1000 Steps - Klein Bonaire

Okay, let’s be real, the 1000 Steps name is a bit of a fib, but it sets the tone for a dive that delivers. You’re definitely not walking down a thousand steps, more like sixty-odd limestone stairs, but you’ll feel every single one of them on the way back up when you’re lugging your gear. That’s the Bonaire shore diving life, though, and it’s always worth the effort here. Once you hit the water, the slight exertion is forgotten. We love the immediate drop-off into deep blue, a wall blanketed in huge formations of grooved brain coral and mustard hill coral. It’s an easy swim out, past schools of bluestriped grunts and schoolmasters hanging around the shallows. Keep an eye out for loggerhead and hawksbill turtles munching away; they’re regular fixtures. Our favourite part has to be the sheer density of reef fish – we’ve seen everything from banded basslets darting through crevices to the occasional orbicular batfish gliding by. The fire coral patches are impressive, but obviously, watch your buoyancy. This site suits divers who appreciate a classic Caribbean wall dive with abundant, healthy reef life and don’t mind a bit of a workout for the entry and exit. We’d suggest going early to beat any crowds, especially cruise ship day-trippers.

Location: Klein Bonaire, Bonaire, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.210669, -68.321710
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 5-25m

Marine Protected Area: Bonaire

Best Time to Dive in Klein Bonaire

The warmest water temperatures in Klein Bonaire occur in October, averaging 29.6°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.1°C
February: 26.8°C
March: 26.9°C
April: 27.1°C
May: 27.7°C
June: 28.1°C
July: 28.2°C
August: 29.0°C
September: 29.6°C
October: 29.6°C
November: 28.9°C
December: 28.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Klein Bonaire

Nearest Dive Centres to 1000 Steps

Marine Life in Klein Bonaire

Home to 202 recorded species including 150 reef fish, 18 hard corals, 6 other, 6 seagrass & algae, 5 crabs & lobsters, 4 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Maze Coral (Meandrina meandrites) - Hard Corals
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
Spinythroat Scorpionfish (Pontinus nematophthalmus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for 1000 Steps

Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C, currents 34 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories