Women’s Bonaire Dive Trip with Rise & Dive℠
October 10-17, 2026
This Is the Bonaire Trip Built Around You
This is a dive trip built from the start around how women want to dive. Small group. Intentional pace. Conditions chosen because they reward presence, not adrenaline. Bonaire in October because the visibility is exceptional, the water is warm, and the reefs have had the summer to settle.
If you have been reading about Bonaire and wondering whether it is the right trip for you, this page is for you. Here is exactly what it is, what it includes, and who it is for.
Trip Dates:
October 10–17, 2026
Location: Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
Space is limited. Reserve early.
Get updates for future trips by signing up here.
Why Bonaire. Why October. Why Rise & Dive℠
Nicole chose Bonaire because she has dived here and knows what it delivers.
The first time she dropped into the wall at Karpata, it was immediately clear why this island has a reputation that stands up. The coral is genuinely healthy. The visibility that day was close to 100 feet, and there was almost no current. Nothing to fight. Just diving. That is rarer than it sounds.
She chose October specifically because of what the shoulder season does to this destination. The summer crowds have cleared. The dive boats are not stacked with groups racing through sites. The water temperature sits around 83 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and the conditions are as reliable as Bonaire gets, which is already saying something. The marine park has had the season to breathe, and it shows in the reef.
She chose Divi Flamingo and Divi Dive Bonaire because they operate at a pace that works for a small, intentional group. She has seen how they handle divers who need a moment to settle before a descent. They do not rush. That was a deciding factor.
Every decision about this trip was made with this specific group of women in mind.
What’s the diving like in Bonaire
Most dives in Bonaire are slow, immersive reef dives. That is not a compromise. It is the point.
The Bonaire National Marine Park protects over 86 dive sites around the island, and the difference between a protected reef and an unprotected one is visible the moment you are in the water. The coral formations here are intact. The fish populations are dense. You are not looking at what a reef used to be. You are looking at what a reef looks like when it has been cared for across decades.
Bonaire’s sites are varied, and the diving is consistent. On this trip you’ll cover the wall at Karpata in the north, sheltered sites close to the resort, and everything in between. Seahorses and frogfish are regulars here. October is a strong month for turtle and eagle ray sightings, and the level of marine life here creates the kind of diving conditions that keep women coming back.
The depth profiles are forgiving across most sites, which means long bottom times and no pressure to turn the dive before you are ready. Shore diving from the house reef is unlimited, and the reef access is outstanding. You are not dependent on a boat schedule to get in the water.
For women who have spent time on large co-ed dive boats where the pace was set for someone else, Bonaire in this format feels like a different sport entirely. Nicole dives with the group every day. She is in the water beside you, not directing from the surface.
What Rise & Dive℠ Brings to This Trip
Nicole Harrison holds a PADI Instructor certification and a completed somatic practitioner certification. As a PADI Instructor, she is trained to read how a diver is doing underwater, not just what they are signaling on the surface. That distinction is felt from the first dive.
The Dive Somatics℠ session included in this trip is not a bonus add-on. It is part of how Rise & Dive℠ trips are designed. You will spend time with Nicole understanding what your nervous system is doing before and during a dive, and how to work with it. That understanding does not stay in the session. It carries into every dive that follows.
The Mermaid Discovery session is there because moving through water without gear and without a task list gives you access to something quiet. It is settling in a way that is hard to explain before you have done it and obvious afterward.
The group will be small. That is a structural decision, not a marketing claim. Nicole leads well in a small group. The experience cannot be replicated at scale.
Bonaire is one of several destinations Rise & Dive℠ has selected for women who want to dive with intention.
What One Past Rise & Dive℠ Participant Said
I anticipated a week of scuba diving… I never imagined such a transformational experience filled with vulnerability, trust and love to push ourselves further than we thought imaginable… filled with laughter and tears of joy. I’m so thankful I was part of it and I can’t wait to do it again!
Lynne W.
