Buddy’s Dive Questions

[Cmatthewsdmd]

Hello everyone, new poster to the board and I hope I don’t ask anything that has been covered too much, but I can’t seem to find anything specific on these topics

Just booked a trip late this year to Bonaire with my college aged son and I. We decided to go with the dive & drive at Buddy’s thanks to all of the great input I have found on these boards and I am already (admittedly way too early) looking into option and planning the trip.

1.) Planning on doing almost exclusively shore dives with the exception of maybe a 2 tank East Coast Divers trip. However the photo & lionfish hunt classes at Buddy’s seem interesting. Has anyone done them? Are they just on the house reef or do they go with a boat to a different area? I am hoping they head over to Klein and we can see a different area while learning something new.

2.) I’m an over planner in general so I know I will show up with a set idea and it will get blown the first day (which is fine and expected), but when looking at the checkout dive it seems like it’s basically an acclimation dive on the house reef correct? We land at 2:30 so I assume we will do it the next morning and I’m just trying to see how it fits into the first full day. My expectation is we would basically do a dive on the house reef to get acclimated and weight correct and then probably head out to find another dive off site and start to explore the island. Is that what people normally do?

3.) To say I’m unfamiliar with a stick shift is an understatement. To say I was functionally able to drive my friends well maintained stick in 1998 while in college home from a bar when necessary is more accurate, and I haven’t driven one since. We just returned from Bimini not long ago and after a few days of driving a golf cart without breaks I’m more than a little nervous at the “island condition” manual situation from Buddy’s. I did request the automatic upgrade, but does anyone have experience with lack of availability on arrival? Should I sneak over and steal my neighbors stick shift to practice a bit before going?

Thank you everyone! Appreciate any help!

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Hello everyone, new poster to the board and I hope I don’t ask anything that has been covered too much, but I can’t seem to find anything specific on these topics

Just booked a trip late this year to Bonaire with my college aged son and I. We decided to go with the dive & drive at Buddy’s thanks to all of the great input I have found on these boards and I am already (admittedly way too early) looking into option and planning the trip.

1.) Planning on doing almost exclusively shore dives with the exception of maybe a 2 tank East Coast Divers trip. However the photo & lionfish hunt classes at Buddy’s seem interesting. Has anyone done them? Are they just on the house reef or do they go with a boat to a different area? I am hoping they head over to Klein and we can see a different area while learning something new.

2.) I’m an over planner in general so I know I will show up with a set idea and it will get blown the first day (which is fine and expected), but when looking at the checkout dive it seems like it’s basically an acclimation dive on the house reef correct? We land at 2:30 so I assume we will do it the next morning and I’m just trying to see how it fits into the first full day. My expectation is we would basically do a dive on the house reef to get acclimated and weight correct and then probably head out to find another dive off site and start to explore the island. Is that what people normally do?

3.) To say I’m unfamiliar with a stick shift is an understatement. To say I was functionally able to drive my friends well maintained stick in 1998 while in college home from a bar when necessary is more accurate, and I haven’t driven one since. We just returned from Bimini not long ago and after a few days of driving a golf cart without breaks I’m more than a little nervous at the “island condition” manual situation from Buddy’s. I did request the automatic upgrade, but does anyone have experience with lack of availability on arrival? Should I sneak over and steal my neighbors stick shift to practice a bit before going?

Thank you everyone! Appreciate any help!

I did the dive & drive 6-boat package a couple of years ago. All but one of those boat drops was off of Klein. They do those a lot as they're really close and I guess they figure you can do the shore-accessable dives on your own. They did offer first come-first served ala carte boat trip admissions, but the 6 pack was good as you could choose one departure daily and then free up the rest of the day for whatever else you wanted to dive. you could also bunch your dives up - I was completing my rescue diver cert the first half of my week there so the last few days I took all of my boat dives. I think they had four departures daily? If not four, then three, maybe?

The house reef is OK for an orientation site. Spent most of my rescue course don't he house reef. Well, on the surface on the house reef. If you head north over towards Ca'pn Don's there is a small sunken boat - the La Machaca - that is easy to find at about 45 ft.

Any opportunity to drive stick is to be valued. (Hell, I bought a truck I wasn't in the market for in '23 just because it offered a manual transmission.) But I started driving in my dad's '71 Toyota Hi-Lux truck then my first car was an early '70 VW Beetle. I don't think they charge extra for the luxury experience of getting to drive stick. Don't over think it. If you have access to borrow a stick, grab it for an hour and refresh coordinating your left foot and right hand ... Just in case. BTW, back in 21, the trucks that Buddy Dive offered were in pretty good condition (Mine was a pretty new Renault).

 

[wlecyt40]

We went to Capt Don's last October. Thought the shore diving would be amazing and while some of it was, there were a couple of places that took out shins and knees. One of our divers shredded his shins on the rocks at the Salt Pier (which is great dive, btw!!). Some of the shore sites have easy entry, some have deceptive entries that look easy but will kick your butt. Then there's where a cave diving buddy went...... Let's just say, jumping from a 15ft drop off into turbulent water is not for the faint of heart. Or old people like me!

As for the driving, I had to learn quickly to start in second gear on the truck we rented. First gear is a "grinder gear" for four wheel drive (not sure why they need 4x4 on a desert island, but who am I to say?), so starting off in second was much better. If you don't have a phone plan that works in Bonaire, invest in a really good map. Or have someone that does have a phone service that works in Bonaire. You will need the Google maps to get around, especially if you're looking for a really good restaurant.

