WHALESHARKS in Utila Mar 8-15, 2008

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Wreck Wench

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Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
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Location
Salem, SC & Dallas, TX
# of dives
Deep Blue Resort... Utila's Only Ocean View Resort with ALL Ocean View Rooms!!! Looking for Whalesharks March 8-15, 2008 Limited spots available, Internationally Renown! Come Dive With These GENTLE GIANTS!
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Note: Important Ongoing Trip Updates at the end of this post (if I can continue to edit it)...please scroll to the bottom to keep checking and to keep current. This is how we update people on our trips.

IMPORTANT: This trip is sponsored by SingleDivers.com but open to ANYONE wanting to dive with us whether single, married but buddyless, married with spouse...you name it. We are not taking the entire resort so the mix will be varied both within our group and the resort itself. And we will offer any ScubaBoard supporting member a $25 rebate on the trip as well as a recruiting bonus of $50 off if you bring someone to join you. Yep...bring someone or get someone to go with you and you EACH get $50 more off the trip price. If you are already going simply get someone else to go and you just saved another $50!

Background:
Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras is renown for its Whaleshark encounters and we are heading there in prime whaleshark season. While nothing is guaranteed, a sighting of these majestic creatures will take an exceptional trip and turn it into an Unforgettable Experience! Our focus will be the large Pelagics such as the Whale Sharks, Mantas, Marlins, Sailfish, Turtles and Sharks but Utila has one of the largest different species count in the Caribbean and is working to be named the HIGHEST unique species count including many wonderful nudibranches in the Caribbean. Utila provides exceptional diving regardless of where you dive the islands 100+ buoyed sites including walls, mounds and reef sites. We are staying with Deep Blue Resort an ocean front diving resort rated #1 in Utila by TripAdvisor!

Scuba diving on Utila is rich and varied with more than 130 buoyed sites around the island. The North side of Utila has the second largest barrier reef in the world with awe inspiring sheer walls dropping to over 1,000 meters. The South side of Utila consists mainly of shallow fringing reefs, the top of the reef at around 5 meters dropping down to between 30 & 40 meters. Then of course during the surface intervals the whale shark search is on.

Package Overview:
March 8-15th part of primetime whale shark season... The pkg is All-Inclusive include 3 boat dives a day, 2 night dives...24 hour Free Internet and UNLIMITED SHORE DIVING 24 Hours A Day for only $1392 including taxes! All rooms at Deep Blue are Ocean Front and approximately 30ft from the Ocean. Rooms come standard with air conditioning, fans, private bathroom and refrigerator. Each rooms has a private balcony overlooking the ocean furnished with table, chairs and hammock.
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Who's Going? 10 Spots To Start:

1. Kamala aka Wreck Wench - Dallas, TX d/o PAID IN FULL, Nitrox pd Waiver/Survey
2. Doris aka Ariesno1 - DC, d/o, PAID IN FULL, Nitrox -NOT PD, Survey/Waiver Rec'd
3. Felipe aka fel_Gomez: Deposit rec'd, TX, d/o, No Nitrox, Survey/Waiver Rec'd
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Check's & Documents In the Mail:

1. Barb aka 1scubadiver - Deposit rec'd, d/o, Snorkel pkg, Need Docs
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Price includes:

7 nights/7 days Ocean Front Room with Private Balcony, Air conditioning, Fans, Private Bathrooms& refrigerators
16% Hondurian Taxes
All airport transfers on Utila
3 full meals daily
snacks
3 Boat dives daily
2 night Dives
Unlimited shore diving
Use of tanks, weights and belts 24 hours a day
All air fills (excluding nitrox)
Kayaks
24 hour Internet Service
Welcome Cocktail
Tea, Coffee, Water, Icea Tea
SD Meet & Greets
SD T-shirt


Price Does Not Include:

Airfare (we are working with Deep Blue to set up any discounted air that we can)
Rental, instruction and retail charges
Crew gratuities (usually 10-20% of the land package)
Trip Cancellation Insurance (we have great pricing on trip insurance see below)
Nitrox Upgrade TBD
Departure taxes (up to US$35)

