White Hole
12.0941°N 68.2281°W · reef
White Hole
An east-coast Bonaire site near Sorobon — Advanced despite shallow depth due to exposed Atlantic conditions and tidal current. Access via gravel road.
Overview
White Hole is on Bonaire’s Atlantic-facing east coast, near the Sorobon windsurfing area south of Lac Bay. The site is shallow — only 15 metres — but carries an Advanced difficulty rating because the east coast is open to Atlantic swell, tidal current, and unpredictable conditions that make it fundamentally different from the calm leeward western sites. Like Cai to the north, White Hole should only be dived in calm weather windows and ideally with guidance from a local operator familiar with east-coast conditions.
Site Information
- Location: East coast Bonaire, near Sorobon
- Entry Type: Shore entry
- Site Type: Reef
- Difficulty Level: Advanced
- Maximum Depth: 15 meters
- Typical Visibility: Variable — depends on east-coast conditions
- Current: Can be strong; tidal flow from Lac Bay proximity
- Best Time: Calm-weather windows; avoid after strong east winds
Marine Life
East coast reef with Atlantic-influenced species mix. Turtles are seen. The sheltered reef structure supports parrotfish and typical Caribbean reef species.
Dive Profile
Shore entry. The reef is shallow and relatively compact. The challenge is not the depth but the conditions: assess surface current and swell carefully before committing.
Entry and Exit
Access via the gravel road to Sorobon. Shore entry over sand and rocky bottom. An SMB is advisable given the potential for surface drift.
Tips
- Only dive in calm weather — east-coast conditions can change quickly
- A local operator’s guidance on conditions is valuable for this site
- Combine with Cai (further north) for an east-coast day trip
Safety
Advanced rating despite 15m depth is real: Atlantic swell, tidal current, and limited nearby exit options make this site hazardous in poor conditions. Carry an SMB. Never dive solo on the east coast.
Photography
Unique east-coast reef environment. If conditions are good, the clear water and different species mix make for interesting photography distinct from the standard west-coast sites.
Nearby Sites
Cai is the other main east-coast dive site, to the north at the mouth of Lac Bay. Western sites are across the island.
Sources: InfoBonaire Dive Site Map, Divers-Guide – White Hole, Bonaireisland.com. Last updated 2026-05-24.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
1465 verified species observations (196 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
- Gobiidae
- Scarus vetula
- Hemanthias leptus
- Paroncheilus affinis
- Lipogramma evides
- Sparisoma viride
- Varicus decorum
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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