Planning a group trip to Bonaire. Buddy dive?

[diversteve]

One thing to know about Buddy's beach if it matters:

Yes we have two areas, but they are raised sand beaches and not at water level, although you can easily access the water via a ladder or steps, that leads to our protected swimming and snorkeling area.

Den Laman's/Sand Dollar's beach is mostly ironshore as well. There did appear to be one small area to the south that may've been accessible but I believe there would be reef/ironshore just off the beach.

Eden Beach has a real beach, beach bar (Bongos?) but no other dining afaik.

Harbour Village has a nice beach but a so-so dive, there's a lot of rubble from a previous hurricane and a small wreck.

We stayed at BelMar, it's the other Buddy dive affiliate. Decent house reef but zero beach and except for a couple local places, the nearest restaurant is a 5min. drive around the lagoon to the Plaza resort - or a couple minutes further to town.

btw, the Plaza meets all your requirements, they have a mix of rooms/villas, a beach, several restaurants and are on the 18Palms divesite. Downside is that it's really spread out, some of the accommodations are at the south end of the property by the diveshop/dock and 18Palms and the restaurants are at the north end. They move tanks to the divesite via golfcart for use by their guests. IIRC the beach/pool area is more to the north also.

If you're doing a lot of shorediving, Buddy's drivethru tank pickup makes that convenient. Guests at BelMar can use it also, not sure if the opposite is true, BelMar is a much smaller facility.

Everything is close (driving) to town. The north dive resorts (Habitat/Buddy/Sand Dollar/Den Laman/Eden Beach) aren't walking distance though. About the only place that reasonably is is the Divi.

Most are on known dive sites or have good diving. Capt' Don's is off LaMachaca(small wreck) and just south of Cliff - one of the few more vertical walls in that area. It was an easy swim to do both in one dive. Buddy's has their reef - can't recall the name, and Den Laman/Sand Dollar share Bari Reef, it has the most counted fish species in the Caribbean. There's at least one dive site accessible from Eden Beach also - maybe two.

One thing to mention about Sand Dollar is that their pool is in the parking lot behind the condos. So no ocean view.

Most of the bars/restaurants are clustered closer to Town Pier and slightly south. Not that that's always the place to be, when the cruisers are in town, I'd be elsewhere - downtown is a pretty small area. But after 5 it's mostly good.

If you're planning to cook, Centrum market downtown has the best selection. There's a small local market near the north dive resorts and a couple of warehouse food stores more inland.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

.if you wish to set up a group there and have any questions pm me here.

Thank you, I will keep this in mind. We are waiting for the Our World Underwater Show. They usually have specials specific for this show.

If I remember this post I'll report on the progress there when I return in April.

That would be great!

if you have 6 people get the 3 bdrmm.each bedrm has its own bathroom.I suggest to request 2 pickups instead of the van that will be assigned to you.It will cost a bit extra,about $30.pp but may be worth it to you . I find it easier to dive out of the pickups.If you have 10 take the 3 bedrm unit and a 2 bedm unit ..
If you have 5 take the 3 bedrm and have the single person in the smaller of the bedrooms .

That is one reason why we decided to keep everyone together. It does appear to be cheaper that way.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

Thank you! Diversteve. That was some Great information!!!!

 

[driftwood]

I have attached an areal picture of Buddy dive. I circled 1 of the 3 building that house the 3 br apartments. Is this the older part?

We stayed in a 3bdr unit in the building you circled. Very nice and ours was the unit closest to the docks so you had a great view of the channel and Klein Bonaire. Both upstairs units had twin double beds with private baths and the downstairs bedroom had a king size bed (too big for the room) and a bath across the hall into the kitchen. If you can get that unit go for it.

Here is the deal with Buddy's. The resort is made up of the original Buddy's and they later acquired the older Lions dive resort. Lions was also a time share operation so the new owners have to honor those who purchased an interest. Since they don't get much money from those folks, no reason to upgrade the units they stick them in. We got one of those units on our last trip. Like Deputy Dan said, never again.

If Buddy's will not guarantee the side of the resort your unit will located, I would go someplace else. There is a world of difference between units at Buddy's and no good reason that I can think of to let them decide for you.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

Thank you,
At least I know if we stay at Buddy dive then we will be in a decent room.

Also, we did take a good look at the Plaza also and it is a possibility. The Plaza is going to be at the "Our World Underwater Show". The vendors usually have specific rates for this show. I am crossing my fingers for a better deal. At this point, I believe either of the two would work out fine.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

Tomorrow is the show... looks like we'll know when/where by the end of the day.

 

[Waterskier1]

{snip}

Eden Beach has a real beach, beach bar (Bongos?) but no other dining afaik.

Bongos is not there anymore...well, the structure is, but Eden Beach has taken it over. Bongo's didn't renew their lease. Eden Beach also has a restaurant, in addition to the old Bongo's structure. It's behind the compressor room, facing the water.

I go with a group a couple times a year who stay at Eden Beach. The cost for our group is $835 pp/double occupancy, in a full kitchen studio or $725 pp/quad occupancy in a 2 BR apartment. Both include unlimited shore dive, Nitrox, and one truck per room. No breakfast (we fix our own). This does not include Departure Tax, Insurance on the truck, or Marine Park Fee.

No boat dive, but they are available from Wannadive, the onsite dive op. Their tanks and gear room are available 24/7. They are not drive up, but they are right in the parking lot, so you can walk right up. The Wannadive crew is excellent. We wouldn't compromise on the dive-op. The house reef is not as pretty as others, but it does have 2 (I'm not sure if the 3rd survived Omar) wrecks, which are always cool to dive. They also have boat dives, but I've never taken one - just too many shore dives to do!

I'm sure that the rate we get is a group rate, and we usually have 30-35, as many as 60 divers. I also believe that any "comp'ed" rooms are used to lower everyone's cost, versus free to the organizers.

I am not aware of any 3 BR units. They do have "hotel" units for less (no kitchen, just a refer and maybe a microwave). Since most of us like a nice (not plush) place but prefer to save some money on meals (it's easy to fix breakfast and lunch) we prefer full kitchen units. We usually go out to eat a group(s) at night. I say groups because I don't know anywhere on Bonaire that you could walk up with 60+ people and be seated and served reasonably.

 

[I'm a Dork Fish]

Just booked our trip for March 2011 through Deep Blue Adventures for Buddy Dive Resort at the "our world underwater" show. 8 of us going to stay in a 3 bedroom unit and a 1 bedroom unit. We made sure to request bldg #1. Let the countdown begin....

 

[Maine Diver]

Just booked our trip for March 2011 through Deep Blue Adventures for Buddy Dive Resort at the "our world underwater" show. 8 of us going to stay in a 3 bedroom unit and a 1 bedroom unit. We made sure to request bldg #1. Let the countdown begin....

Congratulations! I leave Friday. I'm sure you will have a blast. But a long time to wait