Bonaire September 16 – 23

The Pirates Code is your one-stop online resource for navigating the

2023 Dive Pirates Trip, with one new recipient!

KENTA

Trip Leaders

If you have any questions… contact your trip leaders:             

Any questions…

On island 

  • Hellen Armstrong: 210-773-4628
  • Tyler Brandes: 727-420-9875    

Stateside –  877-393-3483

  • Ext. 4   Theresa Cortez or text  210-347-9383
  • Ext. 0    Susan DeVore or text  970-481-7638

Make sure to join our What’s App group 

* For our 2023 recipients/ adaptive buddy recipients: If our travel agent, Becky van Rooyen arranged your flights, please call/text her directly using her “During travel emergency” number, 678-642-2170. If you have any problems with flights you arranged personally, please contact the airline, we are traveling too and cannot speak to the airlines on your behalf.

Before leaving for the Airport

Make sure you have:
  • Passport
  • Flight Itinerary (for new recipients, scholarship recipients)
  • Diver Certification Card or temporary paper copy/app
  • Credit Card for incidental charges and/or additional dives.
  • Dive Insurance Card ( DAN – https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance  or Dive Assure https://diveassure.com/en/diving-insurance/
  • Completed all waivers (all links sent to you Tuesday, Sep 10)
  • Have read and understood this trip packet.
  • Pack lightly: bags less than 50 pounds to avoid penalty fees
  • Limit carry-on liquids to 3oz max per bottle and all bottles must fit in a single 1 qt. Ziploc bag.
  • Arrive at the airport a minimum of 2 hours before your flight.
  • Switch your phone to airplane mode before you leave the States. You can use Wi-Fi calling setting with your phone on airplane mode for the week w/o international charges
  • Remove batteries from cameras, dive lights, etc., and pack them separately

Itineraries

We suggest you download the airline’s app now, as you will then receive notifications regarding your flight, use your reservation number/record locator. You will get directions to check in 24 hours before your flight, get alerts, etc. It is up to you to verify this information, make any changes, and understand the carrier’s bag fees, weights, etc. Please confirm any accessible accommodation needed.   

Pack in your carry-on bag
  • Your regulator and dive computer.
  • Swimsuit.
  • Medication and other necessities (i.e. catheters, etc.).
  • Anything you might need just in case your bags get delayed.

What to Bring
  • Dive Gear
  • Lightweight tropical clothes
  • Casual clothes only needed
  • Swimsuits
  • Sunscreen (must be reef-safe)
  • Bug Repellent
  • Photo equipment
  • Water bottle

Be sure and wear your trip shirt and your name badge to travel

Day of Travel

Customs Forms on Airplane – use phone number and address for the resort:

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Casino

J.A. Abraham Blvd #40

Kralendijk, Bonaire N.A.

Phone: +599-717-8285

Toll-free: 800-367-3484 

 

The resort has a very good Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) listing at 

 

Highlights:

  • The US Dollar is the main currency
  • same electrical plugs however a bit stronger current
  • Wi-Fi is available, set your phones to airplane mode/cell data off for Wi-Fi access
  • We will be in the Eastern Time Zone
  • Tap water meets very high standards, use of water bottles encouraged
  • Food and beverage tips customarily 10-15%
  • Dutch is the official language, most inhabitants speak English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamento
  • Roro Bonaire offers accessible transportation around the island: 599-717-6787  

Travel Day: Saturday Sep 16, 2023

 Follow the crowd and line up for Immigration/Customs/Visitors. 

  • Have your Passport and the form you filled out on the plane ready.  
  • Follow signs toward the baggage claim area. Grab a free baggage cart, pile your luggage on, and head through Customs. You will need your Bonaire Visitor Entry Tax QR code that have already received by email.
  • After clearing Customs, follow the signs to exit. 

Bonaire Island

Bonaire Airport and Dive Flamingo Resort and Casino

After you find your luggage at baggage claim, go outside to the waiting hotel transfer. There will be vans to take your bags and transport you. Remember, you are not in the States, and not all things are ADA compliant, however, the people here look forward to us visiting and make every effort to accommodate us. 

Once you get to the resort:

  • Check-in at the front desk
  • Porters will deliver your bags to your room

General Info.

Resort Information

Highlights:

  • US Dollars are the main currency
  • Same electrical plugs however a bit stronger current
  • WiFi is available, set your phone to airplane mode and leave it there for wifi access
  • We are in the Eastern Standard Time Zone

Medication and Medical Assistance

Bring any applicable medical documents, over-the-counter medicines, dry ear, sunscreen, Dramamine if you need it, decongestants, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. If you have prescription medicines, please keep them with you in your carry-on luggage. 

