Guided diving on Bonaire, in small groups
Scuba Elite offers guided diving on Bonaire in small groups: guided shore dives with a maximum of 4 divers per instructor, or a private dive guide just for you. We pick the dive site each morning based on your preferences, skill level and the weather. All you need to do is enjoy the reef.
There are no queues at the entry. No following a crowd of fins. Just you, your buddy and an instructor who knows these reefs by heart, and who points out the turtle you would have missed!
New to Bonaire? Back in the water after a few years? Or simply happy to let someone else do the planning? You’re in good hands. Here, you’re never a number.
And yes, the coffee is ready before every dive!
Choose your guided shore dives on Bonaire
Not sure what to pick? Tell us how long you're staying and when you last dived, and we'll suggest what suits you. Staying a few days? Our 3- and 5-day dive packages give you guided diving for your whole stay, with the planning done for you.
Your guided shore dive options
1 guided dive | 60 usd
start at 06:00 (sunrise dive) 08:00 or 13:00
1 guided night dive | 75 usd
start at 18:00 (start time may vary depending on sunset)
1 guided ostracod night dive | 75 usd
start at 18:00 (start time may vary depending on sunset)
1 guided DPV dive | 60 usd + DPV rental 75 usd
start at 08:00 or 13:00
2 guided dives | 115 usd
start at 08:00 or 12:00
3 guided dives | 175 usd
start at 08:00 for 2 guided dives, come back after lunch for an afternoon dive, starting at 13:00
Prices are per person and exclude gear and tank rental.
See our prices for dive gear rental on Bonaire.
Your own private dive guide on Bonaire
Sometimes you want the reef to yourself. With a private dive guide on Bonaire, it's just you and your buddy, partner or family. No group to keep up with. Your pace, your plan, your dive.
Private diving is perfect for underwater photographers who like to take their time. For divers who'd like a little extra attention after a break. And for families who want to share their Bonaire dives together.
Together with your guide, you choose the dive sites: a quiet morning on our house reef, a wreck like the Hilma Hooker, or a spot further along the coast. We plan the day around you!
Private guiding is $85 per hour per person, with a minimum of 3 hours.
Quick details about guided shore diving with Scuba Elite
👥 Small groups, big attention — never more than 4 divers per guide
🤿 Support with everything — from fine-tuning your buoyancy to shore entry tips, without ever making you feel out of place
☕ We start with coffee — always a relaxed chat before the dive
🐢 No rush — we go at the pace of the slowest diver, so everyone feels comfortable
🎓 Fully certified team — all our dive guides are experienced PADI Instructors
We take care of everything, so your only job is to enjoy the dive:
Your instructor, with a maximum of 4 divers per group
A full dive briefing before every dive
Weights
Transport to the dive site and back to the shop
Water and towels
A safety kit in every car
What’s included in a guided shore dive?
Not included, add when you book:
Not included in the price are:
Tanks (Air or Enriched Air/Nitrox at the same price if you're certified)
Full rental gear with dive computer
Tanks (Air or Enriched Air/Nitrox at the same price if you're certified)
Full rental gear with dive computer
How a guided dive day works
Coffee at the shop. We meet at 08:00 at our dive shop (located at Kaya Antonio Neuman 7 in Kralendijk) The coffee is on, and there's time to say hello.
Your gear, checked together. We fit everything with you, so nothing feels unfamiliar once you're underwater.
The right site for today. Wind, waves and visibility decide where we go, and so does how you feel this morning.
A calm briefing. Entry, route, depth, what to look out for, and the hand signals we'll use. Ask anything; there are no silly questions.
The dive. An easy pace, plenty of time to look around, and a guide who shows you the frogfish you'd never have found on your own.
Surface interval. Some refreshing water and a chat about what you just saw. Then off to the second dive site.
Back at the shop around 13:00, salty, happy, with the afternoon all yours.
Curious what a guided day with Scuba Elite feels like? Read our blogpost: what to expect on a guided shore dive.
Questions divers ask about guided diving on Bonaire
Which dive center on Bonaire works with small groups?
1
We do! Scuba Elite does: every guided dive has a maximum of 4 divers per instructor. That means a calm pace, time for all your questions, and a guide who always knows exactly where you are.
Which dive center on Bonaire offers private guiding?
2
I am looking for a personal dive shop. Is Scuba Elite my right fit?
3
That's exactly what we built Scuba Elite to be: a small, boutique dive shop where you're never a number. Small groups, the same familiar faces every day, sites chosen for how you feel, and a good coffee before you dive.
Do I need a guide for shore diving on Bonaire?
4
No, certified divers are free to shore dive on their own, and many do. A guide is worth it if you're new to Bonaire, haven't dived in a while, or simply want to see more: we know which sites are calm today and where the turtles and frogfish like to hide.
Is a guided dive a good idea if I haven't dived in a while?
5
It's one of the nicest ways back in. We check your gear with you, run through any skills you'd like to refresh, and start at an easy site like our house reef. Been away for a long time? Ask about a ReActivate refresher first.
What's included in a guided shore dive?
6
Your instructor, the briefing, weights, transport, water and towels. See What's included above for the details. Full rental gear with dive computer and tanks (Air or Enriched Air) are not included.
I'm coming by cruise ship. Can I join a guided dive?
7
Yes, and we'll get you back in time too. Our cruise dive includes pick-up at the terminal, 2 guided dives with all gear, and drop-off before your ship sails, for $189.
What do I need to bring?
Your certification card (or eCard), your logbook or dive app if you have one, swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen. Paperwork is filled in online before you arrive.
8
Ready to dive Bonaire with us?
Tell us your diving dates, how many of you are coming and when you last dived. We'll get back to you quickly, usually the same day, with dives that suit you.
Gear and tanks for your guided dives
1 day of dive gear | 49 usd
6 days of dive gear | 265 usd
10 days of dive gear | 550 usd (includes dive computer)
6 days of dive gear and 12 tanks Air or Enriched Air | 395 usd
1 tank Air or Enriched Air | 18 usd
12 tanks Air or Enriched Air | 150 usd per person
Prices are per person
Includes: BCD, weights, regulator, wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins and boots.
Excludes: dive computer (15 usd), dive light (13 usd) compass (10 usd)