|
4708 SE 8th Ct. #3 ~ Cape Coral, FL 33904 1-888-322-DIVE (3483) info@aquadreams.com ~ www.aquadreams.com
NITROGEN NEWSTrip Reports and News(The E-Newsletter of Aqua Dreams Travel, Inc.) October 23, 2003 This past month, Staff at Aqua Dreams Travel had the opportunity to participate in the DEMA 2003 Show in Miami by exhibiting and meeting with dive and travel professionals from around North America. DEMA is the largest trade organization in the Scuba Diving/Watersports arena and represents equipment manufacturers, training agencies, retail stores and dive travel professionals and resorts. During this 4 day long industry only event we found ourselves concerned. Many of our existing dive store customers did not attend. The number of people and the general pace of the show seemed a little slower than previous years. However, what we found is that many of our stores that did not attend stayed away because they were so busy training new divers and operating their stores. Good news! Divers and potential new divers appear to be returning to their local dive store. As we met with many new potential dive store customers at DEMA, we were heartened to see that most people were generally optimistic about dive travel in the future. New dive store customers and our “old” customers have been booking groups in numbers that we have not seen in a few years. Why do we bother to share this “inside” perceptive with all of our customers? This is good news for all divers- not just the industry or the local dive store. Your experience as a diver is affected by the quality of the training you receive, health of the resort you visit, financial soundness of the travel professional you use and the type and quality of equipment you purchase. A financially healthy dive industry- from local retail store to Caribbean dive resort- is essential to insure that you, the traveling diver have a great experience. After DEMA 2003 we were left optimistic that our business and your passion- diving are on a healthy positive road.
Caribbean Dive Travel Planner
We are pleased to announce that are 2004 Caribbean Dive Travel Planner is available. Over the years, we have prepared a single brochure for each destination we serve. Our new Caribbean Dive Travel Planner is an easy to use. Just flip through the tabs for the eleven pages and plan your next dive trip. While we were not able to provide every price, accommodation, package and resort we serve, it is an easy to use and convenient way to shop for your next dive trip at home. As always, please call for current prices, specials and availability. If you would like to receive a 2004 Caribbean Dive Travel Planner, please send us an email at: travelplanner@aquadreams.com and include your name and address in the body of the email.
Where to go? Where to go?
Perhaps we will open up a can of worms- fire worms at that, but we are going to try to categorize Caribbean dive destinations into three distinct categories: Reefs, Walls and Rainforests. Now we admit the impossibility of this type of sort. Certainly there are reefs in destinations that are known for their walls. St. Croix has a rainforest and really, where do you put Belize? It fits all categories. Nevertheless, here is our rough sort:
* We have one asterisk that requires immediate explanation- Saba. We have Saba in the “Wall” category because of the deep, wall like pinnacles that help define the diving in Saba.
How does this rough sort help your travel planning? Generally, your “easier” diving that is more suited for beginners or experienced dives that prefer more leisurely dives will be found in those destinations that are have good quality, relatively shallow coral gardens or fringing reef structures. While the currents of Tobago generally make the destination more appropriate for the more experienced diver, there are still many dives in Tobago that are easy and relaxing. There are few dive destinations that are better suited for the new diver than Roatan, Bonaire, BVI, Curacao and Turks & Caicos. A newer or less experienced diver will be able to dive the very best reef dives in any of these destinations.
This is not necessarily true, though, for our “Wall” category. Some of Saba’s best dives start at 80 to 90 feet. Santa Rosa Wall in Cozumel is not suited for every diver. The north wall off of Parguera in Puerto Rico is sometimes rough and some of the best structures are beyond 60 feet in depth. On the other hand, the Cane Bay Wall in St. Croix starts shallow as does Palancar Gardens in Cozumel. Most walls in Cayman, Belize and Turks & Caicos will start between 40 and 70 feet. In the Bahamas you have walls that will start as shallow as 30 feet. Again, very generally, your wall diving will involve deeper dives and multi-level profiles.
OK, you ask, “What’s this? Mixing reef structure with flora on the land! Where did the rainforest category come from?” When we think of the thing that defines your Dominica dive trip experience, it is the unspoiled, pristine rainforest and waterfalls of Dominica AND the outstanding pinnacles, rock formations and fish life as well. It is this combination that sets these “rainforest” destinations apart from others. Where else can you dive with a school of Mobula Rays, fish balls and bull sharks and experience Toucans in the rainforest canopy framed by an active volcano all in a span of a few days other than Costa Rica? The Pitons of St. Lucia are an experience above and below the water. Grenada as the Spice Island offers the seven sisters waterfalls and the Bianca C, the largest dive-able wreck in the Caribbean. From the Yanque Rainforest in Puerto Rico, rainforest in Tobago and inland excursions to Mayan Ruins, rafting and rainforest experiences in Belize and Honduras; it is this combination that defines these destinations and makes them so special.