Medical assistance is available nearby: The Hospital (Fundashon Mariadal) and across the street is the CMC for non-emergency visits. Be sure to have your passport for ID purposes and be prepared to pay for services. Keep any invoices for reimbursement through your travel or medical insurance. 

Hospital -Fundashon Mariadal

Kaya Soeur Bartola, Kralendijk

+599-715-8900

https://www.fundashonmariadal.com

CMC (In front of hospital)
Kaya Soeur Bartola 7
+599 – 715 3010

https://www.bonairemedischcentrum.com/cmc-practice.html

Eating, drinking, and relaxing:

Dining

Breakfast is included with your stay at Pure Ocean Restaurant from 6:30 am – 11:00 am 

Lunch/Dinner are on your own. Rooms have refrigerators, some trip-goers opt for simple groceries. The Sunshine Market is across the street, others a few blocks. The group may plan group dinners, and watch What’s App for details. Most all restaurants require reservations. There are also two restaurant options at the resort, check for hours and availability. 

Daily Schedule

General Schedule

Hotel Check-in is 4:00 pm. Please check in at the front desk, enjoy your complimentary glass of rum punch, and settle in. 

  • Welcome Gathering âž” Saturday, Sept. 24th 7:00 pm at the Pure Ocean Bar.   Meet and greet time and we will go over where to meet in the morning for diving. 
  • Sunday 9:15 am Orientation.  Please meet at the dive center for the marine park briefing, followed by a check-out shore dive. This is a mandatory requirement by the dive operator. We’ll break for lunch and come back to the dock for a 2 p.m. boat launch for an afternoon dive. 
  • Monday– Friday Diving:
    • Morning Dives:  Must report to boats by 7:45 a.m. We will have two-morning dives and return to the dock for lunch. The boat offers fresh fruit and ice water, a shaded area, a freshwater rinse bucket, and a camera table. Boats leave at 8:30 a.m.

 

    • Afternoon Dives:  You are on your own.  Unlimited shore diving is available. 

Monday Evening – Manta Monday – the 18th of September at 7.30 pm

Location: Pure ocean garden  (onsite)

Mrs. Nicole Pelletier from the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program will tell you all about the Manta Ray and Devil Ray species. For more information you can take a look at their website Mantatrust.org or their Facebook page: Caribbeanislandsmanta

Wednesday Evening – Group Dinner, time and place TBA

Friday Afternoon – Alvin Clemencia, Assistant Dive Operations Manager, Divi Dive – Farewell party at 4.30 pm on the sundeck.

Friday Evening – Group Photo and Awards etc. at the Pure Ocean Bar at 6.30 pm

Diving

The dive operator and dive docks are located on the resort.

  • The dive operator offers a locker for dive equipment, please remember to bring a small padlock to use to lock it.
  • If you are diving with nitrox, the daily charge is $10 per tank. A 6-day prepaid package is $130, and an unlimited nitrox shore package (6 days) $295.00

Diving Requirements:

  • All waivers must be complete for Divi Dive and Dive Pirates to dive.
  • All Scuba Dives must be completed at least 24 hours prior to departing the flight.
  • No decompression diving!!!
  • Maximum depth: please be mindful to dive within your certification limits.
  • Check that you have all your dive gear, hat, sunblock, towel, etc.

Dive Dive enforces the following safety rules:

  • Do not get on the boat without the crew’s permission.
  • Buddy teams enforced must leave and return together, with no exceptions.
  • All moored dive sites.
  • The boat is partially covered with space for cameras, etc.

Dive Pirates enforces the following safety rules:

  • Limit 2 dives a day for HSA C divers/ RAID D3 Divers/ SDI DB3 Divers/ SSI Class III Divers
  • No flying before 36 hours after the last dive for all divers with spinal cord injuries. (this means no diving on Friday)
  • Use wetsuits/booties provided for protection
  • No diving below 60 feet.
  • Dive Teams, You will be assigned to a buddy if you do not have one. You are required to stay with your buddy and with your dive team.

Should you or your buddy need to surface for any reason (i.e. low on air, cold, ear trouble, equipment problems, etc.) you must return to the boat with your buddy, with no exceptions. Stay together and come up together.

Tips

Tips for dive masters are not built into the price of the trip. We typically tip $10 per dive, so $120 for the week of diving. The dive shop can distribute your tips for you