Den Laman + Buddy Dive for tanks (Brilliance or Stupidity?)

[speuci]

I played the waiting game for airfare from NYC for a mid July trip. By the time airfare dropped (last Sunday) I jumped on tickets and promptly called Bonairepros. Turns out BuddyDive was fully booked, so I opted for Den Laman.

I've read so many miserable reviews about the quality of BDA and the general poor availability of tanks (esp Nitrox) that I figured I'd go with BuddyDive's air package. Now I'm wondering if this is a brilliant idea, or an act of pure stupidity.

I'm curious as to what the community thinks - any potential pitfalls with this arragement?

 

[herman]

I would say somewhere in the middle. IMO it would be more of a pain in the rear than it's worth but it is certainly doable. You just have to learn to play the system, swap tanks as soon as you get back and keep spares in your truck. While you can get tanks at BD 24/7 you can only do so at the dock which means after hours you will need to carry them up the stairs, no biggie but something to consider.

 

[DiverVince]

Speuci..We use Buddy Dive (at the Belmar location) all the time (we're down 5 weeks per year) and have never ever had any problems with getting nitrox tanks.

 

[speuci]

While you can get tanks at BD 24/7 you can only do so at the dock which means after hours you will need to carry them up the stairs, no biggie but something to consider.

Interesting ... I guess the questions are

1) What are the hours of the drive through service?
2) How many tanks can you generally get out of them when using the drive through service?

I would imagine that many (if not all) of my late night dives would be at buddy dive, hence I wouldn't have to do any hauling. After the dive, I would throw gear into the buddy locker. The following morning, would drive through, grab gear and i'm off!

 

[DiveMaven]

I've never seen how the drive through service at Buddy's is more convenient or easier than simply backing up your truck to the tank room at BDA to load/unload/rinse.

Herman is right, getting around BDA's tank room hours isn't that difficult.

 

[keithdiver]

I've never seen how the drive through service at Buddy's is more convenient or easier than simply backing up your truck to the tank room at BDA to load/unload/rinse.

Herman is right, getting around BDA's tank room hours isn't that difficult.

exactly

 

[DeputyDan]

Life is easier if you use the dive op at the location you are staying at.

If you were at some third party locale I would suggest Wannadive - but you are not so I won't.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

We had no problem with Den Laman once the painfully long briefing/orientation was finally over. Put some tanks in the back of your truck or in the lockers overnight and you will be good to go. Plenty of tanks available when we were there. Do check the pressure before heading off though if you are an air hog.

 

[Angry Turtle]

Interesting ... I guess the questions are

1) What are the hours of the drive through service?
2) How many tanks can you generally get out of them when using the drive through service?

1) 8am-5pm
2)they ask you take no more than two tanks per person.

 

[gypsyjim]

My only issue with Den Lamen was when they closed 1/2 hr earlier than their posted closing time and I couldn't swap tanks for a planned night dive. Since then I have used Buddy shore package even though we usually stay elsewhere, simply because of the 24/7 availability of air and nitrox. Easy enough to pull the truck up to the top of the short stairs, and swap out tanks.