Dive, socialize and beat the winter blues in Bahamas Feb 4-11, 2006!

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Wreck Wench

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DIVE, socialize and beat the winter blues! Note this trip is for buddyless divers...come join us!

Bahamas Mama...Bahamas Feb 4-11, 2006!!

Join our fun diving excursion from George Town, Bahamas to the big-animal action and pristine walls and reefs of the Southern Bahamas! We have booked the Explorer Ventures Liveaboard for an all inclusive INCLUDING alcohol and sodas Bahamas Mama...Bahamas Feb 4-11, 2006. Scheduling 5 dives daily, including night dives, the vessel boards in George Town each Saturday and offers 5 ½ days of diving each week on this top ten rated liveaboards in the world!

Located just east and south of Florida and comprised of more than 700 islands covering 1,000 square miles of ocean, the Bahamas are an enigma - many have visited, but few appreciate their vastness, nor have a clear idea of the topographical variety of dive sites and the wide range of marine life that such a huge area can offer. From blue holes to walls, caves and shipwrecks, from shallow elkhorn coral forests to pelagics both large and small, the Bahamas offer something for everyone, both beginner and experienced diver alike. Great Exuma is a beautiful, untouched Out Island. The tiny capital, George Town, is located next to picturesque Elizabeth Harbour and features many restaurant and bar choices, from French cuisine to local dishes, within walking distance of the dock.

For $1195* d/o (private sink/vanity but shared showers and heads) or for $1595* d/o (private in suite sink/vanity, shower, head, bath) plus air (pm for bulk air rates) you'll have a unique dive vacation unlike any other AND you'll be diving on very pristine sites reachable only by a liveaboard! And if you book and pay in full before Jan 10, 2005 you'll get free Nitrox! See below for details!

*$1595 d/o upper berths with in suite private shower, sink/vanity, & toilet. $1195 d/o lower berths with in suite sink/vanity. Use of 2 showers/heads for 5 cabins or 10 people. (There is also another shower on the dive deck.)

Who's Going:

1. Kamala aka Wreck Wench - Dallas, TX (pd- upper berth)- Nitrox
2. Trace aka TraceMalin - PA (pd - upper berth)
3. Michael aka Searanger - Canada (pd - lower berth)
4. Casey aka Casematic - Las Vegas, NV (pd- lower berth) - Nitrox
5. Jesse - Las Vegas, NV (pd- lower berth) - Nitrox
6.
7.
8.

Instructor: Trace aka TraceMalin
Instruction: Nitrox, Intro to Tech, Night, Advanced Open Water, Deep,


Here is the full information on the trip:

Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Link Click Here

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THE VESSEL:

The M/V Caribbean Explorer I completely renovated in 2003, comfortably accommodates 18 passengers in 9 double staterooms, four of which have private bathroom facilities and queen-sized beds. The air-conditioned main salon on the main deck includes dining tables, TV, VCR, CD/DVD, video library, light table and lounge area. A large sundeck with lounge chairs and barbeque is located aft of the upstairs entertainment area, which includes further seating, a bar area, and storage. The dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear lockers, camera table with low pressure air hose, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, freshwater shower, and a separate fresh water rinse for both scuba and underwater camera equipment. Below decks are located 5 double cabins with private sink and vanity and two shared bathrooms and showers, as well as the E-6 photo lab. There is a large central stairway accessing the dive platform, where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water. The Caribbean Explorer I is also equipped with a satellite telephone for calls worldwide.

TEMPS & CONDITIONS:

The weather in the southern Bahamas is remarkably consistent year-round. The temperatures range from the 70’s (F) or higher in the winter months with nearly constant sea breezes. Water temperatures range from a low of about 72 degrees F in winter with normally little appreciable current at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 75 and 150 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 5 mm wetsuit with hooded vest in fall, winter and spring..

AIRFARE:

Daily direct flights to George Town in the Bahamas are available through Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Charlotte with American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and U.S. Airways. Flights on BahamasAir, Continental and Delta are also available from Miami & charter flights to Nassau are available from Canada with connecting service with Bahamasair to Georgetown.

