Bonaire, the area around Red Slave

Bonaire · Caribbean Netherlands · Reef

Red Slave

Bonaire's demanding southern site, current and all

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

Red Slave is the site beside the second set of historic slave huts at the southern tip of Bonaire, and it is the exception to the island's calm reputation. The reef here is steep and the current can run, which is why it is recommended for experienced divers only. Depths run from about 6 to 24 metres.

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Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Red Slave: typical dive 6–24 m (20–80 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit6 m24 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

12.0265° N, 68.2515° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

Look at the surface first. This is the part of Bonaire's leeward coast where the current decides the dive, and calling it off is a normal outcome. When it is running gently, get in, drop straight onto the steep reef and let the water take you along it rather than fighting for a fixed position over any one piece of coral.

The reef falls away quickly to around 24 metres and the interest is as much off it as on it. Horse-eye jacks and turtles are seen along the slope, and offshore there are schools of baitfish — bigeye scad, masbangos in Papiamentu — with larger predatory fish working them from below. Keep the exit in mind for the whole dive: on this site the swim back matters more than the depth you reached.

Marine life and season

  • Trevally & jacks
  • Sea turtles
Month-by-month season rating for Red Slave
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 current is the reason this site is rated for experienced divers only — check it from shore before kitting up and be ready to call the dive.

Questions divers ask

Is Red Slave suitable for beginners?+

No. It is recommended for experienced divers only: the reef is steep and the current is the reason for the rating, which makes it unlike most of Bonaire's calm, walk-in leeward sites.

Sources

  1. Red Slave dive site — Bonaire Island
  2. Red Slave (60) — Scubago

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