Most of the dive sites around the island are suitable for beginner level divers with respect to current and entry/exit points. However, some of the more remote sites are recommended for experienced divers only.
If you have any questions about dive sites, our crew is more than happy to review a dive map with you to help you choose dive sites based on your experience level. If you and your buddy are going to visit a more remote site, it’s a good idea to be prepared.
The PADI Rescue Diver course is a great way to learn how to solve problems and deal with emergency situations. We strongly recommend it for independent divers.
Emergency Plan
If you’re planning on doing some independent shore diving, we’re sure that like any well prepared diver–you’ll make an emergency plan. You can find emergency oxygen and first aid kits at all seven of our dive center locations and on our boats.
We also have AEDs at all dive center locations. When you check in, we can show you on the island map where the hospital and hyperbaric chambers are.
For your peace of mind, here are a few important phone numbers and locations that we think that you should know:
- Ambulance: 911 or 912
- San Francisco Hospital: 599-717- 8900 (center of Kralendijk)
- Bonaire Hyperbaric Chamber: 599-717-8187 (across the street from the San Francisco Hospital in the center of Kralendijk)
- Dive Doctors: 599-717-7140 (Centro Medico Central/Dr. van der Vaart) or 599-700-5230 (Dr. Roeters/Dive Medical Bonaire)
Air Testing
Dive Friends Bonaire regularly submits air and nitrox samples from all of our compressors for quality control testing. TRI Air Testing Inc., an AIHA-LAP, LLC accredited laboratory, provides worldwide compressed air testing for fire service, scuba, OSHA, medical, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food/beverage, industrial companies and the Government/Military.
Their patented air/gas sampling equipment was designed originally for the U.S. Navy Diver’s compressed air quality sampling. The TRI system, used today, employs a method that lowers the pressure of both high pressure and low pressure air supplies to under 3 atmospheres absolute pressure, which in turn reduces the size and weight of the equipment and containers needed to obtain accurate samples. TRI currently holds the U.S. Navy Diver’s air
Expect the unexpected!
Dive Friends Bonaire now offers a Short Term Dive Insurance that covers your Scuba Diving activities whilst on Bonaire. This insurance, provided by DAN, is available for divers from all countries, whether you’re a beginner or an instructor!
Moreover, there are no restrictions for age, depth, equipment or gas mix! So, what are you waiting for? Get your dive insurance now! Purchase your dive insurance at any of our dive shops!
• Suitable for all divers
• No age, or depth limitations,
• No equipment or gas mix limitations
• A 10 or 30 day coverage
• Bonaire only
Once you’ve applied for the Short Term Dive Insurance, you will be sent a confirmation email which will include the full policy description. In the event of a diving accident or illness, please call the DAN Dive Emergency Service: 001 919 684 9111.
Staff Rescue Drills
As a busy dive school, our instructors frequently teach rescue and divemaster courses. We need to keep up-to-date with all of the latest CPR and Rescue standards. In order to make sure that our crew will expect the unexpected, we conduct regular rescue drills to keep everybody prepared.
Flying After Diving
In order to get to Bonaire, you have to get on to a plane. We encourage our guests to read the current guidelines from PADI, as follows:
For Dives within the No-Decompression Limits
- Single Dives: A minimum pre-flight surface interval of 12 hours is suggested.
- Repetitive Dives and/or Multi-Day Dives: A minimum pre-flight surface interval of 18 hours is suggested.
For Dives requiring decompression stops:
- A minimum pre-flight surface interval of greater than 18 hours is suggested.