Visit Your Buddies at the DEMA Show Las Vegas from November 19 – 22, 2024!  Buddy Dive Directors Barbara, Steffie, Paul, and Dive Operations Manager Martin, will be in booth 8051 to tell you about what is new at Buddy Dive Resort, our great group facilities, and of course the DEMA Special!

We can’t wait to inspire you for your next dive trip, advise you on how to prepare for your trip to Bonaire, and tell you about what highlights, above and below water, you should not miss when visiting Bonaire.

This is also a great opportunity to benefit from Buddy Dive’s fantastic DEMA Special (including an 8=7 group deal)!

Come and see us at DEMA in booth #8051. We can’t wait to see you there!

The Buddy Dive Academy presents… The 2025 PADI Instructor Development Course dates

Become a Dive Instructor on Bonaire at Buddy Dive Resort! The Buddy Dive Academy proudly presents the 2025 Instructor Development Course Dates.

February  9 – 21
April 13 – 25
June 8 – 20
August 3 – 15
October 5 – 17
November 30 – December 12

Has it always been your dream to dive every day and to share your passion with others while working in the most beautiful places in the world? Take the step and become a PADI Dive Instructor on Bonaire!

Buddy Dive Resort is THE place to go, to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. The Buddy Dive Academy has been offering PADI Instructor Development Courses for over 10 years. If you choose Buddy Dive Resort for your IDC, you will learn the tricks of the trade at a resort known for its top-notch diving operation for over 40 years.

Our Course Director Lars is a passionate diver and instructor and offers the perfect preparation for your career as a dive instructor. He shares his years of experience with great enthusiasm and will do everything to make you the best PADI pro you can be. Lars takes the time to teach you everything you need to know to become a great dive instructor. Our IDCs incorporate hands-on training sessions and practical workshops.

Buddy Dive Resort offers all-inclusive IDCs (including accommodation, meals, and everything needed for the IDC and IE) and basic IDCs.

Do you have questions? Or would you like to sign up? Course Director Lars is happy to help. Contact them by emailing coursedirector@buddydive.com. For more information visit: https://buddydive.com/diving/instructor-development-course/

AnouckAbout tec diving on Bonaire

Meet Anouck. Only 31, years old, she is already the Tec Diving coordinator at Buddy Dive TeK. She has been working at Buddy Dive Resort for over 10 years and leading Buddy Dive TeK full-time for the past 2,5 years. Our communications intern Joep was curious to learn more about tec diving on Bonaire, so he conducted this interview with Anouck… It is too good not to share it with you…

Can you briefly explain to us what Tec diving is?

Many people think Tec diving is only diving deep and outside recreational limits. Tec diving for me, is diving with a specific goal and requiring additional equipment and procedures to achieve this goal. Going deep or diving in wrecks is not that difficult, but doing it safely is the challenge.

How and why did you start Tec diving?

If you had told me at the beginning of my diving career that I would be doing this now, I would have laughed at you. I first learned about Tec diving during my Rescue Diver, Dive Master, and Instructor Courses in Thailand. When I first saw tec divers preparing for their dives I thought, that’s a lot of extra gear, that’s not for me. When I got more explanation about the projects they were doing, the procedures, and the use of the equipment, it got me. I realized there was a lot to see in the deep places I couldn’t go to now. Eventually, I got the chance to do a Discover Tec Dive. In Thailand, I didn’t have the funds to take the tec courses and buy the gear but was hungry for more.

Why did you become Tec-dive Coordinator at Buddy Dive Resort?

When I came to Bonaire, I was able to start my tec courses and have been tec diving a lot in the past years. I continued to develop and I have learned so much. I became the tec diving coordinator because the position became available and I not only love tec diving, but I am also very much interested in the logistics and organization within the tec department.

Can you explain what Operation CCR is?

It’s a yearly event specifically focused on diving with rebreathers. It is a great event for certified rebreather divers, but also a lot of fun if you are just interested in trying a rebreather for the first time. In the mornings our CCR-dedicated boats go out for 2-hour dives on the deep reefs and wrecks of Bonaire. In the afternoon there are usually tryouts and demos of new gear (new units, but also DPVs, etc) and during the evenings there are presentations and moments to socialize and get to know fellow tec divers. Later in the year we also host Bonaire TeK an event especially for tec divers.

What was your best Bonaire Tek/Operation CCR moment?

My favorite moment of Bonaire Tek and Operation CCR was when I got to join the tec divers in the water for the first time. I had been involved with the “dry” part of the events  – mixing gas and organizing logistics- and was beyond happy to finally join the tec dives.

What makes Buddy Dive unique compared to other dive shops that offer Tec diving?

