A group of local divers have put together a liveaboard trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands the week of July 5-12, 2008, and there are a few spots remaining.

Liveaboard diving is a spectacular way to spend a dive vacation.  You have the ability to dive 3,4 maybe 5 times a day.  You and your dive buddy set your schedule.  Although you are at sea, you will see land for most of the week, and there is opportunity to do some shore excursions, snorkeling as well.  The diving is absolutely amazing, you are visiting sites that are too far for the morning or afternoon dive boats to get to, so you dive sites that aren’t dived often, and you don’t waste time getting to and from the dive sites, you wake up and you are already there.

The prices are below, per person, based on the accommodation requested.  These are available on a first come first serve basis:

$2495   Luxurious, “Master” stateroom with queen size bed, lavatory, hair dryer, private head and shower, closet, port light, granite floors/shower, and flat-screen DVD player.

$2295   “Deluxe” staterooms with double and single berths, lavatory, hair dryer, private head and shower, closet, port light, and flat-screen DVD player.

$2095   “Twin” staterooms with (2) single berths, shared head and shower, lavatory, hair dryer, closet, port light and flat-screen DVD player. The two twin cabins have adjoining bathrooms that are entered through the cabin.  

$1595     Economically-priced “Quad” cabin with four single berths, port light, lavatory, hair dryer, and private head and shower, that is entered through the hallway.

The prices include the following:  Accommodations aboard the vessel; Diving; Compressed air tanks, weights & weight belts; Airport transfers on day of arrival and departure; All meals and snacks, non-alcoholic and local alcoholic beverages (they are happy to accommodate most special dietary requests);

Non-divers are welcome, for a $200 deduction, and I believe dive instructors and military get discounts as well, but I can verify if it comes up.  The capacity of the boat is 20, but the last two spots are free.  If we have 20, there will be a $159.50 reduction per person on the above rates as well.

There are some other mandatory incidentals, including a $45 per person bed tax and $100 fuel surcharge, and a $23 departure tax from the islands; also a crew gratuity is encouraged, maybe an additional $100p/p for the week. 

 There are several items that are not included, but are available for extra fees: Airfare; Insurance; Equipment rentals; Nitrox fills (32% is $100 extra for the week); Certification or specialty courses; Hotel stays or day rooms; Dinner on final evening; Crew gratuity; Government taxes, park & port fees (when applicable); Fuel Surcharge.

There are a wide range of people on the trip, most are in the mid 30’s to mid 40’s professionals, one if which is bringing her daughter, a few married couples.  This by no means is a “Guy’s Trip” or “Girl’s Trip.”  There are a couple of prerequisites if you are interested, you must be interested in meeting new people and you need to be able to have fun.

The spots are available on a first come, first serve basis, and they are only going to hold the slots open until March 7, 2008 for us.  So if you are interested, or have any further questions, please post them on this forum, and I will post my contact information.