Car Rental in Bonaire for Divers: Shore Diving by Pickup Truck
Bonaire is known worldwide as the shore-diving capital: of its roughly 86 dive sites around the island, about 88% are reachable straight from shore, no boat required. That does mean picking the right rental car. Here's how to choose a car as a diver on Bonaire, plus what to know about the dive sites, the nature fee, and the marine park rules.
Why divers on Bonaire rent a pickup truck
The classic Bonaire routine is "drive, dive, divine": rent a pickup or SUV, load your tanks and gear bags in the back, and drive the coast road until one of the painted yellow rocks marking a dive site's name catches your eye. Park, walk in, and dive straight from shore. A pickup is popular because wet, heavy tank gear doesn't have to go in a regular trunk, and you don't have to repack everything between multiple stops in a day.
The dive sites along the coast road
Around 86 marked dive sites ring the island, each with its own yellow rock. Well-known names include 1000 Steps (named for the climb back up, not an actual thousand steps), Salt Pier (diving among the pylons of an active industrial pier), Something Special and Karpata (reef walls), Bari Reef (shallow and known for small critters), and Oil Slick Leap (named after an old oil spill, now a vibrant reef with a jump-in entry). Every site is reachable by car, and there's usually a small parking spot by the yellow rock.
Klein Bonaire: boat only
Klein Bonaire, the uninhabited islet across from Kralendijk, is the exception — reachable only by boat or water taxi from Kralendijk, not by car. Known for No Name Beach, one of the few real sand beaches in the area, and dive and snorkel sites like No Name and Something Special.
The STINAPA nature fee
The entire coastline of Bonaire falls under the Bonaire National Marine Park. Every diver and snorkeler pays the STINAPA nature fee: $40 per person, valid for the full calendar year (January 1 through December 31), payable via a QR-code system at a dive shop, the STINAPA office, or online in advance. Dive operators check for it before taking you out. Children under 13 and residents of the Dutch Caribbean are exempt, unless they're diving themselves.
Marine park rules
Touching or breaking coral is banned everywhere. Gloves and knee pads are prohibited too, specifically to discourage touching coral (exceptions only with a doctor's note presented at park headquarters). Feeding fish is banned. A dive flag is officially recommended for shore diving.
Which car fits your dive trip
For the occasional dive near Kralendijk, a compact car is plenty. Hitting multiple sites along the whole coast road in a day calls for a pickup or SUV to carry tanks and wet gear. Want to fit in Washington Slagbaai National Park between dives? A 4x4 is worth it for the unpaved roads there.
Why book through TropicDrive
TropicDrive compares 30+ local operators on Bonaire, including pickups and SUVs suited to dive gear. Insurance, taxes, and airport fees are always included in the price shown. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before pickup, and payment is handled securely through Stripe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a pickup truck to dive on Bonaire? Not required, but practical — many divers choose a pickup to carry tanks and wet gear easily between sites.
What does the STINAPA nature fee cost? $40 per person, valid for the full calendar year.
Can I drive to Klein Bonaire? No, Klein Bonaire is only reachable by boat or water taxi from Kralendijk.
Can I wear gloves while diving? No, gloves are banned in the marine park to discourage touching coral, except with a medical exception.
How many dive sites does Bonaire have? Around 86 marked sites around the island, most of them diveable straight from shore.
Do I need a 4x4 for all the dive sites? No, most dive sites along the coast road are reachable with a regular car. A 4x4 is only recommended for Washington Slagbaai.
