Professional diving training centerBuddy Dive Academy

At Buddy Dive we value dive training and continuous development of our team, facilities, and our guests. In 2010 we decided to bundle our 30 years of experience and started the Buddy Dive Academy. Over the last years, the Buddy Dive Academy has grown to a professional dive training center. All the hard work got awarded when the Buddy Dive Academy became a PADI 5-star Career Development Center. Something to be proud of as there are only 100 Career Development Centers worldwide and the Buddy Dive Academy is the only one in the southern Caribbean.

Buddy Dive Academy offers every level of dive training imaginable, conducted in several languages. We offer dive training courses from the recreational level to the professional level and everything in between. We start with introductory courses such as Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) and Open Water Scuba certification and offer professional level Instructor Development Courses (IDC) as well. In addition, we offer a variety of continuing dive training; besides the standard PADI specialties, we also offer you the chance to become a tec diver or start your career in diving and become a dive instructor.

Click on the button to see the required conditions to participate in your course.

Recreational Courses

The discover scuba dive is an introduction to scuba diving. In half a day you will learn about the equipment, the basics of breathing underwater, and experiencing scuba diving for yourself under the guidance of our professional instructors.
Incl. theory, pool training, and 1 ocean dive. Min. age 10 years. *

Duration: 1/2 dag
Price: $90

Incl. Dive Guide & 1 ocean dive.*

 

Duration: 1/2 day 
Price: $70

Already have your PADI Open Water Certification, but haven’t been diving lately? The Reactivate Scuba refresher refreshes your knowledge and skills, so you can feel comfortable again underwater.
Incl. instruction, course materials, 1 ocean dive. *

Duration: 1/2 day
Price: $90**

A complete scuba diving course that will teach you everything you need to know when becoming a diver. The course will lead you through the basic principles of diving, confined water dives to learn the basic skills, and finally, open water dives to use the skills you learned and to explore the beauty of the underwater world
With the PADI Open Water Certification, you are allowed to dive without a dive instructor and to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet.
Incl. Instruction, course materials & certification. Min. age 10 years. *

PADI E-learning is available.

Duration: 4-5 days
Price: $465

A complete scuba diving course that will teach you everything you need to know when becoming a diver. The course will lead you through the basic principles of diving, confined water dives to learn the basic skills, and finally, open water dives to use the skills you learned and to explore the beauty of the underwater world
With the PADI Open Water Certification, you are allowed to dive without a dive instructor and to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet.
Complete the PADI online theory at home Incl. Instruction, course materials & certification. Min. age 10 years.*

Duration: 2 – 3 days
Price: $425**

Don’t want to spend the entire vacation on a dive course? With the referral course you can start the theory and pool dives with your local dive shop before your vacation. Once on Bonaire, you just need to finalize your open water dives in our crystal clear waters under the watchful eye of our instructor and the marine life.
Incl. Instruction, certification and 4 ocean dives. *
Current referral papers & medical statement required.

Duration: 2 days
Price: $285

Have you always wanted to try digital underwater photography, fish identification or dry suit diving? There’s a long list of scuba adventures you can take part in during this program. Adventure Dives are single dives to extend your knowledge and count towards your Advanced Open Water Certification.
Incl. 1 dive & course materials. **

Duration: 1/2 – 1 day
Price: $60

The PADI Advanced Open Water Certification is designed to advance your diving. The course helps build confidence and expand your scuba skills through a set of adventure dives. After completing the PADI Advanced Open Water you are allowed to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters/100 feet.
Incl. instruction, course materials, certification & 5 ocean dives. ***

PADI E-learning is available.

