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Diving Bonaire: Open Water Certification
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2008-2009: Archives - 2008-08-01 to 2008-12-31: Open Water Certification
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bonairevirgin (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - 11:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Can anyone recommend the best shop to get certified? I've done discovery dives before but would like to get certified on our trip Oct. 25-Nov. 2. I plan to complete my classroom work online before arriving so I can hit the water right away.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #631) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 4:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I can't tell you which shop is the best. They are probably all good.
Personally I had a good experience with wannadive. My 11 yr old son got certified there this summer. My 2 daughters did discovery dives and learned a lot too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian**** - is it Friday yet? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4090) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 4:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Were are you staying? I would use the most convenient Dive Op esp. if there is one on site.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Bellevue Bonaire Beach ) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1695) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 6:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

D...There is a direct proportional relationship between the level of competition & quality of service. There are many dive ops on the island, consequently the level of service is generally at a high level (same as the restaurant scene).
If you end up staying in the Belnem area, look up Chrissie at Buddy Dive at Belmar.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6897) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 8:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with the above there is not a bad dive shop on the island (a bit over the top but not far from the reality). I was rattling off the dive shops in my head and thinking, I would send a newbie there without hesitation, Toucan, Yellow Submarine, Dive Inn, Divi, Caribbean Club, Wanna Dive, Den Lamen, Buddy Dive, Captain Don's, etc. All good to great.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue from NJ (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #802) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 2:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I will second Chrissie at BelMar. My 11-year old son did his entire course (including confined water dives & classroom) on the island with her in February. She was thorough and efficient.

Don't think she's a pushover; she told another family that their son was not ready to be certified, although he had completed his classroom & confined water training in the US.

The benefit of certification on Bonaire is huge, as the water is clear and warm (vs North American quarry) and shore diving saves the hassle & time of boat diving. You should, however, take a few boat dives after you are certified so you at least get a feel of it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed Reg (BonaireTalker - Post #61) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 11:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

if possible, also get your pool work done before you arrive in Bonaire and then you can do a referral and just have to complete the actual open water dives for your certification...PADI anyway

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #632) on Friday, October 3, 2008 - 2:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

3 of my children got certified. Only one of them had poolwork. If I remember correctly, poolwork is not mandatory on Bonaire, because of the clear water.
Last July, my 11 yr old sons first day consisted of basic theory, 2 hours poolwork, a walk from the pool to the ocean followed by a real dive. No more poolwork after that.

So if it is convenient for you to do the poolwork at home, you could consider doing that.

For me, one of the big advantages of learning how to dive on Bonaire (or Curacao) is that it is of good quality but laid back, only a 5 minute drive (and maybe not even that) to the dive shop and hassle free.

My son started studying theory from day one and had great support from his dive master.
The immediate feedback from his dive master was very valuable.
He had good results at his exam.
But……. It was hard work. Every evening a couple of hours of studying (his dad supporting him ofcourse. :-), which was kind of a refreshing course for me :-) )
So, there is something to be said to complete your classwork before arriving if you don’t want to “work” during your holliday..

Either way, you will have lots of fun.



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue from NJ (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #803) on Friday, October 3, 2008 - 9:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Since my husband & I are divers, we had both of our kids read the PADI book, complete the questions and watch the video before they arrived on Bonaire.

It also helped that my son had snorkeling on Bonaire on our 5 previous trips, so he was familiar with the reef and was already great with fish ID. He has also been around our dive gear since he can remember, so that also accelerated his coursework.

The one-on-one experience that you get from doing everything on Bonaire can't be duplicated in the classroom and pool 'up north', so I am a big advocate of doing it all on the island. (my husband & I did our Basic Open Water course entirely in the Florida Keys. That was exhausting, as it's a 30-45 minute boat trip to the dive site and we had 3-4' waves for our open water dives.)

 


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