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Dive Assure offers a Divers Equipment Protection Program

Sep 11th, 2009 by

Today Dive Assure announced that as of September 10th, DiveAssure members can purchase camera equipment and diving gear coverage through the DEPP program, at a special discount!

The Divers Equipment Protection Program (DEPP) is available through The Coral Reef – an established and well experienced company specializing in diving gear and underwater photographic equipment coverage. You can protect your equipment against loss, theft, damage, breakage, accidental flooding and a host of additional perils. With the protection offered by D.E.P.P., you can dive without the concern for damaging your valuable equipment. Your investment is protected. You can relax and enjoy the rapture of your diving experience. For more information, terms and conditions, please visit the DEPP website at http://www.awryinc.com/index.html 

 Dive Assure offers annual dive and travel plasns for US residents: Diveassure Diamond Plan offers annual insurance frequent divers based in the USA.
To get coverage and enjoy the special discount, members should login to Dive Assure  online member services using their username and password, and click on the DEPP link.

To find out more about dive Assure: http://tinyurl.com/mvv7q2

Please note that coverage through DEPP is NOT a part of the DiveAssure programs. DiveAssure can not be held responsible in any way for coverage provided by DEPP. For customer service, support and claims please contact DEPP.

Discount is available for the first enrollment only, and can be used only by an active DiveAssure member.

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Posted in Dive Travel, U/W Photography | No Comments »

Cathay Pacific to code-share with Air Pacific to Fiji

Sep 11th, 2009 by

Cathay Pacific Airways will code-share with Air Pacific, placing its CX code on the Fijian carrier’s new twice-weekly flight between Hong Kong and Nadi, launching December 3 2009. Cathay Pacific aims to use its extensive international network to feed mainly holiday traffic to the island nation. Air Pacific currently serves 25 destinations using a fleet of Boeing 747, 767 and 737 aircraft and offering travel in two classes: Tabua Class (Business) and Pacific Voyager.

This will give travellers from Europe a great alternative to visit Fiji’s magic dive resorts!

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Posted in - Airlines | No Comments »

Tech Wreck Diving Special in Truk Lagoon 6-13 Dec 2009

Aug 21st, 2009 by

 

Tech/Deep Dive Week on Truk Odyssey

Normally these Deep/Technical weeks are booked onlyTruk Odyssey hosts the DeepTech week 6-13 Dec 2009 by private group charter. It is a rare occurance that we have one of these special weeks that is open to technical divers that are not part of a group.

Many of the dives during this week will be on a small handful of wrecks that are about 62 m for maximum depth with the deck levels at around 45-50 m. This is similar to the depths of the very popular San Francisco Maru. Among the wrecks that are planned to be dived are:

  •  San Francisco Maru (45-63m)
  • Aikoku Maru  (40-64m)
  • Fujisan Maru  (37-61m)
  • Nagano Maru (40-65m)
  • Shotan Maru (40-53m)
  • Amagisan Maru (31-61m)

This is just some of the sites you can visit. They are not generally part of Truk Odysseys standard itinerary. The final itinerary will Continue Reading »

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Posted in # Hot Deals, Dive Travel, Wrecks | No Comments »

Beyond Remote Diving

Jul 31st, 2009 by

Lissenung Island, KaviengAnd you thought that hopping on a couple of planes for 48 hours to end up at a nice tropical island hideaway resort in Papua New Guinea for a weeks diving is the ultimate in going remote? Think again.
Lissenung Island Resort just completed a 9 day expedition starting from their Resort in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. They visited some of the remote villages around New Hannover and had some absolutely spectacular dives on the way.
This is what Ange and Dietmar had to report:
http://tinyurl.com/njhzgo (opens PDF)

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Posted in # Fly&Dive Packages, - Dive Resorts, Dive Travel | No Comments »

Updated Dive Packages for Papua New Guinea

Jul 21st, 2009 by

 
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UPDATED TAXES FOR PNG PACKAGES 22JUL09

With lower fuel cost and increasing competition on international flights to Port Moresby, Air Niugini has substantially reduced it’s tour based airfares to PNG, home of the world’s best tropical dive locations.
This has allowed DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL to substantially drop the cost of dive tour packages from Australia to PNG in April this year.

