Name: Larry's Lair
Rating: 5.0

Beautiful Bonaire, in the southern Caribbean Sea, provides an ecological paradise for nature lovers above and below the water! The entire coastline is protected as the “Bonaire Marine Park” (up to depths of 200 feet), encompassing reef systems that provide excellent snorkeling and shore diving locations.

Aside from Diving, salt production is Bonaire’s biggest industry and is quickly observed in the South. The stunning salt beds of Pekelmeer are also home to one of the hemisphere's great populations of flamingoes. In addition, neighboring excellent shore diving and snorkeling sites, are historical landmarks to Bonaire’s repressive past: African slave huts. These huts still stand in the area around Rincon and along the saltpans of South Bonaire.

Bonaire

The double reef system continuation.

1.4 km North of the Salt Pier.

Larry's Lair

What makes 18 Palm a great site to dive is the nice sandy beach entry. No broken up coral or sharp rocks. Suit up on a bench, not the back or a truck, and when you get back there are 2 outside showers to rinse off. There are also 2 buoy markers at 10 and 20 feet. Underneath the 20 foot marker is a square PVC pipe to better mark the entry/exit.   We've stayed at the Plaza 5 times (going on 6 in July 2009) and to the island 6 times (going on 7 in July 2009). When staying at the Plaza we often found ourselves diving the site at least 3 times or more during our stay. Found frog fish, seahorses, octopus, Southern Sting Rays, Tarpon, various eels, large puffer-fish and other usual suspects.   During our stay and dives there it is very common to meet other divers from other resorts diving the site. Upon their return we often hear very positive reviews on the site. Not only condition of the reef and marine life but of the entry/exit be very easy.  (On the downside) If your not staying at The Plaza the only disadvantage is the distance from car parking lot to the beach itself. Have seen many divers park on the side of the Plaza where their employees park and go in that way which cuts down the distance some of hauling diving equipment.  Hope this helps, Neptune Nick

18 Palm is located at The Plaza Resort and is their 'house reef.'  The Plaza is located next to the airport and divers not staying at the resort are allowed to dive it.

18 Palm

Alice In Wonderland is another excellent view of the double reef system, should the other sites have more than a couple of divers!

1.9 km North of the Salt Pier.

Alice In Wonderland

Angel City offers another excellent view of the double reef system.

2.4 km North of the Salt Pier.

Angel City

Another in the series of dive sites along the double reef system.

1.7 km North of the Salt Pier.

Aquarius

From the aerial you can see how close you are to the rugged Eastern shore, so you'll probably see larger species of fish beginning here at Atlantis.

2.1 km South of White Slave.

Atlantis

A 15 knot breeze is typical, and rough surf not uncommon, and lots of little urchins in the walk-in [fall down, cant get up] area, so the entry is a challenge even for the experienced, and should not be done when it's gnarly. Briefly, you will see a gradual slope, mostly coral and gorgonians, looking a bit like a sloping desert sagebrush landscape, to about 65 feet where sand starts. There is no wall, just rises and depressions. You may see black tip reef and nurse sharks, turtles, rays, parrots, porcupines, chub, triggers, etc. Or you may not see much at all. It can be great, or dull here. Ride the current north or south. A typical dive plan is to take the current north from Baby Beach to a concrete pillar that's just south of the Marcultura fence, kadasterpaal pilar.

From Kralendijk follow signs southeast toward Sorobon and Lac Bay. When you get to the Sorobon intersection, stay on the main road going to the right, south. Just ahead of you will be a fenced shrimp farm, Marcultura. The dive site is several hundred yards south in a straight section of the road with evidence of vehicles parking mostly on the east side, and not much room to park on the right, west side.  If you see the waves crashing and birds flying inverted, just keep driving back around the south end of the island to Sweet Dreams or English Gardens. ;)

Baby Beach [east side]

Bachelor's Beach is a great little site, complete with picnic facilities.

800 m South of the airport.

Bachelor's Beach

Cai is a 4.7-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Bonaire South, ABC Islands which is accessible from shore based on 10 ratings.

Typical southern site.  A longer swim over the sand channel to the reef at 30 ft but nothing too bad.  If you are looking for soft coral, then you have found the dive.  Many sea fans and sponges here.

This is an unmarked site on Bonaire and doesn't have a yellow rock in front of it. It's a bit tricky to find since the parking area is smaller than some but Susan Porter's very useful book, "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" helped.  The entry is in the southern part of Bonaire JUST south of the entry to Pink Beach and just north of the house at the white slave huts.

English Garden

A very popular dive site, The Hilma Hooker, is a must-do dive.   The 70 meter cargo ship was purposely sunk on this location back in 1984.  It's a fascinating dive, if you've never had the opportunity to explore a vessel this size before.  At a depth of 20 to 35 meters, you'll need to watch your air, depth and time carefully.

150 m North of the Trans World Radio entrance (South of the Airport).

Hilma Hooker

Sand and coral entry, and a very small shade tree!  As usual, carry lots of water -- "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate"

It ended up being very nice, and I enjoyed it greatly! All the underwater life was amazing. My fiancé especially loved it. What a great experience this has been.

There are live coral heads in the shallows of the entire entry area that are difficult to avoid.  Swim to reef is a little longer than many of the other southern sites.  The reef is in good condition and the marine life abundant.  School of caribbean reef squid in the shallows.

Excellent dive.  Saw a large spotted Eagle Ray on swim out to reef.  Lots of fish.

Larry's Lair

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Larry's Lair