Buddy dive Bonaire questions or alternatives

[mar2112]

We like the Belmar Apartments. They're associated with Buddy Dive so you can get tanks from Buddy if you're in that area.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Baby Godzilla at Buddy Dive pool .... Jus sayin'

 

[crabapple58]

Good morning.
Back to Bonaire in May!
Been multiple times and love it. Solo shore diver mostly. Wife does not dive.
In the past we’ve stayed at Captain Dons or Sand Dollar. I was looking a bit more into Buddy dive, since they have 2 pools for my wife to relax by during the day. I’ve only visited them once and it felt very much like a mega resort ( first impression). I was curious if it is laid back, or active like a Caribbean resort.
I love how sand dollar is steps from Bari reef, and DFB is right on site. I’ve looked at other resorts, but not sure their house reefs are near as nice. I will usually spend multiple days on the house reefs are near of where we visit.
We typically cook in for most meals, and go out 2-3 times during the week. Just seeing what people overall thought of Buddy dive as of late, and any alternatives ( pool and nice relaxation are a must)

Hamlet Oasis is very very quiet and has a spotless pool. There is a DFB on the grounds and shore entry for Cliff site. For DFB boat dives, you would drive to Sand Dollar , 10 minutes away to board. Full kitchen at Hamlet, clean, there is a supermarket across the street and 10 minute walk north.

Good morning.
Back to Bonaire in May!
Been multiple times and love it. Solo shore diver mostly. Wife does not dive.
In the past we’ve stayed at Captain Dons or Sand Dollar. I was looking a bit more into Buddy dive, since they have 2 pools for my wife to relax by during the day. I’ve only visited them once and it felt very much like a mega resort ( first impression). I was curious if it is laid back, or active like a Caribbean resort.
I love how sand dollar is steps from Bari reef, and DFB is right on site. I’ve looked at other resorts, but not sure their house reefs are near as nice. I will usually spend multiple days on the house reefs are near of where we visit.
We typically cook in for most meals, and go out 2-3 times during the week. Just seeing what people overall thought of Buddy dive as of late, and any alternatives ( pool and nice relaxation are a must)

 

[Jersey]

Just back from 2 weeks at Buddy. There are 2 sides - the Buddy side and the former Lions Dive side. The iguana at the pool pic is Lions Dive side. (The pool has been redone within the last year. New, appears to be honed travertine edging, and blue glass tiles around the perimeter.) Buddy side is a bit busier - the bar, pool, restaurant, dive shop are that side. Lions Dive side is a bit quieter. Resort is large and actually quiet most of the time. People are out diving. Busy is 4-5:30 when you may have 5 or 6 people by the pool. That's it (unless you are there for Kids Sea Camp Week, as we were, and then you hear "MARCO! POLO!" from the little ones in the pool for an hour, gear strewn about the dock, tanks all over....sigh). Reef is easy, we saw some cool stuff on it > baitball, ocean trigger twice, lots of wee little spotted drums, nudis, jaw fish. You could do a drift from Isidell/Bari to Buddy or vice versa.

The rooms are comfortable, enough accoutrements you can cook in. Some pots, pans, utensils, dull knives. Cooktop, fridge, micro, coffeemaker and toaster. We do breakfast and lunch in, plus a couple dinners. Always have cocktails and snacks on hand.

The AC works for sleeping, the water is hot and the bed is not too bad. It's not the 4Seasons, Ritz, Fairmount,, etc. but then we are looking for a dive vacation not a luxury vacation.

We like the location, dive staff have become friends, amenities, convenience of boat + shore, truck rental right there, tank drive through. Locker down by the water. Some dining options within walking distance. I'm sure I'd be equally happy at Den Laman, Sand$$, Capt Dons, Habitat. We actually drove up to DFB Hamlet/Cliff and did a one-way (into a slight current) dive back to Buddy. Hamlet looked nice the DFB guy we talked with was amazingly helpful, great tips on how to dive the site, the setup looked convenient. The guys walked back post dive to grab the trucks. That was a very cool dive! Covered essentially 3 or 4 dive sites depending on how you count. 75 relaxing minutes back to the ladder and still plenty of air. Suggested by one of the Buddy staff when we mentioned we were planning Cliff.

 

[Eric_K]

Good morning.
Back to Bonaire in May!
Been multiple times and love it. Solo shore diver mostly. Wife does not dive.
In the past we’ve stayed at Captain Dons or Sand Dollar. I was looking a bit more into Buddy dive, since they have 2 pools for my wife to relax by during the day. I’ve only visited them once and it felt very much like a mega resort ( first impression). I was curious if it is laid back, or active like a Caribbean resort.
I love how sand dollar is steps from Bari reef, and DFB is right on site. I’ve looked at other resorts, but not sure their house reefs are near as nice. I will usually spend multiple days on the house reefs are near of where we visit.
We typically cook in for most meals, and go out 2-3 times during the week. Just seeing what people overall thought of Buddy dive as of late, and any alternatives ( pool and nice relaxation are a must)

Just came back from Belize (Ambergris Caye) in May and looking for another trip down south a bit later this year. Thought and comments on best months would be appreciated. I dive, wife will ride on boat but doesn't dive.

 

[Jersey]

Just came back from Belize (Ambergris Caye) in May and looking for another trip down south a bit later this year. Thought and comments on best months would be appreciated. I dive, wife will ride on boat but doesn't dive.

I don't think there are any bad months, Bonaire sits outside the traditional hurricane belt. (Though Lenny roared through Nov 1999) I've been Jan - May and Sept - Oct. Fall the winds die and it is HOT, like dive in shorts and rash guards hot, too hot to sit out hot. I like Oct, heat doesn't bother me. My crew does not. Oct. - Dec can be 'rainy season' though rainy is subjective on an island that gets 20 inches per year. Jan - April is warm, cooler nights, mid- 80's during the day, low 80 water temps - my brother dives in rash guards, I dive in Sharkskin fleece, and most of the group dive skins to 3ml. April is a great escape from the cold Northeast, but not likely to have flights cancelled due to snow storms. I prefer late March - April as the days are getting a little longer. Last trip was 3/22 - 4/12 and the winds were brutal. Kept the bugs down, but stirred up viz, made some bumpy entries and 1 day a current kicking North to South like I have never seen! April starts the low season, rates drop, you aren't fighting the Spring break crowds. Would love to try November - December, but timing just hasn't worked.

 

[Endler's]

The Belmar front desk clerk told us she liked July best, because it has the least amount of traffic (people).

 

[wateraddiction]

Would love to try November - December, but timing just hasn't worked.

There was so much rain prior to our trip in late November 2022 that the mosquitoes were insane. We couldn't sit or eat outside so we ended up canceling all our dinner res and ate inside the rental every night. Kids were running from the pool to the villa to avoid being attacked and we could see hundreds of mosquitoes on the other side of our glass patio door, just daring us to come outside. There were large pools of standing water everywhere (roads, parking lots, etc) all over the island. Now I'm hesitant to book in Nov again, unsure how much of a fluke that was. We are fine with the level of bugs in May and Dec.

 

[Jersey]

Kids were running from the pool to the villa to avoid being attacked and we could see hundreds of mosquitoes on the other side of our glass patio door, just daring us to come outside.

Not to make light, but that was funny - "daring us to come outside''. Weve been there for some rainy Jan - Feb, where the ditches are overflowing, the dried salt ponds near the airport were overflowing and the flamingoes had taken up residence in every puddle. That may have been my first trip, my buddy gushes you'll love it, never rains. First morning I awake to thunder, lightning and gray walls of water.