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Wide panorama of a shallow coral reef off Klein Bonaire with schooling snappers, sea fans and brain coral

Bonaire · Caribbean Netherlands · Wall · Reef

Carl’s Hill

Elkhorn and pillar coral on a bank above a deep reef drop

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

Carl’s Hill is a boat dive where a shallow bank of elkhorn and pillar coral gives way to a reef that drops from 9 m to 40 m. Divers come for the coral on the bank, the parrotfish and French angelfish living there, and the chance of a seahorse.

Also known as Carl's Hill.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Carl’s Hill: typical dive 9–40 m (30–130 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit9 m40 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

12.1652° N, 68.3232° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The dive starts on a shallow bank covered with elkhorn coral and pillar coral, home to parrotfish, sergeant majors and French angelfish. From 9 m the reef descends to 40 m, where it ends in a sandy floor that slopes gradually downwards. Seahorses are sometimes sighted here.

Marine life and season

  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Carl’s Hill
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Bonaire: The sea stays diveable all year; the water is at its coolest in late December and January.

Dive videos

Diving Carl's Hill - Klein Bonaire - Sailing & Diving with Life at 8 Knots - Bonaire · Life at 8 Knots on YouTube

Sources

  1. Carl’s Hill dive site — PADI
  2. Carl’s Hill — ScubaGo

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