Willemstoren Lighthouse

Ask a guide at the beginning of your visit to the island to keep an eye on the conditions, and to inform you if it is safe to attempt this unique dive. If the guide takes you out, tip he or she well! Parking is right next to the lighthouse. The entry is very rugged, and should only be attempted in extra calm seas. As a parting shot to Bonaire, we believe their island motto says it all!

Unusual southwestern swell due to tail end of Hurricane Tomas meant that most southern sites had tough entries and poorer-than-usual visibility. Meant unusual opportunity to dive here. We parked with 25 yards of entry to left side of lighthouse. Decent path to water, good entry marked with various driftwood pieces. After a few rocks at surf break, can walk some distance on smooth sandy bottom. Then a 5ish minute swim to the reef. Slight current from east, easily manageable given conditions. Plant life probably the best we have seen in Caribbean: rods, gorgonia, etc., all over. Usual fish, several giant green morays. Three dolphins cruised by. Swell had picked up a bit at end of dive, but easily manageable for experienced divers.

Two years ago my husband and I checked out this site and there was NO WAY we were going out there - the seas were churning! I'm happy to say we went out there today (9/21/10) and the seas were calm - very little waves. It was actually one of the easiest entries we have had to date! The reef is gorgeous - tons of mature soft coral - and is obviously not visited often by other divers due to its pristine conditions. The reef is very different from any other site we have visited on the West Coast from North to South. Marine life was nice but nothing special compared to the other sites. We saw a giant drum fish and large school of horse eye jacks. We did see a small turtle at the end of our dive. Great dive when conditions allow it!

I dove this site in November of 2004 as unusual weather conditions allowed easy entry to the site. The current was reversed and running very hard to the west which made for a long & tiring swim out to the drop-off, which was very gradual. I saw very little by way of marine life, though lots of soft corals. A good dive to say you did it but not worth the effort in those conditions to do again. It would have been a great drift dive.

This is a great site if the surf is down. In 4 years of going to Bonaire we could only dive here once. Sea fans are wonderful at this site.