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The park brochure touted this beach as Bonaire's top spot for snorkelling, but it seems to have suffered the effects of a hurricane and is now mostly a coral graveyard. While some coral is beginning to regrow, there are certainly superior locations for snorkelling. The brochure also claims the beach has ample shade, but unless you're willing to squeeze under a cliff, shade is scarce. Moreover, the cliffs can only accommodate a handful of people during high tide. However, the beach does offer a pleasant swim with its sandy bottom.
I would recommend heading to Wayaka 2 beach instead of 1 or 3. It's best to avoid the crowds as they tend to be mostly tourists and not much fish can be seen. However, if you venture out into the open water, you may be lucky enough to spot some big barracudas and night parrotfish. It's important to be mindful of the coral and avoid touching anything to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
This beach is the top pick within the national park, offering the chance to spot barracudas and turtles.
Getting into the water was a breeze! There were plenty of young fish to swim with while snorkeling, and even some bigger ones. Although the "reef" is mainly made up of remnants of what was once a stunning live reef, the coral is beginning to regenerate and there's a wealth of marine creatures to be found here. I highly recommend paying a visit.
The beach was given a five-star rating, but the snorkeling only received a three to four-star rating due to the presence of broken coral patches. However, there were still a variety of gorgeous fish and even a few sea turtles. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to dive and explore further. The beach did get a bit crowded, but visitors didn't seem to stay for too long. It appears that Wayaka 2 is the most popular beach, so if you're looking for more space and privacy, it may be worth checking out beaches 1 or 3. The water was absolutely stunning with a beautiful blue color.