September 2010 Scuba Specials
Explore our many Destination-Specific Photo Galleries: Images
Consult Dive Reports Containing a Wealth of First-Hand Info: Dive Data
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Island Dreams for the Holidays? - If you are thinking of spending Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years in the Caribbean, now is the time to take action.
Holiday space is in great demand, while availability is limited. Phone us toll free at 1-800-346-6116 -or- email to: info@divetrip.com |
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Couple this glory of nature with El Ocotal Beach Resort’s luxurious resort facilities, new dive boats and equipment; the resorts highly-trained, dedicated staff and Costa Rica’s most experienced dive masters; the country’s natural beauty and its warm, friendly people, and you have the most exciting alternative to traditional dive destinations.
El Ocotal's dive packages are now ready to bring you the best of Costa Rica!
Find pricing and details here: El Ocotal Resort
Costa Rica awaits you. Phone Christy at 1-800-346-6116 -or- email to: Christy@divetrip.com
Island Dreams' dive travel specialist Susan Young has just returned from another familiarization trip to Fiji. A scuba instructor with her 100-ton ship captain's ticket, Susan lived for 15 years on the island of Grand Cayman, where she worked as a manager for Red Sail Sports.
When she travels on behalf of Island Dreams, Susan stays in touch with the office via emails which describe her experiences along the way. A compilation of her messages are reproduced in this report.
Find it here: Susan Young's Dispatches from Fiji
ALERT to New Baggage Weight Limitations -- This is an aspect of air travel that is currently experiencing immense change...and they are assuredly not making it any easier for the traveler.
Be advised that most domestic flights are now limiting passengers to a single checked bag, with a maximum weight of 50 pounds. A second bag may be checked, but at an additional charge of $25 to $100 or more per bag.
Some, but not all, international flights may still allow two bags at 50 pounds each. Overweight bags will be charged a penalty, or with increasing frequency simply denied loading aboard the aircraft. Carry-on bags are also being limited in both quantity and weight.
Don't be surprised at the gate. Phone your airline in advance, and/or check with their web site, and ascertain current baggage allowances. Then pack accordingly, or be prepared to pay extra.
Read the entire report here: Travel Tips for the 21st Century
This is an excellent new opportunity, affording easier travel to world-class diving destinations such as Bali, Manado, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, and points beyond.
Find details here: SQ Begins Service from IAH
Read the guest comments here: Wakatobi Guests Speak Out
Enjoy photos my Wakatobi guests: Wakatobi Guest Photo Gallery
Also see Ken Knezick's most recent Wakatobi Report: Wakatobi Update
"Bloody Bay Wall is an awesome dive location with many dive sites. The water was crystal clear with very little current - a perfect location for underwater photography. The corals were in good shape with plenty of the usual tropical fish. No large marine life to speak of with the exception of turtles, rays and the resident groupers (who are extremely friendly). A couple of reef sharks were spotted and an eagle ray was also seen several times. Sailfin blennies, jawfish (many with eggs), lobsters, sting rays and turtles were seen and photographed on most dives.
"A morning boat trip to the Tibbets, a Russian destroyer, sunk off Cayman Brac was another highlight of our trip. There is an modest additional charge for this excursion but well worth it. The wreck is an excellent location for wide-angle photography; although so is all of Bloody Bay Wall. Our only dilemma was what to shoot - Wide-angle or Macro? This dive trip to Little Cayman certainly offered up an abundance of both."
Read Tom Collier's complete story here: Little Cayman Report
Our 2009 trips are sold out, and 2010 groups are filling quickly. If you'd like to join in a exciting group conducted tour, with new friends, good fun, and great diving...don't miss the boat! Now is the time to act.
