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
Discover Tec Program
Did you ever wonder if technical diving is something for you? Join us on our Discover Tec Program and try out what it feels like to be diving in a back-mounted twinset combined with a stage tank.
During this experience (2 dives), you will get a sneak peek into the world of technical diving and get to experience a glimpse of diving with doubles, drills, and trim.
Duration: 1 Day
Price: $150
Tec Basic Program
During this course, you will learn the basics skills and procedures needed to take part in a Technical diving course. This basic training is automatically integrated into our BuddyDive Tec 40 course. We also use it for divers who wish to continue on with Tec 45 and 50, but still need additional training to get their skills back to the high-quality level required for Technical diving.
You will learn how to be proficient in standard Tec-Rig back-mounted doubles combined with a stage decompression cylinder.
You will train different fin kicks necessary to maintain control of your positioning in the water at all times, and proper buoy deployment. There will be dry workshops, in-water skills- and safety drills needed to become a safe technical diver.
Certification will be processed immediately when all requirements have been met, which means you can spend your remaining time continuing with your Tec45 or Tec 50 course.
Duration: 3 Days
Price: $325 including tanks, excluding equipment
The PADI course transitions you from a recreational diver to a technical diver. During our BuddyDive Tec40 program you will learn the basics of technical diving. First, you will learn how to be proficient in standard Tec-Rig back-mounted doubles combined with a stage decompression cylinder. In addition to your theoretical knowledge development, there will be dry workshops and in-water skill- and safety drills needed to become a safe technical diver. In addition to the Basics of Technical Diving, we also teach you the basics of staged decompression diving with decompression gasses up to 50% oxygen. To top it off we finish the course with a real decompression dive with a maximum of 10 minutes decompression time.
Certification will be processed immediately when all requirements have been met, which means you can spend your remaining vacation days making Tec40 dives with your Buddy or continuing with the Tec 45 course.
7 Dives consisting of :
- 3 confined training dives
- 3 no decompression training dives
- 1 decompression training dive
Max Depth: 40 meters
Certification: Tec Basics and Tec 40
Course duration 5 days
Price: $595
( In case you already have a certification in Tec principles from another organization e.g. Intro to Tec, Fundamentals or similar basic Technical training. You may apply for our free Technical assessment dive. Which, when successfully completed, reduces the program to a 3-day program for 450 US dollars. This will not include Tec Basics certification)
PADI Tec 45
The next step in your technical diving progress. During the PADI Tec 45 program, you will go deeper into the use of decompression software. You can also dive deeper and decompress with gasses up to 100%. There is no longer a decompression time limit and you can use your gasses for accelerated decompression time.
All dives will be made in the full technical rig and the final dive will be a decompression dive.
If a diver did not follow Tec 40 training at Buddy Dive within a year, a free assessment dive is required before being allowed to enter the course. Should a diver not be able to perform the required skills in a comfortable and precise way, or lack the proper mindset for technical diving. Remedial teaching will be required before being able to enter the program.
4 Dives consisting of:
- 1 Confined training dive
- 2 Non-decompression training dives
- 1 Decompression training dive
Max Depth: 45 meters
Duration: 3 days
Price: $395 (excl. crew pack, student materials are the same as for Tec 40 )
Price: $450 (incl crew pack)
Tec 45 and Tec 50 can be combined in a 6-day program.
Become a PADI Tec Deep diver. This course prepares for the more challenging dives. You will learn how to make deco dives to 50 meters and learn to use two different deco gasses on one dive. This course is the ultimate preparation for future Tec Trimix courses. After finishing Tec 50 you are a master in the skills and knowledge of extended-range air diving!
All dives will be made in a full technical rig and the final dive will be a decompression dive.
If a diver did not follow Tec 45 training at Buddy Dive within a year, a free assessment dive is required before being allowed to enter the course. Should a diver not be able to perform the required skills in a comfortable and precise way, or lack the proper mindset for technical diving, remedial teaching will be required before being able to enter the program.
5 Dives consisting of
- 2 confined training dives
- 1 training dive
- 2 decompression dives
Max Depth: 50 meters
Course Duration: 3 days
Price: $395 (excl. crew pack, student materials are the same as for Tec 40 )
Price: $450 (incl. crew pack)
Tec 45 and Tec 50 can be combined in a 6-day program.
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
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.com – reservations@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
This means you really have nothing to think about. Come to us at Buddy Dive and we take care of everything for you, including lodging, course materials, meals, fees, and so on. So this is the ultimate package for you if you want no worries and only want to focus on your IDC and Instructor Examination. Visit the IDC packages and prices page for more information.
Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $3.395
As of July ’24: $3.450
When booking the IDC complete you book everything you need for your instructor course. The materials, the course (including EFR instructor course & Emergency O2 provider), 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. Visit the IDC packages and prices page for more information.
Duration: 2 weeks
Price: $2.895
As of July ’24: $2.950
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.
Duration: 14 days
Price: All-inclusive pacage: $1.925 – Program only: $1.175
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.