Orientation dive

[Candiru]

If my flight arrives at 250 pm how hard is it to get the official orientation and dive done that day? Any recommendations?

 

[tkaelin]

Try to arrange in advance with the dive op you will be diving with. This is the advice I have seen posted and my plan if and when needed. Who is your dive op?

 

[diversteve]

Dive Friends locations will do it on your schedule. Dive Friends Bonaire, providing diving, equipment on Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean

Visit Yellow Submarine, Dive Inn, Port Bonaire, or Hamlet Oasis to pick up or drop off tanks and book a course or boat dive. We'll make your shore or boat diving as easy and convenient as possible by providing you with a Bonaire Marine Park orientation at any time or dive location during normal business hours.

Contact them b4 you arrive though as they may not be expecting anyone that late in the afternoon - most people typically do the morning orientations due to arrival times.

 

[Candiru]

I'm pretty sure we will be going with dive friends since they are open to the orientation dive whenever we happen to get there.

 

[Kharon]

Loved Dive Friends. You are correct. You check in and they send you to Yellow Sub for your checkout dive. You gear up and they walk you to the end of the dock, say "have fun", watch you giant stride, and you get back when you get back.

 

[Doctorfish]

I don't think you are going to make it. When you add in the time to go through immigration, pick up bags, get to your resort, get to the dive shop, fill out waivers, and gear up, it will be dark. You will probably be doing your check out the next AM which is not so bad.

 

[wwguy]

It'll be tight, if indeed you can make it, but it's worth a try! I'd make a beeline straight across the street from the airport to Dive Friends' Port Bonaire location. They're usually open until 5 PM. A few of the other DFB locations close at 4:30 PM, so you'll want to keep that in mind if you set out out for an alternate location. In the end I think it'll come down to where your luggage is in the pile coming off the plane, and how long it takes to get your rental truck. Good luck!

 

[phoenix31tt]

I dived with wannadive and we were able to do it on our own schedule... your problem will be making it there with enough time to get squared away (orientation, waivers etc) before doing the check dive.

 

[SailNaked]

Hmm, well my "orientation" dive has always just been my first dive of the trip. they always want to have the 45 min bla bla bla thing. which it seems is ok to sleep through as long as you can sleep standing up which I have no problem with. I am on the Houston flight that arrives at 6 am after no sleep since Thursday.
I see no reason why an "orientation" dive can not be a night dive. actually your dive would be better than mine i am only semi conscious on that one.