FloridaPricing per person:
Standard Room (Pool/Garden View)
Single Occupancy: $2,729 USD (limited availability)
Double Occupancy: $2,110 USD
*Non-diver pricing available upon request
What’s Included
- 8 days/7 nights stay at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort (standard room)
- Daily Breakfast included
- 6 days of boat diving with Divi Dive Bonaire
- 11 tanks
- Day 1 includes orientation and a single-tank dive
- Unlimited shore diving from the house reef
- Resort fee, VAT, and eco tax
- Marine Park fees
- Round-trip airport transfers between Bonaire airport and the resort
- Rise & Dive trip t-shirt
- Dive Somatics™ session
- Mermaid Discovery session (in the pool)
- One-hour online dive coaching or gear consultation with Nicole Harrison
- Pre-trip group meeting via Google Meet to discuss logistics
What’s Not included
- International Airfare
- Nitrox ($130 USD for trip)
- Lunch and Dinner and Drinks
- Bonaire entry fee (mandatory) of $75, paid directly to Bonaire
- Rental equipment (contact us to discuss pricing)
- Personal dive equipment
- Tips for resort and dive staff
- Dive Accident Insurance (required ). We recommend DAN accident dive insurance)
- Travel Insurance (highly recommended). DAN offers travel insurance that other Rise & Dive divers have had good experiences with DAN travel insurance (please note travel insurance is different than dive accident insurance).
- Additional dives not listed in inclusions
- Any additional diving or activities not listed in inclusions
- Any resort activities or offerings including island excursions
- Dive certifications (contact Nicole to discuss options and fees)
Payment Schedule
Deposit – Due at sign up
- $500 Deposit Due at sign up
Payment 1 – Due July 12, 2026
- 90 days before trip (July 12, 2026) – 1/2 of remaining total
Payment 2 – Due August 26, 2026
- 45 days before trip (August 26, 2026) – Final payment due
If you sign up after the payment due dates, you will pay the amount owing as of the date of signing up to bring your account up to date.
The final payment amount is dependent on which rooming arrangement you signed up for.
If you sign up with less than 45 days until the trip date, full payment is due at the time of sign-up.
Cancellation Policy
Deposits and payments are non-refundable. Trip insurance is highly recommended. Please find detailed terms and conditions for Rise & Dive trips here.
If you sign up for a Double Occupancy room without a roommate, Rise & Dive will attempt to find one for you. If we are unable to find a roommate, the individual will be required to pay the Single Occupancy rate. Changes to the package and cancellation penalties do exist.
Bonaire Dive Trip FAQs
Is there a women-only scuba diving trip to Bonaire I can join?
Yes. This is it. This women’s Bonaire dive trip runs October 10 through 17, 2026. It is open to certified women divers only, led by Nicole Harrison, and operated by Rise & Dive℠ as a small-group, guided experience from arrival to departure.
What makes this different from booking a Bonaire trip on my own?
Nicole has dived here, vetted the operators, and structured the dive schedule around this group’s pace. She will be in the water with you every day. The Dive Somatics℠ session, the pre-trip group meeting, airport transfers, and the intentionally small group size are all built in. You are not coordinating logistics or managing your experience alone. You are diving, with support that has been thought through in advance.
What skill level is this guided women’s Bonaire dive trip designed for?
The trip is open to all certified women divers. Bonaire’s conditions are calm and forgiving, which makes it well-suited for newer and returning divers. Experienced divers who want unhurried dives in a protected, high-quality marine environment will find exactly that here. The group pace accommodates a range of experience levels. No one is rushed and no one is held back.
I am nervous about diving in a group. Will I feel pressure to perform?
No. The group is small by design and Nicole is in the water with you, not watching from a boat. As a PADI Instructor she reads how divers are doing, not just how they appear to be doing. If something feels off, you say so. The pace adjusts. Bonaire’s calm conditions and long bottom times support the awareness-based diving that Rise & Dive℠ is built around.
What if I am not yet certified?
You are welcome to sign up and complete your PADI Open Water certification during the trip. Contact Nicole before booking to talk through the timeline, requirements, and whether this is the right fit for your goals and starting point.
What should I know about the Dive Somatics℠ session?
It is an online group session before the trip with Nicole built around the Dive Somatics℠ methodology. You will look at what your nervous system is doing before and during a dive, and learn to work with it rather than manage it through willpower. Most women find it reframes something they have been carrying in the water for years. It is included in the trip price.
Is this women’s Bonaire dive trip open to men or partners?
This trip is women-only. Some Rise & Dive℠ adventures are open to partners and family members who want to share the experience. This is not one of them. It is designed exclusively around women’s experience from start to finish.
Ready to join this Bonaire dive trip?
If this experience feels aligned with you, reach out to reserve your spot or ask any remaining questions. I’m happy to talk through details, certification options, or whether this trip is the right fit for you.