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Corporal Meiss

Corporal Meiss is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're on Klein. It's not a classic wreck dive, more like an artificial reef that’s been doing its thing for ages. The 'wreck' itself is a concrete-filled barge, sunk deliberately in the late 1960s to protect the main Bonaire reef during dredging. It’s totally covered now, a mosaic of hard and soft corals. You’ll find it west of Klein Bonaire, sitting on a sandy bottom, fairly shallow. We usually drop in and cruise over to it, then spend a good chunk of time just circling the structure. Look closely for the smaller stuff – the blennies are always out, especially the dusky and spinyhead varieties. Chain morays peek from crevices, and the whole thing is blanketed in massive starlet coral and golden fern hydroids. It's a great spot for macro photography, but also just to watch blue parrotfish grazing. The wreck isn't something you penetrate, but you can explore all around it, appreciating how completely nature has reclaimed it. It suits anyone looking for a relaxed dive with plenty to observe without chasing big pelagics.