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Diving Bonaire: Bonaire Dive and Adventure
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2008-2009: Archives 04-01-2009 to 07-31-2009: Bonaire Dive and Adventure
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 7:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I just wanted to post a VERY Positive experience with BDA, as all i have read previously was a few negative experiences.

Peggy is a great instructor and a great DM, if you need to get certified she is the one to go to.

Jerry is a terrific DM, his knowledge is astounding!

The dive shop is decent and has most needed items, their rental gear is in great working condition and the prices are very reasonable.

Bari Reef is a terrific place to dive, day or night.

Two huge thumbs up for BDA.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brenda boates (BonaireTalker - Post #92) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 12:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Isn't it great to love the place you chose to stay?! For so many, trips are a far and few between experience. Thanks for your post, I love Bari reef(only place I've seen juvi, (2") squid). Also the burgers at their restaurant, yummmmmmm. Never stayed at Sand Dollar, we park our butts next door!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elizabeth Barna (BonaireTalker - Post #87) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 6:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I dive with BDA every year. That should say something right there. The staff is great. We stay at Bonaire Seaside Apts with Yellow Submarine next door (nothing against them) but always dive BDA.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ChicagoRandy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #900) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 10:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

+1 on very positive view of BDA with the following "caveat":

I've enjoyed a very positive view of every dive shop on Bonaire I've either visited or dealt with directly while staying at a resort.

Perhaps some of that stems from a personal approach to my very limited vacation time or financial capability. We get to be on vacation on an island 'paradise', everyone else at the resort is working for a living at giving us the best experience they can. Cut them some slack when things don't go perfectly for you, lighten up already! Enjoy the weather, look at the ocean, have a frosty cool one, whatever.

I also recognize that there are folks out there who were they to be given a bar of gold would whine about how heavy it was. the saddest thing about them is that wherever they travel, they bring themselves along for company.

Every day above ground is a good one....every day on an enchanted island is a GREAT one.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1127) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 12:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Speaking of BDA, is it true they won't let you dive Bari off their dock now unless you're staying close by or something?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ABCdivers (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Marcus, the answer is true.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30273531&l=837abde5d7&id=1025990581

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elizabeth Barna (BonaireTalker - Post #89) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 1:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I don't always stay at Den Laman but I register with BDA and buy my air package from them every year. I think to ask them would be the thing to do.

My facebook profile picture taken at the Hilma Hooker
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30273531&id=1025990581#/photo.php?pid=30327079&id=1030157701

I miss Bonaire - Need a vacation!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1128) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 1:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Duchan (BonaireTalker - Post #66) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 1:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You can still dive Bari Reef just enter the water at some point on either side of the dock.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leo Irakliotis (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #268) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 4:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Marcus, they will not let you use the dock, the rinse tanks, and their benches but you can still dive Bari, if you enter from the little sandy patch to the south of the dock.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs - is on Bonaire!!! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8488) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

So when did this change? Last year, you just had to go in the dive shop, fill out a form and you could dive from the dock.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #273) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Since yer on Bonaire right now, wander down to BDA tomorrow and get some updated factual info for us, if you will.
Maybe just wander in wearing street clothes rather than in dive gear looking like you're ready to get wet.
Maybe the answer depends on how you approach the folks who run the place?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By *Tink* (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #302) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom, LOL!

Tribs, just show them your boxing glove:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thom Wright (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 5:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

So what's so difficult with the shore entry? I regularly do a dive from that "sand patch" to Buddy dock. I don't see that doing a shore entry is really any more difficult than doing a pier/dock entry.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs - is on Bonaire!!! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8489) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 6:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Actually Tom, I am headed there tomorrow morning so I will ask. I was just wondering if any one knew.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thom Wright (BonaireTalker - Post #44) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 6:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tribs, you might want to try the one way dive from that sand patch to buddys as a night dive. It's my favorite dive.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By *Tink* (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #305) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 7:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thom, you will get "sand" on yourself and gear, booties, entering at that horribly, terribly difficult sand entry ;-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #643) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Update on BD&A. They ask that divers do not use their facilities (docks, rinse tanks or beaches) but enter instead from the area of Front Porch.

There will soon be an update page on the BSDME web site which will keep you up to speed on items such as this. Let you all know when it comes together.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1129) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 8:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Leo. It will be cool having this kind of info on the BSDME website.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs - is on Bonaire!!! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8494) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 10:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Susan! We have to get together - soon! Thanks for the information. Entering at Front Porch is easy peasy. However, I never seem to make it to Bari when I go in there. Too much to see right there. :-)

 


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