Cozumel – March 9-17, 2024

March 9-16, 2024 – Saturday to Saturday – SPRING BREAK SCUBA TRIP!

Fiesta Americana All-Inclusive Resort

The BEST diving in the WORLD! Join us!

Trip Leader: Tonya Merritt

Dive the beautiful Caribbean water with your current dive buddies or make new ones! This trip is suited for all diving levels and non-divers too. We can complete Open Water check out dives, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course and many specialties including Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Boat Diver, Surface Marker Buoy Diver to name a few! Let us know what you are interested in!

This package includes hotel accommodations of 8 days/7 nights at Fiesta Americana Hotel, 6 days of 2 tank boat dives, Nitrox & 1 night boat dive, meal plan (7 restaurants, dessert & ice cream bar, room service), alcohol and other drinks, airport transfers and a cocktail social at Villa Gigglin’ Marlin Del Mar located in Costa Del Sol in Cozumel.

DELUXE ROOM

Diver – $1883 pp based on Double occupancy – Deluxe Room

Diver – $2635 pp based on Single occupancy – Deluxe Room

Non Diver – $996 pp based on Double occupancy – Deluxe Room

MASTER SUITE ROOM

Diver – $2321 pp based on Double occupancy – Master Suite Room

Other Options may include: Cenote Diving, Cavern Course, Whale Shark Snorkel, Dolphin Encounter, Fishing Charter, Spearfishing Charter, rental vehicle and Mopeds around the islands!

Not included: airfare, tips, hotel eco-tax (approximately $10-13 USD, paid at check in), and any extra excursion you choose.

Shorter Dates are available and can be quoted accordingly.

Flight Suggestions:  United or Southwest are great options out of Houston, but American is good out of Dallas. For your transfers, send your airfare to:  barbie@gigglinmarlin.com 

You can fly into CUN – Cancun Airport – but it is not recommended unless there is not a flight option for that day into Cozumel (CZM).

Click here to reserve your spot with a $500 Deposit!

Please write the room type and single/double/triple occupancy on the Trip Notes Tab on the Reservation Form.

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: 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 has revisited and Cory’s first visit to 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 Cory 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.

Wakatobi, Indonesia – April 26-May 3, 2024

2024 – 10 day trip (plus travel time – leave April 26 or 27 depending on flight selected)- Wakatobi

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.

2024 Pricing –

$5600 pp + $ 890 Private Charter Flight – Ocean Bungalow Diver in Double 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)

https://gigglinmarlin.com/reserve-now

 

Belize – June 3-8, 2024

Belize

Length of trip  6 Days / 5 Nights

Departure June 3, 2024

Return June 8, 2024

Dives 3 days of 2 tank dives

Experience Open Water – No minimum logged dives required.

Location Belize

Deposit $500
Click here to reserve your spot with a $500 Deposit!

Available Rooms

4) Jungle Deluxe Rooms w/ 2 queen beds

  • $1505 pp double
  • $1354 pp triple
  • $1278 pp quad

(6) Jungle Deluxe Rooms w/ 1 king bed

  • $1505 pp double

(1) Seaside Deluxe Room w/ 2 queen beds

  • $1574pp double

 

 

 

Cozumel, Mexico with Lifewaters – June 22nd-29th, 2024

Cozumel, Mexico

June 22-29, 2024 (Sat-Sat)

Gigglin’ Marlin Dive & Swim, Lifewaters and SDI Scubility Buddies are all partnering up for an Amazing Week of Adaptive 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

$1595 Diver in Standard Room – Double/Triple Occupancy
$2101 Diver in Standard Room – Single Occupancy

$2206 Diver in Junior Suite – Double Occupancy
$2714 Diver in Junior Suite – Single Occupancy

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, gear concierge service, full lunch on the dive boat daily, 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.

You must be an Enriched Air Nitrox Diver.  Please contact Tonya on details to complete this training.

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

Dive Only Package of $937 pp.  This includes the 4 days of 2 tank diving, 1 tank with El Cielo Trip, Nitrox and a Group T-shirt.

Add Ons:

$80 Night Dive with Air

Rental Equipment – BCD ($60/wk), Regulator ($60/wk), Wetsuit ($60/wk), Computer($100/wk) Please confirm rentals prior to arrival into Cozumel.

$60/wk – 100 cu. ft tank or steel tanks

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 & we will process the certification.  There is also an option for the Nitrox course through SDI.  Contact Tonya: 281-445-3483

Non-Refundable Trip Deposit is $500 due at the time of booking.

 

Cozumel, Mexico – July 21-28, 2024

July 21-28, 2024 – SCUBA TRIP!

Park Royal All-Inclusive Resort – NEW LOCATION TO TRY

The BEST diving in the WORLD! Join us!

Trip Leaders: Tonya & Bill Merritt

Dive the beautiful Caribbean water with your current dive buddies or make new ones! This trip is suited for all diving levels and non-divers too. We can complete Open Water check out dives, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course and many specialties including Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Boat Diver, Surface Marker Buoy Diver to name a few! Let us know what you are interested, and we can sign you up!

This package includes hotel accommodations of 8 days/7 nights at Park Royal Hotel with 3 swim up bars with 2 infinity pools and hot tub over looking over the ocean, designated area on the ocean/beach that is an adult only section , 6 days of 2 tank boat dives with lunch and gear Concierge Service, 32% Nitrox & 1 night boat dive with Air, All-Inclusive Meal Plan (5 restaurants, coffee shop, room service-once per day), alcohol and other drinks, Round Trip Airport Transfers, and a Sunset Cocktail Social at Villa Gigglin’ Marlin Del Mar located in Costa Del Sol in Cozumel.