Duration: 2 days
Price: $305

The PADI Advanced Open Water Certification E-learning is designed to advance your diving. The course helps build confidence and expand your scuba skills through a set of adventure dives. After completing the PADI Advanced Open Water you are allowed to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters/100 feet.
Complete the PADI online theory at home. Incl. instruction, course materials, certification & 5 ocean dives. ***

Duration: 2 days
Price: $305**

* Use of all required equipment is included
**  Including online PADI fee

** * Equipment & dive air not included

Specialty Courses

How many of you have been diving abroad and encountered the possibility of doing dives beyond 100ft/30 meters? It happens far too often and it should not be done without proper training. When you complete the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course you will be trained to plan and execute dives to a depth of 130 feet/40 meters.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, and 4 dives.

Duration: 2 days
Price: $245

The PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty course is one of our most popular scuba diving specialty courses. Scuba diving with Enriched Air/ Nitrox can significantly increase your dive time.
Incl. Instruction and course materials.
PADI E-Learning is available.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $135

The PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty course is one of our most popular scuba diving specialty courses. Scuba diving with Enriched Air/ Nitrox can significantly increase your bottom time.
Complete the PADI online theory at home. Incl. Instruction and course materials.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $120*

Experience the excitement and exhilaration of diving at night for the first time or complete the PADI Night Diver Specialty to enhance your night diving experiences.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, and 3 dives.

Duration: 1 – 2 days
Price: $200

Participating in the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty course has big benefits and advantages for you as a diver. Good buoyancy increases your comfort in the water as well as significantly reducing your air consumption allowing longer and more enjoyable dives. And very important, by having good Buoyancy you will avoid negative contact with the environment.
Incl. Instruction, weight check, and 2 dives.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $150

From a wedding ring or a weight belt to a lost diver, the PADI Search and Recovery Specialty course gives you the basic theoretical knowledge and practical experience to help you find it.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, and 4 dives.

Duration: 2 days
Price: $200

The PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course increases your knowledge of underwater sea life and the part it plays in the aquatic ecosystem. It also teaches us the importance of diving in an environmentally sensitive way avoiding damaging coral and other aquatic life.
Incl. Instruction, slide show, and 2 dives.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $150

The PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course teaches you to navigate underwater more effectively which increases confidence, reducing exertion and air consumption allowing you more time underwater to enjoy your dive.
Incl. Instruction, course materials and 3 dives.

Duration: 1 – 2 days
Price: $195

The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course introduces divers to the skills required to plan and execute safe and enjoyable wreck dives including limited wreck penetration and line laying as well as the buoyancy techniques to avoid disturbing any silt.
Incl. Instruction, course materials and 4 dives.

Duration: 2 days
Price: $245

Incl. instruction, slide show and 2 dives.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $150

Incl. instruction, course materials and 2 dives.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $150

Incl. course materials and 2 dives.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $185

Incl. 2 dives, materials & instruction.

Duration: 1 Day
Price: $185

Note: all specialty courses are excluding air & equipment

*Including online PADI fee

Safety Courses

The PADI Rescue Diver program prepares you to help prevent, and if necessary, manage dive emergencies, minor and major, with a variety of techniques. The Rescue Diver Course will improve your skills and confidence as a diver, which will prepare you for the road towards the PADI Master Scuba Diver and PADI Divemaster level. This is one of the most challenging – sometimes demanding – and therefore most rewarding programs. It is a serious subject, but a safety dive course is a fun course.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, certification, and diving – equipment & dive air not included***

Duration: 3 – 4 days
Price: $395

The PADI Rescue Diver program prepares you to help prevent, and if necessary, manage dive emergencies, minor and major, with a variety of techniques. The Rescue Diver Course will improve your skills and confidence as a diver, which will prepare you for the road towards the PADI Master Scuba Diver and PADI Divemaster level. This is one of the most challenging – sometimes demanding – and therefore most rewarding programs. It is a serious subject, but a safety dive course is a fun course.
Complete the PADI online theory at home. Incl. Instruction, course materials, certification, and diving – equipment & dive air not included***

