach and Salt Pier.

Karpata

Karpata Reef is considered by many the best Bonaire snorkeling place on the northwestern coast. The exact location is in front of the Landhuis Karpata, where the Kaminda Karpata and Queen’s Highway meet.

The water is relatively shallow here (10-13 ft/3-7 m), and the corals are healthy. You can see many kinds of Caribbean Reef fish, such as angelfish, filefish, and trumpetfish, as well as parrotfish, blue tangs, and sergeant majors. This is a good place to find hawksbill turtles, too, so make sure to bring your underwater camera!

Klein Bonaire

Visiting the tiny uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire, which lies just half-mile offshore from the main island, should not be missed. This little piece of paradise (a national park, by the way) has perfect beaches and offers some of the best snorkeling in Bonaire, which has vibrant reefs and crystal-clear waters.

Klein Bonaire’s most beautiful beach is the so-called No Name Beach, which offers easy access to the island’s most pristine snorkel site (known as Playa Neme locally). You can explore the shallow lagoon or the main reef, depending on your snorkeling skills.

The reef is pretty nice, close to the shore, too, with elkhorn, brain, staghorn, fire corals, and lots of fish, including bannerfish, butterflyfish, damselfish, tangs, groupers, porcupines, and triggerfish. If you are a strong swimmer, you can swim out to the reef drop-off, too, where the corals are even more vibrant, and you can easily find turtles and rays here.

The easiest way to get to Klein Bonaire is by taking a water taxi or renting a boat. We recommend choosing the water taxi that travels back and forth several times a day so you can decide where you want to leave. The journey takes about 20-25 minutes, and the drop-off/pick-up point is at No Name Beach. Bring some snacks and water since Klein Bonaire has no facilities except a few simple cabanas.

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