Buddy Dive Resort Vs Buddy Dive Belmar

[oregondiver]

The boy and I are squeezing in a dive trip July 9-17 and although we normally stay at Belmar, we are now considering BDR as a change. Not certain since we have never stayed there and thought to seek info from the folks here.

We typically do 20-27 dives a week. Love meeting new folks. Love quiet sitting/reading/reviewing photos.

We tend to dive more on the south end but do head north 2-3 days (past bopec hill north, not just the traditional northern sites). For this reason alone, we think Belmar is our preference.

We do 2-3 dive trips a year to the Caribbean and now our main dive buddies are moving away from Houston (not as easy for a nonstop Caribbean flight and they are leaning towards nonstop from lax ). We love meeting dive buddies at the random places we go and occasionally meet them again for other dive trips.

Belmar is better for meeting other families. BDR I think you may meet other random divers. But is everyone in cliques (ie their dive group?) Or is it easy to strike up Convo with folks there? We are leaning towards BDR for this reason.

Cost is pretty much the same (within $100). Closer to chill at the pool at Belmar than BDR I assume. Same cooking facilities (we eat in most meals). Further to haul our gear from truck to condo at BDR.

What else aren't we considering?
For those that know both...your thoughts?

 

[tursiops]

You'll do fine at BDR. Lots of people to talk to, cliques are rare. Food is closer, both restaurants and stores, The included breakfast is terrific Stay at the northern side of the resort (buildings 5-6-7) and the pool will be nearby. Depending on your condo, your truck parking might be very close. Building 6 is farthest from the pool (but not far) and closest to parking.

 

[Doctorfish]

Agree. BDR is a very friendly place and you will meet people at pool, breakfast and bar.
For dinner; pool bar, ingredients, eddies and habitat restaurant are all just a few steps away so no designated driver required.

There is a drive through for tanks which is very convenient and the north buildings have parking near by so gear hauling is minimized.
Pretty good house reef as well for easy water access and night dives.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I have stayed at both. I felt Buddy Dive was livelier than the Belmar. Belmar has no bar, and the weekly rum punch happy hour at Belmar can be downright sedate. The bar at Buddy Dive is always lively before dinner. The social atmosphere is not a major factor in our decision, so we could go with either just as well. We prefer cooking to eating in restaurants, so Belmar has a slight edge.

 

[tursiops]

We prefer cooking to eating in restaurants, so Belmar has a slight edge.

Why is that? Can't you cook at BD?

 

[tridacna]

One warning: If you need Internet access in or near your room, stay away from BDR. You can get serviceable access at the bar but that's about all. Meeting new folks? Most come down in shop groups and not really easy to make friends.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Why is that? Can't you cook at BD?

I haven't seen all the units with kitchens, but compared with our Belmar unit's kitchen, our Buddy Dive unit's kitchen was tiny, poorly equipped, and rather old--the kitchen in the tiny studio apartment I had when I was 22 was better. We enjoy cooking if the facilities are adequate, but I would rate that one as inadequate. It is possible that Buddy Dive has renovated these, so take my comment with a grain of salt.

 

[oly5050user]

One warning: If you need Internet access in or near your room, stay away from BDR. You can get serviceable access at the bar but that's about all. Meeting new folks? Most come down in shop groups and not really easy to make friends.

We stayed in building 3 about 2 weeks ago and had no problem connecting with ipad. Connection was slow compared to fiber connection here at home, but workable

 

[tridacna]

We stayed in building 3 about 2 weeks ago and had no problem connecting with ipad. Connection was slow compared to fiber connection here at home, but workable

We had 32 divers down there for two weeks in April. EVERY single one had the same complaint about the lack of IP connectivity. I was down there six months ago and had exactly the same problem. You must have been near an access point. There seems to be one at the front desk and one at the bar.

 

[jbilicska]

How clean are the rooms at Buddy's Dive Resort

The wife and I are avid snorkelers and love the shore snorkeling in Bonaire.
We only need a tea kettle for making tea a coffee pot, nice fridge for making ice for our little cooler and a microwave for reheating take out food when we're just don't feel like going out to dinner.

And a tv in the bedroom

Thanks