Join Smoky Mountain Divers on our 54th trip to Buddy Dive Resort in BONAIRE !!!

Explore the island of Bonaire with us and see a beautiful reef with Eagle Rays, Turtles, French Angelfish, Queen Angelfish, Scorpion fish, Frog Fish (if you can find them), Octopus, Tarpon and eels galore.

Our basic package is Dive and Drive which includes your choice of accommodation and unlimited shore diving. A dive truck with insurance is included for each condo unit. The truck seating is matched to the size of the room. A two seat truck for a Studio or one bedroom. A four seat truck for a two bedroom. A four seat and a two seat truck would be available for a 3 bedroom condo unit. (Manual transmission is standard. A truck with automatic transmission can be reserved in advance as an upgrade)

Dive and drive includes unlimited air and a free upgrade for nitrox. There is a drive through pickup area for tanks for shore diving. Tanks are also located at the dock for diving the house reef. Lockers and rinse tanks are available at both locations.

If you would like to do some boat dives we offer 6 or 12 Boat Dive Packages. This is a great way to see dive sites on the nearby island of Klein Bonaire. Also it makes a great way to get to shore diving sites that may have a harder entry. 1000 Steps and Carpata are wonderful sites but can have challenging entries and exits. A boat makes that a piece of cake.

Shore Diving! The main reason many come to Bonaire. Bonaire is known as "The Shore Diving Capital of the World." There are about 80 named sites around the island. Entries and exits vary in difficulty so you will want to do your research before just running into the water. Our staff has been there many times and can help. The dive shop at Buddy Dive Resort will know current conditions and can make great recommendations.

Our shop staff will coordinate some of the shore dives with everyone so you won't be left out. Be sure to engage with others on the trip to participate in the planning for the shore dives.

Breakfast is included with our package. The other meals are on your own. There are two restaurants on the property at Buddy's. They are on "island time" so be understanding as you plan your meals.

For lunch, a great option is to drive to one of the local grocery stores and stock up on sandwich stuff like PBJ or ham and cheese, chips, salsa. That makes for a quick and easy lunch on your timetable. The water in the rooms is very clean and is good to drink right out of the tap. Be sure to take a water bottle with you or buy one on the island.

Dinner out is a great option and there are many places to choose from. Pasa Bon Pizza, It Rains Fishes, Joe's, Hangout Beach Bar are a few. There is a double decker bus like a food truck that has great burgers and a home made mango drink. It is near the airport and there are others to try.

Bonaire is located in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean and is a Special Municipality of the Netherlands. It is located about 40 miles north of Venezuela at the southern edge of the Caribbean Sea. This location is below the hurricane belt and generally has very gentle weather with a nice breeze almost all year. A dry climate with low humidity.

Join Smoky Mountain Divers For Your Next Diving Adventure!

Airfare NOT included. A Passport is required.

PADI 5 Star IDC Resort

Studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units available.

Air conditioning

Kitchenette - refrigerator, stove top, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, sink

In room safe

Free WIFI

2 Pools, one at the bar and one with ocean view.

Two on site restaurants.

Boat Diving Packages available or ala cart.

"Shore Diving Capital of the World" - 80+ dive sites around the island.

Non-Diver Policy:

Non-Diver rates are available for this trip. Please choose the "Non-Diver" add-on option when booking and leave a booking note for who the Non-Diver will be. Once booking is confirmed and reviewed the Non-Diver price will be updated on the booking.

International Trip Payment Options:

Cash or Check – Accepted instore only.

Credit or Debit Card - No fee.

ACH – ACH transactions have no fees and can be authorized online.

International Trip Refund Policy:

Smoky Mountain Divers does not offer any cash refunds for any reason. We highly recommend that everyone purchase travel insurance. We have a link on our website that will take you to a website where you can get a travel insurance quote. If you find yourself needing to cancel a deposit we can help retain the value of your deposit as instore credit and can only be transferred to other international trips.

Arrive at Flamingo International Airport BON on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands.

After we get our luggage together we'll head outside for our transfer to Buddy Dive Resort. It is only about a 15 minute ride to the resort. On arrival at the resort, we will check in at the front desk and get our room keys. If we are thrifty with our time we can catch a "Dive Orientation" at the dive shop before they close.

After the "Dive Orientation" you can settle into your room and if the crowd at the front desk has died down, you could see if your vehicle is ready to be picked up.

After the long day to get here, now it is time to enjoy that wonderful sunset and kick back.

We start our week in "The Shore Diving Capital of the World" with a wonderful breakfast. The omelet station is a must! Then finishing up any paperwork with the dive shop and getting your locker key. You will need to do an orientation / weight check dive on the "house reef". That is your opportunity to get your weights dialed in and make sure all your gear is working the way you want it to. This can be done on your own with a buddy or as a group. If you need help let us know. Someone on Smoky Mtn Divers Staff will be there in the morning.

If you have signed up for a boat dive package, it is likely that we will have our first two boat dives right after lunch. That would be a two tank boat ride. After Sunday we usually do a two tank boat dive in the mornings.

If you are shore diving, be sure to catch up with others in the group and make a plan for where to go. The dive shop can have some recommendations for sites. Some sites have easier entries. Some more challenging.

One of the "must see" sites is "The Salt Pier". They do not allow diving if there is a ship loading salt. If there is no ship there you should check it out.

Don't forget that right behind the resort is, the "house reef". The dock right here is where you go to meet the boat for boat dives and there are two stairways off the dock. Very easy entry and exit for the "house reef". You can see all the same animals from around the island right here.

Sometime on Sunday you may want to pick up your vehicle if you haven't yet and make a run to the grocery store.

Friday you will want to watch your "time to fly" surface interval. Usually the flights on Saturday are in the afternoon, so if you stop diving by noon Friday you will be clear to fly. (Be sure to check YOUR flight times to make the correct decision on when to stop diving.)

Make sure to get your gear rinsed and drying.

Friday makes a great day to tour the island and see all the things you want to check out. Washington-Slagbaai National Park is beautiful. You can go see Indian paintings and windmills on the east side. A tour around the south part of the island will go by the light house and can take you past Lac Bay and The Donkey Sanctuary.

The front desk will drop of a paper at your room showing your charges for the week from the restaurant(s) and the dive shop. A note will be included about when your transfer time is. If you are able to drop by the front desk you can settle up your bill late Friday and avoid the rush Saturday morning. Remember this is a cashless resort and you will need to use your card. Be sure to put fuel back in the vehicle to bring it back up to the level it was when you picked it up.

If you want to show your appreciation for the hard work from the staff you can get envelopes and write the name(s) on it and drop it off in a box at the front desk for resort staff. The Dive Staff have a drop box in the Dive Shop.

If you haven't settled up or turned your vehicle in yet you will want to start early. The staff will come pick up your luggage and take it up front for you Saturday morning.

Now it is time to say good bye to your new friends but look forward to coming back again soon. Smoky Mountain Divers will certainly be back. Just check with staff about our plans. What memories, what friends...