OK. My son and I have plane reservations booked and we are staying at Divi.
We have less than 10 dives under our belts and will be arriving only with mask/snorkel/fins.
Where do we go to rent the scuba equipment and get everything else "handled" so we can hit the ground running, so to speak, and get a number of dives in our first day.

Hi, Stan! Head on over to their dive shop, Divi Dive, and they will do it ALL for you. Everything from rental to boat sign up to your Marine Park briefing and orientation dive.

Depending on when you arrive, you probably won't be able to dive your first day. You have to attend the diver orientation and that's usually first thing in the morning. But check out the dive shop and they'll tell you everything you need to know.

You will not be disappointed in the Divi. It is a great place to stay, dive, eat, etc.

More specific questions? Post here or feel free to email me kbaum@newarkohio.net

Thanks much

Hi Stan

You might want to purchase some sturdy soled dive boots for those open heel fins. The shorelines are mostly coral pebbles and rocks and bare feet would NOT be fun.

Stan, Boots are a must when shorediving. If you have open heal fin's and shop for boots make sure the boots fit into your fin's. Force Fin requires a 1 size larger with a hard sole boot. Try them out first don't take anybodys word. Rent a full (light 3mil)wetsuit aswell it will keep the critters off(no stings) and protect you from the sun.. A bad sunburn will ruin your day!!
Ron

If your at Divi, it's very easy to get hooked on boat dives.All you have to do is sign up and show up at the dock with you stuff after orientaion and get on the boat.It is so easy and the boats are never cattle car. The divemasters know where the critters are and I love going along with them. The ride out to the reef and the dive sites are never long plus you get to meet other divers and improve you skills.
I suggest it to new divers so that they can orient themselves with Bonaire's reef, then go it alone later.The boats go to many dive sites. Don't miss the ones on Klien.So much easier than shore diving ,though on Bonaire it is much easier then other places.
The Calabass reef in front of Divi is my favorite place to dive. Lots of fish and coral. Just jump in and go to the left a bit past the little sunken boat and big anchor and look in the blue about 60 feet. Chances are you will see the Tarpon that hang around.They swim right at you. Always see something new. Take a look under the docks too.
It's a great place for new divers. We learned how to dive there many years ago.Great staff.

Stan,

I don't know the setup at Divi, but it never hurts to send an email before you arrive, explaining what you need and when you want to dive. Arriving and seeing a board with full dive boats all week would be a poor way to start your vacation.

Sue

Can anyone jump in at Calabas, or should you ask permission at Divi's? Same question for any house reef.
Toos

Toos, its good idea to ask before using some ones facilities. It gets you known and you could pick up some useful information, it also shows your polite and considerate.

Just north of the Divi is a public beach and jetty, any one can enter there and its the same reef.

Have fun
Dave

Toos, The public beach(Cha Cha) just north od the Divi is where we stay when on Bonaire. Dive-Inn has a diveshop and 7 studio apartments right on the sea. Have been to most of the resorts over the years and we like to eat at a different restaurant in the evening. The apartments have a kitchenette and hot showers and a beautiful community porch for sunsets and the price is right. I like to suitup walk across the narrow street and on the reef.. www.diveinnbonaire.com Not trying to hussle business for Babs but neet is neet... Ron

Dive-Inn also has a diveboat and rental gear on site...... Ron

Thanks to you all.
My son and I are going in June so I'll "report back" on our experience.....

When you sign in at the dive shop they ask you what to need to rent. The dive boat signups are open for the next morning when you get back from the morning dive, ditto for the afternoon dives.
Any large groups have their own assigned boat(s) so they don't impact the solo to small group divers. Just listen to the briefing that occurs before each dive and for the first boat trip or two let the dive master and guide that you are newer divers and wish to go with the guide. He/she will keep an eye on you and show you where things are on that dive. Your first dive will be off the one of the docks and while they call it a check out dive, it is to check out your gear and weight amounts, no one goes with you If you are overweighted, it is easy to go right back to the steps and take off some weight by removing a small weight or trade for a lighter one that is in a stack by the tanks. The reverse, of course, if you are underweighted. That way you are in good trim for your boat dives.

If you contact the dive office that you are going to deal with before you get to Bonaire very often you can have a lot of questions answered for you (what time is the dive briefing, when do the boats go out, do they have lockers, what are prices.....)all that detail stuff. Plus if you don't know who you would like to go with (if there is no 'house' dive shop) then you can compare shop. But if you are trying to get in the water right away it will save you some precious time- they will even suggest a time to help avoid big rush hours if you need to rent stuff- they want to give you the best service and make sure that you feel comfortable.
For instance, (whoever is at) Sand dollar used to have the AM dive briefings at 0900!!(and if you missed it- then you came back the next day.) and when we went with photo tours they were much more relaxed about when we came in. (Now before you all get excited- I said they USED to do that- years ago when I was a new diver- or maybe it was just because they took one look at me....and thought "uh oh".) I'm sure that all are there to make sure that we have the best and safest of diving times. But do your homework- sometimes you can even get an unofficial 'special' (and print it off and bring it with you of course!!)

Stan, I am a big Divi fan. I expect you will have a great time diving with them. You don't say if you plan to do boat dives or not. I recommend them since you are new divers, for the same reasons Lorraine stated. Our first dive vacation was to the Divi, newly certified, and our then 12 yr old son dove as well. How old is your son? If you do the boat dives, you will have the choice of two boats going out. They state where the dives will be, but also may say Captain's choice. Talk to the DM's and/or the dive shop manager before signing up for which boat, and point out that you are new divers. I recommend you be sure to dive Klein, and Salt Pier if you can. On your first day on island tell the shop manager you will want to do Salt Pier andf at all possible he'll arrange it to happen before your week is over. If there are too many on the boat they can't do the Salt Pier. And think abut whether or not you want to do the Hooker. It was recommended to us that we not do the Hooker on our first trip because it is a deep dive and we were still too new. Just something to think about. In between and after boat dives you can do shore dives right off the Divi docks. We have been back many times and love it. If you feel up to it, try a night dive. Ask about doing a night dive at Town Pier with one of the Divi DM's. I think they charge $20 each. Or if you prefer, sign up with Dee to do a night snorkel of the Town Pier. As a diver I did not think the snorkel would be as good as the dive but gave it a try. As she points out, the divers are all looking up the pilings. The snorkelers don't miss much. She's right, it was an awesome snorkel. I am not sure what she chargers but she is great - points out all kinds of things!! Enjoy every moment of your trip !!