Resort Report: Buddy Dive Bonaire

If there was ever a Caribbean resort that deserved the title “diver centric,” it would be Bonaire's Buddy Dive. Every aspect of this oceanfront property seems tailor-made to the needs of divers and snorkelers, from the waterfront dive center with walk-in access to the house reef to the drive-through fill station that streamlines tank swaps for shore diving road trips.

Most divers aren't looking for five-star accommodations. In fact, it can feel a bit awkward to drag damp dive gear through the marble-floor lobby of an upscale resort. But at the same time, a well-rounded dive vacation calls for more than the basics. Buddy Dive finds that sweet spot with apartment-style accommodations that offer more space and amenities than a hotel room. Each 1, 2 or 3-bedroom unit have just been renovated and includes a private balcony or terrace, a comfortably-furnished living area and a fully equipped kitchen with microwave, stove and refrigerator.  There is a full-service dive center located on the waterfront, two swimming pools, a pair of restaurants, a pool bar, activity center and the aforementioned drive-through air fill station. The resort is fully family-friendly, with available child care services. In addition to diving and snorkeling, guests can enjoy a full range of both on-site and island activities.

Sitting right on the water under a thatched roof, with an open-air dining space, Blennies serves casual fare food for lunch and dinner, stages a popular Friday BBQ, and puts out a sumptuous breakfast buffet that is included in the accommodation package. Next door,  the premier Ingridiёnts serves up a special dining experience 7 days a week with Mediterranean cuisine accompanied by ocean views. In keeping with the movement to reduce the populations of invasive lionfish. Guests can also bring a lionfish catch to Blennies, where the chefs will do the cleaning, then serve up a tasty dinner. These dining options, combined with the in-suite kitchens, gives divers more freedom in their dining choices. Breakfast is ready whenever you arrive, so there's no need to rush or worry about missing a morning dive boat. Make snacks in the room, enjoy a casual lunch, and if the mood strikes, dress up a bit for a memorable dinner. In addition to the on-site choices, all the premier restaurants that line the downtown Kralendijk waterfront are just a short drive away.

The dive and aquatics center sits at the base of the resort pier, where it is optimally positioned for both easy shore diving access and convenient loading of dive boats. This waterfront facility includes a rental and retail area, fill stations, classrooms, staging areas for shore dives, rinse and shower stations, changing rooms and personal storage lockers. Filled tanks are staged by the pier, and there are always plenty of both 80CF and 63CF cylinders available for unlimited shore diving. A fleet of six modern dive boats provides daily excursions to dozens of premier sites along Bonaire's west coast and around the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. The dive center offers a wide range of training programs, from youth snorkeling, SASY, Seal Team and Discover Scuba experiences to advanced and specialty certifications. Divers who don't already have a Nitrox certification should consider adding that C-card as most resort packages include free nitrox fills for both boat and shore diving. Buddy Dive TeK is the island's premier source for technical and extended range diving courses through GUE, including sidemount and trimix. The Buddy Dive Digital Photo Center offers camera equipment for rent or sale, photo coaching sessions and PADI U/W photography/videographer specialties. The on-site Buddy Dive Academy is a PADI 5-Star Career Development Center, offering career paths with dive master and instructor development programs.

Bonaire is known as the shore diving capital of the Caribbean, and in addition to unlimited access to Buddy's Reef; guests at Buddy Dive can experience all the island has to offer with the Drive and Dive package. The resort maintains an on-site fleet of rental vehicles that includes 2 door pickup trucks for the 1 bedroom stays, 4 door pickup trucks for 2 bedroom stays, and vans for the 3 bedroom stays. These vehicles are ideal for carrying divers and their gear to the many roadside parking areas adjacent to marked shore diving sites. Access couldn't be easier, as divers can gear up on the tailgate, and make a short walk to the water. When it's time for fresh tanks, simply pull the vehicle into the drive-through fill station located near the resort's front gate. This area also includes a rinse facility and staging area. This allows divers to prep for the next dive without having to walk to the waterfront dive center.

Bonaire is home to some of the finest reefs in the Caribbean. But there's much more to discover on the island. The resort's Activities Center can help arrange a variety of water and land-based programs, from deep sea fishing and sunset sails to mangrove kayaking trips, mountain bike tours, windsurfing and sailing lessons and unique adventures such as cave snorkeling. Many visitors consider a trip to Washington-Slagbaai National Park to be a must-do adventure during any trip to Bonaire. This 14,000-acre natural preserve covers the entire northern end of the island, and offers hillside hiking trails and bird-watching sites, surf washed cliffs and sheltering coves that hide small intimate beaches. There are also several shore diving sites within the park. After a full day of diving or island adventures, the final treat of the day is a sunset over the waters of the Caribbean. Guests at Buddy Dive have a front row seat to this daily light show, whether enjoying the scene from a private balcony or sharing it with others during happy hour at Blennies Restaurant & Bar.

Caradonna Dive Adventures works with Buddy Dive to provide our customers with a range of special packages and incentives. One of our most popular packages includes seven-night accommodations, 6 days of 1-tank boat dives, unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox, breakfast buffet daily, 7-day truck rental including taxes, free WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel tax and service charges. To learn about this and other specials, drop us a line at sales@caradonna.com or give us a call at 800-330-6611. We'd love to tell you about one of our favorite dive destinations.