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ABOUT BONAIRE

BONAIRE

Natural mangroves line many of the coastal roads in southern Bonaire

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exposed to the full force of the wind except during late August and September, when the trade winds change direction and blow from the west. The corals of Bonaire thrive in the protected lee of the island. Another factor that contributes to the high quality of the reef is the crystal-clear waters. Visibility often exceeds 80 feet (25 meters) and great viz paired with steady sunshine and white coral sand turn the waters between the shore and the fringing reef a gorgeous azure-blue color that people have come to expect from a tropical paradise.

Currents and tides

The tidal cycle in Bonaire is mild, measuring a mere foot to a foot and a half (less than a meter). It is enough to make a difference in some of the entry points over shallow reefs, but nothing that will unduly impact a day of diving. Currents along the west coast are typically light, although there can be a strong long-shore current along the island’s many reef walls. A few dive sites near the far south of the island and in the extreme north regularly experience strong currents, particularly where the east coast currents wrap around either end of the island and come into contact with the calmer waters of the west coast.

Ecosystems

Coral reefs

All of Bonaire’s reefs are fringing reefs, meaning