18th Palm
12.1386°N 68.2765°W · reef
18th Palm
A central Bonaire fringing reef named for a row of palm trees marking the shore entry — an easy beginner dive in the busy central dive belt.
Overview
18th Palm (BNMP #34) is a central west coast shore dive named for the palm trees visible from the road that mark the entry point. It lies in the busy stretch of diving between Calabas Reef and Windsock, offering typical central Bonaire fringing reef conditions: easy entry, calm water, and a gradual reef slope. The site is well-suited to beginner divers and those wanting a relaxed, uncomplicated dive.
Site Information
- Location: Central Bonaire, BNMP Site #34
- Entry Type: Shore entry
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
- Maximum Depth: 25 meters
- Typical Visibility: 20–30 metres
- Current: Usually light
- Best Time: Morning to afternoon
Marine Life
Central Bonaire reef species: parrotfish, grunts, angelfish, snapper, and groupers. Turtles seen along the coast. Moray eels in reef crevices.
Dive Profile
Entry over sand/shore and gradual swim to the reef. Reef begins within a short swim and slopes to 25 metres. A relaxed out-and-back profile.
Entry and Exit
Shore entry from the pull-off near the palm trees. Exit at the same point.
Tips
- The palm trees make this entry easy to identify from the coastal road
- Good between-sites dive when touring the central corridor
Safety
Easy conditions. Standard shore-dive precautions.
Photography
Standard reef photography in good visibility.
Nearby Sites
Calabas Reef (Divi Flamingo house reef) is to the south. Windsock is nearby to the north. Bachelor’s Beach is also close.
Sources: InfoBonaire Dive Site Map, Divers-Guide, Bonaireisland.com. Last updated 2026-05-24.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
2197 verified species observations (187 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1930 and 2019, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Eretmochelys imbricata · Hawksbill sea turtle
- Chelonia mydas · Green sea turtle
- Caretta caretta · Loggerhead sea turtle
- Pterois · lionfish
- Scarus taeniopterus
- Scarus vetula
- Sparisoma viride
- Cephalopholis cruentata
- Lutjanus apodus
- Sparisoma aurofrenatum
- Microspathodon chrysurus
- Haemulon flavolineatum
Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.
Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.
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