Trip Insurance
Bonaire Buddy Dive full Resort Family Week
2012 July 21-28 2012
July 27-Aug 3rd 2013 Early booking discount available now
Click Here for Brochure
We are proud to host Buddy Dive Bonaire Family week at Buddy Dive resort in Bonaire July 21-28th. Buddy Dive has dedicated the entire resort to Kids Sea Camp for this week only. Unlimited shore diving, 4 dives per day are scheduled with 2 am and 2 pm dives as well as guided night dives each evening. Programs for kids from age 4-17 are provided each day. Special guests are Annie Crawley from Dive into Your Imagination, providing photo and video seminars, as well as slideshows and presentations on the Pacific Garbage patch and sharks. Randi and Tomar with Titan CCR will be presenting rebreathe demonstrations and classes during the week. SeaLife will host our main slide show as well as Demos for adults and kids of their newest line of digital cameras. Featuring the DC1400 HD which will be given out freely to adults during the week to use.
7 nights, 6 days of diving
Sunset Cruise, 3 meals daily, live entertainment
Choice of packages: Package 1: with 6 boat dives with unlimited shore
Package 2: with 11 boat dives with unlimited shore
Package 3 :with unlimited shore diving & non diver rate.
SeaLife photo weeks- Free use of DC1400's for the week
Marine art painting program with Tom & Margo Peyton
Photo clinics, slide shows & video work shops
Special Guest: Ocean Anne, Annie Crawley with Dive Into Your Imagination.
Week is hosted with Margo, Tom, & family
PADI-hats, Shirts, KSC -shirts
Kids: Adventure Diver cert. Advanced open water cert. Peak Performance cert
Kids Log books, JOW ERDP
Sasy, Seal Team, Master Seal Team.
All Dive gear included for kids. PADI programs
Private dive boats, private resort week just for Kids Sea Camp
Donkey Safari, Slack Line, Scooter dives, Tubing
Marine art painting, photo contest(Free KSC Trip prize), poetry contest- (Free DC 1400 prize.)
Treasure hunt for kids, Private boats, Kyaking, Sunset Cruise
PADI diving Socety membership, 1 year subscription Sport Diver Mag
Sponsor giveaways and Discounts from: Sub Gear, ScubaPro, SeaLife, and PADI
All courses are E:learning with PADI Log onto www.padi.com click on Elearning and Kids Sea Camp as your store
click on your course and you are on your way. We will offer a FREE Nitrox course to anyone over the age of 12 that does the E: learning portion as well.
Please make sure to advise us that you wish to participate in the Nitrox cert. This must be pre reserved prior to arrival.
This week will also feature Randi and Tomar from Tighten Divers Rebreather Demonstrations and trial FREE.
Click here for Brochure!
Buddy Dive Resort honored for the Best Dive Operations selected by Scuba Diving Magazine Top 100 Gold List 2011.
Buddy Dive is simplicity, its charming and very family friendly. by Margo Peyton
If I don't feel like getting on a boat with other divers first thing in the am, I can hang back and enjoy a later breakfast and coffee by the sea. Then when at my leisure jump off the dock with another parent or even my own kids and have just as good a dive as those on the boat. I can go at my own pace every day. No hustle no deadlines and no worries.
I love Bonaire because it’s easy diving. Wrecks, reefs and a mini wall are just a jump off the dock, and tanks are available 24/7 with a full service dive store. The entire staff is family focused and ready and willing to please.
The food is a mix of fresh baked breads and full dinner buffets that include salads, meat, fresh fish and fruits daily, as well as fresh baked goodies for the sweet tooth. Frozen cappacinos, delightful drinks,no one leaves hungry or thirsty. I have yet to experience ocean front dining as amazing as the sunsets I dine infront of at Buddy Dive .
I love the home away from home feeling I have with the one, two and three bedroom villas, my husband and I have our own privacy and the kids enjoy their own space too.