Enjoy the world's finest diving with Island Dreams’ experienced divemasters and instructors. Our trips are designed for enjoyment, safety, and fun. Single diver?...no worries, we'll find you a dive buddy. A deposit of $500 per person guarantees your space; final payment is due 60 days prior to trip departure. You may pay with MC, VISA, AMEX, DISCOVER, or check. But remember that availability is limited, and please be advised that all dates of travel and prices are subject to change. Let's go diving!
Groups for 2009 and 2010: Island Dreams' Conducted Group Tours
During April 2010, Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick conducted a group of 47 scuba divers to El Galleon Resort, Puerto Galera, for a ten night stay, and making four dives per day. On the day that group departed the island, in came another 27 divers from the Houston Photographic Society (HUPS). Ken, and the entire resort staff, worked hard to serve these valued guests. But when Ken was not working, he was diving and making underwater images. This gallery features from photos from that effort.
All the images here were made in the waters around El Galleon and Puerto Galera. Many of the critter pictures are from the Sabang Wrecks or La Laguna Point. Both of these dive sites are only a one minute ride from El Galleon's pier. The wide-angle shots are from Verde Island and from the wonderfully accessible Alma Jane shipwreck. That wreck dive is also just a one minute boat ride away from the dive shop.
As you will gather from this selection of images, Puerto Galera offers a great variety of diving. Here you may enjoy everything from top-quality critter diving to beautiful blue water and coral reefs swarming with anthias and schooling fish. The opportunity to enjoy some interesting, and very safe, wreck diving is just icing on the cake.
Here's hoping you enjoy this gallery, and that perhaps these photos will inspire you to visit Puerto Galera for yourself. Yours in diving, Ken Knezick
Learn more about Philippines Diving: Philippines Dive Report
Book a dive trip to the Philippines: Philippines Scuba Diving Packages
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams' other: Destination Photo Galleries
Make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Island Dreams Tours and Travel: We are a full service, wholesale travel agency, specializing in scuba diving and adventure travel. With a broad range of contacts and bulk airline contracts, we can help you with discount airfares and excellent travel values worldwide. But please also be advised that modern travel is a constantly changing environment. All prices, schedules, package inclusions, and product descriptions in this website are subject to availability and subject to change without further notice.
CARIBBEAN Dive Deals
PACIFIC Dive Deals
OTHER Info and Resources
COSTA RICA --- Special Dive Packages at El Ocotal Resort
Costa Rica is known today as a unique dive destination, and not only for its marine life, but because of its many other attractions. Divers have the opportunity to visit national parks, go white water rafting, big game fishing, horseback riding, bird watching, swim on secluded beaches, enjoy breathtaking sunsets and warm star-filled nights and feel welcomed by friendly Costa Rican people.
Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast is the diving world’s newest discovery. Few places in the world have waters with such varies and plentiful marine life.
FIJI UPDATE -- Susan Young's Dispatches from Fiji
We hope that you will find Susan Young's unique insight and boundless enthusiasm helpful as you plan your own Fiji adventure.
SAFE TRAVELS -- Travel Tips for the 21st Century
NEW LIFT -- Singapore Airlines Now Flying from Houston
In an exciting turn of events, Singapore Airlines (airline code SQ) has just announced new service from Houston, Texas to Singapore, via Moscow. Now it will be possible to fly to Asia directly from Houston, making use of the world's top-rated airline.
COMMENTS -- Guests Speak Out on Wakatobi
Island Dreams Ken Knezick has had plenty to say about Wakatobi...yes, he loves the place. But for another opinion, you can hear what a group of recent Wakatobi guests had to say for themselves.
TRAVEL REPORT -- Little Cayman Beach Resort
Thomas Collier, Travel Coordinator for the Houston Underwater Photographic Society, reports on the recent HUPS trip to Little Cayman Beach Reosort
GROUP TRIPS -- Don't Miss the Dive Boat!
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Philippines 2010
Puerto Galera Gallery -- Philippines 2010
a Watery Photo Essay by Ken Knezick
Copyright Ken Knezick, Island Dreams -- All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
It is our pleasure to serve you!
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