Duration: 2 – 3 days
Price: $375**

This program teaches CPR and First Aid, meaning you will learn the steps and techniques for handling minor and serious injuries; from a minor cut in the kitchen to aiding patients who aren’t breathing, have no heartbeat, or who have serious bleeding. You will learn how to apply the ABCD’S to a patient’s lifeline, so you can take the necessary steps to increase the chance of survival in the case of the most serious emergencies.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, and certification

Duration: 1 day
Price: $165

This program teaches CPR and First Aid, meaning you will learn the steps and techniques for handling minor and serious injuries; from a minor cut in the kitchen to aiding patients who aren’t breathing, have no heartbeat, or who have serious bleeding. You will learn how to apply the ABCD’S to a patient’s lifeline, so you can take the necessary steps to increase the chance of survival in the case of the most serious emergencies.
Complete the PADI Online Theory at home. Incl. Instruction, course materials, and certification

Duration: 1 day
Price: $165**

* Use of all required equipment is included
**  Including online PADI fee

** * Equipment & dive air not included

Tec Diving Courses

Readiness for my Technical Diving class 

Since Technical Diving is an activity with inherent more risk than recreational diving, we expect students to be aware of this. Risk management and mitigation is an important aspect of Technical Diving. A very powerful tool for this is the course: Level 0: Essentials of Human Factors in Diving by the Human Diver. We require before enrolling in any technical diving course that you have completed this course and show proof of this by providing your certificate of participation to us. If you haven’t done this course before, we can offer you this course for $50,-, which, if you would purchase it yourself, would cost $97,-.

Furthermore the 2023 revision of the PADI technical diving programs has raised the bar substantially on what is expected of you compared to the previous programs. Please read through this and assess yourself to see if you are ready to enroll in the class you desire.

Even for the Tec Basics course we require you to have mastered specific skills. During the Tec Basics we will build upon these skills, where each PADI Tec course builds upon the skills mastered in the previous course. In Tec Diving it becomes clear that diving is a proper sport and as with any sport you need to train your skills to keep them up to date. Please check with yourself before you enroll in your course if you are current with your skills and knowledge. If you have questions or just want to reflect do not hesitate and contact us. No matter what, refreshing any prior learned skills or preparing yourself by learning new necessary skills prior to this course is a good idea.
Your Tek Buddies on Bonaire are always there to give you advice on how to prepare or help with remedial training, so you can get the most out of your training with us.

Technical Diving is a team activity; therefore, we incentivize you by signing up with 1 or more team members. This means we offer reduced course prices when signing up with more than 1 person at a time.
For participation in any Technical Course, you must be able to show a medical clearance stating fitness for scuba diving, signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Preassessment and remedial teaching
Before any of the Technical Diving courses PADI requires us to perform a student preassessment on both theory and dive skills. We will describe per course what is expected from you. If the required theoretical level or the dive skills aren’t met, remedial teaching is needed before entering your course.

Certification for your Tec course can only be done after you have demonstrated mastery of the skills as mentioned in each course. During the course if you aren’t there yet and need additional training dives or additional theoretical sessions, we can accommodate this for a surcharge per dive/session.

Surcharge per additional/remedial dive or per half day theory:

1 person $60,-
2 persons: $100,-
3 persons or more: $135,-

Tec Basic Program 

Tec Basics is an introductory course to technical diving. During this course, you will learn the basics skills and procedures you will need and use during the rest of your technical diving career. Even if you never plan on to continue into technical diving, this course will make you a better diver overall. The course has an eLearning module which discusses a lot of fundamental knowledge needed for technical diving. The Tec Basics course can be combined with any of the PADI technical courses.

Since Tec 40 is the entry level PADI technical course, we normally combine Tec Basics with Tec 40, except if you have completed a foundational technical skills training with another training organization, we can offer you the Tec 40 program as a standalone course. Please contact us contact us to discuss this option.

