Egypt – Liveaboard – 2024

Egypt – Liveaboard

2024

$500.00 to reserve your spot!

Fly to Hurghada Egypt from US (Travelers arrange their own flights)

PRICING FOR TRIP INCLUDES

March 6 stay at the Continental Hurghada Hotel.  Room includes  breakfast and transfer from the airport to hotel.

Blue Horizon – Simply the Best Itinerary.

Includes:

7 nights – 6 Days of diving with up to 4 dives per day

Transfers between Hurghada (Egypt) airport and live aboard on days of embarkation and disembarkation

Food/Water/coffee/tea/soft drinks

12 Litre cylinder with air fills

Weights

Obligatory surcharges

Entry Visa

Government Reef Tax – 80.00 per person

Premium Cabin Situated on the mid deck, these king suites offer accommodation for two people in a large and comfortable bed as well as plenty of storage space.

Classic Cabin on the Lower Deck 1 twin and 1 double bed OR 2 twin beds

Extra costs

Cabin upgrades and sole occupancy

Rental equipment

Nitrox

Private dive guide

Alcohol

Tonic & soda water

On board merchandise

Crew & dive guide gratuities

 

March 14 – A 3.5 hour private bus ride from Hurghada to Luxor where we will embark on the Nile Cruise and tour.

Land itinerary – 

Day 1: Luxor Nile Cruise

Transfer to embark Nile Cruise before lunch.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple.

Day 2: Luxor Nile Cruise – West bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon.

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: Horus Temple, Kom Ombo Temple.

Day 4: Aswan Nile Cruise Tours / Disembarkation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Visits: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple.

– We will disembark from the Nile Cruise at Aswan and transfer to the Aswan airport.  At the Aswan airport we will catch a mid-afternoon flight to Cairo.

Fly to US from Egypt –  (Travelers arrange their own flights.) *Please see flight information for Heidi and Doug below.

If you have a strong desire to see the sites of Northern Egypt (Memphis, Alexandria, Giza) please let us know.  Heidi and Doug will not be touring northern Egypt but the same people who have arranged the rest of this experience for us can and will be happy to add on a couple days in Cairo for people who want to see the Pyramids and the other sites around the area.  Pricing will be dependent upon days and sites seen in Cairo.

Pricing for this trip is:

Double Occupancy Classic Cabin – $ per person

Double Occupancy Premium Cabin –  per person

Single Occupancy Classic Cabin – $– We will make every effort to find you a roommate if you are traveling solo.  However, if a roommate cannot be found you will be billed at the single occupancy rate.

Not included:

Airfare from the US to Hurghada

Airfare from Cairo to the US

Any nights in Cairo

Any tours in Cairo

Rental equipment

Nitrox

Private dive guide

Alcohol

Tonic & soda water

On board merchandise / Souvenirs.

Crew & dive guide gratuities

Entry Visa

Government Reef Tax – 80.00 per person

 

 

*Flight suggestions for this trip:

 

There are many different options for getting to and from this trip:

Turkish Airlines

United Airlines

Swiss Airlines

Air France

KLM

British Air

 

For Economy flights as of  Turkish Airlines was the least expensive option.  On the same day, Business Class options were the least expensive on United and Swiss.  On that same day we found appreciable savings could be had by arriving a day early.  However there will be an extra hotel room charge if you elect to arrive in Hurghada before March 6.  The flight option Doug and Heidi chose is:

 

Pyramid Add on: 

 

 

Cozumel, Mexico with Lifewaters – July 21st-28th, 2024

Cozumel, Mexico

July 21-28, 2024 (Sun-Sun)

Gigglin’ Marlin Dive & Swim, Lifewaters and SDI Scubility Buddies are all partnering up for an Amazing Week of Diving!!  Meet up with old friends, meet new dive buddies and experience the ease of adaptable diving with the pros!  Cozumel is the best diving spot in the world! We had an incredible time last year and we want you to join us this year!

Hotel Cozumel

Diver in Standard Room – Double/Triple Occupancy – Non-Diver Rate:
Diver in Standard Room – Single Occupancy – Non-Diver Rate:

Diver in Junior Suite – Double Occupancy – Non-Diver Rate:
Diver in Junior Suite – Single Occupancy – Non-Diver Rate:

Package Included: hotel accommodations, airport transfers, 4 days of 2 tank boat diving and 1 day of 1 tank boat dive with El Cielo trip on Thursday afternoon, Nitrox Tanks, all meals and drinks (including alcohol) at Hotel Cozumel and a Group T-shirt.

Not Included in package:  airfare, eco hotel tax (approx. $10 per room per week, paid at check in), rental equipment (paid to Gigglin’ Marlin prior to the trip), courses and dive tips ($100-200pp), transportation/fees associated for any activity or excursion off Hotel Cozumel property.

