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Dive Review of Bonaire Dive and Adventure in
Bonaire


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Bonaire Dive and Adventure: "Bonaire Dive and Adventure", Apr, 2016,

by David Smith, MI, US (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 8965.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A

Overall Rating
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments I am an experienced dive Pro who has taken my family of novice divers to Bonaire a number of times, this was our fourth and last outing with Bonaire Dive and Adventure (BDA) but first time staying at the Bellevue Condos
We stayed in Bellevue #4, reserved on line, the price was reasonable and the condo excellent. We rented a truck for the week through AB rental and took the unlimited insurance option since we had a truck stolen on our last Bonaire adventure.
BDA has an excellent location and infrastructure (24/7 tank access, securing gear, solid dock access to Bari reef one of the best sites on the island) but it is either too laid back or too reliant on the location and infrastructure.
The PROS:
Owners Andre and wife Katherine have a wealth of knowledge of diving and activities on the island which is useful if you can sit through the one time a day lecture that may screw you out of a day of diving.
There is excellent access to tanks 24/7 IF you plan accordingly and good security for your gear.
The CONS:
Orientation is only 1 time a day and so you may loose out on your first day of diving. It is done by Andre the owner who knows a bit about diving Bonaire and alot about drinking on it.
Our experience with BDA's guides on boat dives was 50:50 one guide was very good and went out of his way to point out marine life. On the second dive the other guide couldn't have cared less.
Biggest down side was the deal breaker for me, the tank PSI and Nitrox neither of which were anywhere near acceptable. Despite complaints during the week, PSI was consistently under 3000 PSI and Nitrox NEVER hit 32%, also most of the O rings on the Nitrox tanks are no good.
OVERALL: Location and infrastructure are GREAT but that probably lead to a disinterested staff not responsive to air fill and O ring issues. If you are looking for easy peasy access to Bari reef and tanks 24/7, then this is a great location for you. If you are on Bonaire and looking for consistent fills, don't need dock access to Bari reef or want any support, then go with Gooo Dive or VIP Diving, Bonaire Dive and Adventure may be past their prime.
Websites Bonaire Dive and Adventure   

Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Florida, New England, Great Lakes
Closest Airport Bonaire Flamingot Airport Getting There via Delta from Atlanta

Dive Conditions
Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 79-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 80-120 Ft/ 24-37 M

Dive Policy
Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions If boat diving back with 500 PSI
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw
Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Subscriber's Comments

By Greg Bruce in WA, US at Jun 30, 2016 16:37 EST  
Couldn't concur with you more. I just wrote up my own report recently and it sounds a lot like yours.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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