Buddy Up Diving
Buddy Up Diving
5
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About
With over 50 years of diving experience and knowledge of Cuaracao, we know what the customer wants. That's why we are aiming to become your best buddy in diving. At Buddy Up Diving you will experience customer care combined with solid diving products and knowledge of the best dive sites of Curacao. All together this makes up for the best provided diving experience on the island, whether you are new to diving or a hard core diver.
Willemstad, CuraƧao
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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.
5.0
21 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
pilchel
Denver, CO20 contributions
Sep 2015 ā¢ Friends
Amazing...Marijke was incredible. Will return just to dive with her againš The diving was outstanding. Can't wait to come back
Written September 11, 2015
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.
pestanarui
Funchal, Portugal6 contributions
Jun 2015 ā¢ Solo
Marijke and Daniƫlle were friendly enough to invite me for a baptism dive at their shop. If you have no experience I strongly recommend Buddy Up because they make you feel really comfortable and answer all your questions.
I think that they jsut like diving so much that they really make an effort to pass on their passion!
I think that they jsut like diving so much that they really make an effort to pass on their passion!
Written July 7, 2015
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.
Juan Carlos R
Manizales, Colombia3 contributions
Aug 2015 ā¢ Family
Buddy up dive center provides an excellent and friendly service, has top shelf gear in great condition and provided us with a wonderful diving holiday. We felt very safe in the water with them. Their training facilities and dedicated pool are fantastic. They were very accommodating to all our needs and I would recommend them 100%.
Written September 12, 2015
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.
Jeroen P
Hengelo, The Netherlands5 contributions
Aug 2015 ā¢ Solo
Did a deep dive specialty and a couple of guided dives with Daan and Marijke.
Daan is passionate and very good teacher, and we even had some fun during our deep dives!
Also had great and relaxed guided dives with Marijke at some beautiful locations.
Thanks Buddy Up for some great dives!
Daan is passionate and very good teacher, and we even had some fun during our deep dives!
Also had great and relaxed guided dives with Marijke at some beautiful locations.
Thanks Buddy Up for some great dives!
Written August 25, 2015
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.
Thank you for all the nice things you said about Buddy Up Diving CuraƧao. We did our utmost best to give you an unforgettable time under water at CuraƧao. And as I reed it, we succeede. Hope to see you again for more education and dives!
Written August 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MJ0523Mike
Olathe, KS6 contributions
Jun 2015 ā¢ Couples
My wife has already given her review of Buddy Up, and after some thought I decided I wanted to write one of my own. I have been diving at a number of different operations throughout the Caribbean over the last several years, but have not found any to be as attentive nor as professional as the staff at Buddy Up.
I spent four days diving with Daan, with part of it working on some advanced certifications, and she is one of the best teachers with whom I have ever worked. If you are thinking about getting certified, or expanding your diving with advanced certifications, Daan can't be beat! And, it is obvious that she just flat loves to dive!
Daan and Marijke are super friendly, and my wife and I both walked away feeling like we had made some wonderful new friends
I spent four days diving with Daan, with part of it working on some advanced certifications, and she is one of the best teachers with whom I have ever worked. If you are thinking about getting certified, or expanding your diving with advanced certifications, Daan can't be beat! And, it is obvious that she just flat loves to dive!
Daan and Marijke are super friendly, and my wife and I both walked away feeling like we had made some wonderful new friends
Written August 18, 2015
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.
Thank you for your positive review of our diving center, the staff and their qualities. Daan and Marijke are living to dive. With teaching and diving with our customers they pass on their love and respect for the underwater world to others.
Thank you for diving with us and hope to see you and your wife soon again!
Written August 25, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rosedeJonk
Driehuis, The Netherlands4 contributions
Jun 2015 ā¢ Family
I did not dive for 5 years so i needed i school who had the time to go slow and personal.. and not with a big group.
Daan went down with me and is was absolutely great!
She took me down and it was really relaxed! step by step..
We did 2 dives in Varsenbaai very nice and clear water! we also saw a turtle!!
Thank you Daan!
Daan went down with me and is was absolutely great!
She took me down and it was really relaxed! step by step..
We did 2 dives in Varsenbaai very nice and clear water! we also saw a turtle!!
Thank you Daan!
Written July 7, 2015
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.
Ernst V
14 contributions
Nov 2015 ā¢ Family
Buddy Up Diving is a full service dive shop located in the Acoya Resort just 10 minutes away from downtown Willemstad, CuraƧao. My wife and I took our 2 twenty-something old sons for a family vacation and the opportunity for them to complete their open water scuba certification. Danielle and Morijke were wonderful and professional. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Like many of the Dutch, they were direct, straightforward and honest. After assessing my wife's and my skill set following an initial guided day of diving, they turned to us and said, "Listen, I would love to take your money by offering you guided dives everyday, but you guys don't need that." Instead, we met with them each morning reviewed a dive site guidebook and a map, and they sent us on our way to conduct our own beach dives. These were fun, safe and easy. The beaches were spectacular- hidden in little coves.
Morijke and Danielle gave us excellent driving instructions every day. Don't let the car rental people talk you into a GPS at the airport. It's a waste of money. The satellite coverage is awful and the updates are not in real time. Furthermore, many of the roads are not well marked, plus there are a series of ring roads that take a while to get used to navigating. Listen to these ladies' driving tips.
