South Bay - Klein Bonaire
Tupapa Sandriver is one of those Rarotongan dives that really delivers. We love the way this channel pulls you in, starting shallow and just flowing down to 24 metres, framed by coral on both sides. On the north, the wall drops sharply, a real contrast to the gentler slope on the south. You drift along, looking for Celebes longfin eels poking out of the sand, and we almost always spot pacific cornetfish just hanging in the current. The current here can be a decent push, which we think makes the drift even better. We've seen reef sharks cruise by us, especially when we nudge a little deeper. Keep an eye out for spotted hawkfish perched on the staghorn coral, and the flash of a blue-lined tang darting past. Visibility often hits 30 metres, which means you can really appreciate the scale of the channel. It's a superb site for divers who enjoy a good drift and want to see some healthy coral and larger reef predators.
- Location
- Klein Bonaire, Bonaire, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.149300, -68.324900
- Type
- reef
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 South Bay
- 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 South Bay
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