12  Apartments Available 

What makes Bonaire special? It’s an absolute gem!!

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• With an emphasis on sustainability and conservation, over 6,000 acres of coral reefs in the surrounding waters off Bonaire and Klein Bonaire are protected as part of Bonaire’s’ National Marine Park.   In addition, Bonaire has a robust coral conservation program overseen by Reef Renewal Bonaire.  Single use plastics are discouraged, and reusable grocery bags are a must (Hint: Pack a reusable water and grocery bag.) 

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• Combined there are over 86 unique and diverse dive sites on Bonaire (with few exceptions, most are accessible by shore) and off Klein Bonaire, a small non-inhabited island just off the west side of Bonaire, accessible within minutes by boat from Buddy Dive Resort.  

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• Besides coral reefs comprised of both soft and hard corals providing a habitat for bountiful reef fish, there are a few wrecks, most notably the Hilma Hooker, sitting on her side at 100 feet deep (accessible by both boat and shore). 

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• The East side of Bonaire is referred to as the “wild side,” as the winds and currents are stronger than those on the West side, however with the assistance of dive guides the East side offers an amazing opportunity to dive at Turtle City and view “the turtle highway” where numerous turtles migrate and seek rest.  The East side is well known for kiteboarding and windsurfing, where adventurers can arrange to take lessons.  

 

Where to stay? Buddy Dive Resort, a PADI 5-star resort of course!! 

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• Buddy Dive (as it’s commonly referred) is not only a diver’s favorite, but a casual and comfortable family-friendly waterfront resort, located just minutes north of downtown Kralendijk.  

• You literally can dive (or snorkel) all hours of the day at Buddy Dive’s house reef. Although the convenience of Buddy Dive’s accommodations and facilities make you want to stay all day at the resort, you absolutely do NOT want to miss out on Bonaire’s wonderful and numerous dive sites accessible by shore.  

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• As such, Buddy Dive has an on-site fleet of well-maintained trucks (Hint: some are manual transmission, so practice up your stick shift driving!!) which allows you the flexibility to set your own schedule, whether making a quick stop at the local grocery store(s), or explore all that Bonaire has to offer, including touring the entire island and visiting Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire (Hint: Caution Donkeys, among other animals, do run wild on the island). 

What to expect?  Comfortable Casual Atmosphere, Warm Hospitality, Amazing Diving, and Gorgeous Sunsets!!   

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• Everything within Buddy Dive is a short walking distance from your comfortable accommodations, which include air-conditioned bedrooms (at a minimum) and warm island breezes, at no extra charge.

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• Divers are assigned a dedicated lock and gear locker (usually two people share) conveniently located at the Dive Rental and Facilities area, where you will also find the Dive Shop and unlimited access to the house reef.   

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• After enjoying the included daily breakfast, which is served in Ingredients, one of two on-site open-air waterfront restaurants, it’s time to explore Bonaire and enjoy a great day of diving, site-seeing and/or relaxation!  (Hint: Ingredients becomes upscale dining at night – reservations are recommended!) Ready, Set, Go! – House Reef Diving, Unlimited Shore Diving, Boat Diving 

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• House Reef Diving. Dive right off Buddy Dive’s pier (24-hours a day!) Simply grab and analyze your tank and weights from the Dive Rental and Facilities area, retrieve your gear from the dive locker, kit up and walk or jump right in the crystal-clear waters off the dock! Afterwards, use the gear rinse tubs located conveniently on the dock, a mere few steps from the gear lockers. 

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• Unlimited Shore Diving. Get your pre-assigned truck parked on property, and head to Buddy Dive’s drive thru tank fill station, grab and analyze your tank(s) and head out to one of many amazing dive spots (notable favorites include: Salt Pierlocated on the south of Kralendijk, and Karpata north of Buddy Dive). At the end of your dive day, simply return your tanks at the drive thru and use the gear rinse tubs conveniently located at the drive thru. 

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• Boat Diving.  Make sure and sign up for boat diving at the dive shop. Buddy Dive maintains its own fleet of dive boats and employs an amazing and professional dive team! Simply grab your gear from your dive locker and walk a few steps to board the boat that leaves directly from the on-site dock.  After your boat dives, use the gear rinse tubs conveniently locked on the main pier before stowing your gear. This trip package includes 6 days of 1-tank AM and 3 days of 1-tank PM boat dives.

 

What’s not to love about Bonaire?

Bonaire, a diver’s (and snorkeler’s) paradise, coupled with a casual, warm and welcoming stay at Buddy Dive Resort, provides divers and non-divers with an excellent opportunity to experience a resort-based vacation. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join the First Coast Diver’s family and experience first-hand what makes Bonaire so unique and special!  

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Finally…. 

I have it on good authority (Lisa Green) that the trip will not disappoint, and First Coast Divers will have access to helpful tips and recommendations prior to and during our trip!  Lisa will be my co-trip leader for this adventure and her first-hand knowledge will surely be of great benefit to us all. We have only 12 apartments reserved for our group so secure your spot today.