Bonaire - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 174

and six replicas from a movie set are farther out, where barracuda, tarpon,
and rays congregate. Hawksbill turtles occasionally appear beyond the
drop-off in about 40 feet of water. Buildings near the beach were built
around 1868 and include the home of Slagbaai Plantation's manager, a
Customs office, and a salt warehouse.
Leonora's Reef , off the northern shore of Klein Bonaire, is accessible only
by boat. Currents are mild, so snorkelers and novice divers enjoy staghorn,
elkhorn, fire, and star coral at shallow depths. Gorgonians are abundant
in deeper water, where the slope descends sharply to sand at 120 feet.
Large purple sponges and huge tiger grouper create great Kodak
moments.
Sharon's Serenity , off the western shore of Klein Bonaire, near the light-
house, is great for snorkelers, and the vertical walls hold interest for
divers. Access is by boat, and the water is normally calm, but currents can
become moderately strong on some days, so check with a dive operator
before booking a trip. A shallow shelf extends about 145 feet from shore
and features abundant tall gorgonians and a dense thicket of various cor-
als. Fish in shallow depths include French angelfish, damselfish,
parrotfish, and trumpetfish. At the drop-off, mountainous star coral
begins in about 25 feet of water, then slopes sharply in terraced layers to
sand at 140 feet. Plate and wire corals grow in 80-100 feet of water, where
divers see large jewfish, barracuda, and grouper.
Mi Dushi , off the northwestern coast of Klein Bonaire, has moderate cur-
rents and various corals at depths of 10-20 feet. Along the top of the drop-
off, anemones and pencil coral are the highlight, while the slope is covered
with a forest of wire corals, gorgonians, and huge sponges. Marine life
includes snappers, jacks, and barracudas.
Just a Nice Dive (BGS), on Klein Bonaire, is a favorite, but accessible
only by boat or kayak. Snorkelers can swim among the large brain coral
and

gorgonians in shallow water. Abundant marine life includes

surgeonfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish.
No Name (BGS), is about the only site on Klein Bonaire that is suitable for
shore entry. Novice snorkelers will find calm water and schools of fish at
shallow depths.

NOTE: A No-Dive Ecological Reserve Research &
Area is designated on two acres of Bonaire Marine
Park. It is along Playa Frans, on the leeward coast
south of Washington-Slagbaai National Park be-
tween Boca Slagbaai and Karpata.

Dive Operators
You won't have a problem finding a dive shop. Most resorts have a facility
on-site that is open to non-guests, and each offers a full slate of dive pack-