Tori's Reef

Tori's Reef (Bonaire South)

Welcome to Tori's Reef, a truly unique dive site in southern Bonaire that offers a fascinating blend of natural reef beauty and an intriguing industrial influence. This beginner-friendly shore dive is built around the channel where Cargill's salt-pond outflow meets the vibrant Caribbean Sea, creating a dynamic environment for marine life and an engaging experience for divers.

Diving Conditions and Entry

Divers will find the entry to Tori's Reef relatively straightforward, typically over flat rocks in the outflow cut beneath the road. While generally easy, we recommend exercising caution, especially if there are waves, as the entry can sometimes be a bit challenging. Once in the water, you'll glide onto a wide sandy apron, stretching approximately 70 meters, which serves as a prime hunting ground. The water temperature here is consistently warm, typically ranging from 26°C to 29°C year-round, making for comfortable dives.

Reef Exploration and Marine Life

The reef proper begins around 6 meters and gradually slopes to a maximum depth of approximately 25 meters, offering plenty to explore for Open Water Divers. Divers will encounter healthy mixed hard and soft corals, with strands of elkhorn coral visible on the sandy bottom. The mid-water is often clouded with abundant Brown Chromis, adding a lively touch to the scenery.

Tori's Reef is renowned for its diverse marine life, making it a fantastic site for spotting a variety of species. On the sandy apron and along the reef, you can frequently encounter graceful Spotted Eagle Rays and Southern Stingrays foraging. Keep an eye out for the distinctive Peacock Flounder camouflaged against the sand. Moving closer to the reef, divers often spot impressive Great Barracudas, secretive Green Moray Eels, and charming Longsnout Seahorses. Green Sea Turtles are also common visitors, gliding peacefully through the waters. Additionally, divers might be lucky enough to see Spotted Trunkfish, various snapper, angelfish, grunts, parrotfish, and even possible nurse and reef sharks.

Hazards and Recommendations

While Tori's Reef is suitable for beginner divers, we advise good buoyancy control, especially due to the presence of fire coral stands along the swim-out. The current is typically mild, but it can become medium to strong when the salt-works outflow gates are open, so timing your entry is key for an enjoyable dive. We also recommend being aware of occasional boat traffic, as the mooring is in active use.

Certification

An Open Water Diver certification is required to explore the wonders of this dive site.