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28 August 2026

Founder Flashback: Bart’s Journey from Backyard Gear to Wannadive Mascot

Every great dive operation starts with a first step, but few stories begin quite like Founder Flashback: Bart’s Journey from Backyard Gear to Wannadive Mascot. If you have ever wondered how a dive center builds its identity, earns trust, and grows into a full-service operation, the answer often starts with something simple: passion, persistence, and a clear idea of the experience divers deserve.

Wannadive Bonaire began literally from a backyard, more than twenty years ago, with a few chunks of barely functioning dive gear and an ambition to become the best, most comprehensive, safest, progressive, and fun dive operation on Bonaire. Today, that spirit still shapes the guest experience. In this post, you will discover how that origin story matters, what it reveals about the Wannadive approach, and why Bart’s role as founder and mascot captures the personality behind the brand.

From Backyard Beginnings to a Full-Service Dive Operation

The origin of Wannadive Bonaire is refreshingly direct. More than twenty years ago, the operation started in a backyard with limited gear but a strong vision. That vision was not only about offering dives. It was about creating a dive operation known for service with a smile, broad support for divers, and a memorable atmosphere built around fun and professionalism.

That beginning still matters because it explains the culture behind the company. Businesses that grow from practical, hands-on roots often develop a deep understanding of what guests actually need. In diving, that usually means reliable support, easy logistics, access to quality equipment, and guidance that fits the diver’s experience level.

Today, Wannadive Bonaire operates two full service dive shops, one south of town and another north of town. This setup gives divers flexibility no matter where they stay, while supporting one of Bonaire’s defining advantages as a world-class dive destination: shore diving.

Why Bart’s Story Matters to the Wannadive Identity

A founder story is never just biography. It is often the clearest window into a company’s values.

In the case of Founder Flashback: Bart’s Journey from Backyard Gear to Wannadive Mascot, the journey reflects several ideas that still define the Wannadive experience:

The word mascot also says something important. It suggests personality, recognizability, and a human touch. In hospitality and diving alike, people remember how a place feels. A founder who remains closely associated with the spirit of the business helps keep that feeling consistent.

What Wannadive Offers Today

The backyard chapter explains the beginning, but the current operation shows how far that vision has developed.

Wannadive is a five star PADI IDC dive center offering a wide range of dive services. The operation includes:

This breadth matters because it supports different kinds of divers in one system. New divers, returning divers, experienced independent divers, and guests looking for guided support all benefit from an operation that can meet them where they are.

Shop Locations and Opening Hours

Wannadive operates from two locations in Bonaire:

Location Address Phone
Wannadive Eden Beach (North) Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot 73, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean +599 701 0882
Wannadive Windsock (South) EEG Boulevard 3, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean +599 717 8884

Opening hours: Daily from 8:00 – 17:00.

This dual-location model reinforces accessibility. Divers can choose the base that best suits their stay and diving plans while still benefiting from the broader Wannadive setup.

Safety as a Core Part of the Story

A founder story becomes more meaningful when you can see its principles translated into everyday operations. At Wannadive, safety is central to every dive.

Dives are led and supervised by qualified dive professionals. Guests receive a thorough briefing, and rental equipment and dive cylinders are regularly inspected and maintained. Dive plans are adapted to certification level, conditions, and guest experience.

Wannadive also follows applicable Bonaire Marine Park regulations. This matters because a strong dive experience depends on both diver wellbeing and respect for the local environment.

Marine Park Orientation and Buoyancy Check

A common question from visiting divers is whether orientation requirements apply to them.

Yes. The Bonaire National Marine Park requires all divers to attend the Bonaire Marine Park orientation and complete a short buoyancy dive to confirm proper weighting and equipment function.

That orientation dive can be done with or without a dive guide. If you want to do this dive with a guide, you can contact Wannadive to schedule it.

Returning to Diving After a Break

Another practical question is whether a refresher is necessary after time away from diving.

