88 Official Dive Sites: How to Turn Bonaire’s Variety into a Dive Wish List
When a destination offers 88 official dive sites, the biggest challenge is not finding somewhere to dive. It is deciding where to start. That is exactly why building a thoughtful Bonaire dive wish list matters. Instead of arriving overwhelmed by choice, you can turn Bonaire’s variety into a clear plan that matches your skill level, goals, and style of diving.
A strong wish list helps you dive with more purpose. You spend less time debating logistics and more time enjoying what drew you here in the first place: easy access, beautiful underwater experiences, and the freedom to shape each day around your own priorities.
In this guide, you will learn how to organize your dive goals, how to think about variety in a practical way, and how offerings such as Avelo courses, Avelo Experience, professional training, and local dive support can help you make the most of your time in Bonaire.
Why 88 official dive sites matter
Why is Bonaire’s site variety such a big advantage? Because choice creates flexibility.
When divers have access to a broad range of sites, they can build a trip around what matters most to them:
- Ease and convenience
- Skill development
- Comfort in the water
- Repetition for improvement
- New experiences across multiple dives
- A balanced mix of adventure and downtime
That last point matters more than many divers expect. A well-planned dive trip is not only about maximizing the number of dives. It is also about creating a rhythm that keeps you energized, confident, and excited for the next entry.
If you are trying to turn 88 official dive sites into a realistic plan, the smartest approach is not to chase everything. It is to curate a shortlist.
What is a dive wish list?
A dive wish list is a personal shortlist of dive experiences you most want to prioritize during your trip.
It usually includes:
- Must-dive priorities you do not want to miss
- Skill-based choices that fit your comfort and training level
- Flexible backups for changing conditions or energy levels
- Learning goals such as buoyancy, teaching practice, or trying new systems
This approach makes a large destination feel manageable. It also gives you room to stay spontaneous without becoming disorganized.
How to build your Bonaire dive wish list
1. Start with your main goal
Before you choose sites, decide what kind of trip you want.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want a relaxed trip built around easy, repeatable dives?
- Do I want to improve comfort, buoyancy, and safety skills?
- Am I interested in instructor-level development?
- Do I want to explore a new equipment approach such as the Avelo System?
- Am I balancing diving with rest and vacation time?
Your answer shapes everything else.
For example, a diver focused on progression may prioritize training. A traveler seeking a smoother introduction to new methods may look at online training, followed by in-water training with an instructor. A professional may want to evaluate Avelo Pro as a pathway to teaching with the system.
2. Group your wish list by experience type
One of the easiest ways to manage a long list of possibilities is to organize by category instead of trying to rank every dive site at once.
Consider categories such as:
- Easy confidence-building dives
- Skill-focused dives
- Training days
- Professional development dives
- Rest-and-reset days
This method helps you create a realistic schedule. It also supports safer, more enjoyable diving by aligning the day’s plan with your energy, attention, and objectives.
3. Leave room for training opportunities
A destination with lots of diving options is also an ideal place to sharpen your abilities.
For divers interested in the Avelo System, the path is clearly structured:
| Stage | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Online Training | About 1–2 hours of learning that builds on open water knowledge and introduces the Avelo System |
| In-Water Training | 2 dives practicing Avelo skills with a certified instructor, including buoyancy and safety techniques |
This kind of training can be a smart addition to a wish list because it gives purpose to your dives. It also helps you get more from the rest of your trip by improving comfort and control in the water.
4. Match your plan to your level
Not every diver comes to Bonaire with the same goal.
Some visitors want a straightforward vacation with a mix of diving and relaxation. Others want to move toward teaching, leadership, or dive center implementation. A clear wish list should reflect that difference.
For recreational divers
If your goal is to get comfortable with the Avelo System, begin with the learning sequence and then build your remaining days around enjoyable dives that let you apply what you learned.
The Avelo Experience is designed around a balanced mix of adventure and downtime, planned around your arrival. That makes it especially useful for divers who want a more structured way to settle in and make the most of the trip.
For scuba instructors
If you want to teach the Avelo System, Avelo Pro offers a five-day course that certifies individual scuba instructors to teach Avelo courses and introduce divers to the system.
What is included in Avelo Pro?
- Comprehensive staff training in system use, maintenance, and safety
- Rights to rent and teach with Avelo Systems
- Regular updates and access to new system features
- Optional custom packages including accommodation and transportation
- A zero-to-hero trajectory, including Recreational Avelo Diver (RAD) certification
This is a strong fit for professionals who want their wish list to include both diving and career development.
