AndoCleophus
New member
heading to Bonaire for a month to become an instructor, was wondering what people thought were the best dives they have done while their. I'll be doing a ton of dives, but thought i'd get some insight from folks.
Bonaire
- Thread starter AndoCleophus
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AndoCleophus
New member
I'll be diving out of the Buddy Dive Resort. they had a great offer (Go Pro Package), currently I have only OW cert, so they'll be taking me from that basic diving cert, all the way to Open Water Instructor.
Looks like 2 of the 3 that you mentioned are ones I'll be going to...Buddy Reef is the house reef where i'll probably get sick of, i hear it has amazing amounts of life there. And the Hilma Hooker is part of my AOW requirement dives.
What dive outfit did you go through.
Looks like 2 of the 3 that you mentioned are ones I'll be going to...Buddy Reef is the house reef where i'll probably get sick of, i hear it has amazing amounts of life there. And the Hilma Hooker is part of my AOW requirement dives.
What dive outfit did you go through.
ShellsSD
New member
No dive outfit. We stayed at Buddy Dive Resort. Part of the package is a truck and you just drive through an area, pick up tanks and head out where ever you want to dive on the island.
You schedule your own day and do as many dives and you want and your own pace.
In my opinion there is no need to boat dive in Bonaire, unless you want to go to Klien Bonaire.
I have dove many places around the world and Bonaire is way up there. Great place to dive.
You schedule your own day and do as many dives and you want and your own pace.
In my opinion there is no need to boat dive in Bonaire, unless you want to go to Klien Bonaire.
I have dove many places around the world and Bonaire is way up there. Great place to dive.
Hilma Hooker, but get there early in the morning before the vis is ruined.
Alice in Wonderland/Angel City both of these are double reefs, so a little different than most of the diving
Red Slave, expect to fight a decent current, but it's worth the effort
I didn't make it up to the dives in Salaagbi, but i've heard those are good, but more difficult to reach.
To be honest, there really isn't a "bad" dive to be had. We stayed in the small resort on the other side of Sand Dollar Condo's from Buddy and did many dives on both of those house reefs as well. A good dive is any dive you get to run at your own schedule
Alice in Wonderland/Angel City both of these are double reefs, so a little different than most of the diving
Red Slave, expect to fight a decent current, but it's worth the effort
I didn't make it up to the dives in Salaagbi, but i've heard those are good, but more difficult to reach.
To be honest, there really isn't a "bad" dive to be had. We stayed in the small resort on the other side of Sand Dollar Condo's from Buddy and did many dives on both of those house reefs as well. A good dive is any dive you get to run at your own schedule
LOVE Bonaire!!!!!! Our group in Nashville chartered an entire 727 and flew directly there with no layovers! Awesome shore diving all week long. Saw octopus, Seahorses (salt piers) did wreck diving, Swam with turtles! Loved every minute. One of our favorite Carribean Dive destinations. Just My little rant. 
PS Did it over New Years and Watched the firework from under the water. too much Fun!
PS Did it over New Years and Watched the firework from under the water. too much Fun!
Of course, as a PADI Course Director (inactive for about 15 yrs now) I cannot say that taking such an IDC instructor course with only an OW Cert is a good idea... even though they say they will get you through all the requirements in a month... simply not a good idea... unless you have several hundred dives under your belt BEFORE you go to Bonaire, in a wide variety of circumstances and environments, including night dives, wreck dives, cold water dives, merky water dives, high seas, flat seas, fresh water, etc etc etc.
That said, some of the best shore diving in the world can be had at Bonaire... I used to own a condo there and we went at least 4 times a year... there is a great wreck, albeit very deep beyond recreational limits, called the Windjammer, which is perhaps one of my favorite wreck dives ever... and there are even richer cave dives on the island... pink beach is great... as a shore dive, but all are fabulous...
Go and have fun, but as I have qualified this comment, be careful, and do not assume that just because you have a certification it means you are as qualified as others with far more experience...
Of course, I know many divers with only OW certs that have thousands of dives under their belt, but usually they would be well served by taking a couple of more courses, as it hones the skills and reminds one of safety issues...
Good luck...
That said, some of the best shore diving in the world can be had at Bonaire... I used to own a condo there and we went at least 4 times a year... there is a great wreck, albeit very deep beyond recreational limits, called the Windjammer, which is perhaps one of my favorite wreck dives ever... and there are even richer cave dives on the island... pink beach is great... as a shore dive, but all are fabulous...
Go and have fun, but as I have qualified this comment, be careful, and do not assume that just because you have a certification it means you are as qualified as others with far more experience...
Of course, I know many divers with only OW certs that have thousands of dives under their belt, but usually they would be well served by taking a couple of more courses, as it hones the skills and reminds one of safety issues...
Good luck...
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