Margate Bay
12.0513°N 68.2722°W · reef
Margate Bay
A southern Bonaire shore reef on the southwest coast — intermediate conditions with a gradual slope and typical southern reef marine life.
Overview
Margate Bay is a southern Bonaire shore site on the southwest coast, south of Pink Beach. The site offers intermediate-depth fringing reef diving in the quieter southern stretch between Alice in Wonderland and the southern tip. The Papiamentu-influenced name reflects the mixed colonial heritage of Bonaire’s place names.
Site Information
- Location: Southwest Bonaire, south of Pink Beach
- Entry Type: Shore entry
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Maximum Depth: 30 meters
- Typical Visibility: 20–30 metres
- Current: Light to moderate
- Best Time: Morning
Marine Life
Parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, snapper, and groupers. Turtles are seen along the southern coast. Occasional stingrays on the sandy bottom.
Dive Profile
Shore entry and gradual reef slope to 30 metres. Most productive at 8–22 metres.
Entry and Exit
Shore entry from the road. Exit at the same point.
Tips
- Less visited than northern sites — good for a quiet southern dive
- Combine with Pink Beach or English Garden for a southern coast day
Safety
Light-to-moderate current possible. Standard intermediate dive precautions.
Photography
Standard southern reef photography.
Nearby Sites
Pink Beach is to the north. English Garden is nearby. Atlantis is to the south.
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).
802 verified species observations (214 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1930 and 2026, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Chelonia mydas · Green sea turtle
- Eretmochelys imbricata · Hawksbill sea turtle
- Pterois · lionfish
- Gobiidae
- Paroncheilus affinis
- Caretta caretta · Loggerhead sea turtle
- 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.
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