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Dive Review of Buddy Dive Resort in
Bonaire

Buddy Dive Resort: "Buddy Dive and East Coast Diving in Bonaire", Aug, 2022,

by Michael Szathmary, TN, United States (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 12133.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments After a long hiatus my daughter and I got back into it with a trip to Bonaire. We stayed at Buddy Dive, just as we had when we were last there, twenty-five years ago. Much has been written about Buddy Dive and I don’t have much to add here except for the perspective of how they are now and how they were then. Twenty five years ago they were much smaller and more attentive. When there in 1997 we had the same DM for our whole stay (the late Murphyn, who is a legend there). Today the operation is much bigger and a lot less personal. It is diving for the masses, catering to the least common denominator.
I must add to their credit that they are doing a good job in growing and preserving the coral. They have growing stations scattered about and there are transplanted patches of staghorn and elkhorn coral that seem to be thriving. Hopefully it continues.
We also took a side trip to the east coast to dive with Bonaire East Coast Diving. The operation is top notch and you will not get a better briefing of what to expect anywhere. The ride out to the reefs did not rock and roll as much as expected; most of the trip out was in relatively calm water. Once in the water, the reefs were lusher, there were plenty of turtles, and the vis was average to poor. Worth doing at least once.
We wanted to get back in the water in a location that was relatively benign and Bonaire fills that bill. However, I prefer my diving to be from a liveaboard and that’s the direction we will focus on in the future.
Websites Buddy Dive Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, North America
Closest Airport BIA Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 60 minutes max dive time
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments Small bucket on boats, plenty of rinse tanks on dock.
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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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