SNUBA® Bonaire Frequently Asked Questions

SNUBA® is the bridge between snorkeling and scuba diving. An air tanks sits on a small raft that floats on the surface. You are connected with the air tank through regulator and 20-foot hose. Just as on the surface, you breathe normally underwater. No tank on your back, no certification needed. Our certified SNUBA® guide will stay with you from start to finish.

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With snorkeling you stay at the surface and look down at the reef and fishes. With SNUBA® you actually go deeper to see the reef up close. You can swim alongside the fish and experience Bonaire’s underwater world in a way that snorkeling cannot offer. It is the next level of snorkeling.

With scuba diving you need a certification course and training. Also you will carry all the heavy equipment with you on the dive. SNUBA® requires none of that. The air tank floats above you, so there is no heavy gear to carry. Also with SNUBA® you can start the same day, you do not need a course, no license and no prior experience.

No. SNUBA® is specifically designed for beginners, snorkelers and people with no diving experience. If you have swimming experience and you feel comfortable in the water, you are ready. Our certified guide will explain you everything on board.

Yes. Our certified guide stays with you underwater the entire time. Before descending, our guide will explain you everything step by step. First you will practice breathing through the regulator on the surface. When you feel comfortable, our guide leads you slowly underwater. We follow all SNUBA® International standards and guidelines. Your safety is our main priority.

The minimum age for SNUBA® is 8 years old.

Yes, but it is required that you can swim. You do not have to be a strong swimmer, but you have to feel comfortable in the water.

Yes, medical conditions such as pregnancy, heart conditions, lung disease and epilepsy cannot participate in our SNUBA® dive. Other conditions may require physician clearance before booking. When you are in doubt, please contact us.

That is completely fine. There is no pressure to descend. Everything will be in your pace at your level. You can stay at the surface and breathe from the regulator while looking down at the reef. Our instructor will support you at whatever depth you feel comfortable.

Yes. Guests who prefer to snorkel are very welcome to join the tour. You will still experience the full catamaran tour, the drinks, the snack platter and the beautiful scenery of Bonaire.

Expect to be surprised with the beautiful underwater world of Bonaire. Most first-timers are nervous beforehand, but are amazed the moment the take their first breath underwater. The hardest part is usually the first moment of putting your face in the water, after that if feels natural to breathe and move underwater. Keep in mind that our certified instructor stays with you the entire time. We want to make you experience as easy as possible.

Everything you need: your full SNUBA® dive with a certified guide, all SNUBA® gear, mask, fins and weight belt, non-alcoholic drinks before the dive, beer, wine and rum punch after the dive, a snack platter on board, and your 4-hour catamaran trip aboard the Mushi Mushi.

The full tour is 4 hours, departing from and returning to Nautico Marina in Kralendijk, Bonaire.

We depart from Nautico Marina in Kralendijk, Bonaire. Exact departure times will be confirmed upon booking.

We welcome a maximum of 16 guests per trip, divided into two small groups each with their own certified SNUBA® guide.

Swimwear, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen. Please note: after your SNUBA® dive, do not fly for at least 4 hours. Plan your travel accordingly.

Yes. We can accommodate groups of up to 16 guests per trip. Contact us directly via email or WhatsApp to discuss group bookings.

The SNUBA® tour is adapted to the schedule of your cruise line. In this way you always back on-time. SNUBA® Bonaire is perfect for exploring Bonaire in a short amount of time.

You can book directly on our website using our online booking system. Prefer to get in touch first? Contact us via email or WhatsApp and we will help you find the right date.

Yes. All guests who enter the water are required to pay the Bonaire Nature Fee of $40 per year. You can pay online in advance via STINAPA Bonaire’s website.

Please note: this fee is not mandatory for cruise ship passengers and residents with an official ID of Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint-Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba and children under the age of 12.

After your SNUBA® dive, you should not fly for at least 4 hours. SNUBA® reaches depths up to 20 feet, so the no-fly window is shorter than for scuba diving. However, we still ask all guests to plan their travel accordingly.

If the weather conditions are unsafe, we will reschedule your booking if possible. In case this is not possible, we will offer you a full refund.

Bookings can be changed or cancelled up to 72 hours before the trip. Cancellations between 48 – 72 hours, get a 50% refund. You do not get a refund when you are a no-show or cancel less than 48 hours before departure.

Yes. When you are interested in a private tour please contact us via email or WhatsApp.

Absolutely. While Bonaire is world-famous as a diving destination, it has so much to offer for non-divers. The island is small, safe and beautiful. Besides on shore activities, you can experience the underwater world through snorkeling or SNUBA®. For the very first time you can see as a non-diver the reef and fishes up close.

SNUBA® Bonaire gives non-divers the chance to truly experience the reef from below the surface. No certification needed.

Beyond the water, Bonaire has plenty to offer: explore Washington Slagbaai National Park, spot flamingos in the north and south of the island, try kite- or windsurfing, rent a golf cart to explore Bonaire at your own pace, visit the donkey sanctuary, or stroll through the shops and cafés of Kralendijk’s city center. Or simply enjoy the sun and the island’s laid-back atmosphere.

Yes. Bonaire is well known for its calm, clear and accessible waters. The visibility is exceptional, currents are generally mild and the reef start just a few feet below the surface. The water temperature is a comfortable 80-84°F (27-29°C) year-round, so this makes Bonaire one of the best places in the world to try SNUBA® for the very first time.