Wakeboarding combines surfing, water skiing and snowboarding in one ride: you stand on a board, the boat tows you along and the wake becomes your ramp. The water around Bonaire is perfect for it. We’ve been out on it every day since 2006, and in this guide we share everything you want to know before your first ride, or your hundredth.
Why Bonaire
On the west side of Bonaire, in the lee of the island, the water is remarkably flat, while there’s always enough breeze to keep the ride fresh. Flat water is exactly what you want on a wakeboard: your board runs smoothly, you fall less and you can focus completely on your stance.
The water is around 27 °C (80 °F) all year round. When you fall, and you will, you land in warm, clear water with your life jacket on. Get up and go again.
The Betty Boop
There’s only one boat on Bonaire you can wakeboard behind: our Betty Boop, the only boat on the island with a real wakeboard and tubing tower. That high tow point makes it easier to get up out of the water and keeps the line in a better position. That’s safer, and a lot nicer for beginners.
What you get:
- Room for six people, with life jackets for everyone on board
- The wakeboard and the tube as extra options, on request
- A map of Bonaire with the best spots and a cooler (ice not included)
- No boating license needed; the person renting is 21 or older
You rent the Betty Boop for a half day, from 9 am to 1 pm or from 1 pm to 5 pm, or for a full day from 9 am to 5 pm. A half day is $220, a full day $335. On top of that, count on $15 for fuel and a $500 deposit, which you get back after your day. Be at the dock 15 minutes before departure: our crew will show you exactly how the boat works.
How to get started
New to the board? Here’s how to make your first time a success:
- Practice on dry land first. Get into position on board for a moment: knees bent, arms straight, handle in your hands. That way your body already knows what to do in the water.
- Let the boat do the work. Float on your back in the water, knees pulled up and the board in front of you. Don’t pull on the rope when the boat takes off; let it pull you up slowly until you’re standing.
- Look at the horizon, not at your feet. Where you look is where you go.
- Keep your weight centered. Lean back just a little and stay loose in your knees.
- Take turns. Ten minutes of hard riding is tougher than it looks, so switch within the group and drink plenty of water.
The wake: your first jumps
Once you’re riding steadily, the boat’s wake becomes your playground. Approach the wake at a slight angle, bend your knees to absorb the impact and let your board ride up over it. Build up gradually: small jumps straight ahead first, spins later. A strong ride matters more than a high jump.
Staying safe on the water
Wakeboarding is fast and spectacular, and with a few agreements it stays above all fun:
- Always wear a life jacket, even if you’ve been riding for years.
- Go as a threesome. The driver watches the water, someone else keeps an eye on the wakeboarder.
- Agree on hand signals. Thumbs up means faster, thumbs down means slower, a flat hand means stop.
- Keep 50 m (165 ft) from the shore, from other boats and from boats with divers, and stay out of the light blue zones between the yellow moorings and the shore.
- Take it slow in the harbor. Inside Harbour Village Marina the limit is 8 km/h (5 mph).
More on our rules on the water and Marine Park pages.
The Stinapa Nature Tag
Everyone who goes into the water on Bonaire needs a Nature Tag, wakeboarders included. It’s the mandatory fee Stinapa uses to manage the Marine Park.
- You can only buy it online, at stinapa.bonairenaturefee.org
- Kids aged 11 and under are exempt
- Sort it out before your day on the water; you can’t get it on the boat
What to bring
- Your Nature Tag, bought online
- Swimwear and a UV shirt against the sun on the water
- Reef-safe sunscreen, applied well before you head out
- Water, plus food and drinks with ice. You’re welcome to use the cooler on board
- A towel and a camera. A GoPro captures the jumps of the day
The breeze makes the sun on the water feel softer than it is, so reapply often. More tips on our good to know page.
Make a day of it
Besides being a wakeboard boat, the Betty Boop is simply a lovely boat for a day out. The water is often calmest in the morning: ride on flat water, then go snorkeling and drop anchor at No Name Beach on Klein Bonaire. Not everyone keen on the board? Bring the tube along: tubing takes no skills at all.
Not sure whether wakeboarding suits your group? Send us a WhatsApp, we’re happy to help.
