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Oil Slick Leap

4.7
·176 reviews·Kralendijk, Caribbean Netherlands

Experience a thrilling giant stride entry and vibrant underwater world at Oil Slick Leap, a top Bonaire dive site with coral restoration efforts.

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Daytime dives

Optimal visibility for marine life

CrowdLow
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Oil Slick Leap - Image 1

Oil Slick Leap

Best Time

Daytime dives

Optimal visibility for marine life

CrowdLow

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience a thrilling giant stride entry and vibrant underwater world at Oil Slick Leap, a top Bonaire dive site with coral restoration efforts.

4.7
(176 reviews)

"My favourite dive on Bonaire. Great water clarity, and a fun giant stride entry!"

Vertical photo
TIP

🎯 Giant Stride Practice

Perfect your giant stride entry from the rocks; the ladder is an alternative if needed.

🐠 Dive for the Best Views

Corals and marine life are richer in deeper water, making it ideal for diving.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Hours

Rating

4.7 · 183 reviews

Type

Tourist Attraction

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Giant Stride Entry

The Giant Stride Entry

Rock platform

Experience a thrilling giant stride entry directly into the clear blue waters. A true diver's delight!

Coral Restoration Nursery

Coral Restoration Nursery

Underwater

Witness the impressive work of @reefrenewalbonaire with their innovative rope nurseries and growing coral fragments.

Abundant Marine Life

Abundant Marine Life

Underwater

Encounter a variety of marine life, including turtles and barracudas, in this thriving dive site.

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Planning Your Visit

Embrace the Leap: Entry & Exit

Oil Slick Leap offers a unique giant stride entry from a rock platform, or you can use the ladder. Some find the exit stairs a bit sketchy, but the bottom rung is still present. Practice your giant stride here!

Dive Deeper for the Best Sights

While snorkeling is possible, the most vibrant coral and marine life are found in deeper waters. Divers will appreciate the quick drop-off and diverse underwater world.

Best Times

When
Daytime dives
Why
Optimal visibility for marine life
Crowd
Low
When
Sunset
Why
Enjoy a drink with a view
Crowd
Low

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Have you ever dived this site on the northern coast of Bonaire?🤩 Oil Slick Leap boasts an exciting entry and exit compared to some of our other shore entries. It is home to another @reefrenewalbonaire coral nursery and an abundance of marine life! Share this post with a buddy you would dive here with!😉🤿🐠
beyond.the.corals.bonaire
0 likes • 26.1K views

🎯 Giant Stride Practice

Perfect your giant stride entry from the rocks; the ladder is an alternative if needed. Reddit

🐠 Dive for the Best Views

Corals and marine life are richer in deeper water, making it ideal for diving. Reddit

Super nice 60 meter dive on Oil Slick Leap dive site Bonaire - pretty deco in the shallows great to see the coral growing project: #exploringdeeper #guehq L.A. SCUBA DIVING #lascubadiving #area9masterydiving
steve_millington
49 likes • 555 views
Footage from the field 📍 Our new rope nursery at Oil Slick Leap! 🪢 Late last year, we installed 10 rope structures at our Oil Slick Leap nursery and restoration site – each with the capacity to hold over 30 fragments of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata). The simplified design of our rope nurseries allow us to spend less time maintaining algae growth and more time propagating more coral genotypes...
reefrenewalbonaire
247 likes • 4K views

🐢 Turtle Spotting

Keep an eye out for sea turtles, a common and beloved sight here. Instagram

📸 Underwater Photography

Bring your camera to capture the vibrant corals and diverse sea creatures. Instagram

Op advies van @scubadobonaire een duik gemaakt bij Oil Slick Leap. Alle duikspullen in de gehuurde pickup van @chogogoresortbonaire en klaar voor een verfrissende duik! Wat een prachtige onderwaterwereld ❤️ #duiken #oilslickleap #koraal #barracuda #turtles #sun #nature #onderwaterwereld #visjes #betoverend #relaxtime #duikenmagazine #resort #enjoylife
duiken_magazine
34 likes • 1.2K views

Tips

from all over the internet

🎯 Giant Stride Practice

Perfect your giant stride entry from the rocks; the ladder is an alternative if needed. Reddit

🐠 Dive for the Best Views

Corals and marine life are richer in deeper water, making it ideal for diving. Reddit

