1000 Steps is a shore dive on Bonaire's north-west coast, reached by a flight of 72 concrete steps that gives the site its exaggerated name. Below the entry a gradual slope steepens into a drop-off at around 9 metres and carries on as a wall cut with vertical grooves, with turtles, barracuda and moray eels along the way.
Where it is and how deep
12.2106° N, 68.3217° WPublished position for this site.
Site maps published elsewhere
The dive
The dive starts with the walk: 72 steps down from the roadside to a small beach, then a short swim out over the shallows. The bottom slopes gently at first and then steepens into a drop-off at around 9 metres, which is where the site proper begins. From there the reef falls away as a wall cut with vertical grooves, and the site's maximum is 40 metres, so divers fix a depth limit before descending rather than following the slope down.
Run the wall in one direction on the way out and come back shallower over the top of the reef, keeping enough gas and no-stop time for the swim to the steps. Boxfish, pufferfish and wrasses are constant, and moray eels and barracuda are on the list of common sightings here. The shallows on the return are where you want your eyes open for turtles. Save something in the tank, and in your legs, for the climb out.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Bonaire: The sea stays diveable all year; the water is at its coolest in late December and January.
Know before you go
- The 72-step climb in full gear is the real workload here, so surface near the entry with energy left rather than a long swim away.
- The wall runs to 40 metres and the slope invites you deeper than planned; agree a depth limit before you descend.
Photos from 1000 Steps
User:janderk · Public domain
dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Diving 1000 Steps Bonaire | The Shore Dive Collection | TropicLens - 4K · TropicLens on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How many steps are there at 1000 Steps?+
Seventy-two. The stairs were built in 1960, and they earned the name because climbing them with a heavy set on feels like many more than that.
What certification do you need for 1000 Steps?+
PADI lists Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air and Rescue Diver for the site. The shallow reef is straightforward, but the wall runs to 40 metres, which calls for a conservative plan and good gas management.
Sources
- 1000 Steps dive site — PADI
- Bonaire National Marine Park — Wikipedia
Photo credits
- Stone stairway zigzags down a limestone cliff to a sandy cove at the 1000 Steps entry point by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Diver in full scuba gear descending the stone steps toward turquoise water by User:janderk, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Weathered concrete pillbox overlooking the sea at the top of the 1000 Steps entry by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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