Magnificent Bonaire stands firmly on a pinnacle, reigning supreme over all other shore diving destinations in the world.
With a decidedly rugged character, this charming Dutch island in the southern Caribbean skips chain hotels and instead woos dedicated divers with easy access to underwater wonder. More than 50 shore dive sites dot the coastline, whose fringing coral reef and aquamarine waters are protected as a national marine park.
When Captain Don Stewart first dropped anchor in Bonaire’s bay in 1962, he wrote, “Bay like glass, a spectrum of shimmering blues, extraordinarily clear. Brilliant tropical fish of all varieties. Looks to be a fantastic underwater island.” Inspired, he went on to spearhead efforts to protect Bonaire’s coral waters and establish the island’s first dive operation.