A revision in airline taxes has lead to slight changes in the total package costs:
Here is a price comparison for 8 top dive destinations in PNG:
We have chosen 7 night packages in twin accommodation with transfers, all meals included (unless stated otherwise), 10 boat dives, return airfares from Australia: Continue Reading »

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Posted in # Fly&Dive Packages, - Airlines, - Dive Resorts, Dive Travel | No Comments »

1 liveaboard – 8 divers – 4 dive guides: Pelagian

Apr 29th, 2009 by

Pelagian is setting the bar for exclusive live-aboard experiences one notch higher:

One dive guide for every two divers!

With all the recent improvements aboard Pelagian they asked thempelagianfrontselves: can we take it even one step further? The answer, according to some of our most esteemed guests, is that – just like we have in Wakatobi – we can. By offering a never before seen two to one guest to diveguide ratio! But only 8 divers and 4 guides on a 115 feet yacht – does it make sense? Yes, because a private guide can be the ultimate dive experience enhancer! (and because Pelagian is fully supported by a solid base that is Wakatobi Dive Resort they can pull off what no other operator so far has done).
Whether or not you are a highly skilled and experienced diver or a beginner fact is that no one finds the prettiest, most interesting critters better than our guides. They work tirelessly to keep you safe and give you days of diving you’ll never forget. An experienced private guide that listens to you and strives to learn about and what kind of dive style you prefer can bring a meaningful enhancement to your overall dive experience. Imagine the possibilities. You can ask your guide to carry a camera (or two) for you, or just dedicate the dive to finding critters and sightings that you dream of seeing in real life. Or, maybe you wish to fine-tune your buoyancy and get a marine life or Nitrox speciality certification. All that and more is possible. If you can take time off this summer you can be one of the select few to experience Indonesia with a very own dive guide. Besides, right now international air prices are reasonable!

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Posted in - Liveaboard Dive Cruises, Dive Travel | No Comments »

The SS THORFINN’s ‘HARD TIMES SPECIAL’

Apr 27th, 2009 by

In face of current ‘Global Downturns’, staff and managers of Truk Lagoon’s SS THORFINN have developed a plan to continue satisfying dreams of diving this great oceanic lake’s sunken battle fleet at a most affordable time. Savings of $400/week have been created by trimming certain excesses while retaining frequency and scope of previous dive schedules from this great dive ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘Hard Times Special’ at USD $1,795/week features up to 5 daily air dives for 7 actual dive days/week to 30 or more different dive sites, including regular Group incentives of up to 4 free divers accompanying 18 payees. Oxygen up to EAN 100 is priced at just $.75/cu ft of enrichment, much reduced from former $2.00/cu ft. due newly installed Oxygen generators.

 This limited time plan applies solely to tours within balance of 2009. Payment terms will run at same basis of current dive plans. Please note Thorfinn’s current Saturday to Saturday dive schedules, with option of an extra day by direct boarding on a Friday AM arrival, as space aboard may permit.

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Posted in # Hot Deals, - Liveaboard Dive Cruises, Dive Travel, Wrecks | No Comments »

Qamea Resort & Spa – low season rates all year!

Apr 22nd, 2009 by

Qamea is a magical place to the East of Taveuni in Fiji. They just anounced great low season stay/pay specials during the coming high season.  For as little as $US247.00 per person/per night, with all gourmet meals, you can enjoy the award winning all beachfront, all air conditioned, Qamea Resort & Spa, the  most intimate beach and spa resort in Fiji’s beautiful tropical Northern Islands.