I think the biggest advantages of booking tec diving with Buddy Dive Resort are the easy logistics and flexibility. We have a wide range of services available and since we have all facilities on site, we can deliver gas, services, and supplies/ equipment when and how guests like it. Our tec department with rental gear and gas blending station is located in our Drive-thru, which makes the logistics extremely easy.

Bonaire isn’t a very well-known tec diving destination. Can you tell us what makes Bonaire interesting for tec divers?

In my opinion, Bonaire is interesting for technical diving because of the amazing conditions and simple logistics. It is easy to find depth and the bottom contour makes it very attractive to do tec training on Bonaire. We regularly welcome guests for training or instructors taking students here to do training. The dives are beautiful with deep coral reefs, a few wrecks, and interesting objects at depth such as anchors from Bonaire’s colonial days.

What are your favorite tec diving locations around the island?

This is a difficult question, but I will list a few. 1. The deep wreck of the Windjammer, at 60 meters/ 200ft. It is an old sailing ship that was built when there was a switch between wood and metal construction and sail or motor-driven, with the result that she had the construction of an old sailing ship but was made of metal, so the wreck is in great condition. I also love deep dives at Red Slave where at depth you will come across several anchors that are full-grown with beautiful coral. On Klein Bonaire, you have a second reef system, which is untouched. It is so beautiful there. Finally, it’s worth going down at Karpata, which has an endless wall to dive along.

Why would you encourage potential tec divers to take his or her course with Buddy Dive?

I like the way Buddy Dive approaches the tec courses. We always thoroughly check the participant’s diving skills to ensure the course participants are ready to take the course and whether there is a good chance of success. If not, we help the students get ready for the course. This baseline check allows us to determine what we might have to work on. We focus on great basics, so divers remain stable and focused when they need to start multitasking

What is your most memorable tec diving experience?

That was during my GUE Tec1 course. During an exercise with my team, extra difficulties were imposed on us. Our instructor decided to give us even more problems. At one point, at about 30 meters deep, we only had one person left with a mask, only one left with a light, and we were all attached to someone else’s air. Because we were so comfortable with each other, it still went quite easily. The instructor was quite impressed afterward. Note: This stress training is conducted by highly skilled and trained instructors, who are trained to teach this kind of training.

What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen during a Tec dive?

I have to say that I love seeing the subtle changes on the reef and the corals on wrecks and the bottom around 70+ meters compared to shallower water.

What is still on your Tec Dive bucket list?

I do have a wish list that is getting longer and longer. I would love to travel to other places. Maybe not necessarily places, but other wrecks. I would love to go to Truk Lagoon and Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. I would also love to go to the Scapa Flow (World War I wreck) in Scotland. I am interested in history. All these wrecks have a historical story, and I would love to see it for myself.

Which tec course is your favorite and why?

That’s a tough question as I enjoy teaching all courses. I still find the Tec Basics the most fun to teach. I love laying a solid base that students will benefit from throughout all other courses and dives. When students pass the Tec Basics course, they can move on to the next courses with peace of mind and confidence.

What advice would you like to give to future tec divers?

“Take your time to build your skills and search for a high quality training facility. Take a few dives to practice and gain experience before moving to the next course. If, you don’t feel comfortable enough to take the next course, don’t do it! When choosing a training facility, go for quality over a good price or discount.

Bonaire TeK & Operation CCR at Buddy Dive Resort!

Due to the huge success of Bonaire TeK, Buddy Dive Resort added an extra week dedicated to CCR diving to Bonaire TeK. Tec divers and the ones looking to try tec diving… Do not miss Bonaire TeK and Operation CCR from September 28 – October 11, 2024.

During the most significant technical diving events in the Caribbean, you will get to enjoy demos and tryouts with the newest equipment, presentations from renowned names in the industry, and lots of amazing tec dives with likeminded divers. Buddy Dive will welcome guest speakers and presenters from Dive Rite, DAN, Silent Diving, the Dutch Navy and more!

During Bonaire TeK and Buddy Dive TeK thrives to bring together tec divers from all over the world, creating a community and initiating new partnerships.

Operation CCR and Bonaire TeK are great platforms for suppliers and retailers to show the best they have got to offer. Informing about their products firsthand and letting guests try their newest gear and equipment.

During the events, you will get the chance to try CCR diving, diving with doubles or have a test ride with our DPVs. The dedicated tec boats will go out daily for dives on the deep reefs of Bonaire – including the wreck of the Windjammer!

Besides try-outs and tec dedicated boat dives Buddy Dive will offer the Lionfish Hunter Course, early morning beach yoga, Buddy’s Beach BBQ, and many interesting presentations from several speakers.

Sounds good? Sign up for Bonaire TeK – September 28 – October 5 – and Operation CCR 2024 – October 5 – 11 or check out the 2025 dates on our website!

Visit https://buddydive.com/events/bonaire-tek/ or contact– reservations@buddydive.com or tekdiving@buddydive.com for info and bookings.