Kids Sea Camp Buddy Dive has something for all ages, Adults go diving in the morning, kids have a host of activities from tubing, diving, snorkeling, photography, painting, kayaking, tubing, slack line and a treasure hunt. All awhile the non divers can relax and read a book, paint with KSC guest artist, kayak, bird watch, shop or take an Island tour to see the history and culture of Bonaire.
The weather in Bonaire is 99% Sunny and beautiful above and below. Jump off the dock ore off a boat and it’s mostly calm, clear and beautiful.
With Kids Sea Camp Bonaire here at Buddy Dive, we have Pizza and movie night under the big Thatched roof pool bar, live music on Friday nights and a host of slide presentations by SeaLife.
Afternoons are at your leisure to enjoy some amazing shore diving with your kids. Evenings are full of new friends, laughter and family time.
The kids Sea Camp group enjoys private boats, instructors and guides. The kids enjoy the same with a little more fun added with other activities as stated above.
I chose Buddy Dive because it’s a family owned, family operated and family focused! Buddy Dive Resort is PADI 5 star resort. The staff is kid friendly and both trained and experienced to teach and dive with kids. Michelle and Paul Coolen are the GM Team and expecting their first child this summer.
The Dive shop is up-to-date with equipment and maintenance. The staff is medically trained and full service. Safety is #1 and fun is #2. Augusto is the Buddy Dive Shop manager, as well as dad with his beautiful wife and little daughter age 5 that will join our SASY on a few days and his Son Eduardo age 17 that enjoys diving with the teens. For family’s by families.
Add on to all of this a beautiful sunset cruise with cocktails and smoothies and some poetry and painting all hosted personally attended and hosted by Margo Peyton and family. Tom loves to sing and will do so nightly if he has a guitar player to help him out. So if you play bring your instrument! This gets fun. Maybe we will even get my son Robbie to play, he is not bad but a bit shy.
Kids Programs: All include: Dive rental gear, 5 days if diving + family day at Klein Bonaire
PADI hats, T-shirts, tote bags, marine art painting, and tubing in addition to all that fallows:
Young Adult Diver program : for kids 14-17 divers
Private boat with 70ft profile, Peak Performance Buoyancy certification'
Crew Pack for PADI PPB course
Photo Dive with DC1400 Sealife camera and chances to win one.
Sea scooter dive, Wall dive, Wreck dive & night dive
PADI AOW & Jr. AOW program ages 12+ divers
Private Boat, Certification card. Boat Diver, Photo Dive, Navigation dive, Buoyancy dive, Deep dive.
Photo Dive with new DC1400 Sealife camera
PADI Adventure Diver Program ages 10 &11 divers
Private Boat, Certification card, Boat Diver, navigation, photo, and Buoyancy dive
Photo Dive with new DC1200 Sealife camera included
PADI Jr. Open Water program:
for kids that are age 10 or higher before the class starts. In Bonaire, we feature the PADI E: learning program
Kids are on vacation, so now they don't have to worry about reading a 250 page book or taking a written exam.
You can go to www.PADI.com and click on e: learning and Jr. Open water and Click on Kids Sea Camp, Columbia SC, We will receive your quizzes and test and be available to assist you as you learn on line. When kids arrive in Bonaire, they will complete their 5 confined water and 4 open water dives as well as a review. Then you get to enjoying your new world as a PADI certified diver in beautiful Bonaire.
Moms and dads will have plenty of time to dive with kids.
SASY program: ages 4-7
This is such a fantastic program in Bonaire. The little ones get lots of sun block and suited up in mini gear as they learn all about the ocean and its critters. Treasure hunt, Donkey sanctuary to feed and even ride a donkey. Painting fun and lots of pool and ocean time.
PADI Seal Team: Program Age 8+
This program gives kids that are 8 years old or older at the time the program starts, a sample of what its like to be a diver.
