This "diver’s paradise" has set the standard for dive destinations around the world by implementing strict marine protection policies over 30 years ago and establishing one of the world’s first marine parks. Bonaire is also arguably the best shore diving destination in the world with over 60 dive sites hardly a stone’s throw from shore and over 80 in total including those surrounding the offshore deserted island of Klein Bonaire.

SIDEBAR: The man that is widely recognized as Bonaire’s pioneer of marine conservation is a charismatic man by the name of Captain Don. After arriving in Bonaire from California in 1963 on his sloop, the Valerie Queen, Captain Don, an avid diver himself, recognized both the undiscovered potential and inherent threats of this pristine marine environment. His bold and courageous role as a leader in protecting not only the reefs of Bonaire but the reefs of the world continue to inspire divers and policy-makers around the world to take an active role in preserving their underwater resources.