Carel’s Vision

Named for Carel Steensma — Dutch WWII resistance fighter and Bonaire Marine Park founder — this primarily boat-accessed reef sits at the BOPEC end of the north coast. High-density hard coral cover and a westward current with limited shore exit options.

Overview

Carel’s Vision is named after Carel Steensma, a Dutch WWII resistance fighter who was instrumental in the founding of Bonaire National Marine Park. The site opened in 2005 and lies near the BOPEC oil terminal on Bonaire’s north coast (mainland, not Klein Bonaire). It is primarily a boat dive — road access requires a difficult 4WD route past BOPEC plus a 50-meter walk to a stony beach, and there is limited mobile reception. The reef itself features high-density hard- and soft-coral cover, including substantial black coral, and shows reasonable recovery from Hurricane Lenny (1999) damage.

Site Information

• Location: North Bonaire mainland, near the BOPEC oil terminal
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters
• Typical Visibility: ~25 meters
• Current: Westward, with limited exit options
• Best Time: Calm-weather days with reliable boat support

Marine Life

Black coral is a defining feature here, along with plate, star, and cobble corals. Parrotfish, sponges, stingrays, triggerfish, and a variety of juvenile fish populate the reef. The healthy coral structure draws species variety beyond the average western Bonaire site.

Dive Profile

The reef begins shallow and slopes through the 6–25 meter range, continuing deeper. The westward current is the operational concern: shore exit points are limited, so a boat-supported plan is the realistic choice for most divers. Plan depth and gas conservatively given the current’s effect on the return swim.

Entry and Exit

Boat access via an operator running the BOPEC end of the coast. Shore access — for those committed to it — is via a 4WD route past the BOPEC facility plus a 50-meter walk to a stony beach. Mobile reception is limited; bring an emergency plan that doesn’t rely on a phone call.

Tips

• Dive this from a boat unless you have specific reason to attempt shore access
• Carry an SMB; westward drift exit can leave you well away from the entry
• The black coral is a highlight — bring a light to bring out color at depth

Safety

Limited shore exit options combined with a westward current make this an Advanced site even with a boat overhead. Mobile reception is unreliable in the area. Avoid in marginal conditions.

Photography

The dense hard- and soft-coral cover photographs well on wide-angle. Black coral close-ups reward a light source.

Nearby Sites

Playa Frans lies further north along the coast at the Washington-Slagbaai boundary. Boka Slagbaai and other park sites are reached via the park’s 4WD access road. Karpata and Taylor Made are to the southeast.

Sources: Divers-Guide – Carel’s Vision, InfoBonaire – Carel’s Vision, Greatest Dive Sites – Carel’s Vision. Last updated 2026-05-16.