Can anyone who has stayed at Belmar in the last six months tell me whether the dive boats depart from the Belmar docks or do you have to drive to Buddy's for the boats. Thanks Rick

Last dec. had to drive to Buddy for boats. Not sure if anything has changed since.

Last March, the boats came to the dock at Buddy's to pick up and drop off the divers

Boats don't pickup divers at Belmar's Dock. Have to go to Buddy's for that - just returned from Belmar in September.

It probably depends on how many divers are doing boat dives. They probably don't pick up at BelMar if only 1-2 dives but maybe would if 7-8 or more divers. Check with Buddy's dive center about this.

Andy, you're probably right. September is slow season...maybe not a full house? March was full, so they probably had more boat dives from Belmar...although we didn't do any ;-)

This is different from what we were told but I just read on the Belmar website "boat dives depart from our private pier."

Marcus, I'm thinking that during slow season, if they don't have enough for a full boat from Belmar, you have to go to Buddy's...thus no dock service when you were there in September?

When I was at Buddy Dive in July, at least three people from Belmar drove to Buddy's for boat dives.

Cyn, very well could be. Now I'm curious to know if they ever use their docks for boat dives.

Marcus, like I said, in March, the boat was picking up and leaving daily from the boat/dive dock...

You could go to the source and ask there:

diveshop@buddydive.com

Ron, that would be WAY too easy...much more fun to speculate...*tsk*

My bad, I take the fun out of it. Too long till my next Bonaire fix!

I just reread you first post on this thread Cyn. I must have misunderstood what I was being told by the Belmar personnel. I stand corrected. I'd check it out w/Buddy Dive Richard. Have a great dive!!

Thanks everyone for the input. I read on Belmar's site that they pickup at the Belmar dock. But so far everyone has had to drive to Buddy's. I will find out from Erika and post her response here so everyone knows, thanks again.

Erika is no longer at Belmar (she is at Sun Rentals), although Rob was still there in October. As I understand from past stays at Belmar (both when Toucan had the operation and now under Buddy), there must be enough people to justify a boat pickup (under Toucan it was about 6 people; don't know what it is under Buddy) and the sea conditions need to be acceptable for a boat to dock.

Ron, you are forgiven...LOL! Richard, is Erika still at Belmar? We've only seen Bob (I think that's his name) the head honcho at the Belmar op. Thanks for letting us know what they say!

Erika left Belmar in early October and is at Sunbelt Realty (correction from my earlier post). In mid-October Rob was handling the shop alone and Buddy was supposedly looking for someone else to support him.

Dr. Dr....thanks for the info. ROB, I don't know why I thought BOB...close! No wonder he looked a little "tired" when I was there in October!

Here is the other thing. If there is a wind reversal in December, which does happen, they will probably not pick you up as it gets pretty crazy in the surf. I have seen that in two separate Decembers, a big one two years ago. That's also when we unfortunately laost the father and son at Karpata.