Bonaire help please :)

[Brianna]

My group will be staying at 224 EEG Blvd. Can somebody help me find the closest dive shop, hopefully a recommended one?

I keep seeing info about a Marine Park orientation- can somebody point me to more info about this? Will the dive shop cover it?

I bought BSDME- anything else I should know?

 

[diversteve]

My group will be staying at 224 EEG Blvd. Can somebody help me find the closest dive shop, hopefully a recommended one?

There's a Buddy Dive affiliated shop at 88 EEG Blvd. It's at the south end of the BelMar Condos property. Buddy's also is a dive resort on the north side with the only drive-thru tank pickup so if you buy a package from them you can use it. BelMar Diving The next nearest is probably Dive Friends at Port Bonaire condos just north of the airport. Dive Friends Bonaire, our location at Port Bonaire

Where are you staying? Have you asked them about a dive package? Most of the properties on Bonaire have arrangements with someone.

I keep seeing info about a Marine Park orientation- can somebody point me to more info about this? Will the dive shop cover it?

You'll need to do the BMP orientation before you dive - it's required to get your BMP tag. Usually they're done at most dive shops in the morning - it's typically a lecture/video followed by a shore dive to check your buoyancy. Some are escorted dives - others aren't - depends on the operator. Takes about an hour or so. Dive Friends does it escorted any time during their opening hours if you set it up with them in advance.
From Stinapa - http://www.stinapa.org/index.html:

2. Orientation: All SCUBA divers must attend an orientation with their dive operator (the center from which air tanks are obtained) before diving in the BNMP. The orientation consists of a ‘dry’ part and a ‘wet’ part. The ‘dry’ part is a briefing on the Bonaire National Marine Park rules. The ‘wet’ part of the orientation is the check out dive, which is always supervised by the dive operation providing air. Repeat divers are required to attend a dive orientation and perform a check out dive every time they are back on island.

I bought BSDME- anything else I should know?

Look for sand channel breaks at many of the entries, they're often an easier way to get out over the ironshore. At some of the sites, previous divers have piled up coral rubble indicating a good entry point also. http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/ABC/index.htm has more info - including entry photos - of many of the sites.

 

[uncfnp]

I'm not exactly sure where 224 EEG Blvd is. Could you be a little more specific? As diversteve said, it sounds like the Buddy Dive satellite at Belmar may be closest but depending on arrival time you may want to choose Dive Friends since they do the orientation throughout the day. Make sure you take cash to the orientation. They can not accept credit card payment for the permit. If you search Bonaire on SB you will find a wealth of other useful info.

 

[Brianna]

It's a privately owned house rented by the owner. If you google the address it will show you where it is. Our flight arrives around 5:30 am. Is there anything south of the airport?

 

[uncfnp]

The Buddy Dive satellite is south. If you google Belmar Oceanfront Apartments you will see the exact location. It is the building at the south corner.

 

[Brianna]

Is there anything further south? Or is there a list/map of the dive shops on Bonaire?

 

[uncfnp]

I am not aware of anything further south. You can search PADI dive shops at

Find a dive shop, scuba diving shop, dive resort or scuba dive shop

It will bring them up on a map.

 

[diversteve]

There won't be any dive operators farther south of Buddy Dive at BelMar as it's a quiet residential area. Buddy does the orientation at 9AM. http://www.belmar-bonaire.com/diving/bonaire-marine-park.html

One more I thought of is WannaDive at Windsock Beach Resort - it's just north of BelMar. http://www.wannadive.com/wannapress/index.php/locations-2/windsock/ - they may have limited hours at that location.

Most (all?) of the dive operators: Info Bonaire - Scuba Diving Operators, Dive Shops, and Scuba Diving Instructors

No food options either so plan to drive downtown (or the Plaza Resort) for meals. Food stores are all in town as well. Warehouse Foods is just north of the airport and opens at 8AM. http://www.warehousebonaire.com/

 

[midas6t6]

There is an excellent food option near BelMar - Hotel Roomer. Dinners are very good and reasonable, nice outdoor setting.

 

[phelana]

225 EEG is far down...I would say Belmar is the closest dive shop BUT since you are going to have a truck and dive all over, it really doesn't matter where you get your air.