Xprodiver Bonaire
Xprodiver Bonaire
5
Monday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
We are a Family Run Dive Shop/School offering personal attention on each course and guided dive. We like small groups and private diving to focus on our guest's goals and experience level. Conveniently located at walking distance from the cruise port. We are a Sidemount and Rebreather friendly facility. In addition, we are service technicians ready to tune up your gear quickly and safely. Come and meet us for a great shopping experience with the best brands and or rent your gear from us. We speak English, Spanish, Dutch and some Portuguese.
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
137 reviews
Excellent
137
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0
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Terrible
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S/V Kairos
Kralendijk, Bonaire36 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
This review is slow in coming but my initial reaction to Xprodiver has proven to be right through six months of regular contact.
My wife and I were looking for basic diving training and wanted to avoid the group lessons in the larger shops. Someone off island recommended Xprodiver and we never looked back.
Owners Hens and Sigrid have created a welcoming space to buy, get advice, find training, hire a trip guide or get equipment serviced. Our training, which now includes Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications was amazing. Hens is experienced, patient and encouraging.
He built in us a confidence that has us regularly diving on our own and enjoying every minute.
He has advised us on the purchase of gear, even when it was from others and checked our kit for problems. Xprodiver focuses on smaller classes and trips which give people experiences they will long remember.
But the one thing that will always last for me is the sense of welcome they offer everyone who walks in the store. It is a joyful, warm place far from home.
Xprodiver is the best.
My wife and I were looking for basic diving training and wanted to avoid the group lessons in the larger shops. Someone off island recommended Xprodiver and we never looked back.
Owners Hens and Sigrid have created a welcoming space to buy, get advice, find training, hire a trip guide or get equipment serviced. Our training, which now includes Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications was amazing. Hens is experienced, patient and encouraging.
He built in us a confidence that has us regularly diving on our own and enjoying every minute.
He has advised us on the purchase of gear, even when it was from others and checked our kit for problems. Xprodiver focuses on smaller classes and trips which give people experiences they will long remember.
But the one thing that will always last for me is the sense of welcome they offer everyone who walks in the store. It is a joyful, warm place far from home.
Xprodiver is the best.
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
apollo
Dominican Republic3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I am so grateful that xprodiver was recommended to us. Hens and Sigrid make you feel welcome from the moment you walk into their shop.
We had never dived before, but had old dive equipment on the boat we bought. Hens took care of us! First, we took the Open Water Class and discovered what a great teacher he is. He is patient and thorough. He specializes in small groups, mostly couples, and personalizes every class to your individual needs. He is uncannily observant - noticing absolutely everything. So if you are nervous he sees it and he calms you. If you make a mistake or need extra practice with a skill he takes the time to have you practice more until you are comfortable and safe, all the while being positive and encouraging. Such an easy, comfortable person to be around.
On top of being a skilled and knowledgeable diver and great teacher, Hens also sells high quality equipment and knows how to repair many brands. When we brought our old equipment in for his free inspection I could see he was skeptical. So were we! But after he inspected he said most of it was fine. I was impressed with that because he wasn't just trying to make a sale. He truly cares about his customers! The regs just needed some serious cleaning and one needed a small repair that required ordering a part. He loaned us one of his regs until the part arrived. In the end we decided we needed to replace our bcds because they didn't fit well, but didn't want to spend the money on new ones. Though he doesn't recommend buying used bcds, Hens advised us and helped us through the process. Now, because of Covid, we are stuck here and are scheduling additional classes with Hens. We wouldn't dream of going anywhere else.
If you are ever in Bonaire for diving, go to Xprodivers. You won't be disappointed.
We had never dived before, but had old dive equipment on the boat we bought. Hens took care of us! First, we took the Open Water Class and discovered what a great teacher he is. He is patient and thorough. He specializes in small groups, mostly couples, and personalizes every class to your individual needs. He is uncannily observant - noticing absolutely everything. So if you are nervous he sees it and he calms you. If you make a mistake or need extra practice with a skill he takes the time to have you practice more until you are comfortable and safe, all the while being positive and encouraging. Such an easy, comfortable person to be around.
On top of being a skilled and knowledgeable diver and great teacher, Hens also sells high quality equipment and knows how to repair many brands. When we brought our old equipment in for his free inspection I could see he was skeptical. So were we! But after he inspected he said most of it was fine. I was impressed with that because he wasn't just trying to make a sale. He truly cares about his customers! The regs just needed some serious cleaning and one needed a small repair that required ordering a part. He loaned us one of his regs until the part arrived. In the end we decided we needed to replace our bcds because they didn't fit well, but didn't want to spend the money on new ones. Though he doesn't recommend buying used bcds, Hens advised us and helped us through the process. Now, because of Covid, we are stuck here and are scheduling additional classes with Hens. We wouldn't dream of going anywhere else.
