Solo diving on Bonaire

[AdivingBel]

Sounds good except for #1. I think if you back any Bonaire op into a corner about solo diving, they'll recite their agency line. If you rent tanks from DFB (or any other, haven't tried them all), they really won't insist on how you dive. That's been my experience. YMMV. Singling out DFB because of the op seems a bit unfair unless you're going to query all of the Bonaire ops just as extensively (but I get your point ). Safe diving. BTW, I love Bonaire.

 

[scubadada]

Sounds good except for #1. I think if you back any Bonaire op into a corner about solo diving, they'll recite their agency line. If you rent tanks from DFB (or any other, haven't tried them all), they really won't insist on how you dive. That's been my experience. YMMV. Singling out DFB because of the op seems a bit unfair unless you're going to query all of the Bonaire ops just as extensively (but I get your point ). Safe diving. BTW, I love Bonaire.

I'm done sending emails to dive ops on Bonaire for now, feel free. This thread was specifically about DFB, I listed what I found out. I don't think a requirement for solo cert for shore dives off site would be easy for any operator to enforce, or that they would try

 

[KeithG]

Absolutely not. "Don't ask don't tell", as someone pointed out already. Everything that is not specifically forbidden is allowed. You sign the weaver and off you go.

Is it time for a cultural difference sanity check?

For all of you Americans who live in a "rule oriented" society the above statement makes total sense (and hence the need for this thread). I am not saying this American view is wrong or right. It just makes no sense for those of us who live in a "principles based" world.

In my world it is enough for a dive op to state: "Don't do stupid things". We do not need an exclusive list of things that are considered stupid.

Wanna dive solo? Got the gear / training / experience? okay you are good to go. Oops, the lawyer just showed up - I am sorry, I need to see a plastic card, don't bother taking that extra gear, the card says you are good to go...

 

[AdivingBel]

I'm done sending emails to dive ops on Bonaire for now, feel free.

I understand your efforts on behalf of the original poster. I don't need to send emails as I'm pretty confident of the service I'll receive from my op of choice on my next trip. Just hate seeing the hammer dropped on a good op on something out of their control relative to other ops on the island. Yeah, yeah, I know CONTROL is a big word. If only we could change the world. LOL. Safe diving.

 

[MikeT73]

Is it time for a cultural difference sanity check?
In my world it is enough for a dive op to state: "Don't do stupid things". We do not need an exclusive list of things that are considered stupid.

If only that were so, and is fact the way things used to be. Unfortunately, you can't round the corner anymore without running into a lawyer and their boundless greed. You would be amazed, sadly. We have become a society of sheep.

 

[Damselfish]

"Don't do stupid things"

That is almost verbatim the dive briefing we got on our first visit to Captain Don's on Bonaire. But that was in 1991.

 

[boulderjohn]

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[lgreco67]

This is my first post here. I apologize for resurfacing a topic that is over a year old, but as I am planning trip #15 to Bonaire, I wanted to check on any new information about moderate solo diving. So I am replying to an existing, albeit old, thread, than starting a new one.

Quick background: I've been traveling to Bonaire since 2003 and love the place. Over the years I've made a few local friends and I consider the place more than just a vacation destination. I am an avid diver and usually dive 3-5 times a day. Significant other is happy with a couple of dives, then a nice glass of wine at the condo. Our compromise is to shore-dive together, then return to base, where I dive the house reef by myself, enjoying underwater photography. We've been staying at Den Laman since the place opened, and I'd like to return there.

Last trip: was in July 2017. We stayed at Den Laman again and dived with the new shop on site (DFB). Solo diving off the dock was discouraged. Signing up for the self-reliant diver course was encouraged.

Next trip: is tentatively planned for August 2018. I would love to be able to put in a couple of solo dives at the house reef, every day. But I don't want to step on anyone's toes, especially at a shop with an otherwise friendly and kind staff. So I am seeking to find a different resort with a dive shop, a house reef, a nice ladder in/out the water, and a more relaxed approach to solo diving off-the-dock. Again, my solo dive is exclusively limited to the house reef.

Today, in preparation for the trip, I contacted a dive operator with large locations both north and south. I asked about their policy for solo diving off their dock for their guests and customers. This is their response:

"Please keep in mind it is not permitted to go shore diving by yourself on Bonaire, you always need to have a dive buddy to go shore diving. At the dive shop we have a board on which divers looking for a buddy can sign up." [emphasis added]​

Come to think about it, what did I expect? Sure buddy, come right in, and you can even solo from the Radar to the Lighthouse, with our blessing, we'll even drive you there and pick you up?

The question (finally): are there any dive shops at resorts where I can dive the house reef by myself?

Thanks.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @lgreco67

We're in the same boat. I visited Bonaire last December for the 1st time since 2008. We had always stayed at Sand Dollar but switched to Den Laman. We had used BD&A and switched to BDF. Den Laman is great, DFB is fantastic. We love this location because of the house reef, Bari, probably my favorite dive on Bonaire.

I dive more aggressively than my wife and wanted to get in a few extra dives. I ended up going off the Sand Dollar/Den Laman pier 3 times by myself in the late afternoon. It is very easy as the cylinders are available on the pier. I was not interfered with on any of my dives and had a great time. Full disclosure: I have been diving solo for many years but also got SDI certified in 2013 to be able to dive with operators that do not know me. I did not take my 19 cf pony to Bonaire and I do not think that BDF have any to rent. If push came to shove, they probably could have prevented me from solo diving from their pier.

I'm going back in August for 2 weeks and plan to do the same thing, we'll see. Sometimes, silence is the best policy.

Good diving, Craig

 

[Trailboss123]

There is no reason for you not to return to Den Laman as a solo diver. If you love it there, as I do, and as @scubadada does, you are not going to encounter any problems. I can't tell you how many solo dives I have done on Bari reef from the pier while staying at Den Laman. (day, night and dawn). Suffice to say, it has been plenty of dives. Nobody has ever been monitoring me. Based on your quote above, it seems to be a corporate response from Dive Friends Bonaire, I have been given the same response. That is their standard response for liability reasons and I think they are a bit more conscious about it if you are not staying on one of their sites. Bonaire is definitely a don't ask, don't tell kind of place. Just don't make a big deal about it and no one is going to ask. I dive exclusively with Dive Friends Bonaire and have never had any issues.

All of that being said, I would encourage you to consider the PADI self-reliant course offered from Dive Friends while you are there. They do an excellent job with that course and no matter how competent you feel you are, you will walk away a better and more self-reliant diver. And once completed, they will rent you a pony tank and if you are ever questioned, you can show your certification and you will definitely have no problems renting a pony or diving solo from any of the dive sites where they are located or any other sites for that matter. I did my PADI self-reliant course through them and was very pleased with the instruction I received and I am a tough critic.

Lastly, I do know that you can also rent a pony tank from the TDS shop located down the road at Captain Don's Habitat, if you want one. They rented to me, without asking for any certification and for $5 a day. Technical Diving Services - Captain Don's Habitat - Bonaire