If you have not been diving for over a year, Wannadive strongly recommends a refresher course. The refresher is a 2.5 hour program that revisits basic diving theory, refreshes core skills, and includes a weight and gear check in the ocean along with a dive.

For many divers, this is one of the smartest ways to rebuild confidence before moving into guided dives, boat dives, or shore diving plans.

Responsible Diving and Daily Operations

The founder story also connects naturally to how a dive operation thinks about stewardship. In diving, long-term success depends on protecting the places people come to enjoy.

At the Wannadive South location at Grand Windsock Resort, 100 solar panels power a significant part of daily dive-shop operations, including the cylinder-filling facilities. Combined with responsible diving briefings, this helps reduce the environmental impact of operations.

That combination is important. Sustainability is strongest when it becomes part of normal daily practice rather than a separate message. Cleaner operational choices and better diver behavior work best together.

Booking with Wannadive: What Guests Should Know

One reason founder-led businesses often stand out is clarity. Guests want to know what to do next, especially when planning a dive trip.

Booking with Wannadive is easy: contact the team via the website or by email with your preferred dates and diving plans. Share:

Wannadive will check availability and confirm the options with you.

When to Book in Advance

It is recommended to book the following in advance, especially during busy periods:

For questions or reservations, guests can email info@wannadive.com.

Equipment, Tanks, and Practical Details

For divers planning logistics, a few practical details can make trip preparation easier.

Wannadive offers:

These details help divers match local arrangements to their preferences and experience.

Meet the Team Behind the Experience

A founder flashback naturally leads to the people who keep the spirit alive today. Teams shape the day-to-day guest experience through briefings, instruction, support, and service.

To learn more about the people behind Wannadive, visit:

https://www.wannadive.com/about/

This is a natural next step for anyone who wants to connect the company’s history with the people delivering the experience now.

Practical Takeaways for Divers Planning a Bonaire Trip

If Bart’s journey tells one story, it is that a great dive experience combines preparation, professionalism, and personality. Here are the most useful takeaways for planning your time with Wannadive.

1. Book the essentials early

If you already know your travel dates, arrange key elements in advance:

  1. Guided dives
  2. Boat dives
  3. Courses
  4. Rental equipment

This is especially helpful during busy periods.

2. Share the right information upfront

When contacting Wannadive, include:

That makes it easier to confirm the best options quickly.

3. Plan for the Marine Park requirements

If you are diving in Bonaire, remember the required:

These are part of diving responsibly and safely in the local environment.

4. Take a refresher if you have been out of the water

If it has been over a year since your last dive, a refresher is a practical step. It can improve comfort, sharpen skills, and make the rest of your diving more enjoyable.

5. Use the two-shop advantage

With a location north of town and another south of town, Wannadive gives guests flexibility. That can simplify logistics and support a smoother dive schedule.

The Bigger Meaning of Founder Flashback: Bart’s Journey from Backyard Gear to Wannadive Mascot

At its heart, Founder Flashback: Bart’s Journey from Backyard Gear to Wannadive Mascot is about more than growth. It is about continuity.

The original idea behind Wannadive Bonaire was clear: create a dive operation that is comprehensive, safe, progressive, and fun. The current structure of the business still reflects that same promise through full-service support, professional supervision, practical booking guidance, environmental awareness, and access to two dive shop locations.

That is why the founder story matters. It gives context to the guest experience. It explains why the operation feels personal while functioning at full-service scale.

Conclusion

Bart’s journey from backyard gear to Wannadive mascot captures the kind of story divers remember because it feels authentic. It begins with modest equipment and a big ambition, then grows into a two-location Bonaire dive operation built around service, safety, flexibility, and fun.

If you are planning your next dives in Bonaire, Wannadive makes it easy to get started. Reach out through the website or email info@wannadive.com with your dates and plans, and explore the team page at https://www.wannadive.com/about/ to learn more about the people behind the experience.

Ready to dive with Wannadive? Get in touch, book your guided dives or course in advance, and start planning your Bonaire adventure.