Refill stations?

[RLima]

I'm planning a trip to Bonaire with friends and I wonder if you all could help me.

The idea is to be as much underwater as possible within recreational limits, so we are side mounting. I'd like to hear some ideas on the best way to do it considering (i) it appears the refill stations only allow you to take 2 tanks at a time, and (ii) it would be helpful if the refill business had stations all over the island to avoid wasting time driving back and forth from dive sites to get new tanks.

I like the prices of abdive with the dive & drive package but I think they have only one refill station.

Oh, and although I've been lurking for some time this is my first post here.

 

[The Chairman]

it would be helpful if the refill business had stations all over the island to avoid wasting time driving back and forth from dive sites to get new tanks.

There's your surface interval, mate. grab a snack or a sandwich while you're at it and enjoy paradise above and below. After all, you'll be running into deco every dive if you're sidemounting, so you'll need the extra time to offgas!

 

[RLima]

That's where "as much as possible" comes in. So... no luck then?

 

[The Chairman]

So... no luck then?

You're in luck: you're heading to Bonaire! Now, just don't overdo it. If you're diving NitrOx on twin 80s, the chances are that you'll be going into deco or you're stopping before you do. If the former, then you'll need to the SI time to get yourself ready for the next dive. If I'm diving NDL on twin 80s, then I have more than enough gas to do two dives. Just to warn you, some of those entries and exits will wear you flap out. Best to pace yourself and have fun all week rather than injuring yourself trying to push things too hard.

You'll be in paradise in a foreign country. Take time to see the rest of the sites. Bonaire is pretty cool above and below.

 

[AdivingBel]

Dive Friends has several locations handy to both northern and southern sites. I've found if you go during low or "shoulder" season they are more relaxed about the "two tank max" policy. Have fun. Gotta luv "dive freedom."

 

[noj3333]

I was very happy with VIP Diving. They don't have more then one shop, but they'll deliver tanks to your house every morning, for a small fee ($50/week). They'll also let you take more then 2 tanks. My wife and I would take 5 tanks (each) a day.

Lastly, they're located in town, so we didn't find it to be inconvenient to drive by between our morning and afternoon dives. Often we'd dive north of their shop in the morning, swap all our empties, and dive south of them in the afternoon. If we felt ambitious we'd swap empties again, if not we'd wait until the next day...

Oh, they still offer nitrox for free too...

 

[scubadada]

Dive Friends has 7 locations, very convenient

Not sure what advantage dual side mount will give you and may make some entries/exits more challenging. I dived back mount single 80s last visit and averaged over 73 min/dive with no deco over 44 dives/2 weeks.

 

[Paul - Bonscuba]

Just wondering why you would do more than 3 dives a day, 1 or 2 weeks long every single day...

Anyhow, distances are short, just plan when u go north if u have to drive via Rincon. Surface interval needed anyway. Indeed Dive friends would be a good option if you realy want to do this

 

[DustyC]

Out of everyone I've ever known that went with the intention of power diving, none kept that plan past Tuesday mid day.

 

[Aviyes]

Just do the first dive North of town and the next South or vice versa. That way you are passing the fill stations anyways while also on your surface interval.