Buddy Dive Resort

The rooms were a real surprise: roomy, clean, comfortable, and well suited to divers. They made it easy to relax between dives. We came mainly for scuba, and the dive team made everything straightforward, from check-in and tanks to advice about sites and conditions. They were friendly, organized, knowledgeable, and keen to help. Having a truck included was a huge convenience. We could pick up tanks, drive to different sites, and fit in several dives a day whenever we wanted. The resort is well placed for getting into the water and exploring Bonaire, too. Buddy Dive Resort had everything I wanted from a dive trip, and I’d stay there again.

Sarah, the manager, handled a problem with work happening near our room with real professionalism. She and Ben were great, and the resort felt very focused on its guests. Everyone we met was incredibly friendly. We’ve visited Bonaire many times and love diving there. Buddy dive was new to us last week, but it’s a beautiful resort, and both diving and driving around were so convenient. We’ll return on our next trip, hopefully soon.

I ended up doing 13 boat dives with Buddy Dive, and the diving in Bonaire was amazing. The boat setup was easy to use, and the service and people were outstanding. Andy, Laurent, Ola, Guinn, and especially Melissa at the front desk at Belmar took great care of us. Our original plan to dive with another operation fell through. Melissa quickly put together a great dive package and even lent us a coffee maker since our condo didn’t have one. She and the whole team were amazing. I’d start with Buddy Dive if you’re looking for a shop.

The value is hard to beat if you dive 3-4 times a day. Buddy Dive makes it easy to spend your time underwater: check-in is smooth, the dive shop is organized, and the setup is clearly geared toward divers. The house reef is beautiful, and it’s a good place to get Nitrox certified. I liked being able to load tanks at the 24/7 drive-thru station and explore at my own pace in the truck. After diving, the rooms have space to rinse and dry gear, and the pool and bar are relaxing places to have a drink and watch the sunset. Breakfast was meh, which wasn’t a surprise. The atmosphere was laid-back but still social.