Bonaire · Caribbean Netherlands · Reef · Wall · Cave & cavern
Forest
Black coral colonies and a cave at 23 metres
Area photo: Michal Strzelecki, Wojtek Strzelecki & Jerzy Strzelecki · CC BY 3.0
Forest is on the southwestern tip of Klein Bonaire and is named for the huge colonies of fern-like black coral in its deeper water. Gorgonians fill the shallows, a large cave at 23 metres shelters big animals, and the reef carries on down to 50 metres. It is boat access only, with no road anywhere on the islet.
0Where it is and how deep
12.1496° N, 68.3299° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Drop in over the shallows, where gorgonians flourish and the light is still good, and use that stretch to sort buoyancy before the slope takes over. From here the dive has two honest versions: stay shallow and work the fans and coral heads, or follow the reef down. It is worth deciding which on the boat, because the reef here extends to 50 metres and there is no natural place where it stops.
Deeper down, the huge colonies of fern-like black coral that give the site its name take over the slope. At 23 metres a large cave cuts into the reef, and it is worth approaching quietly and looking in from outside rather than swimming straight up to it: a green moray, a female loggerhead turtle or a nurse shark all use it on occasion. Turn from there, come back up the slope and finish among the gorgonians in the shallows.
Marine life and season
- 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 reef keeps going to 50 metres with nothing to stop you at recreational depth, so fix a maximum before you leave the boat.
Questions divers ask
What is in the cave at Forest?+
The large cave at 23 metres is used on occasion by a green moray, a female loggerhead turtle or a nurse shark. Approach it quietly, look in from outside and give whatever is home the space to leave.
How deep does Forest go?+
The usual dive runs from about 8 to 30 metres, but the reef itself extends down to 50 metres, which is why divers agree a maximum depth on the boat before dropping in.
Sources
- Forest dive site — Bonaire Island
- Forest (N) — Scubago
More dive sites in Bonaire
Reef
Plate coral on a shallow slope you can walk into
Reef
Jawfish and blennies in the rubble off Klein Bonaire
Wall
Elkhorn and pillar coral on a bank above a deep reef drop
Reef
A gentle terrace of coral and sand at Klein Bonaire's west end
A good chance of a seahorse under the divi tree
Rays and turtles in the sandy shallows
Easy shore entry onto a sloping reef often dived at night
A freighter on her side at 30 metres, reached from the road
Similar dives elsewhere
Short caverns at 7 m under an overnight mooring
A multi-level drift through tunnels in the deeper Palancar reef
Tunnels and fissures cut into an 840 m reef block
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Tarpon and jack schools over a drop-off at 25 m