If you are ever in Bonaire for diving, go to Xprodivers. You won't be disappointed.
Written May 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tseverinsen
Klepp Municipality, Norway44 contributions
May 2020 • Solo
We just spent 2 months Corona-stuck on Bonaire, aboard our sailboat from Norway. With 35 yrs experience as Dive Master I have visited many dive shops around the world. The personal service and friendliness of the owner/operator at this diveshop was simply top class. Lots of useful advice, no hassle air fills and good prices (compared to big diveshop who makes you sign a 3 page irrelevant legal waiver and questionnaire just to fill your dive tank!). You feel very appreciated as a customer here. Highly recommended!
Written May 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tamara B
Whistler, Canada37 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
There are a lot of good dive shops in Bonaire, but if you want a shop with exceptional service, Hens at Xprodiver is the place to go. Not only is Hens extremely knowledgeable, simply put he’s a super nice, kind guy. He helped us with everything from foggy goggles to arranging to have our onboard compressor serviced. We didn’t dive with him but he would have been our first choice if we wanted a guide, he knows the sites extremely well. If you want personal service from one of the nicest guys we met in Bonaire, I’d recommend going to his shop - it’s ‘something special’!
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
s p
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Couples
Xprodiver was recommended to us by a diver we met while on Bonaire. As ones who had never scuba dived before he suggested we try a discovery dive with Hens as the way to try diving. After meeting Hens in his shop the next day, his calm friendly and knowledgeable explanation of what was involved solidified our drive to try it out. Although I was a definite yes, my wife was nervous but Hens encouraged her to try and at any point she was uncomfortable to stop with no pressure to continue. We scheduled to go a few days later and when my wife couldn’t do it I continued alone with Hens. It started with an introductory class in his shop which covered everything in the training booklet and more, then he set me up with equipment. We loaded his truck and headed to an easy entry dive spot, one he picked so that my wife would have a comfortable spot in the shade to watch. After a complete review and safety training in shallow water we moved out and continued with skills training until I was 100% comfortable to move on. As we went down and throughout the entire dive Hens was within arms reach at all times and constantly checking in to make sure I was comfortable. We explored the reef and saw incredible sea life while I learned that scuba will have to be a part of my life going forward.
As a bonus Hens provided me with video of my amazing Xperience.
I have had the good fortune of having many adventures in my travels and Hens and his wife Sigrid made this experience my “Best Ever” and I can’t wait to go again.
If you are fortunate enough to travel to Bonaire and have any type of diving need please check in with Hens and Sigrid at Xprodiver they will provide top notch service and they are the type of business people that I love to support because they care.
Steve P.
Alberta, Canada
As a bonus Hens provided me with video of my amazing Xperience.
I have had the good fortune of having many adventures in my travels and Hens and his wife Sigrid made this experience my “Best Ever” and I can’t wait to go again.
If you are fortunate enough to travel to Bonaire and have any type of diving need please check in with Hens and Sigrid at Xprodiver they will provide top notch service and they are the type of business people that I love to support because they care.
Steve P.
Alberta, Canada
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tyler_Trippin
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Friends
In short, I can't imagine having a better experience anywhere else!!! Sigrid was very informative and prompt when responding to my questions about pricing (prices here are very reasonable) and scheduling for my Open Water Certification. Additionally, they were very flexible when it came to scheduling due to weather and my other plans on the island. My instructor, Martijn, is an amazing teacher and technical diver. My education was thorough and digestible. He makes concepts and techniques easy to understand while providing a safe yet fun environment to learn. Hens is a master with all the scuba equipment and went above and beyond when making sure my mask wouldn't fog!
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike
The Dalles, OR7 contributions
Mar 2023
Bonaire has lots of great dive shops but Xprodiver is unique since it is family owned. At other dive shops we visited during our month on Bonaire the customer service was hit or miss depending upon which employee was present. At Xprodiver you always had an enthusastic family member or close family friend who greeted you by name.
Hens was incredily helpful with our refersher course and excelled teaching the advanced buoyancy trim course. He was knowledgable about videography. Several times we watched as he did quick free repairs for random customers who walked in with SCUBA equipment needing work.
