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Washikemba
 Bonaire, Bonaire
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Max Depth: 111-120ft/34-37m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Washikemba is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in Bonaire, Bonaire. The maximum depth is 111-120ft/34-37m.
From ScubaDiving.com
“Chicken out, and you have a big problem,” says Augusto Montbrun. The dive-operations manager of Buddy Dive Resort takes only those with advanced and nitrox certifications to the east-coast site known as Washikemba, 20 minutes by car from the Kralendijk resort. Te dive is deep, but it’s the challenging entry and exit points that give some pause.
Reach the water by cliff jumping 20 feet. To ensure enough ocean pillows your landing, time your giant stride with the incoming rollers. From there, swim 10 minutes to reach the reef, which drops off to around 120 feet.
The little-dived site lies in a protected inlet near a lagoon located roughly mid-island and offers just the sort of shelter to which baitballs swarm. Only the east coast supports a shark population; here they patrol the coast regularly, as do barracuda and queen triggerfish. This unspoiled site is also home to dozens of lobsters, which attract nurse sharks that feast on the delicacy.
“Here I’ve seen a nurse shark with a full belly, and it was still surrounded by even more lobsters,” Montbrun says.
To end the dive, time your exit with an incoming wave and you’ll be hoisted atop a smooth, rocky ledge. Opt out of the waterslidelike finish, and you’ll face a long swim to a flatter environment.
“If you come to Bonaire,” says Montbrun, “don’t expect to do this on the first day. You’ll freak out for sure."
MAKE IT HAPPEN:
Buddy Dive Resort offers guided dives on the east coast for $45 per person; gear and transportation not included