Invisibles

A double-reef site on southern Bonaire’s west coast — the “invisibles” refer to a second outer reef that is difficult to spot from the shallows, with the first reef ending at 20 metres and the outer reef extending to 35 metres.

Overview

Invisibles is a southern Bonaire shore dive named for its unusual double-reef structure. The inner reef runs from the shallows to about 20 metres, where it gives way to a sandy channel. The “invisible” second reef is the defining feature: it lies further out and is not visible from the surface or the inner reef without swimming the sand channel to find it. This second reef extends to 18–35 metres and is separated from the inner reef by the sand channel. Garden eels inhabit the sandy channel between the two reef systems. The structure and layout are similar to Alice in Wonderland, and the two sites are not far apart on the southern coast.

Site Information

• Location: Southern Bonaire west coast
• Entry Type: Shore entry
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 35 meters
• Typical Visibility: 20–30 metres
• Current: Usually light
• Best Time: Morning

Marine Life

The sand channel between the reefs hosts garden eels. The inner reef supports schools of grunts, parrotfish, angelfish, and snapper. The outer reef’s deeper sections host larger groupers and barracuda. Turtles are seen along this stretch of coast.

Dive Profile

Enter from shore and follow the inner reef to 20 metres where it meets the sand channel. Cross the channel to locate the outer reef. Most divers explore the inner reef first, cross to the outer reef at depth, and return to the inner reef for the safety stop ascent. Careful depth management is required in the sand channel area.

Entry and Exit

Shore entry from the road. Exit at the same point.

Tips

• The outer reef is the reward — take time finding it before descending too deep in the channel
• Garden eels in the sand channel are worth pausing for
• The double-reef layout means two distinct environments on one dive

Safety

The outer reef extends to 35 metres — this is the deepest section and requires careful no-decompression limit management. Gas planning should account for the channel crossing and return.

Photography

Wide-angle compositions across the sand channel from one reef to the other are unusual and distinctive. Garden eels in the sand make strong close-up subjects. The outer reef’s larger coral formations photograph well with a strobe at depth.

Nearby Sites

Salt City is immediately north. The Rock is nearby. Alice in Wonderland is south along the same coast with a very similar double-reef structure.

Sources: InfoBonaire Dive Site Map, Beyond the Corals Bonaire – Invisibles, Divers-Guide. Last updated 2026-05-24.