DELUXE NATURE VIEW ROOM

Diver – $1871 pp based on Double Occupancy

Diver – $2746 pp based on Single Occupancy

 

DELUXE OCEAN VIEW ROOM

Diver – $2004 pp based on Double Occupancy

Diver – $3012 pp based on Single Occupancy

Non-Diver – Deduct $917 off any room rate

Other Options: Cenote Diving, Cavern Course, Whale Shark Snorkel, Dolphin Encounter, Fishing Charter, Spearfishing Charter, and Mopeds around the islands!

Not included: airfare, tips and any extra excursion you choose.

Flight Suggestions:  United or Southwest are great options out of Houston, but American is good out of Dallas and Delta out of Atlanta. For us to confirm your transfers, please send your airfare to:  barbie@gigglinmarlin.com 

You can fly into CUN – Cancun Airport – but it is not recommended – unless there is not a flight option for that day into Cozumel (CZM).

Click here to reserve your spot with a $500 Deposit!

Please write the room type and single/double occupancy on the Trip Notes Tab on the Reservation Form.

USS Oriskany Wreck – July 26-27, 2024


July 25th-28th

USS Oriskany wreck in Pensacola, FL

Includes: 2 days of 2 tank boat diving on July 26th & 27th

Not Included: Hotel & travel expenses, dive gear/tanks & air fills.

Lead by: Ron Clarke

Rec Diver : $450

Tech Diver : $560

 

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

South Africa-Cape Town, Durban & Johannesburg – September 25-October 5, 2024 , 2024


South Africa Safari and Apex Predator Diving Vacation

Summary: 11 days/10 nights

25SEP2024 – Depart USA for Cape Town

3 night stay in Cape Town w/Great White Shark Caged Dive

4 days of Dives Umkomaas

3 days at Balaya Safari

Depart Durban to Johannesburg

Arrive IAH 5OCT2024

If you choose to fly on United, IAH/CPT, it arrives at 3:20 pm and that will work with this itinerary.

Departing Flight is recommended out of Johannesburg – JNB/IAH also on United

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

Non-Diver deduct $400 off the package, based on double occupancy (prices are subject to fluctuate due to their currency)

$1900 pp Single Supplement Add-On (prices are subject to fluctuate due to their currency)

20 spaces available

$500.00 Deposit to reserve your spot!

Includes:

Meet and Greet Cape Town airport, private road transfer to hotel

3 nights Cape Town hotel – bed and breakfast basis

Morning Seal and Kelp dive, Great White Shark Caged Dive including return transfers from Cape Town hotel

Full day private guided Peninsula Tour including entry fees and 1 wine tasting.

Road transfer to Cape Town airport

Meet and greet services, Durban airport, road transfer to Umkomaas

4 nights Blue Marlin Hotel, bed and breakfast basis

4 Dives Aliwalshoal including cylinders, weight belt hire, diving permit return transfers to/from the dive centre.

Tiger dive – baited dive

3 nights Dinner transfers to restaurants within 50km from lodge

1 x Complimentary Braai dinner (Barbeque)

Road transfer Umkomaas to Hluhluwe via St Luci

Day departing Umkomaas – usually stops for 2 hour boat cruise St Lucia to see hippos and crocs

Then choice to go straight to Balaya Game Lodge and catch the 3pm game drive

Or – you can tour the Emdoneni Cat Center – approx 2 hours seeing variety of wild cats and opportunity to go inside enclosure with Cheetah – but some people do not like animal enclosures – so they can remove it.

2 hour boat Cruise St Lucia

2 hour Educational tour at Emdoneni Cat Center

Rhino Vet Experience – Helicopter shoots tranquilizer to enable Rhino temporarily.  We come in the trucks on the ground and witness first-hand surgery on a Rhino’s.

3 nights Bayala game reserve including full board, 2 safaris per day, park fees

Road transfer Hluhluwe to Durban airport

Not Included:

Airfare into Cape Town and out of Johannesburg

Domestic Airfare within Africa – this will be purchased as a group, not as individual bookings.

Nitrox

Some of the meals

Activities not specified in this program

Purchases of personal nature

Tips/gratuities

 

 

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

Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Trip Leader:  Doug Jones

9 days/8 nights

1 or 2 bedrooms options:

Per Person Pricing for first 7 Nights, 8th Night at Courtyard by Marriott:

$2880 in a 1 bedroom / single occupancy

$1771 in a 1 bedroom / double occupancy

 

$2241 in a 2 bedroom / double occupancy

$1754 in a 2 bedroom / triple occupancy

$1511 in a 2 bedroom / quad occupancy

 

Price includes:

– 7 nights stay at Buddy Dive Resort, 1 night stay at Courtyard by Marriott

– 9 one tank boat dives

– Unlimited shore dives

– Nitrox

– Breakfast daily

– Weekly truck rental including insurance (except last day at Marriott)

– Drive through air / nitrox

– Airport transfers / Group Marriott Transfer on front end only

– Taxes

– WiFi

Not Included:

-Courses with the Famous Doug!!

-airfare

-Scuba Rentals

-Dive Tips

-Transfer from Marriott Courtyard to Airport at end of trip (approx. $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

-Lunch, Dinner & Drinks – 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!

-last day at Marriott-there is not a rental vehicle or diving

-Government Taxes are subject to change or increase per the Bonaire mandates.

$500.00 deposit to hold your spot!

Trip Cancellation Fee –

$100 until April 1, 2024

$200 until August 16, 2024, after this date non-refundable.

 

$500pp Deposit due at booking

Mid Payment Due:  April 1, 2024

Final Payment Due:  August 16, 2024