If we combine the Tec Basics with any of the other Tec courses we will make a total of 7 instead of 6 course dives. You will learn how to be proficient in standard back-mounted doubles, with backplate and wing. If you use the Tec Basics to get updated to participate in Tec 45 or Tec 50, we will add 1 or 2 decompression cylinders.

You will train different fin kicks necessary to always maintain control of your position in the water. Skills will be conducted as per the 2023 PADI technical program revision with neutral buoyancy and in horizontal trim. There will be dry workshops, in-water skills- and safety drills needed to become a safe technical diver.

The course has an eLearning module which discusses a lot of fundamental knowledge needed for technical diving.

Your preassessment consists of the Enriched Air Nitrox Quick Review and a dive in your regular scuba gear. Furthermore, there will be an eLearning Quick Review as part of your course for the Tec Basics Theory. During your dive:

  • You will be able to hold position in the water without skulling.
  • You have to be able to deploy a dsmb from under water, while neutrally buoyant and maintaining depth. The dsmb needs to be inflated to such an extend that it is clearly visible from a boat.
  • You have to remove, replace and clear your mask while in horizontal trim. Some forward movement due to minor fin kicking is allowed. Sculling is not allowed.
  • Maintain a safety stop for at least 3 minutes mid water in horizontal trim, without rising or falling more than 1 meter / 3 feet.

Duration:  2 days – minimum of 2 dives (provided all requirements will be met)
Prices: Technical Diving is a team activity, therefore we incentivize you by signing up together with 1 or more team members.

1 person: $275,
2 persons: $250,-
3 persons or more: $225,-

Gear rental included and EAN32 fill included.

The PADI Tec 40 course transitions you from a recreational diver to a technical diver and lets you make your first planned decompression dive. Here at Buddy Dive we normally combine the Tec 40 program* with the Tec Basics program.

PADI has developed state of the art eLearning modules for both programs. Besides your eLearning we will introduce you to decompression dive planning. The eLearning discusses the theory, now we will show the practical side of the dive planning.

First, you will learn how to be proficient in standard Tec-Rig back-mounted doubles. You will train different fin kicks necessary to always maintain control of your position in the water. We will work on making prolonged stops simulating decompression. Skills will be conducted as per the 2023 PADI technical program revision with neutral buoyancy and in horizontal trim. You will learn the proper safety drills needed to be a safe technical diver. Once the Tec Basics has been completed, we will add the task load of a 40 cuf decompression cylinder. We will build upon the safety skills you have already learned and add more complexity to the possible problems. You also will learn how to make a staged ascend, meaning making decompression stops at various depths.

We will introduce new skills in dry workshops, which prepares you for the in-water sessions. You will complete your training with your first decompression dive, where we can choose between 15 minutes of decompression or 10 minutes of accelerated decompression using up to 50% Oxygen. This course can be completed as a trimix course, after which you will be allowed to use trimix with a minimum of 21% Oxygen and a maximum of 35% Helium. For our 40m / 130ft dive we would use Trimix 25/23. During the course we will show you exactly why we make this choice.

*if you have completed foundational technical skills training with another training organization, we can offer you the Tec 40 program as a stand-alone course. Please contact us to discuss this option.

Your preassessment will consist out of:

  • Knowledge development preassessment: Tec Basics Diver Quick Review
  • In water assessment, skills from Tec Basics Training Dive One

Please check the course prerequisites here. Please also check your Readiness for my Technical Diving class for this course.

Duration: 5 days – 7 dives, provided all performance requirements have been met.
Max Depth: 40m
Prices: Technical Diving is a team activity, therefore we incentivize you by signing up together with 1 or more team members.

Tec basics/40 combined

1 person $625,-
2 persons $575,- each
3 persons or more $525,- each

The course fee includes air and EANx up to 50%, rental of backplate, doubles wing, 3 regulators, back mounted doubles, stage cylinder, eLearning materials, certification fees and your instructor.
Trimix (optional) will be charged additional, based upon gas usage.
Other gear rental is excluded, such as (but not limited to) computer, compass, dsmb, wetsuit, mask.