This is pure fun, no test! Kids will learn to do some basic skills, and learn how to use scuba gear through some fun activities called
Aqua Missions. In Bonaire, Seal Team kids also get to do a Salt Water dive at the Buddy Dock and schools of fish and log a real dive.
There are 5 missions to be completed along with a crew pack and certification that is provided.
Painting, treasure hunt and Pizza movie night are also apart of this great program in Bonaire.
I love Bonaire, and I chose Bonaire Buddy Dive Resort as a family dive destination because, It is perfect for families who love to dive.
The Dutch people, are kind, friendly and know how to make you feel welcome.
Buddy Dive is one big family.
I love the food. The Dutch make the best cheeses and breads I have ever tasted! Good food and good beer is part of the celebration, that ends the day. The rest is good company and good friends.
I love the climate and the conditions, always beautiful, sunny and calm perfect for diving or learning how to dive.
Why Buddy Dive? I have been diving and staying with Buddy Dive since 1996. Its a place I trust and feel safe for myself and my family. I feel welcome and relaxed, its easy and its lots of fun. I enjoy 100% the staff, they care and they are the best at what they do. Being at Buddy Dive is like being part of their family. There is something for everyone.
I recommend Buddy Dive year round and Im happy to happy with any trip your family wants to take to Buddy Dive Bonaire. We provide reservations on a year round basis and our big event that is 100% families July 21-28. Join us…
It gets better… Ask me about the all new Buddy Dive Galapagos! Wolf Buddy and Darwin Buddy…
Join me July 7-14 and 14-21 for Galapagos Buddy Dive Family weeks!
Margo Peyton
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Kids Sea Camp Bonaire story and description:
by Scuba Mom/Woman Diver Hall of Famer Carolyn Pascal
Saturday: We arrive at Buddy Dive Bonaire with all of our bags in time for an oceanfront sunset and dinner with Margo and Tom and all our friends. Music and drinks we relax and settle in. There is even time if you get in early, to jump off the dock and do an orientation dive. Margo and I enjoy this most.
The 1st thing the kids notice are new and bigger hammocks as the kids have gotten bigger themselves since they swung in those hammocks at their 1st Kids Sea Camp in Bonaire over 5 years ago. Now 15, 16, and 17 our young adult divers can all take a deep breath. Life is good.
Sunday: Th
e Kids Sea Camp routine begins. Kids separate into their groups: Sasy for the youngsters, Seals for the 8 and 9 year olds, Jr. O/W certification class for two groups 10-14 and 15 -17 are working on their PADI open water certifiecation. E: learning is the best option for a vacation certification. Just go to PADI.com and log onto the PADI open water certification course, get all your book work and test out of the way early. This totally makes sense for the kids that want to enjoy and have fun on the summer vacation. Only 2.5 days to bedome divers now. Call and ask Margo about this option, but its truly a must. The certified kids whose #s seem to be growing every year 10 to 15 on any given week from ages 11-17 all diving on their own private boats enjoying photo dives, specialty certs, and more.
The breakfast buffet kicks into full swing at 8a, The divers are off on their 2-tank boat dive by 9, and the SASY 
and Seal instructors are gearing up for doling out the prizes at the PADI sponsored treasure hunt. lots of goodies from many other sponsors.
Monday: Melissa is on the teen boat with old friends Robbie and Jen, they will enjoy some digital photo dives and also gain some specialty certs as well. Austin is in the long anticipated Jr. O/W certification class I promised him last Christmas (see Sport Diver article on Kids Sea Camp, April 2010 issue.) as he was here last year diving with me and a PADI instructor under the dock as a first time Seal Team diver. I am looking forward to our graduation dive at Klein Bonaire on Friday.
