Dive Review of Buddy Dive in
Bonaire

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Buddy Dive, May, 2009, by Jan Culbertson, WA, USA ( Reviewer 3 reports). Report 4942.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I had heard that another hurricane had hit Bonaire. The last one did quite a bit of damage - but I think this one did more. Basically there is not much to see in many sites until you break over the reef. Snorkeling is just about non existant anymore. One of my favorite dives - Oil Slick Leap - really took a hit and really has been destroyed. There is lots of sand in the shallows that has covered up anything left in many sites. There is lots of building going on on the island - many of the locals we talked to were not too happy about it - they think it is just a big waste. I hear more cruise ships are coming in, not sure why, unless Bonaire changes some of its shopping policies - when we were there downtown was "closed" for 3 days straight due to holidays and festivals - then the locals complain that the cruise ships don't buy anything... That said, I love Bonaire, I love the diving, the resort, the freedom to go where I want. I know it is not fantasy diving like Fiji - I come knowing that, but I cannot go a year without planning my next trip back. I have made over 20 trips to Bonaire - I just wish it was a little easier to get to - from Seattle it is a day long affair. I recommend if you take the Houston flight to reserve your room for the night before so you can be assured to have a room when you arrive - else you might be waiting until afternoon to get your room. The resort is in pretty good shape, needs a little paint here and there and some of the rooms could stand a real overhaul - our room had doors missing on cabinets in the kitchen and only 2 burners worked. On the flip side - the bathroom had a tub with great hot water and great water pressure. Food at the resort is good, a little spendy, but BDR had a special last spring where we got 50% off up to $75 each and that was nice. We never get the breakfast although it seems plentiful - and I don't blame them for being "breakfast spies" - making sure you don't take extra sandwich fixings for your lunch - or sneak an extra yogurt. We just make a joke about it when we see the ladies telling people they can't take extras. I am going back next spring - just can't stay away -
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, Curacao, Mexico, Belize
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive our profiles/computers - did not push any limits
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	There are 2 rinse tanks specifically for cameras at BDR. They are kept very clean and if they aren't, there doesn't seem to be any problem with changing the water as hoses are always available. The only issue - the tanks are small so if you happen to be rinsing when a boat comes in, your camera could get tangled up and hit by other gear. Most people I saw took care around other folk's cameras.

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Dive Review of Buddy Dive in Bonaire

Buddy Dive, May, 2009,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Buddy Dive in
Bonaire