PADI Tec 45

Congratulations you are already a Tec Diver and you have done your first decompression dives.
The eLearning of the Tec 45 course goes more into logistics and the different factors in play when planning a technical dive. With deeper depth and longer decompression your planning becomes even more important. The eLearning discusses several approaches to this. During your course we will show you practical implications of the choices you make. We will choose 1 approach, which is in our opinion the safest choice. If you decide to change decompression algorithm, decompression strategies, gas planning after this course, you will be able to do so based on an educated decision. Part of this process is also to go deeper into decompression planning using desktop software.
We will plan our dives optimizing the use of our resources within our safe borders.

In water we will focus a lot on ascend (deco) strategies, team discipline and extended problem solving. Dives 3 and 4 will be made on Trimix, with a light trimix on dive 3 where we will make several ascends with simulated decompression stops. Dive 4 will be a decompression dive where we’ll use Trimix 21/35 as back gas and EAN50 as our decompression gas. The reason for this choice is something you will fully understand after your course, even though you are allowed to use up to 100% oxygen for decompression after certification.

All dives will be made with back mounted doubles and a 80 cuf stage tank. As mentioned, the final dive will be a decompression dive to 45 meters.

If you didn’t complete your Tec 40 training at Buddy Dive in the last year, a free assessment dive is required before being allowed to enter the course. If you wouldn’t pass the preassessment, remedial teaching is necessary before being able to enter the program, more information you can find in our Preassessment and remedial teaching section.

For your preassessment we will follow the PADI recommendations:
Recommended knowledge development preassessment: Tec 40 Diver Quick Review
Recommended in-water assessment, skills from Tec 40 Training Dive One

Duration: 3 days – 4 dives, provided all performance requirements have been met.
Max Depth: 45 meters
Prices: Technical Diving is a team activity; therefore, we incentivize you by signing up together with 1 or more team members.

1 person $395,-
2 persons $360,-
3 or more $325,-

The course fee includes air and EANx up to 32%, back mount doubles, decompression cylinder, eLearning materials, certification fees and your instructor.
Trimix and EAN50 will be charged additional, based upon gas usage.
Rental gear is not included such as (but not limited to) backplate, wing, regulators.

PADI Tec 50

In this course you’ll add another decompression cylinder. Now you will see the benefit of the strict protocols for gas switches you have learned before. When using 2 decompression cylinders choosing the right gas has now become a crucial component for survival. Tec 50 introduces you to more challenging dives. As with the Tec courses before, this course also has an eLearning component, which you must complete.

The Tec 50 course will finetune your previous skills, knowledge and understanding of technical diving. Completing this course itself is already a big achievement and it opens the door to even further exploration.

All dives will be made in a back mounted doubles and 2 decompression cylinders. Your last 2 dives will be trimix dives to a depth of 50m.

If you didn’t complete your Tec 45 training at Buddy Dive in the last year, a free assessment dive is required before being allowed to enter the course. If you wouldn’t pass the preassessment, remedial teaching is necessary before being able to enter the program, more information you can find in our Preassessment and remedial teaching section.

For your preassessment we will follow the PADI recommendations:
Recommended knowledge development preassessment: Tec 45 Diver Quick Review
Recommended in-water assessment, skills from Tec 45 Training Dive One

Duration: 3 days – 4 dives, provided all performance requirements will be met.
Max Depth: 50 meters
Prices: Technical Diving is a team activity; therefore, we incentivize you by signing up together with 1 or more team members.

1 person $395,-
2 persons $360,-
3 or more $325,-

The course fee includes air and EANx up to 32%, back mount doubles, 2 decompression cylinders, eLearning materials, certification fees and your instructor.
Trimix, EAN50 and 100% Oxygen will be charged additional, based upon gas usage.
Rental gear is not included such as (but not limited to) backplate, wing, regulators.

