English Garden
12.0598°N 68.2822°W · reef
English Garden
Overview
English Garden is a beautiful dive site located in southern Bonaire near Pink Beach. The site features a healthy reef that starts at about 15 feet and gradually slopes down to depths of over 100 feet. The reef is in excellent condition with diverse coral formations, including brain corals, elkhorn coral, and colorful soft corals. The site is particularly known for its abundance of marine life and excellent visibility. The easy sandy entry makes it accessible to divers of all experience levels.
Site Information
- Location: South Bonaire (near Pink Beach)
- Entry Type: Shore entry
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
- Maximum Depth: 25 meters
- Typical Visibility: 20-30 meters
- Current: Usually light
- Best Time: Morning to early afternoon
Marine Life
English Garden is home to a diverse array of marine life. Large schools of blue tangs, parrotfish, and grunts are commonly seen. The site is also frequented by sea turtles, eagle rays, and occasionally nurse sharks. Macro life includes cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, and various nudibranchs. The healthy coral formations provide habitat for countless reef fish species, including angelfish, butterflyfish, and damselfish.
Dive Profile
Enter the water from the sandy beach and swim out to the reef, which starts at about 15 feet. The reef gradually slopes down, making it easy to explore at different depths. Plan your dive to explore the reef at various depths, with most of the marine life found between 20-60 feet. The gradual slope makes this site excellent for divers of all experience levels.
Entry and Exit
The entry is via an easy sandy beach that provides comfortable access to the water. The sandy bottom extends for a short distance before reaching the reef. Exit at the same location, making this one of Bonaire’s most convenient dive sites.
Tips and Recommendations
- This site is particularly popular with families and beginner divers
- The easy entry makes it perfect for all experience levels
- Look for the diverse coral formations and abundant marine life
- The site is excellent for both wide-angle and macro photography
- This is a great site for night diving
Safety Considerations
The sandy entry is easy and safe for all experience levels. The gradual slope makes it easy to control your depth. Be aware of boat traffic in the area, though it’s typically light. Maintain proper buoyancy control to protect the coral formations.
Photography
English Garden offers excellent photography opportunities. The clear water and healthy coral formations make it ideal for wide-angle shots. The abundant marine life provides great subjects for both wide-angle and macro photography. Natural light is best during morning hours when the sun illuminates the reef.
Nearby Sites
Nearby sites include Pink Beach, Alice in Wonderland, and Margate Bay. All are accessible along the southern coast of Bonaire.
Additional Resources
- Dive Guide: Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy
- Accessibility: Excellent for all experience levels
- Last Updated: 2025-06-24
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
861 verified species observations (208 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1930 and 2019, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Chelonia mydas · Green sea turtle
- Eretmochelys imbricata · Hawksbill sea turtle
- Pterois · lionfish
- Caretta caretta · Loggerhead sea turtle
- Gobiidae
- Paroncheilus affinis
- Palatogobius incendius
- Varicus decorum
- Baldwinella
- Elacatinus horsti
- Choranthias tenuis
- Hemanthias leptus
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.
Conditions change with the tide and the season. If you have dived this site, share what it was actually like — date, visibility, current, and what you saw. Real, recent reports from divers are exactly what this guide is built to collect.
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