It’s the ocean so there are fish and there are plenty of fish in the sea as your mother told you. Sharks are fish and Bonaire has them. Bonaire mythology has told you there are no sharks here, but the simple fact is they are elusive and tend not to frequent the reefs. This does not mean they are not there and in my personal opinion, we are tending to see more photos of sightings that in previous years.
Sharks are more likely to be seen frequenting the East side of the island.
There are theories as to why the sharks do not frequent the reefs. I would suggest you focus on the idea that many divers come to Bonaire actually hoping to see a shark and others come here knowing this is the shore diving capital of the world and it is not likely. Some will choose Bonaire for that reason and others are simply elated with any opportunity for an encounter.
If you do see one, enjoy it. Most divers who come to Bonaire will never see a local shark in their lifetime and it is considered a privilege and a pleasure.
In all cases do bear in mind that shark ‘attacks’ are generally records of encounters where the interaction was inappropriately handled by the diver. If you see a sleeping Nurse shark, as docile as they might be do think about how you would react if someone entered your bedroom and touched you while you were asleep. Don’t touch.