Come with me to Ingridiënts

True fine dining, I found it at Ingridiënts Restaurant. Are you ready for an evening filled with delights and culinary discoveries? Let us take you on a tasteful journey to Ingridiënts restaurant at Buddy Dive Resort.

 My girlfriend and I had a small anniversary, which we wanted to celebrate in a beautiful location with a dinner for two. Ingridiënts boasts one of the prettiest views on the island, and indeed not a word about it is a lie. Upon entering, we were blown away by the amazing ocean view. We were welcomed by a friendly waiter who led us to our table. We got lucky and got a nice table at the railing overlooking the sea. The waiter offered us water and home-baked bread for our hungry stomachs.

The Menu
The menu features a lot of variety between fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. This made it hard to choose, but it got even harder. In addition to the a la carte menu, there is a changing weekly menu. Our waiter carefully explained the dishes from the weekly menu, which could also be ordered separately. Picking our drinks was made easy. Ingridiënts offers a wide choice of wines but luckily the service was helpful, picking matching wines for our dinner.

Driving Cheese Wheel
For starters, we chose the ‘Wicked Tuna’ and the ‘Wahoo Sashimi,’ but the surprise came at the entremets. Since entering the restaurant, we saw the servers prepare a dish at our neighbor’s tables. It looked so impressive that we were eager to try it too. The waiter arrived with a large cheese cart to prepare the ‘Parmesan Truffle Pasta.’ The presentation alone was worth it! The pasta was prepared right before our eyes inside the big Parmesan cheese wheel. Our love for cheese came out again because it was breathtakingly delicious!

For the main courses, we ordered the ‘Spicy Seafood’ pasta and the main course of the week, the ‘Picanha.’ The pasta included the ‘Catch of the Day’, Barracuda. Both dishes were unbelievably delicious and perfectly prepared.

Warm feeling
After the main courses, we could not resist ordering dessert. We took the ‘Scropino’ and ‘Eton Mess.’ With our stomachs full, we were still enjoying our drinks when the manager came to our table. Susanne radiated a warm feeling; she was interested in how our evening had been. Maybe, this is just normal for her, but we were pleasantly surprised by her sincere care for us. It was the perfect end to our evening.

With its variety of dishes, excellent service, and beautiful ambiance with sunset, Ingridiënts is more than just dinner: it is a true experience! The dishes are very tasty, and the team gives you a warm welcome. What are you waiting for: start a culinary adventure at Ingridiënts Restaurant!

Buddy Dive TeK is adding an extra week to Bonaire TeK! Bonaire Tek is THE tec diving event on Bonaire, attracting tec divers from all over the world and manufacturers of the best gear in the industry. This year, Bonaire TeK takes place from September 28 – October 5, 2024. Big News! Because of the huge success of the event, we are adding an extra CCR week to Bonaire TeK! From October 5 – 11, 2024 tec divers can enjoy an extra week dedicated to rebreather diving sponsored by DAN and Silent Diving. Would you like to try CCR diving? Learn about the newest units on the market? Or just Join the CCR dedicated boat dives? Then make sure to be there!

Contact Buddy Dive TeK Coordinator Anouck for information or bookings.

Buddy Dive Resort celebrates 40 years of Hilma Hooker Diving with Hilma Hooker Week

 On September 12, 2024 it is exactly 40 years ago the Hilma Hooker sank. Buddy Dive Resort will celebrate 40 years of Hilma Hooker wreck diving with a week-long event, including presentations, dedicated boat dives and lots of wreck diving! The event takes place from September 7th to September 14^th, 2024.

The Hilma Hooker is one of the most well-known and favorite (wreck)dives on Bonaire. The wreck is in great shape and easily accessible from shore, as well as by boat, making it the favorite wreck in the Caribbean for many.

The Hilma Hooker was built in 1951 in The Netherlands under the name Midsland. After changing names many times, it ended up on Bonaire in June 1984. It was in very bad shape and after inspection, the local authorities found a big load of drugs on board of the ship. The ship was already sinking and no owner came to claim the ship. That is why it sank between a double reef at a depth of 30m/ 120 ft, creating a new playground for divers.

Buddy Dive Resort will celebrate 40 years of Hilma Hooker with a new yearly event: Hilma Hooker Week. During this week – September 7 – 14, 2024, guests can sign up for a wide variety of activities such as:

• Wreck Specialty Course.
• Guided Penetration Dives
• Night Wreck Boat Dive
• Doubles Try Out
• Free Presentations at Blennies restaurant & bar
• Dedicated Boat Dives to the Wreck

Would you like to join this extraordinary week dedicated to the Hilma Hooker? Mark your calendars for September 7 – 14, 2024! For more information, the full event schedule, and bookings visit https://buddydive.com/hilma-hooker/ or contact info@buddydive.com.