Not only did they give us great diving and driving tips, but they also got to know us, our preferences, and recommended great restaurants where the locals eat. Definitely hit Zus in the Old Market and Jaanchie in Westpunt. We even met Morijke and her husband for happy hour one night at a local beach bar.
A highlight for me was taking a catamaran with Morijke to Klein CuraƧao with my family for diving at this desert island. The boys got to dive out of a zodiac boat for the first time as a result.
The only criticism I have of the whole experience is that the shop's credit card machine was broken. This was a common occurrence on the island. We had to go once a day to an ATM that would only let us take out $500 maximum a day. My advice is bring lots of cash. Food is expensive on the island. Credit card machines are often on the fritz.
Go diving or take a course with Buddy Up Diving. Tell ' em Ernst and Marianne sent you.
Like many of the Dutch, they were direct, straightforward and honest. After assessing my wife's and my skill set following an initial guided day of diving, they turned to us and said, "Listen, I would love to take your money by offering you guided dives everyday, but you guys don't need that." Instead, we met with them each morning reviewed a dive site guidebook and a map, and they sent us on our way to conduct our own beach dives. These were fun, safe and easy. The beaches were spectacular- hidden in little coves.
Morijke and Danielle gave us excellent driving instructions every day. Don't let the car rental people talk you into a GPS at the airport. It's a waste of money. The satellite coverage is awful and the updates are not in real time. Furthermore, many of the roads are not well marked, plus there are a series of ring roads that take a while to get used to navigating. Listen to these ladies' driving tips.
Not only did they give us great diving and driving tips, but they also got to know us, our preferences, and recommended great restaurants where the locals eat. Definitely hit Zus in the Old Market and Jaanchie in Westpunt. We even met Morijke and her husband for happy hour one night at a local beach bar.
A highlight for me was taking a catamaran with Morijke to Klein CuraƧao with my family for diving at this desert island. The boys got to dive out of a zodiac boat for the first time as a result.
The only criticism I have of the whole experience is that the shop's credit card machine was broken. This was a common occurrence on the island. We had to go once a day to an ATM that would only let us take out $500 maximum a day. My advice is bring lots of cash. Food is expensive on the island. Credit card machines are often on the fritz.
Go diving or take a course with Buddy Up Diving. Tell ' em Ernst and Marianne sent you.
Written December 7, 2015
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.
Christopher M
3 contributions
Sep 2015 ā¢ Friends
totally recommended! great people, friendly, profesional, great service... not enough words to describe how good everything is! I would not hesitate to come back!
Written October 1, 2015
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.
deidra216780
Crofton, MD9 contributions
Sep 2015 ā¢ Friends
This shop was easy to work with from the initial emails for scheduling until we completed our dive. First things first, they were super patient while we worked around scheduling for up to 10 people.
Secondly, they REQUIRED us to show our dive log or take a refresher course prior to allowing anyone in the group to dive. If you're not familiar with foreign dives, MANY MANY dive shops will allow you to dive places that you are not certified to dive. NOT THIS SHOP. Safety first.
I arrived on Saturday and was signed up for my refresher course in the pool for Sunday. We arrived a little late, but Dan was patient and very helpful. They have a pool with 3 depths to practice all of the necessities and I even learned a few new tricks that I wasn't taught in my initial certification class.
We went for our group dive on Monday and it was awesome, as well. I felt super comfortable with our guide and she made sure that everything went smoothly.
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this dive shop!!
Secondly, they REQUIRED us to show our dive log or take a refresher course prior to allowing anyone in the group to dive. If you're not familiar with foreign dives, MANY MANY dive shops will allow you to dive places that you are not certified to dive. NOT THIS SHOP. Safety first.
I arrived on Saturday and was signed up for my refresher course in the pool for Sunday. We arrived a little late, but Dan was patient and very helpful. They have a pool with 3 depths to practice all of the necessities and I even learned a few new tricks that I wasn't taught in my initial certification class.
We went for our group dive on Monday and it was awesome, as well. I felt super comfortable with our guide and she made sure that everything went smoothly.
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this dive shop!!
Written September 21, 2015
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.
kshesq
Haarlem, The Netherlands76 contributions
Jun 2015 ā¢ Solo
During my stay on Curacao I have completed 3 specialties (deep, wreck and navigation) with Buddy Up Diving.
The choice for Buddy Up was easy. They are the most qualified school on Curacao offering not only SSI, but also PADI, WOSD and IAHD certifications. The also have a swimming pool for dive training.
The staff is very professional and friendly and make you feel quite at home, you don't want to leave at the end of the day :)
The equipment is well maintained and good quality. They also fill their own bottles and the filling room is very professional.
If you want a good time and a perfect dive I recommend Buddy Up Diving.
Thanks Daan for the unforgettable dives!
The choice for Buddy Up was easy. They are the most qualified school on Curacao offering not only SSI, but also PADI, WOSD and IAHD certifications. The also have a swimming pool for dive training.
The staff is very professional and friendly and make you feel quite at home, you don't want to leave at the end of the day :)
The equipment is well maintained and good quality. They also fill their own bottles and the filling room is very professional.
If you want a good time and a perfect dive I recommend Buddy Up Diving.
Thanks Daan for the unforgettable dives!
Written July 6, 2015
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.
Hi,
What would be the cost to do some diving with you?
I am a rescue diver nitrox. I only have my dive mask & computer, need to rent te rest.
I would be on Curacao from 30may till 9june, still need to book accomodation also...
Thanks, greets
Robin (flemish, english, french, german)
Written May 20, 2016
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