Capt. Don's, Buddy Dive, Plaza Resort or Other?

[Scuba Monster]

We are intersted in Bonaire for March 2010 dive trip - March it will be 5 years ago since we've been there.

I like boat dives, despite the home of diving freedom and unlimited shore diving ... a lot of tank schlepping from a car then to and from shore, back to car, just isn't for me. 5 years ago we stayed at Capt. Don's - we liked it. However, I am considering other options to try something different such as Buddy's and Plaza Resort, but Capt. Don's isn't a no go. Some objections that I have about Buddy's ... one tank boat dive/day. Objection to Plaza ... proximity to airport. When we were there last Capt. Don's offered 4 boat dives/day. I don't think they let you book more than 2/day now in advance, but the boats may still run 2 morning dives and 2 afternoon dives. I would like to know if this is true.

If you have stayed at any of these resorts lately, please let me know what you think or what input you may have to overcome my minor objections. Also, I am open to other suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

-SM

 

[oly5050user]

We are intersted in Bonaire for March 2010 dive trip - March it will be 5 years ago since we've been there.

I like boat dives, despite the home of diving freedom and unlimited shore diving ... a lot of tank schlepping from a car then to and from shore, back to car, just isn't for me. 5 years ago we stayed at Capt. Don's - we liked it. However, I am considering other options to try something different such as Buddy's and Plaza Resort, but Capt. Don's isn't a no go. Some objections that I have about Buddy's ... one tank boat dive/day. Objection to Plaza ... proximity to airport. When we were there last Capt. Don's offered 4 boat dives/day. I don't think they let you book more than 2/day now in advance, but the boats may still run 2 morning dives and 2 afternoon dives. I would like to know if this is true.

If you have stayed at any of these resorts lately, please let me know what you think or what input you may have to overcome my minor objections. Also, I am open to other suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

-SM

I have a group going to Buddys on April 17th..25th..we have always had a 6 boat dive/unlimited shore package.Buddys has 2 tank boat dives if thats what you desire or single tank dives.They also have a new boat that goes North to the WS park for 3 tank dives.If interested in joining the group pm me.You can also get a 11 boat dive/unlimited shore dives package for the week if you want.

 

[SailNaked]

when we did Buddies last August there were at least 2 boat trips a day(4 tanks) and sometimes 3, if you ask them they will put on more they have like 5 boats.

 

[scubadada]

My wife and I have stayed at Sand Dollar and used Bonaire Dive & Adventure 3 times since 2005, last Nov 2008. They offer three 1 tank boat dives per day at 9, 11, and 2. Dive packages for a week include just shore diving or with 6 or 12 boat dives. The house reef, Bari, is fantastic day or night and is just a short hop off the dock. For extra boat dives and some adventure, I would recommend diving with East Coast Diving. They offer 2 tank AM and 1 tank PM dives. We do a balance of shore and boat diving, these arrangements work out extremely well for us.

Admittedly, our experience with accomodations and dive operators on Bonaire is not broad, but it sure has been excellent. We're returning in February.

Good diving, Craig

 

[robint]

ditto what the other's said - Buddy's does offer boat dives all day long. Most people do only 1 boat dive each day, that is why they advertise that package. You can do more or no boat dives at all, you just request a package that fits your needs. When we were there I did see an afternoon boat get cancelled with only 2 people had signed up for it, so be sure to sign up the night before! They have a large chalk board down by dock, each boat and time, you just put your name and if you are doing nitrox or not. If you are doing nitrox you are expected to pull your own tank and analyze it, otherwise they pull a tank for you and put it on boat.

 

[mbs]

We stayed at the Plaza twice in the past year and I don't recall noticing plane noise at all... Now I must disclose that I live on the Hudson and there is constant noise from commercial trains on the west bank and commuters on the east so I may not be the best judge We did the 2-tank boat in the morning and shore dives in the afternoon/evening. They also have a 1-tank afternoon boat. Most complaints of the plaza is the schlep to do the shore dive on the house reef, not plane noise. Again that didn't bother us either. We have not stayed at any other locations in Bonaire so can't compare.

 

[Scuba Monster]

I have a group going to Buddys on April 17th..25th..we have always had a 6 boat dive/unlimited shore package.Buddys has 2 tank boat dives if thats what you desire or single tank dives.They also have a new boat that goes North to the WS park for 3 tank dives.If interested in joining the group pm me.You can also get a 11 boat dive/unlimited shore dives package for the week if you want.

Thanks for the update on the tank packages with Buddy's and the invitation to join in April. We're traveling with two other dive buddies on Spring Break, due to a school teacher's schedule. Have fun & happy diving!

 

[Scuba Monster]

We stayed at the Plaza twice in the past year and I don't recall noticing plane noise at all... Now I must disclose that I live on the Hudson and there is constant noise from commercial trains on the west bank and commuters on the east so I may not be the best judge We did the 2-tank boat in the morning and shore dives in the afternoon/evening. They also have a 1-tank afternoon boat. Most complaints of the plaza is the schlep to do the shore dive on the house reef, not plane noise. Again that didn't bother us either. We have not stayed at any other locations in Bonaire so can't compare.

How were the rooms at Plaza? From the web photos, it looks like one of the nicer resorts on the island, but many of the resort accomodations for most places look simple. How was the dive op crew ... attitude, etc.? I can't remember exactly how close the resort was to town ... is it walking distance?

 

[Scuba Monster]

Does anyone know about Divi? Any thoughts about it?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have stayed at all three (Capt. Don's, Buddy's, Plaza). Tastes vary, but of the three if all you want to do is boat dive I'd go with the Plaza. You won't notice any airplane noise ... at least we didn't. The accommodations are nicer, you're within easy walking distance to town, and you'll actually get out on the boats you want to go on.

My stay at Buddy's was last February during Carnival ... and perhaps that colored my perception. But they were overcrowded. When we arrived our rooms weren't ready ... nor were they ready when they told us they would be. And when they finally were ready we discovered that the Buddy's staff had sent all our luggage back to the airport (without our knowledge) and left it sitting curbside. Fortunately it was still there by the time we discovered what they had done and had arranged transport to the airport to retrieve it. And over the course of a week we had trouble getting in the six boat dives we had paid for because if you weren't standing right there when they posted the dives on the board they were filled up within about five minutes. Town is a distance away and you need a car to get there ... and without it, your meal options are limited. The Lion's Den ... to my concern ... was expensive and not very good. The best part of Buddy's is the house reef ... but if you're only planning on boat dives, that's just not going to be a factor.

I've stayed at Capt. Don's twice. The first time (2004) I thought it was very nice. Went back three years later and thought it had gone downhill a lot. The rooms we rented weren't well maintained and we were constantly having to contact maintenance staff to fix something. But the worst offense, to my concern, is that when we arrived they tried to put us in accommodations that were less than what we had reserved and paid for ... without any explanation or offer of a reduced rate.

Bonaire is my favorite Caribbean destination. But given our experiences I don't see us going back to either Capt. Don's or Buddy's again. My only (minor) complaint with the Plaza was that it was a long walk with our gear going from a boat dive to a shore dive ... but if you're patient the staff is willing to assist ... and the house reef is very nice. Overall I thought the Plaza was a cut above either of the other two places..

... Bob (Grateful Diver)