Bonaire Jul23 (Deposit)

What's the diving like?

Protected, sheltered and close. These three words explain why Bonaire draws divers back time and again to enjoy some of the finest reefs in the Caribbean. The entire island is surrounded by a zone of protection, the National Marine Park, and the western shore is washed in clear water and sheltered from wind and waves. Reefs begin just yards from the beach. Boat diving is relaxed and shore diving is as simple as parking and wading in. Ashore, the vibe is low-key relaxation and outdoor recreation, with a roster of adventures that includes windsurfing, mangrove tours, mountain biking, hiking and day trips to remote, surf-washed coves.

The majority of sites along the island's western coast and around the nearby island of Klein Bonaire feature similar profiles: Beaches or rocky shorelines are fronted by a coastal ledge that slopes gradually from the waterline to a depth of around 25 feet, then turns downward at a steeper angle to reach depths of around 100 feet. At some sites, coral growth begins right at the shore, while more often the upper ledge features a sandy bottom, with dense coral cover beginning at the edge of the drop. This profile makes it easy for divers to wade in and get comfortable, then drop onto the coral slope and choose their depth. Water temperatures range from the high 70s to mid-80s.

Where will you be staying?

Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire is a full-service dive resort and 5-Star PADI Career Development Center that has something to offer for everyone. Divers will enjoy a full-service on-site dive operation, offering a large variety of dive courses, a 2-lane air/Nitrox drive-thru station, 6 custom boats, and a full retail & equipment rental center. The choice of spacious studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments can easily accommodate single travelers, couples, families and dive groups. The advertised price is for 4 people in a 2 bedroom condo and prices may vary depending on room selected. All apartments have air-conditioned bedrooms, a kitchen and every bedroom have its own bathroom, plus a porch or balcony with views of the blue ocean or tropical garden. Complete with 2 restaurants, 2 swimming pools, and 2 raised sand beaches, you will have everything in place to make your (dive) vacation one to remember. The resort’s very own rental fleet allows you to explore the island at your own pace and a rental vehicle is included with each condo. 

Be Prepared!

Here's what to expect and a few tips

Included on your vacation;

1. 7 nights at Buddy Dive Resort.
2. Full breakfast buffet
3. Free Wifi 
4. Truck/Car Rental per Condo
5. Roundtrip airport transfers in Bonaire
6. 6 days of 1-tank boat dives
7. Free Nitrox
8. Unlimited Shore diving
9. Additional 3-1 tank boat dives
10. Hotel Taxes 

Not Included;

1. Airport transfers in the United States
2. Divemaster Tips
3. Meals other than breakfast

 Options

1. R/T Direct Air on United: $ 900 (approx)
2. Single Rooms or other room types - 
   (Other pricing available for these condo's)
3. Advanced Diver Course
4. Nitrox Diver Course 

 Tips and Info

1. If shore diving with a rental car, look for the yellow-painted and numbered stones along the shore that mark the entry point for each site.
2. A 3mm wetsuit, open-heel fins and thicker-soled boots for shore dives, a small tarp for gearing up from a rental car, and a water jug and towel for rinsing off afterward.

 Best Places to Dive in Bonaire

1. The Hilma Hooker is an easy yet impressive wreck that can be accessed from shore.
2. The pilings of Salt Pier harbor a menagerie of marine life.
3. Karpata combines abundant marine life with groves of elkhorn coral starting in shallow water.
4. Tarpon flash through schooling baitfish at Bari Reef.
5. On Klein Bonaire, Monte's Divi is a good bet for seahorses and Forest offers thick growths of soft corals and black coral trees.