Question about Bonaire...

[RJP]

You're renting a truck, right? So you drive up, grab 6 tanks (if "we" means 2 folks) and go off and be happy. Swap them out the next day...

Only three dives a day? Why even bother!

 

[Warmwater Wank]

Nah, I was thinking more like who cares if an operation is open 24 hrs or not? Grab 3 tanks apiece before the op closes and do some night dives and/or a dawn dive. Point being w/ some minor planning you can always have tanks (they are so casual about it all, you just help yourself). And sure, things aren't that far away on Bonaire but do you want to be driving or diving? A dive op close to where you are staying makes sense when you get a bit bagged out (from 6 dives a day right?) and it's "Jeepers, we forgot to swap tanks out...".

Another plus (there are bunches!) is that not only is Bonaire fairly small (a 20 mile or so stretch covers a pretty big selection of the dive sites) but it's also not heavily populated (maybe 14-15k+ folks total--when a cruise ship isn't in?). That's a lot of why it's so relaxing--no hordes. You get spoiled fast though. 1 or 2 other pickups pull up at a dive site and you might start thinking overcrowding...Dang. Serious PBD here and no way to go back before November. ~~sigh~~ // ww

 

[diversteve]

Jack:

Diving programs and different packages at SunRentals are offered by Buddy Diving.

Sunrentals is Bonaire's only official property rental agency.

When you stay at BelMar (the other Buddy dive location) you can change tanks at Buddy's north also. So I assume your deal would be similar.

Also, someone correct this if I'm wrong, but afaik the drive-thru at Buddy's is NOT open 24hrs.

 

[herman]

Jack:

Sunrentals is Bonaire's only official property rental agency.

When you stay at BelMar (the other Buddy dive location) you can change tanks at Buddy's north also. So I assume your deal would be similar.

Also, someone correct this if I'm wrong, but afaik the drive-thru at Buddy's is NOT open 24hrs.

Unless things have changed recently you are correct, the dive thru (and the dock) air stations are not open all night. The drive thru closes at 5 and the dock at 9ish but there are ways around the closed dock station, anyone who has stayed at Buddy knows what I mean.

 

[JackSpearo]

yea the drive in is only open from 8-5

but they told me they have a 24 hour tank room available

I think I'm gonna go with buddy dive

I think it's really close, and from what I've read it sounds really reliable and such...

but is the drive in only for air?

thanks

 

[flatwood]

The drive thru is for air and nitrox. They're both at the same place, just different buildings. If you do night dives from Buddys dock, they also have nitrox and air on their docks so you don't have to haul them from the drive thru. All they ask is that you don't take the tanks from the dock and go on a road trip with them.

 

[diversteve]

yea the drive in is only open from 8-5

but they told me they have a 24 hour tank room available

I think I'm gonna go with buddy dive

I think it's really close, and from what I've read it sounds really reliable and such...

but is the drive in only for air?

thanks

You'd be wrong, actually your house (Beaurang) is 2.5 miles south of the Buddy Dive drive thru. And the shortest drive north through town - can be a hassle if the cruiseships are in town since they dock slightly north of you at Town Pier. Until you get familiar with the "backroads" the main street going north to Buddy's will be choked with tourists on cruise days - Kralendijk is a smallllll town..

Otoh, you're only 3/10ths of a mile from Toucan Dive at the Plaza. It's just south of your house. I think they have a facility in town somewhere also. We used them, you can park within about 50' of their tank fill to get tanks. Their Nitrox analyzer is in the dive locker area and I think it closes later at night - not sure though as we only used it during the day. If you're planning any boat dives, their boats are right there also. Yet even being that far south, they still do most of the good north sites, we did a couple dives on the far side of Klein and Rappel (boat only Bonaire dive) with them.

Although you'll find that nothing is too far away on Bonaire, we probably went by our condo a couple times a day. The main road pretty much runs along the waterfront north and south of town.

For those trying to place it, Beaurang is that big duplex on the water about 1/3rd of a mile south of the Divi. Right next to Richards...Just north of where the road turns toward the Plaza.

 

[DiveMaven]

I don't know about distances and traffic, but I do know there aren't any cruise ships on Bonaire in June/July when the OP said he'll be there.

 

[rakjar]

I will be staying at Buddies and have heard nothing but good things about the resort.

 

[OceanObsessed]

So how was the trip to Bonaire Jack? Do any freediving? Lets see some pics!