ARRIVAL:

Meeting the Caribbean Explorer I in George Town is simple. Though transfers are not included in the package, you may be met at the airport by a local driver; if due to arrival logistics you are not, just catch a cab for the short ride to the Exuma Services Marina in George Town, where the vessel will be located. The fare is $25 per person, plus a small additional charge for anything over 2 bags per person. If you experience travel difficulties and are delayed, please contact the vessel directly and notify them.

DEPARTURE:

The Caribbean Explorer I arrives in port midday Friday, depending on the tides. Passengers spend Friday night and have Saturday breakfast on board; there will be sufficient time to catch a flight out at any time on Saturday. If you have a flight on Saturday afternoon, you are welcome to leave your luggage on board the vessel until time to go to the airport.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

7 nights/8 days aboard vessel based upon double occupancy (d/o)
3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
InFamous 'Meet & Greet Get To Know Everyone' Parties
5 dives daily
Use of tanks, weights and belts
All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Port and Immigration Fees
T-Shirt commemorating the trip!

PACKAGES DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Airport transfers
• Friday evening dinner
• Rental, instruction and retail charges
• Crew gratuities
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Departure taxes (approximately US$15)
• Bahamas Port Fee (US$75) – payable on board
• Temporary Fuel Surcharge, if applicable – payable on board

DISCOUNTS:

Ø FREE $150 Nitrox credit for Early Bird Booking or $25 discount for early booking and payment in full before Jan.10 2005 OR equivilent off the price of Nitrox instruction while on the trip!
Ø Chance to win FREE Nitrox for the week ($150) for every $500 deposit rec'd by Jan 05, 2005
Ø Price includes cash discount. Please add 3% if paying via paypal or credit card.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

We accept credit cards, paypal or checks. Please contact me for payment options.

PAYMENT TERMS & SCHEDULE:

ASAP: $500 deposit required to reserve a spot on the trip. (If received by Jan 05. you'll qualify for the chance to win FREE $150 nitrox for the week.Pay in full by Jan 10th and you'll get $150 FREE Nitrox!)

Note: Trip must be paid in full 30 days prior to departure.
_______________________________________________________________

HOW TO BE REACHED ON THE BOAT WHILE TRAVELING:

You can be reached aboard the Caribbean Explorer I from North America via satellite phone at +(TBA).

MEALS

Aboard the Caribbean Explorer I, evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork, and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, danish and fresh fruits. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salads, and quiche. Homemade baked breads, cookies and brownies are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please note that specific brands of drinks, dressings and foods are often unavailable in the islands, and that it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, and other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic and consider bringing some of your own foods if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk.

CURRENCY

The Bahamian Dollar (equivalent in value to the U.S. dollar) is the official currency; change is often given in US Dollars if requested, and both currencies are used interchangeably. Travelers’ checks and most major credit cards are accepted widely throughout the island.

WHAT TO BRING

Packing for a liveaboard trip is much easier than packing for a land-based vacation. The climate doesn’t require much more than shorts, T-shirts, and swimsuits (you may consider slacks, dress shorts or sundresses for dinner ashore). In the winter months, a sweater, long pants and windbreaker for the evenings can be a good idea. Soft luggage is recommended as it takes up very little space when empty. Sun screens, sunglasses, a visor or hat is recommended. In case of rough weather or if you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications or Transderm patches from your doctor. If you have favorite CD’s or DVD’s, feel free to bring them.

Note: This is a buddyless and single diver trip. If you are married but buddyless or single looking for other dive buddies...this trip is for you! Kamala

p.s. Thanks Pete for approval to post this! -kamala aka wreck wench
 
________________________________________
SAMPLE ITINERARY

Days aboard Caribbean Explorer I generally involve breakfast from 7 am to 8 am (cold breakfasts are available for late risers), followed by two morning dives, lunch at 12:30 pm, two afternoon dives, dinner at 6:30 pm, and a night dive. Island shore excursions will be arranged when possible for those interested. Please note also that this itinerary is an example only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. In particular, it is not always possible to reach San Salvador in certain weather conditions.

Saturday:

1500 Guests board the Caribbean Explorer I at the Exuma Services Marina, George Town
1830 Dinner (snacks or dinner available for those arriving on later flights)
2000 Captain’s Briefing, documents, etc.
2100 Shore leave or simply relax aboard.