Due to the recent currency devaluation in Fiji, Qamea Resort & Spa is offering you this special deal through the high season effective immediately.

Bure Category                              Stay/Pay Special                   Per Person/Per Night*
BEACHFRONT BURES:               Stay 7 Pay 5 Nights                US$ 247.00           

HONEYMOON VILLA                    Stay 7 Pay 6 Nights                US$ 354.00
HONEYMOOM BURE                   Stay 7 Pay 6 Nights                US$ 386.00
PREMIUM VILLAS                        Stay 7 Pay 6 Nights                US$ 407.00

*Per person / Per Night rate is based on a seven paid night stay, and does not include taxes and transfers. 

These specials are valid through the remainder of our high season (31 October 2009). 

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Posted in # Hot Deals, - Dive Resorts, Dive Travel | No Comments »

GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS FOR TRAVELLERS

Apr 17th, 2009 by

matava-manta15 April 2009:
In reaction to the global economic crisis, the FIJI Reserve Bank has devalued the Fijian Dollar by by 20%.
As a result most Fiji Dive Resorts are 20% cheaper until further notice.

Until the prices are updated in the system here an overview on popular 7 nights packages, twin share, 10 dives, all meals and transfers:

Matava Resort, Kadavu was AU$ 1625
now AU$ 1300 !!
Plus get 1 extra night and 2 dives for FREE!!!

Beqa Lagoon Resort Special date:
first two weeks in December only AU$ 1150.00/person!

Waidroka Bay Resort was AU$ 1480
now AU$ 1190 !!

Wananavu Beach Resort, North Coast was AU$ 1820
now AU$ 1456 !!

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Posted in # Hot Deals, - Dive Resorts, Dive Travel | No Comments »

Palau's Shark/Fishing Legislation: a reputation for conservation at risk

Apr 5th, 2009 by

From RTseablog http://ow.ly/248a

Palau has been a favorite dive tourist destination for many years because of its wonderful reefs and bountiful fishlife. And the island has, in the past, taken active steps to protect its shark populations with aggressive action against illegal shark finning operations. All of these efforts have contributed to the island’s tourist economy and sound conservation policy.

  • To permit and encourage the killing of sharks in Palau’s waters
  • To promote shark finning
  • To promote fishing methods that according to Monterey Bay Aquarium “result in large amounts of unintended catch” including sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays and juveniles:
    http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_gear.aspx
  • To exempt fishing companies from any export taxes on fish taken from Palau’s waters
  • To make it practically impossible for Palau’s law enforcement personnel to successfully prosecute alleged violators in the courts
  • To risk destroying Palau’s sustainable tourism industry
  • To risk destroying Palau’s marine resources through unsustainable practices
  • To gamble on all of the above for no apparent gain to Palau or Palauans.

This issue has made the rounds of several shark blogs recently, but opinions from everyone – from divers to land-bound ocean advocates – are needed to remind the Palau government that the negative impact on tourism and the island’s marine ecology will ultimately outweigh the short-term gains in a working relationship with Philippine commercial fisheries.

As dive travel agency with a strong committment to conserving our marine ecosystems I ask you to write personally to the Palau Parliament. Please send your letter to the following organisations who are opposing the legisalation and need your help:

Email the Palau Chamber of Commerce (pcoc@palaunet.com) and Belau Tourism Association (bta@palaunet.com) and the government tourism office Palau Visitors Authority (pva@visit-palau.com) .

But that all could potentially be undone with recent legislation that was introduced to both allow for commercial shark fishing and allow for the use of purse seining – a method that brings in a large amount of by-catch. Palau commercial fishing interests have been working with Philippine fishing groups and the combined influence on Palau legislators has produced SB8-44 (which drops the ban on shark fishing) and SB8-50 (which drops an export tax on fish caught by purse seining).

According to FinsMagazine, the collective result of the laws would be:

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Posted in Marine conservation | No Comments »

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