With hubby, my two teenage divers and a newly certified friend in tow, our host for this fleeting visit was the infamous Buddy Dive Resort, who delivered all I had expected and more. Buddy Dive Resort caters to divers of all ages and experience levels, from those seeking to obtain their certification all the way through to technical diving and Instructor training, and provides for each of those levels superbly. With help-yourself tanks 24-7, a drive through fill station for easy loading into your included truck to explore the islands sites, beautiful dive boats and free unlimited nitrox, we truly had the diving freedom Bonaire boasts about.

It’s not just the fact that you are able to get up when you want with no boat to catch, or that you can look over at your buddy at 3 in the afternoon (or 3 in the morning for that matter) and say “fancy a dip?” It’s that you get to call the dive itself. You are governed only by your no-deco time and the air in your tank. Other than that, you can call not only the site, but the length, the depth, and the distance. It’s YOUR dive as you want it to be. You are your own Dive Master.

With great visibility, no currents, a large array of sites and diving literally available on your schedule any time day or night, Bonaire truly is an underwater photographers dream. My husband, who takes almost all of the photos in our family, was in his element, being able to spend as much time as he wanted working on his camera settings to get just the right shot.

But Bonaire is also a fantastic destination for many other types of divers. These same conditions make it the perfect place for a student or newly certified diver, but there are plenty of opportunities for experienced and technical divers to challenge themselves too.

The animal enthusiast in me was well provided for also, as I was able to spend time creating brief relationships with the critters below. Some dives I simply hung out on a single patch of reef that was teeming with life, giving the residents enough time to get used to my presence and allow me to watch an entire community get over their shyness and continue going about their business as usual.

My long, relaxing night dive, not only delivered all of the nocturnal creatures I had hoped for, but provided ample time and freedom to literally play with the six massive tarpon than joined us, using our dive lights to hunt. Underwater I am in my element, and it is not unusual to see me with a big smile spilling out the sides of my second stage, but I think this may be the first time I actually giggled through me regulator. Just for the record, my euphoria was not because I was using my potential underwater death ray to reveal otherwise hidden meals to the tarpon, that’s not my idea of entertainment…I shone it right in front of me at absolutely nothing and simply enjoyed the rush as two or three of these large, magnificent sparkling fish did fly-bys just a few inches from my face, all but causing wind to rush through my hair. At the risk of sounding like I don’t have any life, I have to tell you that made for a fun Saturday night!

There is so much more I could tell you about my all-too-short trip to the land of bubbles and barefoot living, but I have rambled way too much already. It turns out my visit turned into a fleeting but powerful affair that has left me wanting more. Sure, I have some good pictures and wonderful memories, but they are almost a tease – they are reminders that it wasn’t enough – I too, like many great divers before me, have fallen under Bonaire’s spell and I know in my heart it is only a matter of time before I have to return.

I have been in the travel industry since I was 16 years old, beginning with 2 years full time college to obtain the equivalent of an Associates degree in Travel and Tourism, and at the same time my ABTA Certificate of Travel Agency Competence, while working various part-time travel jobs as a student. Since graduating, over the past 21 years I have worked for a travel agency, a tour operator and a major airline between the UK where I was born and in the USA after I moved. 6 ½ years ago I created my own company, and among other hats one wears as a small business owner, I continue to also serve my clients personally “on the front lines” as a dive travel specialist. I love to challenge myself and believe anyone who is serious about what they do is always learning. I regularly attend seminars and attain credentials with various tourism boards and organizations across the world in the hope to ever increase my knowledge. As a diver, I am an SSI Instructor who teaches all ages and abilities whenever I am able, and almost all of my free time you will find me under the water, whether it is in a beautiful warm sea, or under the ice in my local quarry. I am blessed that my life is filled with my two passions – travel and diving. 

My company has seen much growth and success over the past few years and I am also extremely fortunate to now have two highly experienced agents working alongside me who not only share my both of my loves – diving and travel, but subscribe to the same philosophies as me when it comes to taking care of our customers and striving to be the absolute best in our industry. While our combined qualifications, knowledge and other more practical items such as access to an agent 24-7-365 in an emergency are of course an asset, it’s our team that really sets us apart.  Our clients receive complete and genuine care and attention to every need or requirement to make their vacation truly special and ensure all arrangements are in place and go as smoothly as possible. Between the three of us there are few places in the world that would interest a diver that we have not been, and we share that knowledge and personal insight with each of our customers to enhance their experiences. We each truly believe in doing the best by our clients and our recommendations are based on striving to match perfectly what each of our customers are looking for with the best destination and resort/liveaboard for them. We have established relationships with all of the largest suppliers in the dive vacation world, and are excellent advocates for our clients, be it for securing the best deal or should a problem arise. Yet as s small business we are able to get to truly know our customers on an individual basis so that they have one single, trusted source that they may return to again and again, whether their next desire takes them to the Great Lakes or the Great Barrier Reef.

When considering your next dive vacation, please send me an email or give me a call. I would love to discuss your plans with you!

Cheryl Patterson

Cheryl@DeepBlueAdventures.com

Dive Travel Specialist & founder of Deep Blue Adventures

Tina was ready for somewhere new and family-friendly. She was looking for upscale, with good diving and a reliable dive operator onsite at the resort, but reasonable value. Her number one priority of course was that her boys would be well cared for while her and her husband were diving or enjoying other resort activities.

 I assembled many options for the couple to consider, and as the boys were younger than the typical minimum age for most “kids clubs” or children’s entertainment programs, all of the options were where I knew we could arrange quality babysitting services.

 Tina eventually chose Barefoot Cay Resort on Roatan, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras. This beautiful oceanfront resort with its beachfront villas gave the family plenty of space throughout their stay, afforded the couple some privacy at night, and provided a fun “front yard” for the boys to play during the day yet still be only steps away from diapers, snacks & a place to nap. The fantastic cuisine that comes as part of the all-inclusive package, with the option of having dinner delivered to their villa, together with the “valet” dive service Barefoot Divers provided meant mom and dad could be pampered and have a truly relaxing vacation with their children.

 While I knew Barefoot Cay Resort offered and delivered all of the above, I have to say that their reservations manager blew me away with her service. Mel understood the importance of a great and trustworthy nanny, as well as my request to have the same one for most, if not all of the week. Mel not only arranged for the caretaker of her own children for the entire stay, she went one step further. Part of finalizing Tina’s arrangements, was having her and her husband approve Mirta as an ideal match to care for her sons, Mel then set up a couple of Skype meetings between Mirta and the family leading up to the trip so they could all get to know each other before they ever arrived and Mirta would be somewhat familiar to the children and the parents.

 Tina and her family had the wonderful vacation they had hoped for – the perfect mix of sea, sun, and sand. Lazy days and days filled with fun and excitement altogether and plenty of “mom and dad” time too.

 While we can recommend many wonderful resorts that offer safe, reliable and friendly childcare services onsite, I have to say that Mel’s empathy and her dedication to reassure these parents taking a first-time family trip abroad is truly an exception. I would love to see more resorts consider following her example and make it part of their standard babysitting services, or at least an option, if arranged for any length of time in advance.