Policy at Salt Pier

[LowVizWiz]

No. We've dived it day and night with no guide with no problems. The experience described was simply a local wanting to make some extra money off divers and trying to do so through intimidation. It's a nice easy entry and the day and night dives are very different. While the night dive version is interesting, especially the navigation, I actually prefer it as a day dive, the sunlight streaming through the pier columns is really beautiful during the day.

I love to dive it as a dusk dive. There is a fantastic transition under the pier as the sun sets. Highly recommended. I've done it three times with no guide.

+1 Late Golden Hour dives at the pier are fantastic... In general all my favorite dives in Bonaire have been entering the water before dusk.
These are from last year and without a dive guide.

 

[Mike]

Dr. Bill is not staying at Buddy Dive Resort. Even if he were, I don't think Buddy can effectively make a house rule about an off-grounds site they don't own or control.

My thoughts exactly.

I've been diving off the south end of the island, once at Lighthouse and 3 times at an unmarked site just west of it aways, and the reef was lush and we were impressed; that's why 3 dives at that 2nd site. That said and for any newcomers reading this thread, I would add:

We got lucky last time there with the weather and conditions being right for the south end, and like you, we found the reef amazing, mind blowing in fact, definitely the best dive sites we dived on the island.

 

[tursiops]

Having said that, I would not dive again with BuddyDive as they had one policy in particular that I disagreed with and still do - not a big issue but related loosely to what you can or cannot do there.

What policy was that?

 

[oly5050user]

What policy was that?

we have stayed at buddy dive too many times to count and never heard of that policy or seen it posted any where. dove salt many times with no problem. i'll have to ask about this when i see Augusto in September. i have taken groups there with bd staff knowledge and it did not cause any issues.

 

[drbill]

Just to clarify and be fair to Buddy Dive... although I wasn't staying there, the group I was diving with was. They may be subject to Buddy Dive's house rules. However, it was the arrogance of the particular instructor that really created the problem. There are ways to deal with such situations respectfully. He did not.

 

[T.C.]

We tried to dive Salt Pier last night and were rudely told by a guide there from another resort that we could only do the night dive at the pier with a guide. I know policies at Salt Pier have changed over the years following security concerns there after 9/11 but had heard diving there was no longer as restrictive now. What have been your experiences diving Salt Pier?

Bill, those guides were from Buddy Dive Resort and deserved to be publically humiliated!!! Zago (I think I spelled it right) the Buddy Dive Divemaster from Spain, deserves to be fired for his lack of tact in talking to guests, and the shop castigated for their attempt to hustle money from other customers! They tried this %$@^ with my group that same night (we were probably getting out when you were getting in) who told them they were "Number 1" and they (and probably I) are fortunate that I wasn't there (still in the water, looking for my buddy's GoPro). Few things set off my temper, but this was one!!! It took all my self-control not to immediately walk over in full gear at let him have it with both barrels!

Diving at the Salt Pier is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, per the employees of Cargill who gave a tour to some members of my group. They do NOT intend for there to be a guide, and since they allow public diving, I believe they DISCOURAGE the practice!


You can dive at the Salt Pier for free! Please, DO NOT PAY TO DIVE AT THE SALT PIER!!! Please, tell your buddies going to Bonaire- end this racket that a few shops have to extort money from divers!

I am actively working to get written confirmation of this policy, and will request this info be sticky-ed here once I have proof that these shops are actually the ones operating against company rules!

 

[tursiops]

Diving at the Salt Pier is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, per the employees of Cargill who gave a tour to some members of my group. They do NOT intend for there to be a guide, and since they allow public diving, I believe they DISCOURAGE the practice!

Maybe, maybe not. See post http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bonaire/482942-bonaire-bound.html#post7121940.

 

[T.C.]

Maybe, maybe not. See post http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bonaire/482942-bonaire-bound.html#post7121940.

I'm sorry, but your post is mistaken.

It is NOT closed to casual divers.
Harbormaster approval is not required
A local guide is not required. What is a "local" guide, anyway? The DM from Buddy Dive being a dive nazi is not a "local"- he's from Spain.
Passport numbers are not required, and anyone asking for this should raise a big red flag for identity theft.

There is (to the best of my research) no rule covering where US bound ships must/can dock; as there are thousands of ports in the world, and few are secure, and many are in Nations hostile or uncaring about the US, this rule fails the common sense test. It is impossible to enforce. So the idea that US security concerns are stopping you from diving in a foreign, sovereign Nation falls flat.

Second, diving is not allowed when a ship is present- so any security concerns are mute.

Lastly, this pier handles one cargo- Salt. The most a diver could do is attach a limpet mine to a freighter; you certainly couldn't carry anything bigger underwater. A terrorist looking to sink a salt freighter as a statement needs to go back to Achmed's School of Terrorism.

Diving is only restricted when a ship is there becasuse of the safety concerns. Nothing else, and diving is not restricted any other time.

There is no "jeopardy" from diving there- as it is not illegal. Stupid rules from a money-grubbing dive op does not make law. Buddy Dive can do absolutely NOTHING to stop you, as there is no law dictating this. All this is an attempt to extort money from divers by these resorts. PLEASE DON'T PAY THEM!!!

 

[jimbeeler]

Stupid rules from a money-grubbing dive op does not make law. Buddy Dive can do absolutely NOTHING to stop you, as there is no law dictating this. All this is an attempt to extort money from divers by these resorts. PLEASE DON'T PAY THEM!!!

Just FYI, I got back a couple of weeks ago from Buddy's and I don't remember anyone at any time saying anything about needing a guide at Salt Pier (we did dive it without a guide). The only "rules" I recall are bring the vehicle back with a full tank, don't crash the truck, return borrowed weights, pay $25 fee to STINAPA and dive the first dive on the house reef after the orientation.

I really don't remember any "rules" that anyone might have an objection to during my week long visit.

Jim

 

[tursiops]

T.C., you are always so sure of yourself! LOL
Beware, however, in applying logic to government regulations...
Enjoy some reading, attached.
The issue is that ships that have been to Venezuela in their last five countries visited, may not be permitted entry to a U.S. port.
My point in the previously linked post is the jeopardy for divers is very low.
You hate Buddy Dive; I get it. Chill.
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