My GF and I will be making our first trip to Bonaire. We are also planning on getting Nitrox and Aow certified while there. Do the dive shops that sell Nitrox have analysers for diver use? Do I need to have my own?
Wannadive has analyzers at the locations that have Nitrox. (Note that WannaDive has at least 4 outlets. The one at Golden Reef Inn does not have Nitrox nor an analyzer.) I know the Eden Beach has an Analyzer and log form to fill out for Nitrox tanks. You will learn in your Nitrox class that it is your responsibility (not the tank filler's) to analyze each and every tank you use. That said, ScubaSteve001 is correct. Wannadive does monitor and mark each tank with a piece of tape as to it's O2 %. They also use a membrane compressor, so a consistent percentage is easier to maintain.
We will be staying at the Yachtclub, anybody stay there with good/bad reviews?
Never stayed there so can't provide input.
We are planning on diving and training with Wannadive. Reviews?
I have used Wannadive the last 5 trips in less than 2 years. If they were not great, I would have searched out another source. But, I have not taken any instruction (formally) from them. I have discussed different aspects of diving with different people there (Bart, Bob, Jeffery, Andrew, and other whose names I forget or can't spell/pronounce
) and all were very competent. I would not hesitate taking a class from them (well, maybe altitude or ice or something like that :shocked2: - don't know their experience there
).
Are there any resources for finding others to buddy up with? We don't mind diving alone, but it's always fun to have some company!
I am not aware of any formal system. I have found buddies who have posted on here (ScubaBoard) but more frequently on
BonaireTalk. If you are looking for groups to join, I would make that known at your lodging and also at WannaDive. There are a lot of friendly divers there who would be happy to have you join.
AB Carrental seems to have the best package price. Has anyone had any real problems with them?
I used them the first time or two, and will avoid them in the future. They have the slowest check-in / check-out I've ever seen. I has taken over 2 hours to get a car after arrival. And I would never rent without insurance, they go over the car with a fine tooth comb upon return (it took 20 minutes the last time). I have used Total (opposite end of the rental area) and was very pleased. They had my truck waiting for me even upon a 5:15 AM Continental arrival. They seem very efficient. The last trip the package included a truck from Bencho. In this case the truck was waiting for us at the motel, when we arrived at 6:30 AM. They were very low-keyed and easy to deal with. Note that I didn't make arrangements directly with Bencho, but rather the truck was provided through the lodging/dive/drive package, but was still in my name and I paid the extra premium for full insurance when I got there. The Total rate was the same as AB Rentals, after considering that (at that time) Total required you purchase the extra insurance (it was included in their rate) and I always purchased it with AB Rental (and anyone else I'd rent from on Bonaire). I don't know what the Bencho price was, but the insurance was about $1/day less than what I'd been paying at Total and AB, and they didn't charge for an additional driver.