Other Services:

The Single Room Rate is $1600 plus 16% Hondurian Tax or $1856
The resort will wash, store and set up your equipment if you like
The boat dock is less than 1 minute from the room
Dock has large separate wash tanks for equipment, wetsuits and cameras
New & Spacious lockers for your equipment only 5 steps away from the boat

How to Book a Spot on this Trip:

1. Post in this thread that you plan to join us and your check or payment is in the mail or on it's way. We'll then put your name on the 'check's in the mail' list. (Please send your pymt asap as we'll only hold your spot for 7 days.)
2. Fill out the Trip Rooming & Diving Survey plus the SingleDivers.com Medical Liability Release which you'll find under "Stuff you need to know for ALL SingleDivers.com trips & activities!" or click here to link to it. (Send a PM to me or an email to trips@singledivers.com for the password or word version of the form.) NOTE: While sponsored by SingleDivers.com this is not a dedicated Singles trip and it is OPEN to anyone wanting to join us regardless of marital status.
3. Send your deposit for the trip and/or monies due based upon the payment schedule posted below and payment options. If you need to make special arrangements about payments with me please contact me and I'll gladly work with you. See below for our credit card authorization form.
4. Please let us know what day and time you are arriving, if you need rental gear, want nitrox or whether you want single or double occupancy with your initial reservation. (We will guarantee you a same sex roommate (if you are not bringing your own) so you can avoid single supplements unless you desire to upgrade to a single room.)

Discounts:

$25 membership rebate after the trip for SD premier members and above AND for ALL SCUBABOARD Supporting Members at any level. As well as $50 buddy discount for bringing someone on this trip. (See above for the details.) Price includes cash discount. Please add 3% if paying via paypal.

Payment Information:

Please add 3% if paying via paypal or credit card.

If paying via credit card (Visa, MC) download the SD Credit Card Authorization Form, complete and fax to 214-350-2558. Click here for the form.

If paying via paypal go to www.PayPal.com and send payment to kamala@singledivers.com Be sure to include your address, contact number, screen name and trip name in the details section.

If paying via check or money order, please send payment to:

Kamala Shadduck
SingleDivers.com
3957 Gaspar Ste#200
Dallas, TX 75220
214-350-7003
kamala@singledivers.com

We need your name, address, screen name and trip name in the memo section of the check to be credited properly for this trip OR include an itemized summary of what you are paying for to ensure proper credit to your account. Please do not combine payments for different trips however multiple payments can be combined for the same trip.

Payment Terms & Schedule:

If not taking advantage of our 'Early Bird' Full booking and payment specials then payments are due as follows:

ASAP: $300 deposit required to reserve a spot on the trip.

Progress Payments:

Immediately to Hold Spot: $400 Deposit
Jan 5, 2007: $496
Feb 5, 2008: $496 Balance of trip payment.

Note: Trip Normally must be paid in full 60 days prior to departure but the boat has given us some slack due to shortlead time. (If this is a problem let me know and I may be able to work with you!)

Cancellation Terms:

59 to 30 days before departure 50% of package
29 days or less before departure Non-refundable

PLEASE obtain trip insurance...it is VERY inexpensive and will protect your investment. You can purchase it right online as well as check quotes etc. It is very economical and averages about $77 for this trip.

Click here for a free quote or to purchase online!

or

Click here for another provider that provides excellent rates and coverage!

IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATES SUMMARY:

1.
 
This is going to be a great trip. Perfect time of year.. The first time I ever went to Utila was this time a few years ago and had my first experience with a whale shark. Now that the resorts dive boat has been upgraded with a new more powerful motor the trips out to the more distant dive sites will be a breeze. Can't wait to go try it out.
 
does the price include Nitrox?

Sorry about that! The price for nitrox is $125.00 Unlimited for the week, or $12.00 per tank.

I hope you can join us for this trip! :D
 
We've added two more members to this trip...both of whom are inactive scubaboard members...so hopefully we'll get them active again! :D
 

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