His wife Sigrid was amazing in all of her pretrip e-mails sorting out our courses and rentals and really knew their product line at the store.
Martijn was very informative about diving locations, local restaurants and was funny and knowlegable.
Alvaro was amazingly helpful with all our tank refills and gave us the insider knowlege about the island cullture, places to shop for food and was an overall wonderful person.
Hens was incredily helpful with our refersher course and excelled teaching the advanced buoyancy trim course. He was knowledgable about videography. Several times we watched as he did quick free repairs for random customers who walked in with SCUBA equipment needing work.
His wife Sigrid was amazing in all of her pretrip e-mails sorting out our courses and rentals and really knew their product line at the store.
Martijn was very informative about diving locations, local restaurants and was funny and knowlegable.
Alvaro was amazingly helpful with all our tank refills and gave us the insider knowlege about the island cullture, places to shop for food and was an overall wonderful person.
Written April 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fishphotoguy
3 contributions
Mar 2020
I dive with a Hollis LTC BC and had a faulty valve to release air from my BC. They were absolutly the most helpful dive shop I have ever worked with. Very few places service tech diving gear then in Bonaire you have even less options. He had anything someone doing any sort of diving with recreational to technical gear needed from replacing a faulty part to rebreathers. There customer service was so amazing and they actually took a BC they had in stock and removed the pieces I needed because it was not something that was kept in stock and would of taken some time to get the parts in. He had a true expertise for my gear and was able to repair it with no issues at all, They truly saved my dive trip. I have been to Bonaire 19x and will never use another dive shop after how well I was treated. I felt as if I was a regular and it was my home dive shop while I was in the store. I have never felt so welcome and confident in a dive shop that I walked through the door and literally only pulled in because they had Hollis written out side of the building. It is just a little place just out side of town if you are coming from the south it is on the right just out side of town. If you are staying anywhere in the north (captains dons, buddy, ect) it is on the left just before you get into town. This is actually the first time I have ever put a review on this because my experience was just on a level far higher then any other dive shop has given me. Honestly I wish that they were located in North Carolina so it could be my home shop because I have never been treated so well id never use anyone else.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mdabik9
17 contributions
Sep 2021
Walked in by a chance, stayed for the whole holiday!
If I could I would give 10 stars! :)
Xprodiver Bonaire was everything that I needed for my diving experience to boost my confidence and make this trip the highlight of the year. I also made really good friends :)
I had a diving accident a few years ago and have not dived since. After that, I was a little afraid, I had doubts about my abilities and was a little frightened by the sound of my breathing. I booked a refresher course with Martijn and I can just say that I quickly felt that I am in the right place with the right people. I felt that I am really taken care of and that none of my worries are ignored. Martijn ensured that I felt confident with my refreshed skills and comfortable in the water before we dived any deeper.
Over the span of a few days I have dived with Martijn and Hens, where each time I knew that I am with very professional and knowledgeable instructors.
The individual approach that you find in Hens' diving school is something you cannot miss. Before, I always dived in groups of about 6/7 people. Here it was just me and the instructor. Which is invaluable! I dived twice as long with the same amount of air!
Once again, I was able to enjoy the underwater world and feel that love for diving that I felt the first time around.
When I'm back in Bonaire I will definitely be using the services of Xprodivers!
If I could I would give 10 stars! :)
Xprodiver Bonaire was everything that I needed for my diving experience to boost my confidence and make this trip the highlight of the year. I also made really good friends :)
I had a diving accident a few years ago and have not dived since. After that, I was a little afraid, I had doubts about my abilities and was a little frightened by the sound of my breathing. I booked a refresher course with Martijn and I can just say that I quickly felt that I am in the right place with the right people. I felt that I am really taken care of and that none of my worries are ignored. Martijn ensured that I felt confident with my refreshed skills and comfortable in the water before we dived any deeper.
Over the span of a few days I have dived with Martijn and Hens, where each time I knew that I am with very professional and knowledgeable instructors.
The individual approach that you find in Hens' diving school is something you cannot miss. Before, I always dived in groups of about 6/7 people. Here it was just me and the instructor. Which is invaluable! I dived twice as long with the same amount of air!
Once again, I was able to enjoy the underwater world and feel that love for diving that I felt the first time around.
When I'm back in Bonaire I will definitely be using the services of Xprodivers!
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran H
1 contribution
Jan 2023
Sometimes cruise ship arrival and departure times don’t make scuba diving easy, but the docking times for the Carnival Spirit on 18/1/23 were perfect for two private afternoon and one night dive. Heaven for a diver on a day stop in Bonaire!
