Referral dive certification -Bonaire

[Blackrock]

Hi- (this is my first post to the boards)

My buddy and I are taking our girlfriends down to Bonaire to get certified in January. They will be completing the pool/classwork in the Northeast at a LDS. Does anybody have any suggestions as to which operations have the best instructors? One of the girls needs a bit more TLC than the other. Also, can you choose to stay at one place with a dive shop attached and use a different shop to do the checkout dives? I wasn't sure if that's poor etiquette.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dvrliz1]

Blackrock,

Congratulations! Most dive operators do "referrals". You will need to be sure your obtain your referral paperwork from your local LDS. Most shops have dive shops associated with "one stop shopping". It depends on where you stay, as far as the dive shop goes. All the major resorts have them. IMHO, all of the dive shops will be handled your request. My suggestions would be to talk to the dive shop of your resort, they will best be able to help you. If you are staying at a private rental, I would suggest the following 3 dive operators. Wannadive, Dive Friends and Bonaire Dive Adventures.

Hope this helps.

Liz

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

Loved Wannadive when we were in Bonaire!

 

[reefdiva]

What a great choice you have made to take your girlfriends on their first dive trip. We have used Wannadive and Dive Friends for air but have not really ever heard a bad thing about any of the shops on island. If you have not yet done so you might want to check out Bonaire Talk - The place to discuss everything and anything about Bonaire! for lots of info and opinions from Bonaire "regulars".

 

[Blackrock]

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll check into it.

I just found out about wannadive yesterday. I know they are cheaper than most of the other places, but does it show in the accommodations and facilities? Do they have a house reef?

We were thinking about staying at Sanddollar or Den Laman. I must say that wannadive is tempting price-wise though. Any first-hand info would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[reefdiva]

Wannadive has many locations on the island and also deliver tanks to certain places. From your post it is unclear if you are asking about their location at Eden Beach or Wannadive Hut. Wannadive Hut is not on the water. Eden beach is not under the same ownership as Wannadive but they have a shop there. I have not personally stayed at Eden Beach but do know that the units are not as new as Den Lamen and probably a bit more "basic" from what others have told me. The Wannadive shop there is great -- we have used them several times. The house reef at Eden Beach is a great rubble dive -- lots of little critters to find -- and sometimes has a bit of a current. If you do not yet have a copy of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy by Susan Porter you might want to pick one up. It has great info on all the shore diving sites including the "house reefs." It is available at Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, BSDME, Author Susan Porter