For dive centers
Dive centers can also build a broader operational wish list through Avelo Pro.
The program supports teams that want to become an Avelo Dive Center. Training can happen in Bonaire for a hands-on education trip, or instructors can visit the facility directly. Avelo gear is available at discounted ADC pricing to support launch efforts.
The process includes:
- Applying through the Avelo Pro program
- Personal contact with the Avelo Instructor Trainer
- Creating a personalized package
- Training staff in Bonaire or at the shop and preparing facilities
- Equipment delivery setup at the shop
- Marketing and operations support to help the launch start efficiently
Why professional guidance can simplify a long wish list
A large dive destination rewards planning, but it also rewards local support.
Dive travel becomes easier when you have access to people who can help with daily operations such as:
- Welcoming guests
- Answering questions
- Handling reservations and check-ins
- Supporting tank pickup and drop-off
- Assisting with purchases
That operational structure matters because it turns a complicated trip into a smoother one. When logistics are easier, divers can focus on the actual experience instead of the friction around it.
Dive Friends Bonaire operates 7 different locations and 3 retail stores. It is a PADI 5 star IDC center, and divers are trained from beginner to professional level. Its dive shops are open 7 days per week to provide a strong guest experience. That kind of footprint can be especially valuable when you are trying to build a flexible, multi-day dive plan.
How to create a practical week of diving
A good wish list is ambitious enough to feel exciting and realistic enough to follow.
A simple framework
Use this format when planning your dives:
Priority 1: Non-negotiables
Choose the experiences you most want your trip to include.
Examples of non-negotiables might be:
- Completing Online Training and In-Water Training
- Joining the Avelo Experience
- Taking the Avelo Pro course
- Advancing toward instructor-level development
Priority 2: High-value repeatable dives
Some of the best dive trips include repetition. Repeating a type of dive or skill session can improve confidence, buoyancy, air efficiency, and overall ease in the water.
This aligns naturally with the value proposition presented for Avelo Pro, including:
- Stronger Customer Experience
- Training & Certification
- Enhanced Performance
Priority 3: Flexible slots
Leave open space in your schedule.
This gives you room to:
- Adjust to how you feel each day
- Extend a training focus if needed
- Add downtime
- Follow up on a recommendation
That flexibility often makes the difference between a rushed trip and a memorable one.
Practical tips for turning site variety into a better dive trip
Keep your list short at first
Start with three to five priorities. A shorter list is easier to act on and less likely to become stressful.
Build around your arrival
If your trip includes a structured experience, use that rhythm to shape the rest of your stay. A balanced arrival plan can make the entire week smoother.
Combine fun with learning
Training is not separate from enjoyment. When you improve buoyancy, safety technique, communication, or teaching skills, many dives become more rewarding.
Think beyond a single trip
Some divers arrive focused on recreation and leave interested in professional development. Bonaire can support both. If that interests you, connect recreational learning with future steps such as Recreational Avelo Diver (RAD) certification, instructor training, or broader professional education.
Use your wish list as a filter, not a rulebook
The best plans guide you without locking you in. Treat your list as a decision-making tool, not a rigid contract.
Featured snippet: How do you choose among 88 official dive sites?
You choose among 88 official dive sites by building a dive wish list around your goals, skill level, available time, and interest in training or guided experiences. Start with your top priorities, group dives by experience type, and leave room for flexibility.
Related ways to extend your dive plans
If you want to get more from your time in Bonaire, related options can complement a site-based wish list:
- Avelo courses for a structured introduction to the system
- Avelo Experience for a balanced arrival-based program
- Avelo Pro for instructors and dive centers
- Instructor Development Course training for divers moving toward professional goals
During the Instructor Development Course, training includes:
- PADI teaching standards and course organization
- Knowledge development presentations
- Confined water and open water teaching techniques
- Risk management and diver safety
- Leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
This kind of progression can transform a simple dive vacation into a meaningful next step in your diving journey.
Conclusion: Turn abundance into a plan
88 official dive sites represent freedom, but freedom works best with focus. When you turn Bonaire’s variety into a dive wish list, you make better decisions, reduce overwhelm, and create a trip that reflects what you actually want from your time in the water.
Whether your goal is a balanced diving holiday, a structured Avelo Experience, certification through Avelo courses, or professional growth through Avelo Pro or the Instructor Development Course, the key is the same: start with intention.
Ready to shape your own Bonaire dive wish list? Explore the training and professional development options, plan your priorities early, and contact Dive Friends Bonaire to build a trip that fits the way you want to dive.