Mara was five months old when we moved to Bonaire. She is three now. She has spent more time at dive sites than most adults.
She does not dive. She will, when she is old enough and wants to. But she snorkels, she plays on the shore, she watches the fish from the dock, and she has grown up thinking that the ocean is a normal part of a Tuesday.
This is what we have learned about Bonaire with a small child.
The sites that work
Te Amo Beach. Shallow, protected, sandy bottom, calm water. No current, no surge, no sharp coral to step on. Mara can stand in waist-deep water and watch parrotfish from three meters away. There is a bathroom and shade.
Donkey Beach (near the airport, next to Te Amo). A small sandy cove with a gradual entry. Good snorkeling for older kids. Mara collects shells here. The reef starts at 5 meters, so even a snorkeler can see soft corals and juvenile fish.
1000 Steps. The beach at the bottom is small but beautiful. The water is calm on the leeward side. Not ideal for a toddler (the steps are real), but fine for a family with kids over six who can handle the walk down and are confident in the water.
The logistics
Bonaire is a car island. You will rent a pickup truck, load your gear in the back, and drive to sites. With a child seat in the back seat, this works fine. Most dive sites are roadside with parking within 30 meters of the water.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen (zinc-based, no oxybenzone). It is required by marine park rules and it is better for the reef. Bring water shoes for rocky entries. Bring snacks. There are no beach bars at most dive sites.
The biggest adjustment: timing. With kids, you dive in the morning and come back before the sun gets harsh. 8:30 to 12:30 is the window. Linda and I trade off. One dives, the other watches Mara. On good days, we take her in the water on a noodle while the other snorkels nearby.
Try Scuba at ten
SSI allows Try Scuba from age 8 in confined water (pool or equivalent conditions). Open Water certification starts at 10 with Junior Open Water.
If you are coming to Bonaire with a ten-year-old who wants to try, we do it in calm, shallow water at Bachelor's Beach. Maximum depth 5 meters. One student, one instructor. No rushing.
What kids actually remember
Mara does not know what a parrotfish is called. She calls it "the one that poops sand." She knows the sound of a tank valve opening means someone is going diving. She waves at turtles from the dock like they are neighbours.
You do not need to turn a family vacation into a dive boot camp. Bring the kids to the water. Let them watch. Let them get bored and come back on their own terms.
For what to pack and how to plan a family dive trip, see What to Bring. For guided snorkel or dive experiences, we adapt to families.