All the kids are off and my perfect day begins; I giant stride off the dock with Margo, and Betsy, fellow Women Diver Hall of Famers just enjoying a long awaited dive together. I wonder why anyone bothers to go any further...easy sloping reefs with plenty to see at every depth. Too many tropical fish to name, with my favorite schools of beautiful blue tang and french angelfish waiting welcome me back. A huge barracuda hangs out and watches us watching him, while some lucky divers spot an octopus, seahorse and turtle. The diving is calm and clear and going at my own pace is just the way I like it.
Tuesday: Margo and I make it out on the adult dive boat this morning to the Hilma Hooker wreck and Angel reef this morning. No matter how many times I dive Bonaire the marinelife always delights me, and the signature orange elephant ear and purple tube sponges are colorful tropical homes to many little critters. The juevenile spotted drum looks like a miniature wind-up toy bouncing around the reef, seahorses, frog fish and a beautiful life filled wreck in crystal clear water to enjoy. As a Sealife week, don't worry, every moment is captured and shared.
Wednesday: The weather has been reliably sunny and dry, with a constant breeze. We rent a truck and poke around town today: frozen cappucinos and ice cream cones are also not helping my goal of being healthy. The kids visit the Donkey Sanctuary and what a unique treat that is. Dozens of friendly donkeys greet them looking for a hand-out. Bread is doled out with open hands as photos are snapped. Parents are jumping off the dock for a sunset dive or just laying back and re-connecting with the kids. Happy hours are in full swing by 5 and swinging in the hammocks are the kids favorite after dinner activity.
Thursday: We had several painting classes going on throughout the week, and no matter how much he jokes around, the kids know that bringing home a dot art masterpiece is as meaningful as anything else they do this week. The dinner buffets have gotten better and better, my only complaint is that the french fries are so good, I've totally lost by will power rather than those extra pounds. Watching the sun go down as the teens suit up for a night dive is pure pleasure. The kids are enjoying pizza and movie night, and I get the long anticipated news that all the junior open water kids passed their certification tests today!
Friday
: The week culminates with Family Day at Klein Bonaire. The kids get a glimpse of a newly hatched leatherback sea turtle that Margo so poudly shares with all the kids as she explains the very rare and unusual to find. Austin and his group receive their diplomas in waterproof pvc pipes on the dive. We clap, hug and OK sign each other while parrot and butterfly fish pass by amused. Off for our final dive of the week together as a family.
After lunch we convene for the closing ceremonies which include awarding certificates for the various programs, kids proudly presenting canvases full of dot art marinelife, and parents reading their poems for the chance to win praise and prizes. No matter how many times I hear them, parents putting their treasured memories into words still brings tears to my eyes.
Saurday: Check out is easy, but the goodbyes are more difficult. We have all shared another amazing adventure and have started to discuss options for where and when we will connect next summer. Kids Sea Camp offers lots of choices and everyone in the family has an opinion, so stay tuned on www.familydivers.com, make friends on facebook and we'll see you soon!
Just to share a few; Bonaire Poems 
My true home
Blue sky above, the water so clear
I descend into the ocean water enters my ears
I look all around and see a new world
Where an octopus lies, its tentacles unfurled
I love this place with all it’s sea foam,
From its creatures, biodiversity I treat it as home
It has much to offer, like a sunken ships mast
From oysters to nurse sharks the ocean is vast.
It holds secrets and legends of mermaids and whales,
Of monsters, of dragons all of them tales.
Nobody knows what you can discover
Where humpbacks leap and sea fans flutter
But we must make change our they will be in peril,
From our pollution it all starts with a barrel.
A barrel of oil turned their world upside down,
Leaving some the suffer and others to drowned
Us as humans must change on land
Their home is in danger. Please take a stand!!
Leave only bubbles and take pictures to share
Show how wonderful it all is and make people care!
By: Rebekah Hatherly, age 15
REMINDER: ALL US PASSPORTS MUST BE VALID FOR UP 6 SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION DATE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. AIRLINES ARE ENFORCING THIS
All schedules, itineraries and package inclusions are subject to change change.
