In either case, in a matter of days devoted to scuba instruction, or hours for snorkeling, anyone with the interest can begin the adventure. The island virtually invites you into the water. The fringing reef uniformly hugs the coast, starting in only a few feet of water and sloping gradually into the depths, making it a perfect spot for both novice and expert. Most resorts operate daily boats that take divers and snorkelers to more than 70 sites along the protected shores of both the main island and the small neighboring island of Klein Bonaire. For independent divers, the ocean is always open.
Most resorts feature well designed docks with sturdy ladders extending directly into the water.
Simply grab a tank, gear up, and take a long walk off a short pier. Anytime, day or night, the reef is your front yard. While many divers enjoy the luxury of boat diving, others prefer to rent one of the readily available jeeps or mini-vans, load it up with tanks or a picnic, and simply drive to any of over 30 clearly marked shore dive locations. The Marine Park distributes free maps and has brightly painted little yellow stones along the road marking the easiest access points. You can usually park just a few yards from the sea.