Go Hardcore! Advance your skills & learn how to use TRIMIX, after this course you can dive to 65m/213ft.

Duration: 5 days
Price: $742

Learn all the essential skills needed to become a Mixed Gas Blender.

Duration: 1 day
Price: $185

This course will make you a better, safer and more competent diver. You can improve your basic skills and gain access to GUE tec or cave training.

Duration: 4 days
Price: On request

Learn how to safely and comfortably dive a double cylinder configuration.

Duration: 2 days
Price: On request

Student materials are included in all courses.
Tanks, air & Nitrox will be included in the course, helium and O2 fills (higher than 32%) will be charged per cu ft of gas.

Kids Diving Courses

A fun-filled experience for kids aged 5 to 10 years old where they will learn to snorkel and how to use SASY equipment. The kids will learn about fish and the underwater world, but also enjoy lots of other activities like arts & crafts. We will start with pool sessions to review swim skills and introduce the kids to snorkeling and free diving skills. We will take the kids into the ocean later in the week.
Incl. activities, a snack, equipment and adult supervision from one of our staff members.
Kids need to be able to swim. A minimum of 2 kids is required.

Buddy Rangers Program takes place in the morning from Monday – Friday; 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
One Morning $60
Three Mornings $180
Five Mornings $250

Start scuba diving early with this specially designed program for kids! The PADI Seal Team is an introduction to the basic skills of scuba diving for kids aged 8 -10 years old who are able to swim.

“Aqua missions” & underwater fun using real scuba gear is a great way to introduce children to the underwater world & offer them an opportunity to dive just like mom & dad!
The AquaMissions cover basic scuba diving skills, such as breathing underwater, clearing a mask of water, recovering a regulator and swimming around and experiencing the sensation of being weightless. After completing the AquaMissions your kid will become a recognized PADI Seal Team Member.
The Padi Seal Team is a 5-morning program 8.30 am – 12.30 pm (Monday-Friday only)
Price includes activities, a snack, equipment, the PADI Seal team Crew-pak (video, activity book and log book) and continues guidance from one of our Divestaff Instructors.

Duration: 5 days
Price: $350
Minimum 2 people

SASY stands for ‘Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth’ and let’s your kid experience the underwater world by snorkeling with scuba equipment instead of a snorkel.
A SASY unit is basically a personal flotation device with a small scuba tank and regulator attached. This way your kid will float on the surface, but with the scuba equipment they are free to keep their heads under water and don’t miss out an any of the action below.
SASY sessions are included in the Buddy Kids Club. It is also possible to rent SASY equipment and take your kids out snorkeling yourself!

Duration: On request
Price: On request

Bubblemaker is a fun PADI program for kids aged 8-10 years old. It’s the chance for kids to blow bubbles by scuba diving. It is very similar to a discover scuba dive, but without skills and performed in the ocean. The kids will use scuba gear to breathe underwater and swim around in the shallow water around our dock(max 6ft/2m), under the constant supervision of one of our dive instructors.
A Bubblemaker session is included when participating in the PADI Seal Team.
Incl. Instruction, all required equipment, 1 dive and constant supervision of a dive instructor.

Duration: 2 hours
Price: $90

Kids aged 10-15 can participate in the PADI junior open water scuba diving course. This course is a full PADI dive course with certification. Your child will learn how to be an Open Water Diver and will be under constant supervision of a dive instructor throughout this course. By the end of the course your kids are fully certified PADI divers – they are not allowed to dive unsupervised until the age of 16.
Incl. Instruction, course materials, certification and dives.
PADI E-learning available. NOTE: Your kids are required to request a new card with PADI when reach the age of 16.