Sunday: George Town to Long Island

0500 Depart George Town for 2 ½ hour transit to Long Island; breakfast on arrival.
0900 Begin diving schedule; 4 dives, possibly 5 depending on tide conditions and logistics.

Monday: Long Island to Conception

0600 Depart Long Island early morning for 1 ½ hour transit to Conception Island; breakfast on arrival.
0830 Begin diving schedule; 5 dives

Tuesday: Conception to San Salvador

0400 Depart early morning for 3 ½ hour transit to San Salvador; breakfast on arrival. 5 dives offered.

Wednesday: San Salvador

5 dives offered. Optional 2-hour island tour.

Thursday: San Salvador to Conception Island to Long Island

2 dives at San Salvador, followed by transit at lunchtime to Conception Island. 3 dives offered at Conception. Evening crossing to Long Island after dinner and night dive.

Friday:

Dawn dive and morning dive, with departure for the trip back to George Town scheduled for lunchtime. Afternoon at leisure; dinner ashore, with night spent aboard vessel at dock.

Saturday:

0700/0830 Continental breakfast
0900 Depart the Caribbean Explorer I. Should you be leaving on an afternoon flight, feel free to leave your luggage on the dock alongside the vessel until you depart; we will watch over it. Due to the necessity of readying the vessel for our next cruise, we must strictly enforce the 9 am departure.
________________________________________

WHAT YOU'LL SEE:

More than 5% of the world's coral is found in the Bahamas; much of the water in the islands is less than 20 feet deep, allowing huge expanses of intricate reef systems. Walls abound, as well; many of the tops begin from 50 to 100 feet below the surface, and plunge to many thousands of feet. The huge area covered ensures that nearly everything found in the southern Atlantic finds its way to the Bahamas - sharks of all kinds, humpback whales, several species of dolphins, whale sharks and eagle rays and arrays of smaller creatures too numerous to list. This area offering a huge selection and variety of diving experiences, matched with an exploratory journey through an island nation spanning more than 1,000 square miles of some of the clearest ocean in the world.

The Southern Bahamas in particular offer the opportunity for a liveaboard dive vessel to visit remote and rarely-visited sites. The wall diving here is spectacular, with beginning depths ranging from 50 to 100 feet, with a few shallower reefs. Large pelagics such as hammerhead sharks will charm the thrill-seekers; large coral and sponge formations and the dramatic walls offer something for critter divers and both wide-angle and macro photographers.

Conception Island - Located 15 miles northeast of Long Island, Conception is an uninhabited reef-rimmed speck on the map. This Land and Sea Park has an area of only 6 square miles, and is a nesting site for endangered green turtles and seabirds - particularly the boobies, which give their name to Booby Cay just to the east. Underwater, Conception offers drop dead gorgeous walls with a profusion of marine life and plentiful wide-angle opportunities. .

San Salvador - Though more commonly known as the place where Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World, San Salvador is unusual in that it is an exposed peak of a sub-sea mountain. There are only 5 islands in the Bahamas with this distinction, and as a result of this, the island is entirely surrounded by walls. The western shore is a massive submerged cliff that hugs the shoreline, begins at 40-50 feet and drops off quickly to thousands of feet.
 
We just added another member ScubaBrant! Not sure I can add them to the main post or not!

We only have a few more spots for anyone looking for a dive buddy! Can't find one? This trip is for you? Don't have a buddy that can go with you? This trip is for you. Have a buddy but want to join us anyway? Then this trip is still for you! Thanks.
 
This looks like an interesting trip..

what certs could I do and which town would I fly to in the Bahamas?
 
KimN:
This looks like an interesting trip..

what certs could I do and which town would I fly to in the Bahamas?


You'd fly into Georgetown...and there are still some good rates out there! GGT is the airport code for George Town Bahamas.

As far as certs...we are offering a number of standard certs such as nitrox, boat, deep, but we are also offering an Intro To Tech workshop that is awesome!
 
Cool...and thank you all for the pm's about this trip! We have just added another member...Kevin aka ScubaDude! Only 2 spots left!
 
Marci aka BabyDuck is now joining us...Cool! :D

That leaves just 1 spot left...air is reasonable to GGT and the trip price has been LOWERED to fill the last spot!

pm me for the new pricing!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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