Complete your Enriched Air Nitrox or Specialties in the gorgeous Caribbean Ocean!  Let us know what you are interested in!

If you are staying in another location, no worries, you can join us for a

Dive Only Package of $631 pp.  This includes the 4 days of 2 tank diving, 1 tank with El Cielo Trip, Nitrox and a Group T-shirt.

Add Ons:

Rental Equipment – BCD ($60/wk), Regulator ($60/wk), Wetsuit ($55/wk), Computer($75/wk) Please confirm rentals prior to arrival into Cozumel.

$40/wk – 100 cu. ft tank or steel tanks

$20 – Turtle Release Donation

Premium Drinks Package – paid at the hotel upon check in

E-Learning Nitrox Specialty Course – complete the online portion prior to the trip:  www.gigglinmarlin.com COURSES, then ONLINE COURSES, select online courses on PADI site, select enriched air nitrox.  Pay PADI the course fee and then $50 to Gigglin’ Marlin to complete the hands-on portion in Cozumel.  There is also an option for the Nitrox course through SDI.  Contact Tonya on both options. 281-445-3483

*Deposit is $500, prices will update closer to the new year!*

 

Maldives – March 14-24, 2024

Maldives – Liveaboard

Length of Cruise: 11 Days / 10 Nights

Vessel Departure: From Male, March 14, 2024, Airport pick-up at 3:30 pm

Vessel Return: To Male, March 24, 2024, at 8:00 am

Dives: Approximately 27 dives in total

Experience Open Water: No minimum logged dives required.

Location: The Maldives (North of the Equator)

Vessel: Maldives Aggressor II

Trip Leaders: Doug Jones and Heidi Erickson

Price:

$4750 per person double occupancy in a Twin Stateroom

$7838 single occupancy in a Twin Stateroom

$5050 per person double occupancy in a Deluxe Stateroom SOLD OUT

$5950 per person double occupancy in a Suite Stateroom  SOLD OUT

Effort will be made to help find room mates for those who are traveling solo and want a roommate.  However, if we are unable to find a roommate for you the single occupancy price is $7838 in a Twin Stateroom.

The Location:

This trip is the first time Heidi and Doug have revisited an Indio-Pacific location. The Maldives ARE that beautiful.

The Maldives Islands lie Southwest of India. Scattered across the equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the gem-like islands of the Maldives depict the rare vision of a tropical paradise. Palm-fringed islands with sparkling white beaches, turquoise lagoons, clear warm waters and coral reefs teeming with abundant varieties of marine flora and fauna, fascinate visitors as it has for thousands of years.

Logistics – Arrival/Hotel/Departure:

There are MANY airlines you can utilize to get to the Maldives. Everyone does not need to be on the same flight, but it often helps. Heidi and Doug will be traveling to the Maldives (Male) on Qatar Airlines through Doha with the itinerary:

Monday March 11, 2024 – QR 714 – Depart IAH 18:30 Arrive DOH March 12, 17:00

Wednesday March 13 – QR 676 – Depart DOH 0:55 Arrive MLE 07:50

 

Sunday March 24, 2024 – QR 673 – Depart MLE 19:45 Arrive DOH 22:50

Monday March 25, 2024 – QR 713 Depart DOH 08:00 Arrive IAH 16:30

 

If you too decide to take Qatar airlines and have a longish layover, the Doha airport is beautiful with great amenities including restaurants and shopping, and in their lounges, lovely showers.

There is also a Qatari tour service that runs out of the airport so you can explore the city or desert if your time permits. Follow the below hyperlink if you want to explore that option for yourself. By the way, the conversion rate of Qatari Riyal to US Dollars is one QR is about 27 cents.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/transit-tours.html

For overnight and Day Pass in Male we are arranging to stay at the Hulhule Island Hotel (https://www.hih.com.mv/). You can stay somewhere else if you would like but this hotel is nice, within walking distance of the seaport, has free transfers to and from the airport, and you can make your reservation and payment through the dive shop instead of managing the hotel booking on your own.

Day Pass (6 Hours) double occupancy $245

Night Stay double occupancy with daily breakfast $475

The cruise shuttle service will take those of us staying at this hotel from the hotel to the boat and from the boat to the hotel on the days of boarding and departure.

