Travel Agents specializing Diving Vacations?

[ycyc1999]

I just planned a Fiji diving trip with the help of this board myself. Thanks to you all!

As much as I enjoyed the process, I realize how time consuming it is. I am wondering whether anyone here has used/known some travel agents for diving trips. Would you recommend using an agent? Who did you use and how did it work out for you? I'd love to hear about it: the good, bad and ugly. Feel free to PM me if you don't feel like making your experience public. Once again, thank you.

Cheers and bubbles, Jill

 

[fairybasslet]

I used an agent for Bonaire and she was wonderful (but I can't remember the name off the top of my head). I also used Cocoviews agent when going there. My trip to Thailand was through a friend who runs a travel agency in her spare time. She got me the liveaboard portion of the trip but the flights and hotels, another friend and I got ourselves. It was pretty time consuming and I'll admit that my friend did most of the legwork because she is way more organized and detail-oriented than I am. But when she didn't have time to do certain things, like change our flight times from Phuket to Bangkok, I picked up the slack.
I also think it's important to do some research on your own so you don't get some wrong advice. For instance, I met some people in Bonaire who used a certain airline carrier's trip planner and they only booked boat dives and not a rental truck in their package at Buddy's. They had no idea that Bonaire is known for its shore diving. That is just plain inexcusable.

 

[cdiver2]

I just planned a Fiji diving trip with the help of this board myself. Thanks to you all!

As much as I enjoyed the process, I realize how time consuming it is. I am wondering whether anyone here has used/known some travel agents for diving trips. Would you recommend using an agent? Who did you use and how did it work out for you? I'd love to hear about it: the good, bad and ugly. Feel free to PM me if you don't feel like making your experience public. Once again, thank you.

Cheers and bubbles, Jill

http://www.diversionoz.com/en/insurance.htm and

http://www.trip-n-tour.com/

great service with no complaints

 

[smokey braden]

ycyc1999,
welcome to this board.
here are a few people who have put together dive trips for me.
http://www.worlddive.com/
http://www.islandream.com/index.htm
http://www.sultansoftheseas.it/en/infoSMaldives.php
http://www.worlddivingzone.com/Travel_Services/
http://www.aquadreams.com/
http://www.dive-centers.net/
http://www.divingtravel.com/liveaboards.htm
http://www.resortvacationstogo.com/
http://www.reefrainforest.com/cgi-b...wel_index1&fir=100&lang=e&style=welcome&fs=11
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.wheretostay.com/
http://www.bayadventures.com/
http://www.divetheworldburma.com/index.htm
http://www.ultimatedivetravel.com/
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/index.html
http://www.sunandsea-maldives.com/sitemap.php
http://www.caribbeandivevacations.com/
http://www.aquahuttravel.com/
http://www.softscuba.com/
http://www.regencyvacations.com/index.html
http://www.save-money-diving.com/index.php?pageid=intro
http://www.vermillionmaldives.com/resorts.htm
http://www.transholidays.com/trans/index.php
regards,

 

[alcina]

Contact Amber -> amber@amberwavestravel.com

Not only is she a board member, but she's a fabulous person & agent She can also help with cruises!

 

[Kat]

I always plan my own trips. I do it for two reasons:
1. I really do enjoy it.
2. I work in the travel industry.
It takes a good deal of time. I do lots of research on hotels, beaches, dive sites etc... I am not always happy with my choices but that's OK. Sometimes it all comes together & is fabulous and sometimes it's not so great.
I'm not a travel agent, but I do have access to many different travel opportunities. So, it makes sense to do it myself.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Jill,

Like Kat, mostly I enjoying planning my own trips rather than using an agent.

It's a learning experience, I save money (sometimes lots), keep better control of the trip and can use frequent flyer or frequent stay points if I have them or go thru Priceline (travel agents can't book you in those situations, or at least will make no commission) and it's fun.

There's really is no need for an agent for simple trips to places in the greater Caribbean, Mexico & Bay Islands.

On the rare occasion I do use a TA, it's for exotic and difficult to get to venues (e.g., Raja Ampat, Komodo Islands) where an expert can really be a god-send. In this regard, I can highly recommend:

Ultimate Dive Travel (http://www.ultimatedivetravel.com/index.html). Tell the owner, Ken, that I sent you. He's a superb chap, both pleasant & very skilled.

Reef & Rainforest (http://www.reefrainforest.com/cgi-b...emplate=wel_index1&lang=e&style=welcome&fs=11)

Sea Fiji (http://www.seafiji.com/). Tell the owner, Scott, I said "bula,"

Trip-N-Tour (http://www.trip-n-tour.com/)

I do not find making my own arrangements to be a worry at all, but rather an opportunity to thoroughly research the location I'm going to and save on commissions. Plus, it keeps anticipation of the trip high.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

I've used the same two people for all my trips and have never been disappointed with their services. There is something to be said for having everything done for you and not having to worry about anything except getting to the airport!!

Chris Fox @ www.worldofdiving.com

Jan Stogner @ www.caribbeandivevacations.com

Good Luck!!