Bonaire's pristine coral reefs and abundant marine life have been protected from development since 1979, when the government established the Bonaire Marine Park as a means of regulating diving and its impact on the marine environment. Comprising the entire coastline of the island, and that of the neighboring un-inhabited cay of Klein Bonaire - from the high-water mark down to 60m - the park is widely recognized as a model of marine conservation.

Bonaire has 86 dive sites , the majority of which are on the leeward side of the island. All sites are marked with yellow stone markers or a buoy and come with colorful names such as Country Garden, Forest, Yellow Man's Reef, Ol' Blue and Bloodlet. Boats are not permitted to drop anchor and must instead use the mooring site.

Most of sites can be reached directly from shore, while Klein Bonaire is accessible only by boat (many operators schedule charter trips to the island). Popular dive and snorkeling spots include 1000 Steps, Karpata, Rappel, Country Garden, Pink Beach, and No Name on Klein Bonaire, and most sites harbor magnificent stands of Elkhorn and brain coral as well as sponges surrounded by an array of tropical fish and marine invertebrates.