Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations
If you are planning your dive week in Bonaire, one question quickly becomes practical: which Dive Friends location should you use, and why does it matter? That is exactly what Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations is here to answer. With seven dive shops conveniently spread over the island and 3 retail stores, the setup gives divers more flexibility, easier logistics, and a smoother way to move from check-in to training to shore diving.
Whether you are coming for independent shore diving, guided dives, or an Avelo-focused trip, knowing how a multi-location operation helps your daily routine can make your vacation simpler from day one. In this guide, you will learn how to think about the seven locations, what kinds of services to look for, and how to plan your week more efficiently.
Why Dive Friends’ Seven Locations Matter
When a dive operation has seven locations, convenience becomes part of the dive experience. Instead of building your entire day around a single departure point, you can organize your time with more flexibility.
For divers, that matters in several ways:
- Less unnecessary backtracking across the island
- Easier access to support during your stay
- More efficient dive-day planning
- Better coordination if you are combining training, rentals, guided dives, and retail needs
That island-wide presence is especially useful for travelers who want to maximize water time while keeping surface logistics simple. A distributed setup can help reduce friction, which is often one of the biggest hidden challenges on a dive holiday.
What You Can Expect From Dive Friends’ Island-Wide Setup
At a high level, Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations is really about how a diver benefits from having multiple access points during the week.
A seven-location footprint supports a few important goals:
- Convenience for guests staying in different parts of Bonaire
- Flexibility when organizing shore diving days
- Accessibility for training and guided experiences
- Support for both new and returning divers
This is also helpful if your trip includes a mix of activities. Some guests come for classic shore diving. Others want to add a certification, guided dives, or a specialty experience built around newer systems such as Avelo.
A Quick Look at Avelo Options Available
If part of your trip includes Avelo, Dive Friends offers several clearly defined options that can shape which location and services matter most to you during the week.
Avelo Journey
The Avelo Journey - RAD-Course + guided dives - 2 days - 4 dives is described as the most popular and recommended RAD course. It includes:
- eLearning completed beforehand
- Day 1: Two practical training dives and RAD certification
- Day 2: Two guided Avelo dives
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age 15 years old
- Open Water Certified
Price: $ 700
This option suits divers who want a shorter path into the Avelo system while still getting guided dives to build confidence.
Avelo Ultimate
For divers who want a longer, more immersive Avelo program, Avelo Ultimate - RAD Course + guided dives - 6 days - 12 dives (including 2 two-tank boat dives) offers a full week dedicated to the Avelo System.
It includes:
- eLearning completed beforehand
- Day 1: Two practical training dives and RAD certification
- Days 2 and 3: Two-tank guided boat dives (four boat dives total)
- Days 4, 5, and 6: Two guided shore dives each day (six shore dives total)
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age 15 years old
- Open Water Certified
Price: $1,550
Avelo Experience
For travelers who want a complete dive holiday package, the Avelo Experience is a week-long program. It includes:
- A 1-day Recreational Avelo Diver (RAD) course
- Two guided dives with an instructor
- Four days of unlimited Avelo gear rental
- 6-night stay at Delfins Beach Resort
- 7-day Toyota Hilux truck rental
- Goodie bag, retail discounts, and a complementary BBQ night
The program is presented as having limited 2026 availability during four date windows:
- February 14 - 21
- June 13 - 20
- September 5 - 12
- October 24 - 31
Price: starting at $2.999 per person
This package is useful to know about when planning your week because it combines instruction, guided diving, gear, accommodation, and transportation into one offering.
What You’ll Find Across the Seven Locations
Because Dive Friends operates seven dive shops conveniently spread over the island, divers can expect an operational setup designed to support different kinds of dive days.
While your exact routine depends on the services you book, these are the most relevant categories to think about when choosing how to use the locations.
1. Access to Dive Support Throughout Your Stay
A multi-site setup gives you more than a place to check in once. It creates repeated access points during your vacation.
That can be especially valuable when your trip includes:
- Guided dives
- Course scheduling
- Avelo gear use after certification
- Retail browsing before or after your dives
For travelers, convenience often improves the overall experience just as much as the diving itself.
2. Better Flexibility for Shore Diving Days
Bonaire is known for shore diving, and shore-diving logistics improve when your dive operator has multiple locations around the island.
