DIVE DISCOVERY & AFRICA DISCOVERY
Autumn News and Hot Ideas September 2010

Summer had been a hot one for most of the USA except the Bay Area, thank goodness autumn is on the way. Some of you may be thinking it is time to plan a trip; there are still a lot of great deals and availability on live aboards in Indonesia for this fall. As well as the Maldives, Galapagos, Palau and various wonderful places to dive in the south pacific.

Dive Discovery Group trips for 2011 & 2012, 2013:

Escorted by: Cindi LaRaia

No better way to see the Serengeti in full migration splendor than in a seasonal Luxury tented camp with VERY FEW land rovers! We will stay very close to the Migration as they cross the Mara river from the Serengeti side without all the hoards of people on the Masai Mara side in Kenya, you have to trust me on this!

The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest migration in the world, which is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. The word Serengetin means ‘endless plain’…..

Followed by a small luxury private camp in the rarely visited Southern Selous reserve. Lukula Selous offers an enhanced wilderness adventure, focus is on a close connection with the landscape and its wildlife. This is possible in a vehicle or even a kayak, but the real experience of Lukula is on foot led by experienced porters, trackers and professional (and armed) guides. Following the paths of buffalo and elephant forms the foundation of the day and reveals other natural phenomena. Using traditional tracking techniques and temporary "grass hides", we can safely observe and photograph animals while leaving them undisturbed.

You can bet I will be planning something very unique and special for this one! I will be taking a maximum of 6 people for this special unique itinerary in one of the most stunning beautiful places in Africa!  Read more ...

This is a very exciting new idea and for those of you wanting to visit Egypt with her wealth of Antiquities! A luxury Nile River Cruise, including Abu Simbul, visiting my favorite Luxor ‘The valley of the Kings’. Including the amazing city of Cairo; visiting the Pyramids and the famous Cairo Museum. Land based diving or snorkeling out of Dahab, with Camel treks, visiting the amazing sites of the Sinai, ‘the burning bush’ etc……. the glory of Petra and for those who want to see the highlights of Israel as add on to Egypt and Jordan.  Read more...

Join me for a fabulous trip back to Socorro on one of my fav boats to have gorgeous interactions with the very friendly mantas of Socorro and Bottlenose Dolphins (this is a new phenomenon here) what makes Socorro the only place where the u/w wildlife have very close and friendly encounters with humans? Very special indeed! Also the Nautilus Explorer has gone through a pretty big refit, adding and updating superior suite cabins on the Bridge deck.  Read more….

Special trip: Triton Bay, Misool, Halmahera! Sorry sold out….

This will be on the new Damai II, same 4 cabins with a maximum of 8 pax to Komodo! These boats fill up I had to charter this one 3 yrs out! Only 3 cabins left. Read more...

HOT DIVE SPECIALS: last minute and remaining 2010

and new trips and ideas into the new year

Mandarin Siren 24 Jun 2011-05 Jul 2011, 11 nights North Sulawesi 2500 Euro less 20% 2000 Euro

Mandarin Siren 30 Jul 2011-10 Aug 2011, 11 nights North Sulawesi 2500 Euro less 20% 2000 Euro

Destinations: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Galapagos is known as 'the enchanted land of plenty' because there is so much to see. We are now offering a 10 and 11 night charter in 2012:

11 night charter September 27-October 8, 2012
10 night charter, October 8-18, 2012.

Dive Palau from warm water lagoons to dramatic drop-offs on the Tropic Dancer.

Dive Fiji the soft coral capital of the world, on the Island Dancer II.

Dive Cocos Island on Wind Dancer, a coveted drift diving destination in the eastern Pacific..

2010 specials still in place

• Indonesia Incentive - $500 off your Komodo Trip
• Tropic Dancer Buddy Week - July 25th to August 1st)
• Palau Introductory Special - $750 off
• New Low prices in PNG

Shark and Whale Shark Favorite’s:

and some new dive idea’s.

South Africa has a great plethora for diving shark fans! There are 2 areas in Cape Town area for the breaching Great white sharks and Great White shark cage diving all within close proximity to gorgeous Cape Town and the outstanding wineries of Stellenbosh and surrounds. Then you can fly to Durban and do some Tiger Shark diving with sharks of all kinds in very close proximity! Black tip, Zambezi, Tigers, Raggedtooth sharks, some are seasonal and some are always there. Ask when the best time to go is for what holds your interest.

A beautiful place to stay on the coast near Richards Bay South Africa is Rocktail Beach Camp, wins all the eco- green awards and the diving is so varied and so much to see there any time of the year, each month offers new and exciting.

Mozambique is the latest craze to dive and visit a very exotic country. November through May will blow you away with Whale sharks and the Mantas are always there to play with. Just a flight from Johannesburg and you are there! Then of course you must spend a few days on safari in the Kruger to satisfy all your primal urges! Nothing but big stuff under the water and above the water; check out the perfect .

Sardine Run dates for 2011 - 'the greatest shoal on earth'
2011 trip cost is $ 3,895 per person sharing June 11 – 19
June 19 – 27
June 27 – July 05
July 13 - 21

SAVING WHALES, DOLPHINS AND SHARKS!!!

I am going to beg now. I started my love of the seas because of our beloved whales and dolphins. This is one of the most valuable informative highly acclaimed NGO’s that exist for the love of whales; Cetacean Society International. The latest newsletter discusses the disgusting IWC (International Whaling commission) how they have gone to the dark side. They are trying to come up with a plan for the Japanese, Norwegians and Iceland to continue WHALING! Killing Whales! See also the truth of the BP cover up in the Gulf… make yourself knowledgeable on these issues,,, please! Visit http://csiwhalesalive.org/ and become a member!

Also we feel so passionate about the threat to sharks worldwide that when we heard of the plight of sharks in Raja Ampat we are asking you to click on www.sharksavers.org and sign this very important petition to save sharks!

We thank you for your ongoing patronage and look forward to assisting you and being of service. Many thanks to all our friends and guests have a fun and safe autumn season.

Happy Adventuring!

Cindi LaRaia and the Dive Discovery & Africa Discovery team