Buddy Dive or Bonaire Dive & Adventure

[ScubaSteve]

I have used both.

I would use Buddy Dive simply because the orientation at BDA is long - long - long to being beyond stupid.

Oh sooooo true. I just tell them I did it in the past 12 months and get the expedited orientation....still 25 minutes though. MUCH better than 1.5+ hours.

 

[DiveMaven]

Our orientation at BDA was just about 60 minutes long, so not too bad. Fortunately, we're returning within 12 months of our last visit, so will definitely be doing the short version.

 

[Blackrock]

I would not use BDA.

I have not used Buddy Dive but I hear good things. I have used Wannadive twice and BDA once.

I will never use BDA again for so many reasons! The orientation is ridiculously long. The rules are somewhat stupid. The access to gear and tanks is restricted. (Yes, it's not too difficult to get around but why should you have to think about it when there are better options) I could go on for hours...but you get the point.

I recommend you use the other options.

Have a great trip!! I won't be back until September.

 

[JW13]

Thanks for all the input. It seems most people subscribe to the "you can't make a bad choice" way of thinking, but a few are pretty clearly anti-BD&A.

A slightly long orientation doesn't bother me, but I would be interested in knowing what Blackrock meant when he referred to BD&A's rules being somewhat stupid -- what rules are those?

Also, can you get at your gear for a night dive with Buddy's, or do you have to grab it and take it back to the condo before they close (assuming they have a place for you to store it at all)?

BDSC -- you're going to be there the week before us, so enjoy your week.

 

[Martha]

Also, can you get at your gear for a night dive with Buddy's, or do you have to grab it and take it back to the condo before they close (assuming they have a place for you to store it at all)?

Yes, Buddy's does have a place to store gear and you'll have 24/7 access to it. They'll cover all of that during the orientation. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[The Chairman]

I like the peeps at Buddy Dive. I don't believe I have met the others to form an opinion.

 

[diversteve]

See if you can arrange to swap tanks at Buddy's other location at Bel-Mar condos south of town as needed. You'll be able to drive right up to the loading area also - it's 20' off the main road.

I sat through most of Jerry's orientation at BD&A while waiting for another dive - he covered a lot more about Bonaire's eco-system than the one we had at Toucan Dive - I found it rather interesting.

Buddy's has bigger boats also if you're doing Klein dives. But more divers also.

 

[BDSC]

BDSC -- you're going to be there the week before us, so enjoy your week.

Thanks. You too.

When I was at BD&A last February we sat through the orientation and that day it took right at an hour. Maybe that was a short orientation class that particular day. Not too bad really.

Buy I don't remember any unreasonable rules they had though. Not sure what Blackrock meant either. They do have easy access to tanks. You just back up and load them in so I don't see a big difference in the two.

Honestly, either place would serve your needs well and I think both have great staffs.

 

[gpatz]

I used BD&A last year. They lockup the Gear house, I believe it was 9 or 10pm and I did not quite understand why when they had a security guard on duty all night (we stayed at Den Laman). I felt they wasted open spaces for dive gear that my buddy and I and others sorely needed thru the entire week we used them. Yes they do have the small lockers for tanks, some with locks, 3 or 4 were almost unusable when I was there. The Orientation I took was more along 1 1/2 hours (to long). I will not use them again. I will be back to Bon next week and I will be next to the Belmar and will use Buddy Dive this year for the convience of the locations south and north for tank pickups.

 

[robint]

We used Buddy's and thought they were awesome. Not only is the tank and gear area available 24/7, the guys who work the dock during the day are fantastic. I am a smaller woman so getting in and out of my gear often is difficult, or at least others think it is. When we did shore dives there from the dock, one of the guys would come over to help me, carry my tank, or as soon as I would start to break down my gear he would grab my empty tank and take it to tank room for me. I never asked for help, they were just THERE. We dove the free nitrox all week and since the drive up tank area closes around dinner time, we would grab tanks down at dock if we were diving later. No biggy.

robin