Other Scuba Diving Pages:
Dive Conditions | Bonaire Dive Orientation | Recompression Chamber | Bonaire Marine Park
Dive Operations & Instructors | Dive Site Map of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire | Certification
Boat & Shore Diving | Nitrox/Trimix | Other Services

Diving Instruction and Services on Bonaire

Learning to scuba couldn't be easier. Photo courtesy of Julie Morgan

Certification
In addition to scuba diving, the shops offer a full range of instruction covering courses from entry to professional level. Almost all the certifying agencies are represented. PADI, NAUI, SSI, CMAS, IDD, are a few whose certifications are available. Many visitors who come to Bonaire to be certified prefer to do their classroom and pool work at home and come to Bonaire for their open water portion of their course. Check with your certifying agency if this option is available. It is also very important that you check with the dive center where you are completing the course to be sure that they are set up for your agency's referral program.

Boat & Shore Diving
Most dive operators feature one-tank boat dives in the morning, late morning, and early afternoons, as well a night boat dive once or twice a week. Bonaire's boat diving is among the least expensive in the Caribbean. This is partly due to the fact that almost all the dive sites are less than 15-20 minutes away by boat.

Wreck diving at the Hilma Hooker Photo courtesy of Ann Louise Tuke

If you book a multi-day dive package, you will usually receive unlimited shore dives as part of the package. Some dive shops leave tanks out 24 hours a day, while others require tank pickup during business hours for after hours diving. Most dive and snorkel sites are on the leeward side of the island where the water is very calm and there is no or minimal current. Klein Bonaire is reachable only by boat, as are some sites to the north of Bonaire. Sign up the day before for boat dives, by location.

For shore diving or snorkeling, you'll want to rent a diver-friendly vehicle, such as the popular Suziki mini-vans or special 4-door pickup trucks from one of Bonaire's car rental agencies.

Nitrox
If you're certifed for Nitrox, many of Bonaire's dive shops offer Nitrox filling stations. Most other resorts can offer you Nitrox tanks obtained from the dive operators with Nitrox filling stations. Also, almost all dive operators on Bonaire offer Nitrox instruction and certification. Nitrox can be purchased on a per tank basis or a weekly package.

Tri-Mix (trimix)
Tri-Mix fills and instruction are available although you should make arrangements in advance through your dive operator. Advanced technical courses as well as gear rentals are available.

Rebreathers
Rebreathers can be rented on Bonaire. If you have Draeger brand equipment, you can also get your own unit serviced on Bonaire. Several of our dive operators offer training courses for using rebreathers.

Other Services
Most dive shops on Bonaire also offer a complete range of rental gear for both snorkeling and diving, and will also provide beginner training for snorkelers. Some dive operations also offer guided snorkeling and night snorkeling.

Many of the dive shops also have underwater photo and video shops associated with them. Besides renting camera and strobes or film processing, you have the opportunity to take courses and learn more about taking great underwater pictures. If you are not the artistic type or would like a souvenir of your time spent underwater, you might arrange for a custom underwater video of a group dive or snorkel. (See Our Dive Operator list or our Phonebook for other companies.) Print film and E6 processing is currently available on island. APS development is not available on island but you can purchase APS film here.

Photographs Copyright © 1998-99 by Julie Morgan and Ann Louise Tuke of Samur Sailing - All Rights Reserved.

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