Duration: 4 – 5 days
Price: $465

Kids aged 10-15 can participate in the PADI junior open water scuba diving course. This course is a full PADI dive course with certification. Your child will learn how to be an Open Water Diver and will be under the constant supervision of a dive instructor throughout this course. By the end of the course, your kids are fully certified PADI divers – they are not allowed to dive unsupervised until the age of 16.
Your kids will complete the online theory at home. Incl. Instruction, course materials, certification, and dives.
NOTE: Your kids are required to request a new card with PADI when reaching the age of 16.

Duration: 2 – 3 days
Price: $425 (including online PADI fee)

We also offer junior specialty courses for those who are already certified. E-learning courses are also available so your kids can complete the PADI theory at home and complete the practical dives with our dive instructors.
NOTE: Your kids are required to request a new card with PADI when reach the age of 16.
Contact us for more information.

As PADI 5-star dive center we are bound to certain rules and regulations for the safety of your children. We value these rules and regulations, so we cannot make any exceptions and all activities need parental approval. Read the PADI Rules & Regulations

IDC/Professional

Make it easy on yourself and fully focus on this fun and demanding course which is your first step into the world of PADI professionals! Right before each IDC we run a DM all-inclusive program, in which you’ll be able to use shared accommodation, including 3 basic meals a day.
The price for this package is $1475,-

Please contact our course director or reservations department for more information:coursedirector@buddydive.comreservations@buddydive.com

Duration: 7 – 8 days
Price: $ 1475

Package includes:
Divemaster course E-learning, Divemaster materials, shared accommodation, and 3 meals a day. The package does not include the PADI fee for your Divemaster application and the dive gear.

Learn at one of the best dive operations in the world and become a PADI Divemaster on Bonaire.  After completing the Divemaster course, you will (temporarily) become part of the Buddy Dive dive team and work as a Divemaster in paradise for 1,5 months.

If you want to walk away with practical experience for on your resume, you can follow up your 2-week DM program with a 6-week internship. During this internship, you will see even more facets of Divemaster life. Your experience will be broader than what you’ll learn during the Divemaster course. You will be making at least 30 dives during your internship. On your internship days, you can enjoy a free staff meal

Please contact our Course Directors for more information: coursedirector@buddydive.com

Duration: 14 days + 1.5 month internship
Price: $975

Package includes:
Divemaster course E-Learning, Divemaster materials and DAN Professional Liability insurance during the 1.5-month internship.
The package does not include the PADI fee for your Divemaster application , dive accident or medical insurance and dive gear.

Our regular PADI Divemaster program is a 2-week program, in which many Divemaster tasks will be repeated, so you’ll get extensive training and in-depth knowledge of what the Divemaster life entails. It gives you a good understanding of how your role will vary in different settings.

The training includes at least 4 mornings where you’ll go on a 2-tank boat dive to guide. In total, you will be assisting for 2,5 days with courses. So this 2-week program gives you way more practical application, than the basic course.

We offer this program year-round on request.

The package does not include dive gear.

Duration: 12 days
Price: $975 (including online PADI fee)

The teaching skills you will develop during the PADI Assistant Instructor Course will allow you to independently conduct several PADI Programs and with some further training from the PADI Course Director you can also teach non-diving specialty courses. Assistant Instructors are Dive Educators who assist with the knowledge development of the student. Taking the PADI Assistant Instructor Course will take you one step closer to becoming a PADI Open Water Instructor.

Duration: 4 days
Price: On request

When choosing the All-inclusive IDC package at Buddy Dive Resort, you’ll have everything you might need to become a professional, well-educated scuba instructor. Your Buddies will take care of everything. Your (shared) accommodation, meals, materials, the course itself (including the EFR instructor and Emergency Oxygen provider course), the instructor applications, and the Instructor examination.
After booking this package there is nothing else you’ll have to think of except focusing on studying, practicing, and having lots of fun with your fellow IDC candidates and course directors.

Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $3.395
As of July ’24: $3.550

When booking the IDC complete you book everything you need for your instructor course. The materials, the course (including EFR instructor & Emergency Oxygen provider course), the instructor applications, and the instructor examination are included. You will not have to arrange any of this. The only things not included are accommodation and meals.

Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $2.895
As of July ’24: $3.050

 

The IDC basic covers the instructor development course (also EFR) and the materials. Be aware that you’ll have to pay and arrange the instructor application and examination before you can become an instructor and start teaching. Visit the IDC packages and prices page for more information. 

Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $1.700
As of July ’24: $1750

As a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, you are a more versatile and more valuable dive instructor. To become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer you need to have at least 25 certifications and 5 PADI specialty instructor certifications. With this certification, you will definitely get the most out of your profession as a diving instructor. We don’t have a fixed program, like many other IDC centers. We tailor the program as much as possible to your needs and wishes, so you can teach the specialties most valuable to you.

This all-inclusive package is offered 6 times a year following the IDCs. It is possible to follow the MSDT program in other weeks, but not as an all-inclusive package.

Contact our course director for more information: coursedirector@buddydive.com

Duration: 7 days
Price: All -inclusive package: $ 1675 –  Program only: $ 1175

All-inclusive Package includes: 5 Specialty Instructor courses  + free Nitrox Instructor course, PADI fees for your Specialty Instructor Applications, all necessary Instructor Guides (digital version of 25 Specialty Instructor Manuals), shared accommodation, and 3 meals a day, use of tanks, and basic rental equipment. The package does not include the rental of specialty equipment like sidemount gear, dry suit, etc.

Take the next step in your career and become an IDC staff instructor. Buddy Dive Resort offers you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and share your love for the PADI Instructor profession. During this training, you will learn to assist Instructor Development Courses and transfer your knowledge and passion to the next generation of PADI Instructors.

To participate in this training you must already be a Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

All-inclusive package: $1975
Program only: $1175

Package includes IDC Staff e-learning materials and IDC Staff / Course Director slates, shared accommodation, and 3 meals a day.

Read more about our Pro Courses

Underwater Photography

Incl. 1 classroom session, 1 one hour guided dive, use of digital camera system

Duration: 1/2 day
Price: $90

Incl. 2 classroom sessions, 1 one hour guided dive, use of video system

Duration: On request
Price: $90

Incl. 3 hours instruction, course materials, 2x one hour guided dive, use of digital camera system. PADI PIC to be purchased in the dive shop.

Duration: On request
Price: $185,50

2 classroom sessions, 2 one hour guided dives, use of video camera. PADI PIC to be purchased in the dive shop.

Duration: On request
Price: $185,50

Classroom Topic 1 – Diving with a Digital Camera with emphasis on Basic Camera Settings, Maintenance, Approaching fish.
Classroom Topic 2 – Macro and closeup photography.
Classroom Topic 3 – XXXX

3 one hour guided dives (1st guided dive mandatory, assignments on other photo dives may be completed without photo guide. This allows maximum flexibility for our guest’s diving schedule).

Duration: On request
Price: $250

Each course of instruction includes your images downloaded to a USB.

Reef Renewal Specialties

Join us on a Discover Reef Renewal Dive – learn how to conduct a nursery/restoration site survey and participate to the site maintenance activities as removing algae and predators, which can damage the corals and affect their growth.
Incl. 1 dive, Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire Tag and air/Nitrox

Duration: 1/2 day
Price: $65

During 3 training dives and classroom sessions you will learn all the techniques involved in the reef restoration process. You will participate in all the activities that need to be carried out on the nurseries and the restoration sites.
Incl. 3 dives, course material Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire Tag and air/Nitrox

Duration: 1 1/2 – 2 days
Price: $220

Assist the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire staff in the coral nurseries. Help with maintenance activities, and outplant corals to restoration sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.
Incl. 2 dives and air/Nitrox

Duration: 1 day
Price: $80

*For certified Reef Renewal Divers.