Can I rent tanks in Bonaire with SOLO SCUBA DIVER CERTIFICATION

[scubadivingtom]

Before I take the Solo Scuba Diver Certification class I want to make sure I can use it.
Will shops rent tanks if I have the Solo Scuba Diver Certification?
I have over 600 dives, and when I have my camera I like diving alone. I do it now, but at times it is not easy getting tanks. I use a pony bottle for safety. My kids are grown, and I am single. So it is a risk that is worth it to me.

 

[gr8jab]

Sorry, but what is the exact problem you have experienced in the past? Do you have trouble renting a pony bottle? Do you have trouble renting primary tanks? I have never been asked "Where's your buddy?" when renting tanks. Do they refuse to rent you tanks if you don't have a buddy?

EDIT: Oops, sorry didn't quite read your question correctly, my confusion. Excuse my mistake.

 

[uncfnp]

Solo Diver

Solo diving at Buddy's

Renting tanks should be a nonissue, never been asked for my solo card. In fact, unless asked, I wouldn't even mention solo and just show your OW/AOW or Nitrox.

Now for some odd reason the one and only time I dove from a boat (except for one east coast dive) they wanted everyone buddied up. There was only one other solo diver on the boat. We looked at each other, agreed to buddy for the record, then agreed with each other to dive as independent buddies. I think they just wanted it official on their paperwork and if we had pushed the issue they might have dropped it.

 

[drrich2]

Stayed at Buddy Dive Resort a few years back; had no problems as a solo customer & I've got SDI Solo certification.

That said, if you don't announce yourself, I don't think anyone will make an issue of it. I did because I wanted to rent a pony tank, which they accommodated.

Dive Friends Bonaire has a page noting they teach Self-Reliant/Solo, so I can hardly imagine they wouldn't honor it.

Richard.

 

[scubadivingtom]

The only time I have ever had a problem is when I rent a tank for shore diving. That was in Cozumel. The last time in Bonaire I did not have a problem because I was staying in a condo. The owner brought me tanks. I was asking because I did not want to waist money on the certification if it was worthless.
Thanks

 

[gr8jab]

I would definitely take the class! Even if you never actually dive solo, the content is GREAT!

 

[scubadivingtom]

I enjoy diving solo when not drift diving. It is a pain diving with others when I have my camera with me. I will be in Cozumel in November for 10 days, but really want to go back to Bonaire.

 

[uncfnp]

The only time I have ever had a problem is when I rent a tank for shore diving. That was in Cozumel. The last time in Bonaire I did not have a problem because I was staying in a condo. The owner brought me tanks. I was asking because I did not want to waist money on the certification if it was worthless.
Thanks

Looking at it that way the course may well be a waste of time since most dive ops don't ask for the card to rent you a tank.

 

[KeithG]

i am with gr8jab and am a little confused by your question. maybe you are jamming 2 different concepts together?

1) every dive op i have used in bonaire is more than happy to rent tanks to anyone with an OW cert (as that's all i have). so tank rental is a non issue.

2) solo diving. there are no scuba police on bonaire, except on some (many?, most?, all?) boat dives. i am fairly certain that the divi does not allow solo divers on their boat dives. i could be wrong. but i definately know that solo divers dive from the divi dock. they also dive from captn don and / or buddy dive. if you are shore diving then you are free to do anything you wan - solo, buddy pair, threesome, ...

so if your real question is: can i dive solo in bonaire? the answer is yes, but maybe not on some boats.

 

[diver0008]

Will shops rent tanks if I have the Solo Scuba Diver Certification?

Assuming you have at least OW, nothing else matters.