Bonaire - which dive op for training?

[rmkrause]

Going to Bonaire December 5 - 13. Flying out on the red-eye out of Newark on the 5th, paid for the extra day at the Den Laman condo's so we can check in immediately rather than wait until that afternoon. Got the Den Laman "dive and drive package".

So with the flight, car and condo out of the way - which dive operator should I use? Den Laman has Bonaire Dive and Adventure onsite, but Buddy Dive, Yellow Submarine and a few others seem like they are very close by as well.

Wife will be doing OW and I'll be doing my AOW and probably Underwater Naturalist for the both of us as it seems it'd be fun to do there given the huge diversity of flora and fauna there. I'm going to try to get Nitrox out of the way locally before going to Bonaire. The wife in particular is going to need someone that is very patient - she did a DSD in St Croix and had a blast and went well but in a prior DS she had some issues equalizing due to a poor rental mask that didn't fit that unfortunately introduced some fear/concern that needs to be squashed.

I've looked here and also on Bonairetalk but didn't find much searching to see who the preferred ops are currently, or are they all good? I have seen a few negative reviews of BDA and Dive Buddy but I realize it's impossible to please every customer and some folks are just plain impossible to please and just like to whine for the sake of whining.

[snagel]

I've dove out of BDA before, but never have taken any classes with them. They seem to be great people. Here's the deal....it's 1:00 a.m. and I just got up because I'm driving to the airport in about an hour to fly to Bonaire. I'm staying at the Den Laman and using BDA. I'll check around for you and post something when I get back. If you have any specific questions or needs that I might be able to track down for you post them. If I can get online when I'm down there I'll respond.

Snagel

[rmkrause]

Have an awesome trip

[Flatliner]

Just my thought. I dove with Buddy while I was there and thought Martin was awesome. HOWEVER, given the type of diving you do in Bonaire, unless you have a really compelling reason (ie a bad report on an op) I think I would do everything with the on-site op.

[chauncy19]

Would just second what Flatliner said although I have NO first hand experience with them. Have my own opinion about who I would dive with but that would probably also have affected where I stayed.
Have a great time!! wish i was going too :-(

[boates]

Personally, I like to establish dive relationships at the resort I choose to stay with, especially if return trips are in the plans.
However, I'm confident to recommend Martin or Carlos at Buddys if you really want names.