TRAVELSPECIAL
Anemone and sponge on pier leg at Salt Pier
Signature dives
Of the 89 dive sites , these are the best . We have dived these sites multiple times on each visit to Bonaire .
Salt Pier
Bonaire produces salt from large drying pans , and every few weeks cargo ships arrive for loading at the pier . At these times you are not allowed to dive the pier , for obvious reasons . The pier is made up of a number of separate pontoons , ranging from 7-20 metres to the seabed . If we could only dive one site on Bonaire , it would always be Salt Pier . The structures may resemble the predatory tripods from War of the Worlds , but they are home to many sponges and offer a kaleidoscope of colour when lit with a dive torch .
Large shoals of fish are readily found among the legs with eels , shrimp and crabs hiding in the many crevices , both natural and man-made . If you ’ re lucky there may be turtles , accompanied by tangs feeding on the algae in the shallows as you finish your dive . Navigation between the various pier legs is simple ; it ’ s easy to spend up to two hours exploring this site .
Orange sponge at Salt Pier
Divers at Salt Pier , late afternoon
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