Need help sorting out your next trip? We have been to each of our destinations and can offer you our own personal insights on each destination we represent. In our next issue of the Nitrogen News, we will explore the potential dangerous issue of “Where to take your non-diving partner?”
Where is……..?
One of the most frequent questions we are asked begins with, “Where is…….Bonaire or Dominica or….?” We are asked this so often that for our 2003 trade shows, we featured a map of the Caribbean on our front table. This was so useful that when we re-designed our trade show display, we created a large map of the Caribbean to help people plan their next trip. As everyone does not have the opportunity to visit one of the trade shows we attend, we have brought our display, with map, to you!
One of the exiting things about dive travel is that you have the opportunity to learn, first hand, about exotic tropical destinations. So; each issue of the Nitrogen News, we will discuss an area of the Caribbean.
Group Trips
Galapagos Sky Dancer June 27- July 4, 2004 $2,695.00 Plus fees of $135.00 and airfare.
Come join this small group of 8 to explore the wonders of the Galapagos in Ecuador. You should plan on a total budget of around $4,200 per person to cover your airfare to Ecuador and on to Baltra and an overnight on the mainland in each direction. Space is limited. We had a report form one of our dive store owners who visited the Galapagos in early August of this year. She reported over 40 whale shark sightings. The whale sharks were so numerous; they were getting in the way of pictures! Call for more details and ask to speak with Gene.
Airline News
In the last issue of Nitrogen News, we reported that Sols Air cancelled their Dallas/Roatan service until November 22, 2003. Unfortunately, Sol Air has cancelled this service altogether. Sol Air still has a Friday evening flight to Roatan from Miami with a return on Saturday morning; so for an 8 night Roatan trip, the schedule works well.
American Airlines is beginning service to Liberia, Costa Rica on January 31, 2004. While this appears to be only a winter season schedule, American’s new Dallas to Cozumel that operates 7 days a week appears to be valid all year long.
BWIA has improved scheduled service to Tobago. Caribbean Star and LIAT also are providing very good connecting service through the Eastern Caribbean.
Several years ago, Florida residents could fly non-stop to Cozumel. Unfortunately, the 1 hour and 10 minute flight was cancelled about 6 years ago. We are please to announce a new charter operation (flights are handled by Aero Mexico) that will fly non-stop from Miami to Cozumel on Thursday and Sunday. These flights depart at 2:00 pm; so you will need to arrive in Miami before noon to make this charter flight. Call for pricing and more information.
Delta cancelled service to Curacao, but still has good service to Aruba. Bonairexel provides good connecting service between Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, so there still is an important role for Delta to play in this area.
Please be aware that airfares will be increasing over the next year. Sometimes we get real excited about a particularly good airfare (I know, we should dive more often). The conversation goes like this: Agent: “We got this really great airfare! It’s only $599!: Client: “$599!!!!!!!! Last time I went, it only cost me $275!! That’s outrageous!” Agent: “When was the last time you went?” Client: “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe 5 or 6 years ago.” Our point here in sharing this all too frequent conversation is that prices have and will continue to increase. A simple trip to the gas station or grocery store demonstrates that prices have and will continue to increase. We can still get very good deals and sometimes they are even cheaper than the last time you flew to that destination. But count on it: On balance, airfares will be increasing.
ON THE ROAD… In 2004, Aqua Dreams Travel, Inc. will be visiting our friends around the country while attending several retail and industry trade shows. Our 2004 schedule is as follows: Beneath the Sea (Secaucas, NJ) Booth #317 March 26-28, 2004 Our World Underwater (Rosemont, IL) Booth #707 April 23-25, 2004 A-1 Scuba & Travel May Sale (Englewood, CO) May 15-16, 2004 Scuba Show 2004 (Long Beach, CA) Booth #TBA May 22-23, 2004 Seaspace (Houston, TX) Booth #607 June 4-6, 2004 DEMA (Trade show) (Houston, TX) Booth #3042 October 13-16, 2004
Terri, Dani, Tessa, Nancy, Niki & Gene October 23, 2003 © Aqua Dreams Travel, Inc. ---Fl Seller of Travel # ST-22259 _____________________________________ Aqua Dreams Travel, Inc. 4708 SE 8th Ct. #3 Cape Coral, FL 33904 (1-888-322-DIVE)
|
Scuba Trips
| About Us
| Scuba Diving Destinations | Liveaboard
Diving | Scuba
Diving Specials
Scuba Diving Bahamas | Turks & Caicos | Curacao
Diving | Aruba | Barbados | BVI Diving
Puerto Rico Scuba Diving | Saba | St. Croix | Dominica | Granada
Diving | St
Lucia Diving | Tobago
Honduras Scuba Diving | Belize Diving | Costa
Rica Diving | Grand Cayman Island Diving
Bonaire Diving
| Cozumel Diving
Aqua Dreams Travel Inc.
4708 SE 8th Ct. #3, Cape Coral, FL 33904
888-322-DIVE (toll free) 239-540-4512 (local)
239-540-1497 (fax)
reservations@aquadreams.com
Reservation/Information