Want to dive the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, between India and Africa? Four degrees south of the equator and a thousand miles from any continental land mass, the islands of the Seychelles have been likened to a string of pearls set in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. The stunning topography of expansive reefs, walls, pinnacles, drop offs, wrecks and canyons make for one of the most diverse marine environments around, teeming with both fish and coral life.
Join us for a week in Praslin, Seychelles, arriving on October 3, with departure on October 10, 2013. We'll be diving with Octopus Scuba Diving (www.octopusdiver.com), which is a PADI 5-star dive center, voted one of the world's top 100 dive clubs by the German diving magazine, "Unterwasser". They are located on the beautiful beach of Cote d'Or, right in front of the Curieuse Marine Park.
We'll stay at luxurious Chalet Cote Mer, in spacious rooms with ocean views, air conditioning and WiFi, with breakfast and buffet dinner at the hotel included.
We'll have 15 dives total over 5 days. Octopus Diving will arrange transportation every morning from our hotel to the dive shop, followed by a 2-tank boat dive in the mornings, a Creole lunch on the beach back at the dive shop, and then a one-tank boat dive in the afternoons. One night, we'll replace the afternoon dive with a night dive. If we fill the trip with 8 divers, we'll have our own speed boat and divemasters (usually 4-6 divers per divemaster). If we have fewer than 8 divers, we'll share our boat with other divers.
Our trip is scheduled to fall between the trade winds and before the rainy season, so we can expect calm, windless seas with visibility up to 90 feet, and water temps of 80-84°F. Most divers will be comfortable in a 3mm suit. Aluminum tanks are 10, 12 or 15 liters with INT or DIN valves available. Nitrox is available for free.
Some participants on this trip will be combining it with an African Land Safari in Tanzania from September 23 to October 2, 2013. You are welcome to join us! Please note the African land safari is not an NCRD-sponsored club event. For more information on the Tanzania land safari, please contact Wild Rainbow African Safaris for details and space availability. Please register directly with Wild Rainbow if you wish to join us for the land safari.
INCLUDED:
- 7 nights lodging at Chalet Cote Mer, double-occupancy
- Breakfast and buffet dinner daily at Chalet Cote Mer
- Lunch on dive days at dive shop
- 5 days of 3-tank boat diving
- Weights, weight belts and tanks
- Nitrox
- Transfers from hotel to dive shop daily
NOT INCLUDED:
- International airfare to Seychelles
- Airfare or ferry from Mahe to Praslin, Seychelles
- Rental dive gear
- Optional dive courses
- Lunch on non-diving days
- Drinks, alcohol or otherwise
- any items of a personal nature
- travel or dive accident insurance, or medical evacuation
FLIGHTS:
You'll need to fly into the main Seychelles island of Mahe (airport code: SEZ), reachable by Air France, British Airways, Condor, Qatar Airways, Air Seychelles or Emirates to arrive on October 3, 2013. Air Seychelles flies from Mahe to the smaller island of Praslin several times daily (a 15-minute flight). You can also transfer from Mahe to Praslin by ferry. On the international flights, baggage weight allowance is 23 Kg per person. Air Seychelles offers an extra 10 Kg for travelers with a diving certificate.
Sample Itinerary on Emirates:
USD 1984.90 for 1 passenger(s)
(Fare USD 1876.00 + Taxes USD 108.90)
01.Oct dep SFO @16:45, arr DXB @19:20 on 02.Oct
03.Oct dep DXB @02:05, arr SEZ @06:45 on 03.Oct
10.Oct dep SEZ @08:15, arr DXB @12:45 on 10.Oct
11.Oct dep DXB @08:20, arr SFO @13:10 on 11.Oct
*The above itinerary is a sample. Other cities may be arranged.
CAVEATS:
Please do not commit to air flights or other logistical arrangements until you have received confirmation of your space from the Trip Leader once your initial deposit has been received.
Divers are required to carry valid, in-force dive accident insurance, such as may be obtained from Divers' Alert Network (DAN).
Divers must agree to NCRD's Event Terms and Conditions to participate in this trip.
PRICE:
US$1,850 per person, Double-Occupancy Room
There may be discounts available if 4 divers wish to share an apartment (master bedroom with king bed plus bunk room with 2 bunks).
PAYMENT PLAN:
| 1st: |
At registration
|
US $300 to hold your space
|
| 2nd: |
April 15, 2013
|
US $500
|
| 3rd: |
June 1, 2013
|
US $500
|
| 4th: |
July 15, 2013
|
US $550
|
PAYMENTS:
You are encouraged to pay for your trip with PayPal to facilitate the work of our volunteers. Electronic payments make our work easier for everyone. You may make your PayPal payment to this email address: paypal@rainbowdivers.org The trip price for payment by PayPal is as noted above.
If you are unable or unwilling to pay by PayPal and wish to send a personal check instead, please contact your Trip Leader for instructions on where to send the check. The trip price for payment by check is the same as noted above.