The Vessel:

The M/V Maldives Aggressor II is a world class liveaboard yacht scheduling year round diving cruises to the stunning Maldives Atolls. She caters for 22 guests in 11 staterooms, each complete with a private in suite bathroom and shower, closet, hair dryer, individual climate control and TV/DVD. There are 4 deluxe staterooms and 1 suite with ocean views located on the main and upper decks and six standard twin cabins located on the lower deck. The large indoor lounge and dining room is fully air-conditioned and is where the onboard menu featuring a variety of American fare and local cuisine is served. Soft drinks, iced tea, beer, and wine are complimentary. Guests can also enjoy the large partially covered sundeck with chaise lounges and deck chairs, bar service and CD/stereo player. Diving amenities include a large swim platform with personal gear lockers, air/nitrox fill stations, rinse tanks, three-tier camera table with low-pressure air hoses and 2 warm freshwater showers and nitrox is available for those certified. Nitrox is $150 plus tax (22%) for the week to be paid on the boat.

For comfort of the guests, all the dives are conducted from a spacious and fully equipped 60 ft, 28 passenger dive Dhoni (skiff).

 

 

 

 

The Diving:

Water temperature varies from 80F, 27C to 86F, 30C therefore we recommend a 3mm wetsuit.

The ‘Best of the Maldives’ includes the areas of North Male, South Male, North Ari, South Ari, Vaavu and Meemu Atolls. These locations offer spectacular channel-drift dives, wrecks, pinnacles, and world-famous night dives.

Guests will embark and disembark from Male.

Guests will fly in and out of Malé, Velana International Airport (MLE).

Guests are urged to strongly consider spending the night in Male before the cruise at a hotel near the seaport (see logistics section). Hotel guests will be met at the hotel on the cruise start date between 11:00 and 17:00 and transferred by speedboat to the Maldives Aggressor II.

Guests who fly into Male the day of the cruise (remember jet lag on a boat is pretty icky) will be met at the airport by a crewmember of the Maldives Aggressor II wearing an Aggressor polo shirt and hat at 3:30 pm and then transferred by water taxi to the yacht at 4 pm.

There are three distinctly different types of scuba diving at the Maldives: inside the atolls, outside the atolls and inside the channels or passes, which is where the currents are strongest, and you’ll find the greatest congregation of fish life. Most intriguing are the cleaning stations, found around every corner and under every ledge. Mantas, Sharks, Groupers, Snappers, Surgeonfish, Eels, Parrotfish, even Giant Napoleon Wrasse park casually oblivious to all, (including cameras) while armies of wrasse, shrimp, and other assorted cleaners pick at debris in their open gills and cavernous mouths. What does diving in the Maldives look like? All dive pictures in this section were taken by Doug (excuse the poor skill) in the Maldives in 2021.

The Fine Print:

$500.00 deposit per person to hold your spot!

Payments – 50% by September 1, 2023; 100% by December 10, 2023.

Trip Cancellation Fee – $100 Until June 1, 2023. $200 Until September 1, 2023. After September 1, 2023, non-refundable.

Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beer and Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: Environment Tax, Fuel Surcharge (270-360 USD per trip), Gratuities, National Park Fees (290-350 USD per trip), Port Fees. These and Nitrox (150 USD plus tax) to be paid on the boat.

Optional Extras: Dive Insurance, Travel Insurance, Hotel Transfer, Local Flights, Extra Dives, Specialty Scuba Courses from Doug, Rental Gear, WiFi internet, Nitrox.

South Africa-Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town – Jan 2024


South Africa Safari and Apex Predator Diving 14 day Vacation

Kruger National Park – 4 days – 2 1/2 days of safari tours with Guides, 2 – 4×4 Game Drives, Sundowner Drive, Year’s Eve Celebration in the Safari!

Flight from Johannesburg to Durban (southern coastal town).

Accommodations in Belvedere Estates

Dolphin Coast of Kwazulu Natal – 1 day

Diving Aliwal Shoal – 2 days – 3 dives and 1 Bait Dive: hundreds of Raggie Tooth Sharks, Oceanic Black Tip Sharks, Tiger Sharks. Mako Sharks, and Dolphins

Protea Banks Diving – 3 days – 5 Dives and 1 Bait Dive:  Hammerhead Sharks, Bull Sharks, Guitar Sharks and large rays

Flight from Durban to Cape Town

Cape Town – 4 days

Simons Town  – Cape Fur Seal & 7 Gilled Cow Shark Dives

Cape Town Tour including Robben Island Tour, , Red Bus City Tour, Table Mountain Cable Car, wine tasting

Gansbaai – Caged Great White Shark Diving!

Meals Included:  12 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 8 Dinners

Activities planned for Non Divers too!

These are 2020 rates, so the new rates will be a little higher.

$5600 pp Diver Rate, based on double occupancy (prices are subject to fluctuate due to their currency)-

$4587 pp Non Diver, based on double occupancy (prices are subject to fluctuate due to their currency)

$1288 pp Single Supplement Add On (prices are subject to fluctuate due to their currency)

20 spaces available

$500.00 Deposit to reserve your spot!

