Forest owes its name to the forest of black coral bushes that stands against the slope from around twenty-five metres. It is one of the finest dives on Bonaire and at the same time one of the most weather-dependent: the south-west side of Klein Bonaire sees swell more often than the north side.
Forest is an advanced boat dive on the south-west side of Klein Bonaire: a reef top at six to eight metres and black coral from twenty-five metres to beyond forty.
A reef top at six to eight metres gives way to a steep slope with large brain corals and vase sponges. From twenty-five metres, black coral bushes stand close together, with seahorses and shrimp among them. Jacks and tarpon hang along the edge.
In calm sea and when the boat visits this side of the island. In the morning, with the sun not yet straight above the wall.
Weather-dependent: in swell the boats do not run here. The best of it lies deep, which keeps dive time short. Moderate current that can build along the south-west corner. Boat only, no facilities.
Decisions on diveability, technique and health belong with STINAPA, a dive school or a doctor. This page only describes the conditions.
Black coral grows slowly — a few centimetres a year — and the bushes here are decades old. It is protected: touching, breaking or taking it is forbidden within the marine park.
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