Solo diving on Bonaire

[scubadada]

I thought I would post this so people don't get surprised.

Bonaire is sometimes referred to as the home of diving freedom. One context is with respect to solo diving. One of the larger firms on the island is now discouraging / preventing solo diving unless you have a TEC cert or a solo diving cert. You then have to sign a solo diver waiver.

It was really disheartening to see a young woman whose significant other could not or would not dive, be told that she could not dive by herself. She looked very upset. We offered to have her dive with us, but she declined.

Solo diving is not for everyone, but if anyone does want to do it, perhaps they should do it in the safest possible manner. So, I can understand any dive op not wanting people to go solo without appropriate training or certification.

This hit home enough for me to get solo diver instructor certified once I got back so our people who want to dive solo don't run into this situation.

I can confirm what the OP stated. One of the BIG dive ops on the island is starting to strongly discourage solo diving, even more than discourage in some instances. We'll see how this plays out because I think it will be bad for business. On the other hand, it also may be the future rearing its ugly head and it is the beginning of the dive police. I hope divers headed for Bonaire ask about the situation and make a lot of noise if the answer does not equate with the diving freedom which which is at the heart of the Bonaire diving experience.

Chris and Jim,

Please name the operation. There are many good dive operations on Bonaire, this is a variable that would help some people choose among them. The operation in question would still be perfectly fine for everyone that has no desire to dive solo. I can't think of a good reason to not name the operator as this is simply a fact that you both experienced.

Thanks, good diving,

Craig

 

[redacted]

Or anti-solo. Why hesitant to post the name with the stated policy of a dive op.

Or an attempt to jump-start sales of a solo diver course.

 

[tursiops]

Fake news? Alternative facts?

 

[MikeT73]

Fart and leave the room.

Yeah, troll not to be taken seriously.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @divezonescuba and @lmorin

Is the solo diving restriction just related to boat diving? I can understand that they may want a solo cert for that, some operators in FL are the same. Or is it somehow also related to shore diving? I can't see exactly how they could enforce that

Thanks, Craig

 

[redacted]

divezonescuba

I can accept that you ment your posting as a public service anouncement and you are probably surprised at the pushback. I recommend you advise the Bonaire dive op you seem to be trying to protect that they need to publish their solo diving restriction policy on their website and not suprise customers with it when they check in.

As far as your withholding their name; what would you think if someone posted that a Houston area dive shop employee was selling customer credit card info? I mean just as a public service anouncement.

 

[LiteWeight]

It's Dive Friend's Bonaire. I rented a condo for my next trip and was going to get my dive package through them, but started getting @#$% about solo diving, and then they tried to sell me the solo diving course. They then told me the other operators on the island will be doing this as well. Needless to say, I booked my diving with another operator.

 

[scubadada]

It's Dive Friend's Bonaire. I rented a condo for my next trip and was going to get my dive package through them, but started getting @#$% about solo diving, and then they tried to sell me the solo diving course. They then told me the other operators on the island will be doing this as well. Needless to say, I booked my diving with another operator.

Thanks @LiteWeight Is it just their boat diving or somehow, shore also? They could have pretty good control of Bari Reef, especially, off the dock, but don't see how they could control your diving off site.

I have had 3 trips to Bonaire and have stayed at Sand Dollar and Den Lamen, but used old BD&A. I have not used Dive Friends yet, have been thinking it was a good thing they took over the BD&A operation. Not quite as sure now

 

[oldschoolto]

I'll drop a Email to my friend that runs a Dive Friends location... I'll get the truth from the horses mouth...

Jim...

 

[redacted]

To me, it does make sense for an OP that does solo diver training to require solo cert to gain their solo diver support. But I still feel the OP should post its requirements and restrictions on its website.

And it is a shame that a shop would support withholding such information from CUSTOMERS.