Bon-Sea

Bon-Sea runs a semi-submarine out of Kralendijk harbour: a boat with a glazed lower deck that sits below the waterline, so you look straight out at the reef from a dry, air-conditioned seat. The pier is in the centre of town, walking distance from anywhere on the boulevard.

The route crosses to Klein Bonaire and back along the reef edge. You see coral, parrotfish, tarpon and often turtles, at a depth where the colour is still there. It is the one way to see Bonaire's reef without a mask, which makes it the answer for anyone who cannot or would rather not snorkel — young children, non-swimmers, anyone who has just been diving and is waiting out a flight.

The trip lasts about an hour and costs from around forty dollars. Departures run through the day; the light is best between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, when the sun is high enough to reach the reef. Book ahead on cruise days, when the harbour is busy.