Through a FaceBook referral, I learned of Xprodiver Bonaire. Sigrid was quick to respond to my request and set up a fantastic afternoon for me with Maarten! Even though I had all my gear except fins, weights and air, I appreciated the cautionary request to set everything up in the shop before leaving. Clear dive plans, including shore entry and exit, were discussed before hefting our gear out thru the rocky entrances at the dive sites. Safety was a priority throughout!
We dove Angel City and Red Slave in the afternoon. Visibility wasn’t pristine due to recent surge, but we had a good 30’-40’. This allowed us to see each other easily and still be able to individually search the nooks and crannies of the reef. Fish were plentiful, including Drum (mature and immature), Lion 🙁, Parrot (of many varieties), Peacock Flounder, Trumpet, Angel (French and Queen), Goat, schools of Blue Cromis and the list goes on and on! Also the largest Blue Parrotfish I’ve ever seen, chomping away on the coral. We were treated to a family of large porcupine fish with their sad eyes, a lettuce sea slug, and shrimp galore: coral banded, spotted cleaner and waving Pedersen’s! Green and Hawksbill turtles as well. What an afternoon! Both dives were 1hr 10+ minutes with plenty of air (but not time) to spare!
After a quick stop at Xprodiver Bonaire’s shop, where we were provided ham and gouda sandwiches, we headed off for our night dive.
We entered Salt Pier just as the last vestiges of sun were leaving the horizon. Initially in just 7’ of water (we eventually saw 34’) the afternoon’s amazing dives were immediately outdone when an eagle ray soared above us, tarpon became our companions and green and spotted moray eels were out on the hunt! Sleeping fish, barracuda, southern sting ray, slipper lobster and those beautiful copper eyes of all the shrimp were among our finds. The best however, for me, was a Berthellina Quadridens sea slug. A beautiful orange blob with antennas? I had no idea what it was…and almost missed the octopus wrapped in the rocks beside it! After an hour we were escorted back to the shore by adorable Caribbean reef squid.
I don’t think the smile has left my face for this perfect day of diving with Xprodiver Bonaire! So blessed to see Bonaire on a beautiful day!
FYI…Xprodiver Bonaire is an easy five minute walk from the cruise terminal!
Through a FaceBook referral, I learned of Xprodiver Bonaire. Sigrid was quick to respond to my request and set up a fantastic afternoon for me with Maarten! Even though I had all my gear except fins, weights and air, I appreciated the cautionary request to set everything up in the shop before leaving. Clear dive plans, including shore entry and exit, were discussed before hefting our gear out thru the rocky entrances at the dive sites. Safety was a priority throughout!
We dove Angel City and Red Slave in the afternoon. Visibility wasn’t pristine due to recent surge, but we had a good 30’-40’. This allowed us to see each other easily and still be able to individually search the nooks and crannies of the reef. Fish were plentiful, including Drum (mature and immature), Lion 🙁, Parrot (of many varieties), Peacock Flounder, Trumpet, Angel (French and Queen), Goat, schools of Blue Cromis and the list goes on and on! Also the largest Blue Parrotfish I’ve ever seen, chomping away on the coral. We were treated to a family of large porcupine fish with their sad eyes, a lettuce sea slug, and shrimp galore: coral banded, spotted cleaner and waving Pedersen’s! Green and Hawksbill turtles as well. What an afternoon! Both dives were 1hr 10+ minutes with plenty of air (but not time) to spare!
After a quick stop at Xprodiver Bonaire’s shop, where we were provided ham and gouda sandwiches, we headed off for our night dive.
We entered Salt Pier just as the last vestiges of sun were leaving the horizon. Initially in just 7’ of water (we eventually saw 34’) the afternoon’s amazing dives were immediately outdone when an eagle ray soared above us, tarpon became our companions and green and spotted moray eels were out on the hunt! Sleeping fish, barracuda, southern sting ray, slipper lobster and those beautiful copper eyes of all the shrimp were among our finds. The best however, for me, was a Berthellina Quadridens sea slug. A beautiful orange blob with antennas? I had no idea what it was…and almost missed the octopus wrapped in the rocks beside it! After an hour we were escorted back to the shore by adorable Caribbean reef squid.
I don’t think the smile has left my face for this perfect day of diving with Xprodiver Bonaire! So blessed to see Bonaire on a beautiful day!
FYI…Xprodiver Bonaire is an easy five minute walk from the cruise terminal!
Written January 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience