Travel advisor Dean Watt traded the resort pool deck for Bonaire's legendary reefs, and came back with the kind of hard-won knowledge that only comes from spending four to five hours a day underwater.
At a Glance
Bonaire's entire western coastline functions as a marine park with shore-accessible dive sites marked by yellow rocks. Renting a truck is essential to explore multiple reefs at your own pace, though rocky entries require caution in waves. The island suits adventurous divers logging four to five hours daily underwater, not beach loungers.
There are destinations that look good in a brochure, and then there are destinations that change the way a travel professional thinks. For Dean Watt, a seasoned travel advisor with a passion for diving, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire turned out to be the latter. A recent scuba diving vacation with friends, based at the well-regarded Buddy Dive Resort, left Watt with a deeper understanding of what it means to truly explore a place, both above and below the waterline.
An Island Built for Divers
Bonaire is not your average sun-and-sand Caribbean escape, and that is precisely the point. The island's entire coastline is essentially a marine park, with shore-accessible dive sites dotting the western edge like an underwater treasure map. What makes it logistically unique, and what immediately stood out to Watt, is the mode of transport required to make the most of it. "The need to rent a truck to travel from dive site to dive site" was the detail he found himself repeating to friends and colleagues back home, and it is easy to understand why. It is an image that instantly communicates the spirit of the place: rugged, self-directed, and gloriously unhurried.
Far from being a hassle, the rental truck becomes the centrepiece of the Bonaire experience. Watt quickly discovered that having one opens up the entire island on your own schedule. As he puts it, "using a rental truck and exploring the island and the reefs at your own pace truly makes this both an exploration of the island and ocean at a pace you set for the vacation." Scheduled boat charters exist, but for the adventurous diver, the freedom of pulling up to a site whenever the mood strikes is hard to match.
Yellow Rocks and Rocky Entries
One of the more charming surprises Watt encountered was just how straightforward Bonaire makes it to find its dive sites. Large rocks painted bright yellow mark each entry point along the shore, a simple but brilliantly effective system that means even first-time visitors can navigate confidently. The surprise, then, was not in the finding but in the getting in. Watt notes that "if it is wavy entering over the rocks can be a little daunting," adding a candid word of caution: "you do not want to step into a gap between them and get pushed by a wave." It is the kind of insider detail that only comes from being there, standing at the water's edge, reading the swell.
Once underwater, however, any hesitation dissolves. Watt logged four to five hours beneath the surface each day, a commitment that speaks volumes about the quality of what lies below. The reefs are the reason divers return to Bonaire year after year, and Watt's first-hand immersion in them gives him a credibility with clients that no amount of reading could replicate.
Hidden Gems and a Road Worth Taking
Among the island's standout locations is a site known as 1000 Steps, named for the long staircase leading down to the shore. Watt is quick to flag that travellers with mobility challenges may find the descent difficult, but points out that several local operators offer boat access to the site for those who need it. The draw is significant: the site is renowned for its gorgeous reef formations and a resident sea turtle population that makes every visit memorable.
For those who do drive to 1000 Steps, Watt has a tip that most visitors would never stumble upon independently. The road north from 1000 Steps to Karpata runs one way in the northbound direction, meaning the return trip ventures inland and roughly doubles the drive time. "It will add 10 minutes to your day but well worth the drive," Watt advises, urging travellers to keep their eyes open along the way. "Look for the giant cactus," he says, noting there are more than one. It is a small detour that reveals another layer of Bonaire's character: a tropical desert landscape that feels utterly distinct from the lush greenery typically associated with the Caribbean.
Not for Everyone, and That Is the Point
Part of what makes Watt's recommendation so useful is his honesty about who Bonaire is and is not for. The island's shoreline is largely composed of hard corals and rocks rather than powdery sand, which means beach lovers may find themselves underwhelmed. There are exceptions: Sorobon Beach, tucked into a sheltered cove on the eastern side of the island, is a haven for windsurfers and casual sun-seekers alike, with loungers set out near the water for those in search of a quieter afternoon. But the heart of Bonaire belongs to the diver. "This is definitely for the adventurous scuba diver," Watt says plainly. "Spend as much time exploring the reefs as you can."
The Practical Edge: Timing Your Bonaire Trip
Beyond the experience itself, Watt came away with a strategic insight that will directly shape how he advises clients. Bonaire typically requires at least one connection from most Canadian departure cities, but seasonal direct flights from Toronto do appear on occasion. His advice is clear: the time to plan is the moment those direct flights are confirmed for the coming winter season. It is the kind of timing intelligence that separates a good travel advisor from a great one, knowledge born not from a website but from the experience of having made the journey.
Watt's recommendation to all travellers heading to Bonaire is consistent and emphatic: rent the truck, explore the history scattered across this remarkable island, and give yourself permission to spend as much time underwater as your body will allow. History, desert landscapes, world-class reefs, and sea turtles, Bonaire rewards the curious and the adventurous in equal measure.
As for what comes next, Watt is already looking ahead with the same sense of wonder that drives his work. He is planning a trip to the Philippines, drawn by the promise of an active volcano, rolling green highlands, and what he anticipates will be yet another set of pristine corals. "Looking forward to seeing some of the natural wonders," he says, with the quiet enthusiasm of someone who has learned, dive by dive and road by road, that the world gives its best secrets to those willing to go looking.