 

Activity Package:

2 – 4×4 Game Drive in Kruger National Park

Sundowner Drive

Morning Guided Bush Walk

Protea Banks Baited Dive

Aliwal Shoal Batied Dive

Robben Island Tour

Deal Dive & 7 Gilled Cow Shark Dive

Red Bus City Tour

Table Mountain Cable Car

Great White Cage Dive

 

Not Included:

Airfare into Johannesburg and out of Cape Town

Nitrox

Some of the meals and extra excursions

 

Truk Lagoon, Micronesia – Liveaboard – November 23-30, 2024

Truk Lagoon

Japanese War Ship Wreck Diving

Truk Odyssey Liveaboard

November 23-30, 2024

 

8 Cabins for 16 divers: $3749pp

Includes: Liveaboard boat-rooms, taxes, meals, airport transfers, Chuuk Dive Permit

Excludes: airfare, 1-2 nights at Blue Lagoon Resort depending on your airfare.

$500.00 deposit to hold your spot!

Call Tonya for more information!

(281) 445-3483

 

Wakatobi, Indonesia – 2024

2024 – 10 day trip (plus travel time – leave May 16 or 17 depending on flight selected)- Wakatobi

Trip Leaders:  Mathis & Shannon Weatherall

We have space reserved for 12 people on this trip!

Fly Houston to Bali and stay 1 night then take a charter flight to Wakatobi for 10 days / 9 nights / 8 days of diving.

Package Includes: accommodations, diving, meals and diving package at Wakatobi resort, Private Charter Flight from Bali to Wakatobi.

Not Included: Airfare, Bali Hotel night(s) (or additional nights depending on your flights from Houston), alcohol, marine park fees and tips.

Option to add:  2-3 days in Bali on either end of the trip staying at a Southern Beach Resort – Monkey Reserve, Volcano, Balinese Dance, Lu ac Coffee Tour.  Let me know if you are interested.

2023 Pricing – (updated 6-29-22)

$ pp + $ Private Charter Flight – Ocean Bungalow Diver in Double Occupancy

$  + $ Private Charter Flight pp – Ocean Bungalow Diver in Single Occupancy

Non-Divers deduct $1000 off of rates.

Two Bedroom Villa is also available!  Let Tonya know if you are interested in this room!

Repeat Customer Discount available!!

$1000.00 deposit to reserve your spot!

Wakatobi Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trip Cancellation Fee – Minimum of a $100 (depending on  the trip date and date of cancellation)

 

Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles – November 23-December 1, 2024 (Sat-Sun)

Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Trip Leader:  Doug Jones and Heidi Erickson

9 days/8 nights

1 or 2 bedrooms options:

Per Person Pricing for first 7 Nights:

– $2596 in a 1 bedroom / single occupancy,

– $1604 in a 1 bedroom / double occupancy,

– $1604 in a 2 bedroom / triple occupancy,

– $1344 in a 2 bedroom / quad occupancy,

Price includes:

– 7 nights stay at Buddy Dive Resort

– 6 one tank boat dives

– Unlimited shore dives

– Nitrox

– Breakfast daily

– Weekly truck rental including insurance

– Drive through air / nitrox

– Airport transfers / Group Marriott Transfer

– Taxes

– WiFi

Due to changes in airline schedules all guests will additionally be spending an 8th night at the Courtyard by Marriott for $117 per person / double occupancy or $234 per person single occupancy.

For Guests who would rather do more boat dives you can upgrade!  There is an option to upgrade from 6 to 12 boat dives for $235.  However, part of the joy of diving in Bonaire is exploring the plentiful and GORGEOUS shore diving on the island.  We would recommend you take advantage of the free shore diving instead of acquiring the extra boat dives.  Doug and Heidi will lead at least one expedition every day to some lovely shore dives on the island.  Do let Doug or Tonya (or both!) know if you want to buy the boat dive upgrade package.

 

Extra charges you will need to pay individually include:

-Transfer from Marriott Courtyard to Airport (currently $15pp)

-Bonaire entry tax (currently $75) paid online 1 week prior to entry

-Marine Park fee (currently $40) paid online 1 week prior to entry

-Food and beverages.  Bonaire has a full assortment of restaurants, cafes, bars, and food trucks to choose from.  For those who would prefer to use their in room kitchen there is also multiple grocery stores on the island that sell European, South American, and North American based groceries (typically in that order of variety and availability).  Mix and match between the grocery store and restaurants, it’s fun!

$500.00 deposit to hold your spot!

Trip Cancellation Fee –

$100 until April 1, 2024

$200 until September 20, 2024, after this date non-refundable.