Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions

wearypanda · 27th March 2008, 23:03

I am planning to travel to Bonaire In October for the first time. I will be with my wife and two of my boys (10 and 14). Both boys snorkel, one of them has his Junior OW but will not want to dive every day. My wife does not dive.

I think I have narrowed my choice down to Buddy Dive and Captain Dons. Tripadvisor has very mixed reviews of both resorts. I would appreciate any feedback from those of you have stayed at either (or even both) of these resorts.

Also, do you think I will have any problems finding a buddy (preferably CCR, but I am happy to dive with OC too)?

Finally, can anyone confirm (or deny) that it is possible to rent 3ltr Inspo tanks?

Thanks

Andrew

cubixy2k · 28th March 2008, 01:23

I just stayed at buddy dive for 9 days in Feb, it's great there!
We were a big group (32 of us) but we met tons of other people while we were there, so I really doubt you'd have a problem finding a buddy. They also have a board where you can put your info for finding buddies.

Captain Dons is right next door, theres a TDI instructor there, Walt (he did my Advanced Nitrox cert), who runs RekTekScuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.) and dives an evolution unit. He does rent tanks, but email him to make sure they are availible. He'll probably be the place to go for scrubber and O2 fills as well.

I haven't stayed a Captain Dons, but both are nice. I'd recommend Buddy dive just because we had a blast there.

Have a great timem hope it helps!

-AJ

Tom Rose · 28th March 2008, 17:06

Last year my group stayed at Buddies, this year they went to Sand Dollar. During the dives last year I got my oxygen from Walter Stark at Capt Dons....he was great. I just walked over and picked up my stuff.

We were well pleased with Buddies but the group was not as pleased with Sand Dollar...

Tom

pabusk · 29th March 2008, 06:56

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tom Rose)

We were well pleased with Buddies
Tom

Same experience here, however did dive OC htat time so can't give any info on Rebreather consumables and O2 availability. They do Nitrox at Buddies but it's not partial blending so I guess for O2 you'll have to get to Cpt Donn's as Tom suggested.

Cheers,
Paul

PCDiver · 29th March 2008, 08:32

Another vote for Buddy Dive. Try to get on of the appartements on the Buddy Dive side, not the old Lions Den. I was told that they are much nicer.

Liesbeth · 30th March 2008, 07:56

Buddy is an excellent choice!
They are one of the few hotels who have it all: a small beach, house reef (great for snorkelling), nice appartments, lots of other activities besides diving, and a great bar where you can meet other people. You're in the centre of the island, so it's not too far to go diving either north or south, you're close to Kralendijk etc.
We haven't stayed at Captain Don's, so I can't compare...

wearypanda · 31st March 2008, 00:23

Thanks very much for your feedback. Much appreciated.

It looks like Buddy Dive is the one to choose. I get the impression that the rooms and pool in Buddy Dive are maybe a little 'tired' compared to Captain Don's but the service (particularly in the dive shop) in Captain Don's is poor or worse.

Certainly the diving looks excellent. Looking forward to visiting Bonaire for the first time.

dnscarboro · 31st March 2008, 01:04

Worked with Walt@ Captain Dons In Oct 07 he was great! The diving is great also..DNS

27th March 2008, 23:03	#1 (permalink)
wearypanda New Member Current Rebreather/s: Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Pelagian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 93	Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions I am planning to travel to Bonaire In October for the first time. I will be with my wife and two of my boys (10 and 14). Both boys snorkel, one of them has his Junior OW but will not want to dive every day. My wife does not dive. I think I have narrowed my choice down to Buddy Dive and Captain Dons. Tripadvisor has very mixed reviews of both resorts. I would appreciate any feedback from those of you have stayed at either (or even both) of these resorts. Also, do you think I will have any problems finding a buddy (preferably CCR, but I am happy to dive with OC too)? Finally, can anyone confirm (or deny) that it is possible to rent 3ltr Inspo tanks? Thanks Andrew
(Online)

28th March 2008, 01:23	#2 (permalink)
cubixy2k New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Philly Posts: 24	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions I just stayed at buddy dive for 9 days in Feb, it's great there! We were a big group (32 of us) but we met tons of other people while we were there, so I really doubt you'd have a problem finding a buddy. They also have a board where you can put your info for finding buddies. Captain Dons is right next door, theres a TDI instructor there, Walt (he did my Advanced Nitrox cert), who runs RekTekScuba (Rec Tek Scuba Bonaire - We do it silent. We do it deep. Techincal diving.) and dives an evolution unit. He does rent tanks, but email him to make sure they are availible. He'll probably be the place to go for scrubber and O2 fills as well. I haven't stayed a Captain Dons, but both are nice. I'd recommend Buddy dive just because we had a blast there. Have a great timem hope it helps! -AJ __________________ -AJ Pirate Technical Chief Mate Director of Plundering Operations Booty Investment Analyst & Pillaging Opportunity Specialist
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28th March 2008, 17:06	#3 (permalink)
Tom Rose Still Learning Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA,North Carolina Posts: 330	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Last year my group stayed at Buddies, this year they went to Sand Dollar. During the dives last year I got my oxygen from Walter Stark at Capt Dons....he was great. I just walked over and picked up my stuff. We were well pleased with Buddies but the group was not as pleased with Sand Dollar... Tom __________________ The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime I have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability I'll get it wrong the first time. www.atlimp.com
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29th March 2008, 06:56	#4 (permalink)
pabusk Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Holland Posts: 131	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Quote: (Originally Posted by Tom Rose) We were well pleased with Buddies Tom Same experience here, however did dive OC htat time so can't give any info on Rebreather consumables and O2 availability. They do Nitrox at Buddies but it's not partial blending so I guess for O2 you'll have to get to Cpt Donn's as Tom suggested. Cheers, Paul
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29th March 2008, 08:32	#5 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 962	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Another vote for Buddy Dive. Try to get on of the appartements on the Buddy Dive side, not the old Lions Den. I was told that they are much nicer. __________________ >>>>> www.submergeproductions.com dedicated to promoting technical diving >>>>> Check out our dive show video interviews and Wreck dive videos >>>>> Now also on iTunes and Zune
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30th March 2008, 07:56	#6 (permalink)
Liesbeth New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Antwerp - Belgium Posts: 2	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Buddy is an excellent choice! They are one of the few hotels who have it all: a small beach, house reef (great for snorkelling), nice appartments, lots of other activities besides diving, and a great bar where you can meet other people. You're in the centre of the island, so it's not too far to go diving either north or south, you're close to Kralendijk etc. We haven't stayed at Captain Don's, so I can't compare... __________________ >>>>> www.submergeproductions.com dedicated to promoting technical diving >>>>> Check out our dive show video interviews at http://www.submergeproductions.com/A...nterviews.aspx >>>>> Wreck dive videos http://www.submergeproductions.com/A...omthedeep.aspx
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31st March 2008, 00:23	#7 (permalink)
wearypanda New Member Current Rebreather/s: Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Pelagian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 93	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Thanks very much for your feedback. Much appreciated. It looks like Buddy Dive is the one to choose. I get the impression that the rooms and pool in Buddy Dive are maybe a little 'tired' compared to Captain Don's but the service (particularly in the dive shop) in Captain Don's is poor or worse. Certainly the diving looks excellent. Looking forward to visiting Bonaire for the first time.
(Online)

31st March 2008, 01:04	#8 (permalink)
dnscarboro New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 36	Re: Bonaire - Resort recommendation and questions Worked with Walt@ Captain Dons In Oct 07 he was great! The diving is great also..DNS
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