We managed to pull Chris Wilhoyt away from the sales floor—where he is usually holding court on gear configurations—to talk about one of his favorite subjects: Bonaire.
He is leading our group expedition there in September 2026, so we sat him down (off-camera, because he prefers the radio star life) to find out why this island is undisputed as the "Shore Diving Capital of the World."
Dan: So, where is this dive trip you're going on?
Chris: We are going to the island of Bonaire. It is one of the ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao—in the Caribbean. It is considered a diver's paradise. It offers very easy diving, no current, crystal clear waters, shallow corals, and tons of fish. It’s a beautiful opportunity to dive.
Dan: How many times have you been there?
Chris: Three times.
Dan: Okay, describe this to me. I’m getting off the plane, I’m in Bonaire. What is the first thing that hits me?
Chris: You’re going to see the island coming in; it’s not a huge island. There is one large city, and outside of that, there are tons of little dive resorts all over the island. It’s notorious for the yellow rocks on the west side. As you drive away from the airport, you’ll see these little yellow stones painted on the road—those are all famous dive sites, each with something unique to see.
Dan: Give me an example. What is something unique that I will only see in Bonaire?
Chris: The quality of the coral is one of the top things. You can see tropical Caribbean fish throughout the region, but it’s the quality of the water and how easy it is to dive that stands out. No current on that west side, very accessible. The fish and wildlife are standard to the Caribbean—pufferfish, tons of parrotfish—some are gigantic, I’ve seen puffers as big as me—giant tarpon all over the place. The night dives are spectacular with a huge assortment of eels, turtles, and warm water lobsters.
Dan: You mentioned "easy dives." Say I’m a new diver. Is this an ideal first trip for me?
Chris: Yes. I think it’s a great place for new divers or divers learning. You can actually see in the shallow waters; it’s easy shore diving where you just walk right into the water. We will have some boat dives, so there will be groups to help with gear. It’s very accessible. Myself and [Fellow Member of the DRIS Team] Sam will be there, so we are always happy to help people get in and out of their gear and lead the dives. We’ll have a few dives a day, so if people want to go early in the morning or late at night, we’re happy to do night dives. We do whatever people are comfortable with.
Dan: What would be my reason for going on a night dive?
Chris: The tarpon will kind of follow your lights. They’re like giant "dive buddy" tarpons swimming around you. The eels come out at night and free swim. Octopus come out at night. Lionfish are out, not hiding. The sea life totally changes. You see the parrotfish sleeping amongst the rocks.
Dan: Switching gears, tell me a little about you as a diver.
Chris: I’ve been teaching for about ten years, diving for seventeen years now. I do mostly diving out here [in the Midwest], but I’ve been to the ocean a number of times—North Carolina, Florida, the Caribbean. I’m definitely familiar with ocean diving, but more used to cold water and low visibility.
Dan: We know you as a diver, but I also know that you are an artist. Describe Bonaire to me from the point of view of an artist.
Chris: It’s life-changing. It’s beautiful. When I first saw it, I was blown away because I was used to low visibility. But just the life, and the sound... as soon as you get in, you can feel that you are in this living habitat. The crunching of the parrotfish. You think it’s going to be quiet underwater, but there is this vibrance to the water—both in the colors of the coral and the sound. It’s a mind-blowing, beautiful experience. Even on the island, you’ll see pink flamingos, flocks and flocks of them. It definitely feels like you are in an alien environment.
Dan: Aside from diving, what else is there to do on the island?
Chris: It’s easy for snorkelers. Snorkelers can get out and still see the coral and the fish. There are tours through caves, kayaking, and snorkeling with bioluminescence tours where you get the "glow in the dark" experience in the water. There is a nature preserve that has animals native to the Caribbean. There is also the old culture, the lighthouses, and the history of the island to explore.
Dan: What is one piece of gear—besides scuba gear—that you recommend people bring along?
Chris: A luggage scale! So you don't get charged for your weight! [Laughs]. But seriously, besides scuba gear... sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses. You’re going to be on a beach in a sunny environment. Maybe a raincoat or a windbreaker, because between dives on a boat it can get chilly when you’re wet. A boat coat is probably the best one.
Dan: Everyone talks about the Salt Pier. Is it worth the hype?
Chris: Yeah, Salt Pier is probably my favorite spot out there.
Dan: What is it? Describe it to me.
Chris: It is a pier where boats come in to load salt that is being refined on the island. Because of the industry, debris falls off the boats or shipping containers. All of that ends up growing into coral. It’s shallow and accessible, between 30 to 50 feet. If you stop and take the time to look around, you are going to see tons of life. Fish sheltering in sea fans, eels, octopus. That’s where I saw a giant blue parrotfish that was almost as big as me—I didn’t even know they got that big. There have been times I’ve been out there in packs of 30 to 50 barracuda. It’s just one of those spots where it’s always different and there is tons of life.
Dan: How does the underwater life in Bonaire differ from other places?
Chris: Unfortunately, coral in most of the world right now is not in great shape. Bonaire was the first place that started preserving the coral. They are very protective of it. They don’t let you dive with gloves. It is the quality of the life. You can also participate in a coral restoration class on the trip—learn how to do it and help regrow the coral.
Dan: Have you done that before?
Chris: I have not. I’ve seen it done, but I’d like to participate on this trip. It’s a noble cause.
Dan: What should a new diver keep in mind regarding the reef?
Chris: Having a good grip on your buoyancy. practicing that out here, whether in the pool or quarry. Making sure your buoyancy is in control so we aren't bumping into the coral, which damages it and could hurt us. Taking a Peak Performance Buoyancy class or getting out with us to practice is helpful. Especially if you are taking photos, you have to be really good with buoyancy.
Dan: Is this a "plan your own dive" trip?
Chris: You can dive on your own whenever you like. It’s one of those places you don’t have to wait for a schedule. You can go out middle of the night, middle of the day, early morning. Sam and I will be leading group dives, but if people want to just go out and dive on their own, they are welcome to. You get a truck with the resort, so you can go along the west side, find one of those yellow rocks, and just go dive it.
Dan: Will we go to the East Coast?
Chris: We will take an excursion over to the East side. That’s where you see more pelagic creatures, maybe sharks. They have a turtle nesting area. People say they see 40 to 60 turtles. I haven’t dived the East Coast yet; it’s more of a drift dive there. We’ll be picked up by a boat for that.
Dan: Give me one sentence on why I should join you on the trip to Bonaire.
Chris: It is one of the most beautiful, easy, and affordable diving experiences available to people.
Dan: Anything else?
Chris: I can go on and talk about Bonaire all day, but we have our Info Night coming up. If people want to join us for that, it’s January 23rd at 7:00 PM at our Orland Park shop. I’ll show off photos from past trips, bring a map of the island, and bring a fish book to show the wildlife you can see out there.
If reading about "dive buddy" tarpon and endless dives didn't convince you, maybe hearing Chris talk about the trip in person will.
Chris will be hosting a Bonaire Info Night on January 23rd at 7:00 PM at our Orland Park shop. He’s bringing photos, stories that didn't make it into this interview, and maybe some original artwork. Come hang out, ask questions, and see why this might just be the easiest, most colorful dive trip you’ll ever take.
Ready to claim your truck? View the Full 2026 Bonaire Trip Details Here
Read this interview in the future and missed the talk? It's ok, really! Give us a call or send us an email, and we'll have Chris get in touch with you to answer any questions you may have.