Bonaire, the area around Alice in Wonderland

Bonaire · Caribbean Netherlands · Reef

Alice in Wonderland

A shore dive across Bonaire's double reef system

Area photo: Michal Strzelecki, Wojtek Strzelecki & Jerzy Strzelecki · CC BY 3.0

Alice in Wonderland is one of the southern shore sites where Bonaire's double reef system is easiest to dive as a double reef: an inner reef, a crossing, and a second reef further offshore. It is quieter than the better-known sites on the same stretch of road, and the published range runs from 10 to 30 metres.

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Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Alice in Wonderland: typical dive 10–30 m (33–100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

12.1003° N, 68.2866° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

Walk in and swim out across the inner reef, which is the shallow half of the dive and the part you will come back over at the end. Set your turn point early here, because the whole reason to dive this site is the crossing that follows and it is the crossing that decides how much gas and bottom time the rest of the dive gets.

From the outer edge of the first reef, cross to the second reef further offshore. Watch your depth gauge closely on that crossing, which is where it is easiest to end up deeper than planned. Work a stretch of the outer reef, then cross back the same way and spend what is left of the dive shallow on the inner reef before walking out.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Alice in Wonderland
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrime

Season follows Bonaire: Bonaire sits south of the hurricane belt, so conditions stay calm and diveable all year; trade winds pick up slightly June–November.

Know before you go

  • The crossing between the two reefs is where depth creeps up on you, so watch the gauge rather than letting the ground lead you down.

Questions divers ask

How deep is Alice in Wonderland?+

The published range is 10 to 30 metres. The inner reef sits at the shallow end and the crossing to the outer reef is where the dive gets deep, so plan the turn before you leave the first slope.

Sources

  1. Alice in Wonderland dive site — Bonaire Island
  2. Alice in Wonderland (45) — Scubago

More dive sites in Bonaire

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1000 Steps

A staircase entry onto a reef that tips over at 9 metres

to 40 madvanced

Reef

Andrea I

Plate coral on a shallow slope you can walk into

6–30 mintermediate

Reef

Andrea II

A big, quiet shore reef with parking right by the entry

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Bari's Reef

Over 300 fish species recorded, the most in the Caribbean

9–30 mintermediate

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Forest

Black coral colonies and a cave at 23 metres

8–30 m · max 50 mintermediate

Wreck

Hilma Hooker

A freighter on her side at 30 metres, reached from the road

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Karpata

Steep coral buttresses and sand channels to 45 metres

to 45 m · max 50 madvanced

Reef

Munk's Haven

A gentle terrace of coral and sand at Klein Bonaire's west end

9–30 mintermediate

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