This dive site, Thousand Steps, is one of Bonaire's most iconic shore dives, famously named for the 67 limestone steps divers must descend from the cliff-top parking to reach the sandy beach. The dive itself offers a classic Bonairean reef experience, gently sloping from shallow depths to its maximum. Navigation is straightforward, typically following the vibrant reef line. While there's no complex history or navigation beyond its name, the effort to access it is a memorable part of the experience.
Underwater, Thousand Steps is a spectacle of typical Caribbean reef life. Divers are likely to encounter impressive nurse and reef sharks, graceful eagle rays, various species of sea turtles, and stingrays. The reef is home to an abundance of colorful fish, including schools of snapper, angelfish, grunts, parrotfish, and grouper, all thriving amidst healthy coral formations that characterize Bonaire's protected marine environment.
Bonaire offers excellent diving year-round, with consistently warm water and outstanding visibility, making any time ideal to visit Thousand Steps. Divers should be prepared for the physical exertion of carrying gear down and, more notably, back up the stairs. For freedivers and snorkelers, the shallow sections of the reef are incredibly rewarding, offering a vivid glimpse into the marine ecosystem close to the surface. Arriving early is advisable to secure parking and enjoy a more serene dive.
