Playa Frans - Klein Bonaire
Playa Frans, tucked away on Klein Bonaire, is one of those sites we always try to hit when the conditions are right. It's a pretty standard boat dive, but the reward is usually worth the mild effort. We love drifting along the wall here, keeping an eye out for the smaller stuff that makes Bonaire so special. The drop-off itself isn't dramatic, more of a gentle slope, but it's loaded with Grooved and Boulder Brain Corals, providing plenty of nooks and crannies. Our favourite part has to be searching for blennies. We’ve spotted Pearl Blennies and Puffcheek Blennies darting in and out of the coral, along with Sharpnose Pufferfish just hovering in the blue. Keep an eye on the sand flats too; we've seen Green and Hawksbill Turtles grazing there, calm and unbothered. It's a fantastic spot for photographers who enjoy macro and wide-angle equally, and for anyone who appreciates a relaxed, unhurried dive where you can really slow down and observe. We’d suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, when the light is best.
- Location
- Klein Bonaire, Bonaire, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.245742, -68.414140
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
- 1000 Steps - 5-25m (reef)
- 18th Palm
- Alice in Wonderland
- Andrea I
- Andrea II (wreck)
- Angel City
- Aquarius
- Aquarius (46) (reef)
- Aquarius (46) (reef)
- Atlantis (reef)
- Atlantis
- Atlantis
- Bachelor's Beach
- Bakadera
- Barcadera
Nearest Dive Centres to Playa Frans
- Beyond the Corals - PADI
- Bonaire Scuba School - PADI, EFR, DAN
- Deepsea Freediving - AIDA, PADI
- Dive Friends - PADI
- Dive Friends - PADI
- Dive Friends Bonaire - PADI
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 Playa Frans
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