In practical terms, that can help you:
- Start the day more efficiently
- Keep your daily route simpler
- Pair dive plans with where you are staying or driving
- Make the most of an island-based dive schedule
That is one reason Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations matters to trip planning. The red pins are not just dots on a map. They represent a more practical way to structure your week.
3. Support for Training and Guided Diving
If you are booking a course, location matters for a different reason: flow.
A good training experience depends on clear progression, easy logistics, and a comfortable pace. Dive Friends offers structured Avelo programs ranging from the Avelo Journey - RAD-Course + guided dives - 2 days - 4 dives to the six-day Avelo Ultimate and the week-long Avelo Experience.
That means guests can align their trip with:
- A shorter two-day certification-and-guided-dive format
- A more immersive six-day guided package
- A complete holiday package with accommodation and transportation included
4. Retail Access During Your Dive Week
Dive Friends also has 3 retail stores, which adds another practical advantage for guests.
Retail access can be useful if you want to:
- Pick up gear-related items during your stay
- Browse dive essentials without adding complicated detours
- Combine shopping with a scheduled dive stop or training day
For many divers, that kind of convenience helps keep the trip running smoothly.
How to Choose the Right Location Strategy for Your Trip
The smartest way to use Dive Friends’ seven locations is not to think of them as identical stops. Think of them as part of a network that can support the kind of trip you want.
If you want maximum flexibility
Choose a plan that lets you stay adaptable day by day. This works well for divers focused on shore diving and self-directed schedules.
If you want structured training
Build your trip around a course format that matches your goals.
For example:
| Goal | Best-Fit Option |
|---|---|
| Learn Avelo in a short format | Avelo Journey - RAD-Course + guided dives - 2 days - 4 dives |
| Spend a full week integrating Avelo into your diving | Avelo Ultimate - RAD Course + guided dives - 6 days - 12 dives (including 2 two-tank boat dives) |
| Book an all-in package built around Avelo | Avelo Experience |
If you want a complete vacation package
The Avelo Experience is designed for travelers who want multiple pieces organized together, including diving, accommodation, and transportation.
Practical Tips Before You Plan Your Week
Here are a few simple ways to make the most of Dive Friends’ seven locations.
Book training early if Avelo is part of your trip
Avelo programs are structured and time-based, so it helps to decide early whether you want:
- Avelo Journey
- Avelo Ultimate
- Avelo Experience
Complete eLearning in advance
Both Avelo Journey and Avelo Ultimate include eLearning completed beforehand. Finishing that before arrival can make your in-water days more efficient.
Match your trip length to the right package
A two-day course and a six-day course serve different travel styles. If your holiday is short, the two-day option may be the better fit. If you want a fuller progression, the six-day option offers more guided time in the system.
Know the prerequisites
For the listed Avelo courses, guests must be:
- At least 15 years old
- Open Water Certified
Watch for time-sensitive offers
If you are planning around promotions, it helps to act early. The Early Bird promotion booking window is before July 31, 2026, and the dive window is between August 1 and October 1, 2026.
FAQ: Red Pins Revealed
What does “Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations” mean?
It refers to understanding how Dive Friends’ seven locations help divers plan more convenient, flexible dive days across Bonaire.
How many Dive Friends locations are there?
There are seven dive shops conveniently spread over the island.
How many retail stores does Dive Friends have?
Dive Friends has 3 retail stores.
What is the 2-day Avelo package called?
The package name is Avelo Journey - RAD-Course + guided dives - 2 days - 4 dives.
What is included in the Avelo Experience?
The Avelo Experience includes a 1-day Recreational Avelo Diver (RAD) course, two guided dives, four days of unlimited Avelo gear rental, a 6-night stay at Delfins Beach Resort, 7-day Toyota Hilux truck rental, plus a goodie bag, retail discounts, and a complementary BBQ night.
Conclusion: Use the Red Pins to Build a Better Dive Week
The real value behind Red Pins Revealed: What You’ll Find at Each of Dive Friends’ Seven Locations is simple: a well-distributed dive operation helps guests dive smarter. With seven dive shops conveniently spread over the island and 3 retail stores, divers can approach Bonaire with more flexibility, easier planning, and better support throughout their stay.
If your trip includes Avelo, the path is also clear. You can choose the shorter Avelo Journey - RAD-Course + guided dives - 2 days - 4 dives, commit to the immersive Avelo Ultimate, or book the full Avelo Experience for a packaged dive holiday.
Ready to plan your week? Explore your preferred dive format, choose the Avelo option that fits your goals, and book now to secure your spot.