Bahamas Liveaboard Trip Details

April 26 - May 3, 2008

We're sailing the southern Bahamas aboard Explorer Ventures' Caribbean Explorer I liveaboard, and doing up to 5 dives a day for 5 1/2 days (27 dives!). Well see spectacular walls, big animals, large sponges, coral, critters, and lots of fish among remote Bahamian dive sites....going to places one can't reach from land based diving (one of the great advantages of liveaboards) Added to this is the great company and great food.

A typical day on the liveaboard starts with an early breakfast and then 2 morning dives. It's then lunchtime and then 2 more dives. After a little afternoon rest (lounging on deck?, a nap? a game of cards or backgammon?), it's dinnertime, and then a night dive.
Eat. Sleep. Dive. Eat. Sleep. Dive. Repeat.

Information about the trip (about the boat, a sample itinerary, details about the cabins and berths, etc.) are at http://www.explorerventures.com/cex1html/bahamasindex.html..

The following information should give you all you need to decide about joining this liveaboard trip....but as luck has it, the August 2007 issue of Scuba Diving magazine's lead article is "Bahamas Adventure Guide", so there's even more information out there to whet your diving soul into joining this trip

COSTS: THERE IS ONE BERTH STILL AVAILABLE AT THE OLD FARE (pre EV fare increases on 1/1/08) OF $1455. Otherwise fares are: $1740pp for an upper cabin berth and $1520pp for a lower cabin berth. These fares ARE ALL INCLUSIVE: 7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel, all diving, use of tanks, weights, and belts, all meals and snacks (except Friday night dinner), all beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), AND INCLUDE crew gratuities, the Bahamas Port Fee, and fuel surcharge (these last three items are NOT included the standard fare but we've added them in to arrive at an 'all-in' fare...hence no surprises). Not included in this fare are airfare, airport transfers, Friday dinner, equipment rentals, dive instruction/classes, personal purchases on board, shore excursions, trip cancellation insurance, and communications charges. AND there's another bonus: we're getting nitrox for free....a $150 savings!

THE CABINS AND BERTHS ON THE LIVEABOARD: Details about the cabins and berths are on the Explorer Ventures website. Please review them carefully before identifying your cabin preference in the Booking Form. A summary of the differences between the 9 cabins is: 2 of the upper cabins have a lower double and an upper twin (two beds total) and 2 have one queen bed (one bed total); all upper cabins have private shower facilities and windows. All 5 lower cabins have one lower double and one upper twin bed (two beds total), no window, and sinks in the room, and together they share 2 bathrooms on the lower deck.

FLIGHTS: Several airlines serve Georgetown, The Bahamas (where the boat departs from and returns to). with several flights daily. There is at least one morning departure from NYC on April 26 and an afternoon departure from Georgetown on May 3, thus making it a truly Saturday-Saturday trip. Airfares from NYC-Georgetown are currently $455pp.

SIGNING UP TO JOIN THE LIVEABOARD: This is on a first come, first served basis.

PAYMENTS: see the bottom of the Booking Form

CANCELLATIONS: If you cancel and we cannot rebook your berth you will be charged any cancellation fees imposed on the club by Explorer Ventures. If they impose no penalty than you will not be charged anything/receive a full refund.

The VDC CLUB COORDINATOR for this trip is Gary Steinkohl. He will answer your questions, take your reservations, etc. The best way to reach Gary is by email (gsteinkohl@aol.com). Direct your questions, as well as your bookings, to him.