Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire Reviews

If you are a diver 5 points. The complex is designed for this. Bonaire is the world capital of shore diving and Buddy Dive has years of experience in the activity. They have dive boats embarked throughout the island and to the smaller island of Klein Bonaire.

Staff are useless and baby divers. Not great for the adventurous diver

Wasn't the best resort for the money. Mediocre food and service. The room we had was good.

Unable to book this directly when on a cruise ship - told to book with cruise ship. Would not do business with companies like this.

Rooms recently refurbished, very nice, especially bathrooms; same after we were moved.

Dive shop and dive operation extremely well run and organized; set up for convenience and efficiency. Somewhat uncomfortable with the "everyone's gear just goes in this big open room" approach, but it seemed to work: nothing went missing or was damaged when we kept our gear there for the week. The house reef is gorgeous and we dove here quite a bit. We did three boat dives and all were positive experiences on beautiful reefs off Klein Bonaire.

Front desk at the hotel was always friendly and helpful, but seemed in a continual state of mild disarray: as expected, groups arrive all at once so it took awhile to check in even though we had downloaded forms from their web site and filled them out in advance. Then we had to go back to the front desk for keys to the upstairs rooms, back to the front desk to sign up for wireless, back to the front desk for bar soap, back to the front desk to retrieve the diver information and liability release forms that they'd kept that were actually needed at the dive shop...

Apparently there was a leak in the room below ours and we had to move after a couple of days. However, they comped us four dinners to the Friday-night barbecue buffet which was lovely. Grounds and restaurants are very nice. We were told wireless might not reach the room, but it did just fine in both rooms throughout our trip. The mosquitoes in the evening were plentiful and hungry: definitely bring insect repellent. We also had a few cockroaches appear during our stay, but apparently this is not uncommon wherever you go on the island (or in the tropics for that matter). We were inadvertently double-charged for rental of BCs and regulators for the week, so go through the bill carefully upon checkout. All-in-all we had a postive experience and would stay here again.

Everything on this island is beautiful: diving, hotel, national park, iguanas, flamingos ....

Have been going to Buddy Dive for the last 20 plus years. Thanks for making each trip to Bonaire so enjoyable !!!

This is our first trip to Bonaire and we brought a group of our divers down with us. Good mix of technical and recreational divers in the shop was able to accommodate all of us very effortlessly.

It s impressive to see a shop down south offering stellar training and equipment to their guests.

But he has the first place I have ever been the same for my own personal dive shop and actually has their staff in backplates and utilizing great equipment in rental by Dive Rite.

They have singles, higher capacity singles, doubles, Rebreathers tanks, stage and decompression gasses available.

The resort was very well organized, very clean, great dining opportunities and a great place to grab drinks after the dives.

The dive sites around the island are beautiful, the island itself is beautiful, I would like to come back with a more dedicated technical group.

The drive and dive was a nice option. Will look to do some boat dives next trip. Windjammer awaits and the cave :)

Spent a week with Buddy Dive and completed the advance open water course. E-learning and then 5 dives with Buddy Dive. There were 4 in our group. William Baker IV was our instructor and he was the best. Took time to explain, making sure that not only did we know the material but understood the practical. Giving us local dive information, like what is the best way to get in and out at different shore dive locations. Great location and food! Thanks William

Resort organized, clean, and the staff are friendly and polite. They offer certifications for divers and the teachers are great! Highly recommend!

Dropped here after an upgrade . And what an upgrade. At 5 meters from the sunbeds and pool. Immediately with your mistakes in the sand. Equal to the sea and dive center on resort. 2 restaurants with good food and smiling staff. Room maybe a bit dated but great bathroom with lovely shower. Bed in order and balcony with good privacy.

Bonaire is made for rebreathers-- and Buddy Dive is the place to be!

Beautiful location and delicious with day pass enjoyed snack and drink. Good mattresses on sun beds..pleasantly priced

I loved being a Hotel that thinks about the comfort of its guests, that's why they are constantly renovating their facilities

Overall I rate the combined resort and dive operation as four star

The restaurants were reasonably priced and the food was always good, but a bit limited on choice.
My wife is lactose intolerant and they got in soyar milk for her. We did not ask them to get so far spread but I am sure they would have. However, whilst staff were very helpful they did not always know if meals contained milk or butter etc. They did try to produce alternatives but this was hit and miss.

Things to note gloves are not allowed on Bonaire without a doctor's certificate. There are 2 speciality courses which we did a coral reef conservation course and lionfish hunting. Both were good but you may wish to book in advance to make sure you get the most from them.
Other activities such as horse riding and a mangove kayak and snorkelling trip are available.
We will come again both to this resort and to see more of Bonaire.

Great diving. Get the drive and drive pig. Boat dives in am then take truck through drive through for tanks and go ashore diving. Easy to do 4 dives a day. Food good drinks good awesome staff in all areas.

A resort that is completely focused on the diver.
With very good facilities for the diver (and the non-diver)

To dive:
- Four submarines
- Storage space with private locks
- Beautiful house reef with easy entry
- Drivetrough (pick-up point for new bottles, games, etc.) unique and very handy !!!
- dive packages: boat dives or a pick-up for shore dives

General:
- Nice extensive breakfast buffet (view over the sea)
- A la carte restaurant and bistro restaurant
- Two different swimming pools
- beautiful inner gardens
- friendly staff
- hotel and apartments
- car rental

P.S Here the coral, unlike the Maldives, is still very beautiful !!

Excellent. Yummy breakfast, all Resort staff super attentive. Cylinders available at will. Spacious and clean accommodation.

Good place, rooms have A/C full kitchen stocked with pots and pans, dishes, silverware. Hit the local store downtown to stock up on water, beer and food.
Oh and you can drink the water from the sink.

One of the best hotels specializing in diving ... I highly recommend ...

Nicely set up resort. Didn't stay in one of the accommodations, so can't judge about that, but the rest looked really nice. Had some pizza and it tasted really good. Friendly staff as well.

They got a really nice restaurant Whit nice people.

Best time of my life it really is about the kids the instructors are the nicest the food is the greatest the activities are the phenomenal. I would recommend this to anyone.

Excellent location! Boat dives were great, and the house reef was great!

Great setup for divers, close to everything and amazing diving!

Awesome hotel for divers! Apartments with plenty of room (including room to dry your scuba gear), all you can use cilinders of air and nitrox. In front of the hotel its a excellent location to dive and you can dive there day and night. Good food at breakfast and at the local restaurant.

Buddy Dive is very well organized for divers
Smooth operation that accommodates large groups and individuals. Can be a bit congested at the beginning of the week but people fall into the routine quickly.

Great diving
A/C only in bedroom
Good crew

The best resort I've been to for scuba. Everyone is friendly and helpful.

Outstanding dive staff and diving. Accommodated our large group