Carl's Hill

Carl's Hill, Klein Bonaire

Named for renowned underwater photographer Carl Roessler, Carl's Hill is a truly iconic dive site on the northwest tip of Klein Bonaire, offering a breathtaking experience for intermediate divers. This site is celebrated for its dramatic topography and abundant marine life, making it a perennial favorite and a true photographer's dream.

Dive Site Features

• Site Type: We will find a magnificent wall and vibrant reef system here. The main feature is a sheer mini-wall that begins a short swim from the mooring, plunging dramatically to a sandy bottom at approximately 21 m before transitioning into a deeper reef slope.
• Coral Gardens: The wall itself is richly upholstered in a diverse array of sponges, vibrant gorgonians, and soft corals, creating a magnificent and colorful spectacle. Divers may also encounter the seldom-seen feather-bush hydroid, filter-feeding in the plankton stream along the upper face of the wall. The shallower reef top boasts beautiful Elkhorn Coral and Pillar Coral.

What Divers Will Find

Carl's Hill is renowned for its exceptional marine biodiversity. It is Bonaire's best-known seahorse haunt, offering excellent opportunities to spot the elusive Longsnout Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) among the corals.

As we explore, divers can expect to encounter a vibrant array of fish life:

• Large schools of Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) often wash over the reef rim.
• We frequently spot impressive Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) holding in the current.
• Look out for elegant French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) and striking Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus).
• Other common sightings include speedy Bar Jack (Caranx ruber) and industrious Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis).
• Lucky divers might even spot a well-camouflaged frogfish.

Diving Conditions & Recommendations

• Depth: The dive site offers a significant depth range, starting around 6-10 m at the top of the wall and descending to approximately 40 m on the sandy slope.
• Current: Currents at Carl's Hill are variable and can sometimes be strong, particularly at the exposed tip of the reef. We recommend checking local conditions and exercising good buoyancy control.
• Water Temperature: Divers will enjoy consistently warm Caribbean waters, with temperatures typically ranging from 26°C to 29°C year-round.
• Certification: While Open Water Diver certification is required, an Advanced Open Water Diver certification is highly recommended due to the potential for deeper depths and variable currents.
• Hazards: Be mindful of variable currents, potential boat traffic, and the depths achievable at this site.

Carl's Hill truly offers an unforgettable diving experience, combining dramatic underwater landscapes with a rich tapestry of marine life.