 

[USdiver1]

Buy a used Jeep with a manual transmission now. Learn to drive a stick over the period before your trip. Take the trip, with your newfound skill. Decide what to do with the Jeep [sell or keep] upon your return.

PS Jeeps are addictive.

 

[arew+4]

Buy this book if you haven't already.

Look for the "Bonaire Tips and Tricks" videos here and on their youtube channel. It a husband and wife and they document many of the dive sites entry/ exit, route, things to look for.

If they accepted you request for an automatic they probably have one, you should call and verify. Otherwise If you have access, practice and have your son learn too. Just in case, always be prepared and what not.

Most importantly, have fun, having a beer at Karl's and watching the sunset after a day of diving is priceless

 

[arew+4]

A little more advice if you want it.

Typical day for us on Bonaire.

Grab two tanks per diver head north or south, with two sites in mind.

If south go furthest south first, closer to town second. Hit a food truck or restaurant in town for lunch.

If north, hit the closer site first the further site second ( the road becomes one way at 1000 steps), grab something to eat in Rincon. Head back or head out east and check out the crashing waves lizards and cacti.

Chill, site see, do an afternoon dive. You'll have a house reef so do a twinight dive one day, and then a full on nite dive later in the week.

Last day dry out things to do, Drive through the park, climb the big hill. Go out to Lac bay take a wind surf lesson. Paddle through the mangroves.

 

[TNEngineer]

We just got back from another week on Bonaire plus a week on Curacao. We love Buddy Dive and have lots of experience with them, but not everything is positive. See comments below.

I did the dive & drive 6-boat package a couple of years ago. All but one of those boat drops was off of Klein. They do those a lot as they're really close and I guess they figure you can do the shore-accessable dives on your own.

That's true and it's really aggravating. The Drive and Dive package is awesome - absolutely the best shore diving arrangement in the Caribbean - but Buddy's presumes everyone has automatic access to shore dives and wants to take their boats to Klein Bonaire every time. Honestly after you've dived a few spots on Klein Bonaire it's kinda "same ol' same old" and you start wanting to go to some of the dozens of sites on the main island. They let the divers vote on where to go, and we were able to steer them to the main island twice, but the second dive is always on Klein.

The reason I care so much about this is that my wife has some on-land mobility issues. Getting in and out of most of the shore dive sites on Bonaire can be a significant challenge for her. Places like 1000 Steps and Karpata are basically inaccessible to anyone with mobility issues but can be lovely boat dives. Argue hard, rally some other divers to your plan before you board the boat, and you can have some steerage on choices of sites.

They offer 2-tank boat runs in the morning and single-tank runs in the early afternoon. So, unless booking a charter, you max out at three boat dive opportunities per day.

The house reef is OK for an orientation site. Spent most of my rescue course don't he house reef. Well, on the surface on the house reef. If you head north over towards Ca'pn Don's there is a small sunken boat - the La Machaca - that is easy to find at about 45 ft.

Buddy's house reef is actually quite nice. You can do 3-4 decent dives on it without feeling repetitious: One each north and south, day and night. They will set up night dives with a day's notice and a minimum of two divers. My wife and I love night dives and did one going north that revealed octopus, morays, and 3-5 tarpon that swam with us basically the entire time. It was like hunting with hounds... we could direct the attention of a tarpon to a specific small fish with our lights and they'd chase it down for an easy-to-see meal. I've never had a remote control fish before!

I don't think they charge extra for the luxury experience of getting to drive stick... the trucks that Buddy Dive offered were in pretty good condition (Mine was a pretty new Renault).

Ours this time wasn't new but in reasonable condition. However, it was a gutless wonder. Three of our four vehicles are manuals, including a diesel truck and two Lotus sports cars, and in our 44 years of marriage we've always owned at least one manual, so we are very seasoned and experienced manual drivers of all types of vehicles with all types of engines. But you'd have never known that from how this thing drove. The engine had basically zero low RPM torque so every start looked like a teenager learning to drive manual (we ended up having to over-rev at every start to get the engine into its torque range, which is another symptom of an inexperienced manual driver). Put your foot into the accelerator and the engine would respond not with VROOOM but with "Huh?" It was embarrassing and uncomfortable.

We still love Buddy Dive and have stayed there every time we've been on Bonaire. Just trying to give you balanced and realistic expectations. Their lodging is excellent. Their shore diving setup is the best. How they handle tank swaps literally could not be more convenient. Their on-site food options are pretty good. And their staff is unfailingly polite, helpful, cheerful, and supportive. But they're not perfect. Nobody is.

 

[Cmatthewsdmd]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I appreciate all of the info!

Buddy’s emailed me back today with my question about the Lionfish hunt and photography courses. They are basically all day and include 2 shore dives on the house reef, so I think we are definitely passing on those. Might do a boat morning to Klein.

These food trucks you speak of seem right up my alley! Do they tend to move daily or are they set up in specific locations?

Thanks again!

 

[TNEngineer]

There are food trucks which park in specific locations. One I remember was at "Gentlemen's Reef" IIRC, for example, and known for great hamburgers.

 

[tkaelin]

My advice - the house reefs can be dived every day multiple times times a day and not get old and you can see something new on every dive. From buddy’s, heading to the right you can dive buddy’s house reef, Capt don’s house reef and Cliff.

Give Bari reef a try using the new park to access. Easy parking and access. Food and drink bathroom at the park.

Salt pier is on just about everyone’s list. It is even more special late afternoon with the sun lowering on the horizon behind the piers.