I was chatting with a friend who has helped me organize basically every dive trip I've done during the past few years (she's a travel agent and has been diving *everywhere* over many decades), during our last trip, and came up with an idea for a NWDC trip to warm water somewhere. I see people putting together trips to Bonaire, Coz, etc. on their own, doing all the legwork, collecting money, etc. - so I asked her if she could use her knowhow and connections to put together some fun trips for the dive club, with all or most of the legwork all handled in advance for us.
I'm wondering how many of us would be interested in going on a trip to somewhere warm with clear water on a trip that is organized specifically for our dive club members, so I asked my travel guru friend to give me a few options. Based on the interest we can decide on one that makes the most people happy and then choose some dates, based on good weather/vis seasons and with enough time for people to get the time off, etc. Here are a few options:
Roatan: Turquoise Bay Resort
7 nights dive package: Diver $1,155 per person (twin/ double share)
Included:
3 boat dives per day (5 days of diving)
All meals, water coffee and tea, excludes soft drink and alcohol
Round trip airport transfer
Belize: St. George’s Caye
7 nights dive package: Diver $1,780 per person (twin/ double share)
Included:
3 boat dives per day (5 days of diving)
All meals, water coffee and tea, excludes soft drink and alcohol
Round trip airport transfer on the same group schedule
Philippines: Atlantis Puerto Galera
9 nights dive package: Diver $1,895 per person (twin/ double share)
Included:
4 boat dives per day (8 days of diving)
All meals, water coffee and tea, excludes soft drink and alcohol
Round trip airport transfer on the same schedule
*note, these prices do not include airfare, which we'd have to sort out ourselves.
So, please take a look at this and vote in the poll if you would want to go on any or all of these trips, and in the comments below please let me know other opinions like when you'd want to go (e.g., "I'd need at least 6 months notice, etc.), what other sorts of things we as a group could do to make it more fun (trip specific t-shirts, copious amounts of booze, etc.). Please don't vote in the poll if you think it's unlikely that you would go on the trip, because I don't want to get an inaccurate tally.
PS - I and dive club itself would not make any money on the trips above, just kicking the idea around to get more of us diving in fun places together. There could be a potential discounted or free trip for someone who takes on the unenviable role as group leader (a.k.a. parental supervision), or we could choose to split that potential savings among all the people going (if that's possible), with the understanding that everyone shares a bit in helping to get things done. More details after I get an idea of the interest. So, please let me know!!
