Question Bonaire shore vs. Klein Bonaire

[Khoujo1]

Hey everyone! Just booked a trip to Bonaire in October. We've never been, so my question is whether it is worth the cost/time to take a boat trip to dive at Klein Bonaire vs. just hitting more of the shore diving spots on the main island. Will be there for a week; our package includes unlimited tanks for shore diving. Any advice on the shore diving is also welcome! Thanks!!

 

[arew+4]

Hey everyone! Just booked a trip to Bonaire in October. We've never been, so my question is whether it is worth the cost/time to take a boat trip to dive at Klein Bonaire vs. just hitting more of the shore diving spots on the main island. Will be there for a week; our package includes unlimited tanks for shore diving. Any advice on the shore diving is also welcome! Thanks!!

I would definitely do a couple of two tank boat dives, ideally a double dip on Klein and a double dip on the far northern sites.

On the shore dives some of my favorites, in no particular order other than North to South,

Karpata.
Oil Slick.
Cliff.
Windsock.
Hilma Hooker.
The Lake.

 

[tursiops]

I would definitely do a couple of two tank boat dives, ideally a double dip on Klein and a double dip on the far northern sites.

On the shore dives some of my favorites, in no particular order other than North to South,

Karpata.
Oil Slick.
Cliff.
Windsock.
Hilma Hooker.
The Lake.

There are a number of northern sites that are different, excellent, and boat-only (no shore access), plus the sites on Klein. If you do shore-only, you'll be missing some very good and different stuff.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Hey everyone! Just booked a trip to Bonaire in October. We've never been, so my question is whether it is worth the cost/time to take a boat trip to dive at Klein Bonaire vs. just hitting more of the shore diving spots on the main island. Will be there for a week; our package includes unlimited tanks for shore diving. Any advice on the shore diving is also welcome! Thanks!!

Klein is definitely worth a couple of boat dives, as are some of the boat-only northern sites. Depending on who your shore package is with, there might be discounted boat dives available.
As for favorite shore dives, I would add Tolo, Salt Pier and Pink Beach to @arew+4’s list. I know, some people feel the Salt Pier is overrated. But I saw 2 turtles, a huge green moray, a couple of spotted moray’s and 2 scorpionfish on my most recent dive there. Hard to pass that up.

Have a great time!
Erik

 

[rmorgan]

We've found Salt Pier to be an outstanding night dive--nudibranchs, octopuses, stingrays on the move and lots of other goodness.

 

[arew+4]

Also, since it's your first trip I will recommend this book. Read ahead if your a planner, or thumb through it on the plane if not.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Khoujo1

My wife and I find the boat only northern and Klein Bonaire sites complementary to regular shore diving sites. You might also consider trying the east coast

Bonaire East Coast Diving

Bonaire East Coast Diving is a specialized dive operation on the famous east side of Bonaire and we’ll be happy to share it with you. We’ll take you out for a different – better! – dive experience. Expect to see the most exciting creatures Bonaire has to offer, which you can hardly find on the...

www.bonaireeastcoastdiving.com

Where are you staying, who are you diving with?

 

[Doctorfish]

For sure you should consider East Side Boat Diving. Totally different experience than anything on the West.

I personally don't find the Klein sites to be worth the time, cost and boat ride.

 

[arkstorm]

Boat diving at Bonaire is a nice change of pace from the more work-intensive shore diving. However, other than specific dive-sites that are only accessible by boat, you will not miss much in terms of critters, etc. if you only did shore diving.

Unless the boat dives were included in the cost of some package, I would not pay extra for it.

 

[tursiops]

Boat diving at Bonaire is a nice change of pace from the more work-intensive shore diving. However, other than specific dive-sites that are only accessible by boat, you will not miss much in terms of critters, etc. if you only did shore diving.

Unless the boat dives were included in the cost of some package, I would not pay extra for it.

I guess you have mot done the East side or the far north?