Rough return time from Buddy Dive's morning boat dives?

[drrich2]

Hi:

I know the answer will vary with site. I'm trying to figure out a rough 'work flow' for planning a 7 day trip to Buddy Dive Resort (been there before a couple of times). In my prior Bonaire trips, I've only shore dove; never felt the inclination to set foot on a boat in Bonaire. But when I was working out the logistics for this trip, I noticed they had a special going on, where I could get 9 boat dives instead of 3, and up to a $75 restaurant credit (which I'll use; I've eaten around on Bonaire, usually get 'Catch of the Day,' it's usually wahoo or mahi mahi plus vegetables and so forth, and sometimes a fried calamari appetizer). So for very little added cost over the shore diving only package, assuming I'll eat supper at Buddy's quite a bit (which I planned on anyway), I can get up to 9 boat dives.

If I want to. And these boat dives don't count the park, I'm told; not using 3 credits for a 3 tank trip up there. Ah, well...

Question is, if I do a morning boat dive to Klein Bonaire, for example, any idea what time I'm likely to be back? I'd like to know when I can be in a truck heading to a shore site, so I can at least guess how many dives I can get in that day with good natural light.

Richard.

P.S.: Been to Bonaire before. Washington-Slagbaii Park is beautiful, waves crashing upon the rocky northern (park; think Playa Chikitu), eastern & southern shores are impressive, the donkey sanctuary is fun and the southern lighthouse is neat to see. I've been to Seru Largo, a mountain top with a Christian monument atop it, at night; there's a panoramic view online by day that's one sweet view. So I've seen the sites. This trip, I just want to dive.

 

[diversteve]

Q: What are your boat departure times?
A: The schedule will be adjusted according to demand, with departures generally speaking at 8:10 a.m. (1 or 2 dives), 10:10 a.m. (1 dive), 1:00 p.m. (2 dives) and 2:15 p.m. (1 dive). We have a night boat dive on Monday night.

I wouldn't think the Klein dives would be the time killer since it's pretty much across the channel from Buddy's and quite a few of the better sites are on the SE side - probably the far southern Bonaire sites are the longest run. It's gotta be close to 20-30 mins. down to the Lighthouse area even on a fast boat. Which Buddy has three of. Ask for Rappel, it's one you can't do from shore.

I can't speak for Buddy but diving from the Plaza we almost always were eating lunch or in the truck by noon after 2 dives. Sometimes 12:30.

 

[DiverVince]

I think the diving at Klein is generally better than the shore dives. Of course the time factor is whether you do one or two dives on the boat. I've watched the dive boats at Klein and they all generally follow the same pattern. Even if you're doing a 2 tank dive, the dive masters generally want to get back by lunch time. So between 12 and 2 usually not many commercial dive boats at Klein. Once they leave Klein the return trip is about 15 mins. We generally dive the northwestern & western sites since that's the lee side and hence a bit calmer surface conditions; ie Carls' Hill, Mi Dushi, Sharon's Serenity all the way to Monk's Haven. Conditions at Klein are a function of the wind direction and more importantly wind speed. If you've never done these sites, my advice is to go for it.
Notwithstanding my general favoritism for the Klein sites, I do second DiverSteve's recommendation to dive Rappel. We did several dives there last winter and they were all memorable.

 

[shrkdive]

If I recall correctly, Buddies does not offer a traditional 2 tank morning dive. They go out around 8:30 for the first dive. The site is usually picked based on the concensus of the people on the boat. They then return to the dock after just one dive to pick up and return guests before going out for the 2nd dive. If you are only going on the first dive then you should likely be back to Buddies by no later than 10:30.

 

[T.C.]

From when I was there in 2012, Buddy's posts three boat dives, a 8:30, an 10:30, and 1:00 pm dive. They post all three dive sites on a chalkboard with a limited number of slots. 16 spaces on the boat= 16 slots on the board. You sign up by writing your name down.

From my experience, the 8:30 dive is back at 10-10:30, the 10:30 dive is back at 12:00, and the 1:00 pm dive is back at 2:30. All dives are 1 tank. (The park trips are different) You have enough time for lunch if you're doing the midmorning and afternoon boat rides.

When we were there, our flow for boat dives went like this: 2 morning boat trips, then took the truck in the afternoon after lunch. Or; took the truck in the morning, had lunch, then went on the afternoon ride and did a shore dive at Buddy's afterward. This gave us four dives a day in daylight. My sister, a new OW diver, didn't want to do any night dives, so I didn't push it.

This will also use up your boat dive credits faster though. But with nine credits, you could do this for 4 days, and still take your last dive of the trip off the boat in the afternoon.

Of course, if all you want to do is dive, you could do a morning dive at Buddy's, have breakfast, the morning boat ride, do a two tank shore dive trip, have a sandwich as you speed back to swap tanks (provided the criminals didn't steal your sandwich/tires/truck, mug you and leave you bleeding at Bari Reef, which seems to now be common to some people ), then do another two tank afternoon shore dive trip, come back, have dinner, and do 1-2 night dives.

That's pretty hard core, too.

Hope this helps. When are you going?

 

[oly5050user]

Sounds like the package I have for a group in September. Boat may have a 2 tank dive,especially if you are in a group that takes up entire boat. Augusto (dive op manager) usually will set up groups boat schedule that way before you get there at post it on boards at dock. He is very efficient at this.
Diver Vince recommended good sites, all a short boat ride away. No problem doing boat dives and getting in as many dives a day that you want.
As to $75. Restaurant credit, it is really not a credit but a 50% discount up to $75 .. Example , spend $150. And at checkout it is reduced to $75. It is per person. Spend $100 you pay $50 at checkout. Makes lunch real inexpensive, for dinner maybe 1or2 times eating dinner there is ok, but you really want to go around island for dinner. Many choices to go for. For local type fare (and local prices) try Mi
Banana. Pizza is Pasa Bon or Habitat. Italian is Capricco's..breakfast is buffet style and included in you stay.
I have been there more times than I can count

 

[hroark2112]

We did 2 tank boat dives 4 days last year when we were at Buddy. Back before lunch every day. First dive was farther out, Klein or Karpata, second was closer to home.

 

[Doctorfish]

Buddys routinely did 1 and 2 tank AM dives last summer on weekdays. Back by 12-12.15 depending on how far we went out for second dive.
This allowed for lunch, a PM dive plus either a late afternoon or night dive as well.

If you are trying to maximize number of dives, boat diving eats up a lot of time. It is easy, however,
The sites on Klein are no better than truck accessible site in my opinion. We used to buy an 11 boat dive package and never used up all the dives so now tend to purchase 6 dives or a la carte for the week.

 

[tursiops]

If only for Rappel, you want to do a boat dive.

 

[drrich2]

Thanks, everyone. That tells me what I needed to know. I've heard the name 'Rappel' before, but of course never dove it. Sounds like one to look for.

Richard.