Bonaire: Water Paradise of the Netherlands Antilles: A Trip Report by Richard W. Slatta

Original report August 1997, updated with new pictures 25 June 1998, updated with very sad news 20 Mar 2002. Redesigned with links to our new Caribbean Snorkeling Links Page
Rich, Maxine & JD [Photos by the author and family] Bonaire is a chunk of limestone, coral, and a little sand sitting about 50 miles off Venezuela's northern coast. Smack in the trade wind belt, it enjoys steady winds from the east that temper the otherwise hot and dry climate. Its closest island neighbors are Curacao and Aruba, also settled by the Dutch. The photo shows Maxine and JD at 1000 Steps dive site. It's gorgeous and still well worth snorkeling. And there are no where near 1000 steps to get to it! Maxine and JD at 1000 Steps dive siteNow, the very sad news for snorklers. A renegade storm named Lenny lashed the west coast of Bonaire and Klein (Little) Bonaire in November 1999. The vicious waves destroyed all corals above the depth of 20-30 feet. Thus the magnificent stands of elkhorn, staghorn, brain corals, sea fans, and other shallow corals are gone. In almost all areas, all you will find is sand and coral debris. The pictures here are from the "good old" pre-Lenny days. In a single day, Bonaire changed from the best snorkeling spot in the Caribbean to a site hardly worth visiting. The only snorkeling sites worth your time are 18 Palms (off the Plaza Resort) and the short stretch from Andrea II north to Ol' Blue. Diving at deeper depths remains a good option, but snorkelers should look for other islands.
  • Bonaire Visitor's Information and Map
  • Klein Bonaire, a smaller island only 1/2 a mile off the coast, is especially rich in varied coral formations and fish. This is a place where anyone, regardless of skill level or age, can revel in nature's beauty. Alarmingly, the island is privately owned and the corporate types threatened to develop it and thus destroy its beauty. A Save Klein Bonaire movement succeeded, but they can still use contributions. We didn't visit in 2002, after being told of the massive destruction of shallow corals. Snorkeling JD Slatta JD Slatta also enjoys the wonders under the Caribbean Sea.
  • Hawksbill TurtleIf you get a chance and love the sea--and wild landscapes-- don't miss Bonaire! It's a powerful, wonderous testimonial to the importance and power of wise conservation of resources. You'll find good information about the island on the Internet. Just use any search engine and look for "Bonaire." Just remember that, while fish abound, the massive corals near the shoreline are mostly gone. Check out Bonaire's colorful, fascinating history.