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Dive Review of Buddy Dive Resort in
Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort, Jun, 2011,

by John E. Keith, UT, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 31 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 6102.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was our second trip to Bonaire but first stay at Buddy Dive. It was an RCI trade and it trades much better than Divi Flamingo(two years ago). That may be because of the economy, however. We had a 2 bdrm upper apt overlooking the pool w/ocean view for a 1 bdrm trade. Only problem was a bit of sewer odor from one bathroom and whiffs around the outside of the apt. The tank drive through is great. Had wifi in the room, but that isn't true everywhere on the resort, according to the staff. There are some very fine restaurants in the city - much better than at the resort. Unbelievable was quite good. El Mundo's goat stew for lunch reminded us of Moroccan and was very tasty. Probably our favorite was lunch at the Bistro de Paris. Patrice, the owner, is great. The onion soup was excellent, and I had "Mediterranean bouillabaise" which was more like a fish stew, but Patrice was quick to supply my favorite garlic/saffron mayonaise with it. Yum! Did two 2-tank boat dives. Klein Bonaire had fantastic corals and critters and the main island corals were very nice, as expected. Boat dives were a bit of cattle-boats (12-16 divers with one DM per dive). They could improve this by adding a second DM, it seems to me. The DMs were great, though, given the size of the groups. Shore diving presented some problems for us - fairly strong surf on several dives, resulting in some skinned knees and elbows. The Boniare Dive Book's "Easy" can be deceptive with wind and surf. Back to Oil Slick Leap for several dives (probably the easiest that we found on the island). Still some of the best diving in the Carib and we will return (to Buddy Dive if the trades come up)!
Websites Buddy Dive Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Red Sea, Canary Islands, Cabo, Cozumel, Saba, Turcs and Caicos, Calif, Big Island Hawaii
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 28-29°C / 82-84°F Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 25-75 Ft/ 8-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions On boat dives, the DM wanted you to descend and ascend with the group, but other than that, you were pretty free to dive your own profile.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments My wife and I took the 1/2 day course on UWP from John at the photo center. We're just rank amateurs at UWP, but John's course REALLY helped. I would recommend it to anyone who is not happy with his/her underwater photos (color, focus, etc.). Worth every penny of the $75 pp. On other matters, there were always camera buckets on the boats and at the resort.
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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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