🐢 Turtle Spotting

Keep an eye out for sea turtles, a common and beloved sight here. Instagram

📸 Underwater Photography

Bring your camera to capture the vibrant corals and diverse sea creatures. Instagram

🚗 Remote Location

It's a bit remote, so plan your transport. Parking is available for a few cars. Reddit

What Travellers Say

4.7
(176 reviews)

Reviews Summary

Oil Slick Leap is a beloved dive site on Bonaire, frequently cited as a favorite for its thrilling giant stride entry and vibrant underwater life. Divers appreciate the quick drop-off and the chance to see coral restoration projects. While snorkeling is possible, it's best suited for divers seeking the richest marine encounters. Some find the exit stairs a bit challenging, and the site is a bit remote, but the overall experience is highly rewarding.

"My favourite dive on Bonaire. Great water clarity, and a fun giant stride entry or you can climb down/up the ladder. The snorklers found it fair since it drops off fairly quickly and there's not as much in the shallows close to entry. It is a little remote and not very busy. Parking for a few cars but more across the road. A nice variety of corals and sea life."

Cory Sakai

"THIS IS MY FAVORITE DIVESITE ON THE ISLAND. 5 STARS ALL DAY"

Bryce janosko

"Fun spot for jumping off the rock to enter the water. Corals mostly in deeper water so better suited for diving rather than snorkeling."

Spencer

What People Like

Favorite dive site
Giant stride entry
Coral restoration nursery

What People Dislike

Exit stairs sketchy
Less for snorkelers
A bit remote

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

Oil Slick Leap is located on the northern coast of Bonaire. It's a bit remote, so a rental car or taxi is recommended. Parking is available for a few cars, with more parking across the road. Reddit

Public transport options are limited on Bonaire, especially to more remote dive sites like Oil Slick Leap. Renting a car is the most convenient way to reach this location. Instagram

From Kralendijk, head north along the coast. Oil Slick Leap is a well-known shore diving site, so follow signs for dive locations. The drive offers scenic coastal views. Instagram

Facilities are minimal at Oil Slick Leap itself. It's advisable to bring your own water and snacks. Some nearby resorts might offer amenities if you plan to combine your visit. Instagram

Yes, Oil Slick Leap is an excellent spot for a day trip, especially for divers. You can easily spend a few hours exploring the underwater world and enjoying the unique entry. Instagram

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

No, Oil Slick Leap is a public shore diving and snorkeling site, so there are no entrance fees or tickets required. You can access it freely. Reddit

The most popular entry is a giant stride off the rock platform. There's also a ladder available, though some find the exit stairs a bit challenging. InstagramReddit

There is no specific entry fee for divers or snorkelers at Oil Slick Leap. It's a free-access site for enjoying Bonaire's marine environment. Reddit

As a public access site, there are generally no strict entry time restrictions. However, it's best to visit during daylight hours for safety and visibility. Instagram

The exit involves climbing stairs or using the ladder. While the bottom rung is missing, it's still manageable for most. Some prefer leaping from the flat rocks to the right of the wooden platform. Reddit

🎫 🐠 Onsite Experience

You can expect to see a variety of corals, including elkhorn coral, as well as fish, barracudas, and sea turtles. InstagramReddit+1

Oil Slick Leap is generally considered better for diving, as the most impressive coral formations and marine life are in deeper water. Snorkelers might find less in the shallows near the entry. Reddit

Its unique giant stride entry and the presence of a coral restoration nursery by @reefrenewalbonaire make it stand out. Instagram+1

Yes, the giant stride entry is great for practicing. The site offers a good introduction to Bonaire's shore diving, with a quick drop-off. Reddit

Besides the natural marine life and coral nurseries, there have been temporary art installations, like the 'Trippin' Tuna' sculpture, displayed here. Instagram

📸 📸 Photography

The vibrant coral gardens, diverse fish species, and the chance to photograph sea turtles offer excellent underwater photography opportunities. Instagram+1

Yes, Oil Slick Leap is known for its great water clarity, which is ideal for underwater photography and videography. Reddit

A wide-angle lens is great for capturing the reef and larger marine life, while a macro lens can be used for smaller critters. A good underwater housing is essential. Instagram

Many photographers enjoy capturing the coral restoration efforts, the colorful reef fish, and the graceful sea turtles that frequent the area. Instagram+1

While you can take photos from the entry point, the best underwater shots will be achieved once you are submerged and exploring the reef. Instagram

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