Forest
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
Forest, on the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire, takes its name from the groves of black coral that begin startlingly shallow on its steep western slope, their gray-green bushes bending in the light surge like windblown trees. The wall beneath is riddled with small overhangs where squirrelfish and lobsters shelter, and green turtles commute between the reef and the islet's nesting beach, one of the region's important rookeries. Boat access keeps the crowds thinner than the shore classics, and the drop into deep water gives Forest a wilder, cooler-blooded character than mainland Bonaire's terraces.
The moment you come for: Shallow black coral groves, turtle traffic off a nesting islet, steep clean wall
Topography: Steep coral slope shaded by stands of black coral
Entry: Boat mooring on Klein Bonaire's southwest side; water-taxi drops are possible for strong swimmers.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Steady slope into deep water; mind depth while following the coral groves down.
Conservation: Klein Bonaire is protected land and reef within the marine park; landing restrictions protect turtle nesting on No Name Beach.
Nitrox: Worth it here — profiles sit in the range where enriched air meaningfully extends no-stop time (with the training to use it).
Who you'll meet
Frogfish
Great Barracuda
Green Sea Turtle
Hawksbill Turtle
Nudibranchs
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★★☆☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting