All users of the Bonaire National Marine Park must pay the Nature fee as admission

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Bonaire National Marine Park

The Marine Park includes all the waters surrounding Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, from the high-tide mark to 60 meters (200 feet) of depth. This is an area of about 27 km² (6672 acres) and includes the coral reef, sea grass and mangroves. Lac and Klein Bonaire are both a RAMSAR site and therefore internationally recognized as important wetlands areas.

Looking for Activities?

For more information about the many ways to enjoy our marine park, please visit Tourism Corporation Bonaire via www.bonaireisland.com

Download the Marine Park Brochure

Sustainable Use of the Park

The mission of the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) is to protect and manage the island’s natural, cultural and historical resources sustainably. Visitors and residents alike are invited to come explore Bonaire’s underwater park and encouraged to be aware of their impact on this environment. Through sustainable use of the park we can ensure the marine park is here for many generations to come.

Introduction

Diving

Kite and Windsurfing

Boat & Mooring

Swimming & Snorkeling

Kayaking

Fishing

To ensure the safety of all users and inhabitants of the marine park, it is important to adhere to the rules and regulations

When you use the BNMP you are obligated to pay the nature fee. The non-scuba nature fee is $25 and the scuba nature fee is $45, per person per year for any user 13 years or older.

Its no secret that the jewel of Bonaire lies beneath the water’s surface, to ensure the safety of divers and the reef inhabitants the following rules are in place:

– Complete the mandatory orientation dive upon arrival
– Conduct buoyancy check
– Secure all equipment to avoid accidental impacts with the reef
– Use of gloves or knee pads is prohibited
– It is prohibited to remove anything (dead or alive) from the marine park
– It is prohibited to use disposable chemical light sticks.

Kite and wind surfing has both become increasingly popular among locals and visitors. In order to ensure your safety and the safety of others the following rules and regulations are in place:

– Know the surfing zone to ensure you are in the allocated areas
– Kite and windsurfing are only allowed in the dark blue waters (75m from shore)
– Check your surroundings and look for divers underneath
– It is prohibited to land or start from Klein Bonaire.

Exploring Bonaire from the sea can be quite the adventure, but we ask you to keep the following rules and regulations in mind:

– Anchoring is prohibited however, small boat (no longer than 4m) are allowed to anchor by using coral stones.
– Overnight buoys are bi-colored buoys, which may not be tied to directly, plus use a tie-on line (max boat length 18m).
– Yellow or orange buoys are free of charge, first come first serve, max boat length of 15m and have a 2 hour limit.
– Always navigate on the seaside of the mooring buoys in the dark blue waters.
– Pass at least 50m from a boat tied to a buoy

To ensure the safe use of beaches by locals, visitors and wildlife alike please keep the following rules in mind:

– Please give animals their space
– No campfires
– Place all trash in the designated bins
– Do not feed the animals.
– Use reef safe sunscreen
– Do not touch or take anything (dead or alive) from the marine park

Kayaking is a great way to explore the calm waters around Bonaire. Please keep the following rules in mind

– Always pay attention to your surroundings
– Do not feed the animals
– Do not litter
– Use reef safe sunscreen
– Do not touch or take anything (dead or alive) from the marine park.

Fishing is a popular activity for both locals and visitors alike. Please keep the following rules in mind:

– Fishing is limited to traditional methods only.
– Spearfishing or hand spearing is strictly prohibited.
– Hunting of lionfish is allowed with the use of an ELF obtained from STINAPA.

Areas

Coastal Waters

All water surrounding Bonaire, from high water mark to 60m depth, are included within the Marine Park. Click here to learn more information about the different Zones in the park.

Klein Bonaire

Klein Bonaire (Dutch for “Little Bonaire”) is an uninhabited islet not quite four square kilometers in size, which lies only 800 meters from the closest point on Bonaire

Lac Bay

Lac Bay is a shallow water lagoon located on the eastern side of Bonaire and hosts a fringing coral reef, lush seagrass meadows and the largest mangrove forest of the whole Dutch Caribbean.

World famous dive sites

Bonaire’s National Marine Park is world famous for its easy access and has ranked in the top 5 shore diving destinations for many years.

There is a strict no anchoring policy within the marine park, a testament to the health of the reef today. With a total of 86 public dive sites, it is home to over 57 species of soft and stony coral and more than 350 recorded fish species. Many of the dive sites have access by boat or shore. From the shore, dive sites are marked with names on yellow stones. The site moorings are yellow buoys with the names of the site.

View Interactive Dive Map >

What we do

Stinapa's role in Bonaire National Marine Park

The primary challenge of managing the Bonaire National Marine Park is dealing with the varied groups and individuals who use the waters around Bonaire, and encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources.

STINAPA main responsibilities include: mooring maintenance, law enforcement, research and monitoring, and serving as an advisor to the island government.

Please check out the Bonaire National Marine Park Management Plan for more details.

Protecting important species

Bonaire is home to a number of important protected and keystone species. Please enjoy the wildlife from a mindful distance to ensure their safety as well as yours.