I guess I never did follow up with a trip report.
This was a fantastic trip and I'm glad we chose to stay there. The whole process was well-managed, and the week ran very smoothly. Upon arrival and check-in, you'll do a resort/dive briefing where they will explain how everything works from tank exchanges to boat dives. The accommodations are very comfortable. We were in a 2-bedroom apartment, which was more than enough space for the two of us. We ate breakfast in the buffet every morning, but lunch was usually made in the suite and dinners were out somewhere on the island.
We did the 6 boat dives, and felt that was a good amount. I had never been to Klein Bonaire, so most of those 6 dives were around there. We also did some of the northern sites which are only accessible by boat, and 1000 Steps which is a *great* boat dive so you don't have to lug gear up and down the steps!
I was apprehensive about the unguided shore diving at first, but it's really not that hard and incredibly rewarding the first couple times when you surface right in front of the exit point. I did purchase the DryFob, but ended up not using it because the truck we had didn't have an electronic fob so the key just went in my swim trunk pocket. The compass was a must-have, as was the Bonaire ReefGuide book.
Buddy Dive is an excellent choice for a first-time stay. I spoke with many other divers who had been returning for years. We've already booked our next trip to Bonaire, but we will be doing it a la carte this time: vacation retail, truck, air packages, boat dives all booked separately. It comes out a little cheaper and gives us a little more flexibility.
