How to Choose and Use the Bonaire Nature Tag for Your Water Adventures

Planning to snorkel, dive, or paddle on Bonaire? The Bonaire Nature Tag is your essential pass to the island’s waters—and a simple way to protect the paradise you came to enjoy. In this guide, you’ll learn what the Bonaire Nature Tag is, what it covers, how to get it, and why your contribution keeps Bonaire’s reefs and coastlines pristine for generations to come.

What Is the Bonaire Nature Tag—and Why It Matters

The Bonaire Nature Tag is a required contribution for all water activities on the island. It directly supports the protection and upkeep of Bonaire’s natural resources, including the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP), which surrounds Bonaire and Klein Bonaire from the high-tide mark down to 60m (200ft). The BNMP—established in 1979 as the world’s first underwater park—encompasses wetlands, mangrove swamps, and the Caribbean Sea around the island.

Bonaire’s marine environment is carefully managed by STINAPA Bonaire, a non-governmental, nonprofit foundation established in 1962. Funds from the Nature Tag help maintain the island’s natural areas for the long term. As part of the island’s broader conservation ethos, visitors are invited to join the Bonaire Bond—an island pledge that encourages responsible behavior such as keeping distance from marine life and using reef‑friendly, biodegradable sunscreen.

What Your Bonaire Nature Tag Covers

• Required for all water activities
• Helps maintain natural areas for future generations
• Includes access to the island’s dive sites within the Marine Park

Bonaire offers more than 85 dive sites, with 54 accessible right from shore. Shore reefs are easy to reach from many beaches and are ideal for snorkeling, while deeper reefs and wrecks offshore provide exceptional diving for certified SCUBA divers. Many sites are marked along the coastal road with yellow stones bearing the site names—an island hallmark that makes self-guided exploration simple.

How Much Does the Bonaire Nature Tag Cost?

• The Bonaire Nature Tag is $40 for all water activities.
• All funds support maintaining the island’s natural environment for generations to come.

How to Purchase and Use Your Bonaire Nature Tag

Buying your Nature Tag is quick and straightforward. You can pay for your Nature Tag through the official channel and be ready before your first splash.

Follow these steps:

1. Decide which water adventures you’ll enjoy (snorkeling, shore or boat diving, windsurfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and more).
2. Purchase your Bonaire Nature Tag online through the official payment process.
3. Make sure your Nature Tag is secured before beginning any water activity.
4. If you plan to dive, remember: your Nature Tag includes access to the Marine Park’s dive sites.

Tip: If you’re exploring different coast entries, use the yellow shore markers to locate named sites and the safest points of entry.

Bonaire Nature Tag vs. Visitor Entry Tax

Bonaire has two separate requirements that serve different purposes. Here’s a clear comparison to avoid confusion:

Where Your Contribution Makes a Difference

Your Nature Tag supports on‑the‑water experiences while funding essential conservation. It contributes to:

• Managing and maintaining Bonaire’s national parks and natural resources
• Protecting coastal habitats such as seagrass beds, beaches, mangroves, and wetlands
• Keeping the Marine Park’s 85+ dive sites healthy and accessible

Bonaire’s parks are sustained with the help of visitors like you—making the Nature Tag a direct investment in the island’s future.

Responsible Use: Simple Rules for a Healthier Reef

Bonaire’s conservation culture is part of everyday life on the island. When you’re in or on the water:

• Keep a respectful distance from marine life.
• Use reef‑friendly, biodegradable sunscreen.
• Enter and exit the water at designated spots; follow the yellow stone markers.
• Never touch or stand on coral, and avoid stirring up sediment near reefs.
• Follow local guidance from operators and posted park rules.

These small actions, together with your Bonaire Nature Tag, help keep reefs vibrant and wildlife thriving.

Quick Answers About the Bonaire Nature Tag

Do snorkelers need the Bonaire Nature Tag?

Yes. The Nature Tag is required for all water activities, including snorkeling and diving.

Does the Nature Tag include access to dive sites?

Yes. Your Nature Tag includes access to the Marine Park’s dive sites.

Where does the Nature Tag funding go?

All funds are used to maintain the island’s natural environment for generations to come, supporting conservation across the Marine Park and beyond.

How many dive sites does Bonaire have—and can I dive year‑round?

Bonaire offers more than 85 dive sites, including 54 accessible from shore. Thanks to the island’s tropical climate, you can dive 365 days a year.

Plan Your Water Adventures: Ideas and Resources

• Diving: Explore colorful reefs, wrecks, and easy shore entries across more than 85 sites. Many are marked by yellow stones along the coast.
• Snorkeling: With healthy reefs close to shore, snorkeling is a fantastic way to see turtles, rays, seahorses, and schooling fish in shallow water.
• On‑the‑Water Thrills: Try windsurfing, kayaking, and kitesurfing in Bonaire’s warm, clear waters.
• Learn and Improve: Bonaire has knowledgeable dive operators offering instruction for beginners through advanced specialties, plus freediving education and training.
• Marine Park Insights: The BNMP surrounds Bonaire and Klein Bonaire from the high‑tide mark to 60m, including wetlands and mangroves—one connected ecosystem.

Internal reading suggestions:

• Bonaire National Marine Park overview (history, coverage, and access)
• Diving Sites (site list, regions, and shore‑entry markers)
• Watersports (on‑the‑water activities and Nature Tag details)
• Bonaire Bond (pledge and responsible traveler tips)
• Plan Your Vacation (travel logistics and FAQs)

Practical Takeaways

• Purchase your Bonaire Nature Tag before joining any water activity.
• Carry out your adventures responsibly: keep distance from wildlife and use reef‑friendly sunscreen.
• Use the yellow shoreline stones to identify named shore‑entry dive and snorkel sites.
• If you’re diving, your Nature Tag includes access to the Marine Park’s dive sites.
• Remember the Visitor Entry Tax is separate: $75 per person, per visit.

Conclusion: Your Tag, Your Adventure, Bonaire’s Future

The Bonaire Nature Tag is more than a requirement—it’s your contribution to the reefs, mangroves, and beaches that make this island extraordinary. Get your $40 Bonaire Nature Tag, plan your favorite water activities, and take the Bonaire Bond pledge to help keep Bonaire blue.

Call to action:

• Get your Bonaire Nature Tag before you hit the water.
• Explore Diving Sites and Watersports to build your itinerary.
• Read the Bonaire Bond and commit to responsible ocean fun.