- Don't forget to join us for a great Freeport Happy Hour on August 13th at "On The River" resturant, 919 W 2nd Street, Freeport, TX 77541 (979-233-1352) at 5:00 pm and a Houston area Happy Hour when we return August 17th! at Derrick's Saloon (in the Double Tree Hotel), 15747 John F Kennedy Blvd. Houston, TX at 8:00 pm
Who's Going? We have all 24 spots! NEED FOR BOOKING: Fly or Drive, Nitrox or Air, # Lead, & Waiver & Survey Forms
1. Kamala aka WW of course! - Dallas, TX - PAID IN FULL (pd/13-18) - FREE NITROX (bring own tank) - Need 20# - Survey/Waiver Rec'd
2. Sandy aka ScubaPunk - Houston, TX - PAID IN FULL (pd) Drive, FREE Nitrox, 0#Lead, (use boat tank) Airport Pickup Survey/Waiver Rec'd
3. Gayle aka Scubadew - TX - (PAID IN FULL) Drive DFW, FREE Nitrox, 14#Lead, (use boat tank) Survey/Waiver Rec'd
4. Chuck aka Hambergler - Dallas, TX - PAID IN FULL, Drive - FREE Nitrox Waiver/Survey rec'd
5. Kim aka Fingrabber - Dallas, TX - (dep $200) Drive DFW (carpool), FREE Nitrox (use OWN tank), 0#lead, Waiver /Survey Rec'd
6. Jeff aka Sparky103, NY - Dep PAID IN FULL, Fly In, Free Nitrox, Lead 16#, Boat Tank 100 - 120 if available., Needs airport pickup. Survey/Waiver Rec'd
7. Mike aka Bubble2Bubble - (PAID IN FULL), Drive Arkansas, FREE Nitrox, 14# Lead, (use boat tank) Survey/Waiver Rec'd
8. Joseph aka Cajun Diver TX - (PAID IN FULL) Drive Houston (carpool), FREE Nitrox (use boat tank)
9. Tom aka tdtexas TX - (PAID IN FULL), Free Nitrox, Lead #12, Driving in, Survey/Waiver Rec'd (Boat tank), 0#Lead
10. Mark aka Capn Jack, TX - (PAID IN FULL) Drive DFW, FREE Nitrox (use boat tank), 0#Lead, Survey/Waiver Rec'd
11. Karl aka ScubaFanatic - (PAID IN FULL) Drive DFW, FREE Nitrox, 0#Lead, (bringing own tank, may have room to carpool for one), Survey/Waiver Rec'd
12. Victoria aka TXStarfish, TX - (PAID IN FULL), Drive leave Houston 5pm and can carpool, Boat tank, FREE NITROX, Survey/Waiver Rec'd
13. Bruce aka Scubashafer - Fly In Needs Pick Up, PAID IN FULL, Free Nitrox, Lead 12#, Boat Tank, Survey/Waiver Rec'd
14. Sara aka Sara_the_Brown, TX - (PAID IN FULL) Drive with Capn Jack - Nitrox Survey/Waiver Rec'd
15. Dan aka Scubatooth TX - Free Nitrox, PAID IN FULL, Own Tank, Lead Survey/Waiver Rec'd, Need Waiver
Payment Received, Waiting For Documents:
16. Timothy aka Parr-T TX - (PAID IN FULL), Nitrox, Drive in, Can help Car Pool, Lead#?, Boat Tanks, Need Docs
Check's & Documents In the Mail: THESE NAMES DO NOT REDUCE SPOTS ON BOAT UNTIL $ IS REC'D
17. Norman aka Iwanttobediving: Free Nitrox, Boat Tank, Lead? Survey/Waiver Rec'd, Need $$$
Interested But Can't Quite Committ List...
1. Carla aka Rkmtwy
2. Charles aka Houston Squid
Those Wanting to Use a Cochran Computer for DAN PDE Research (can do 10 people):
1. Kamala aka wreckwench
2. Jeff aka Sparky103
3. Mike aka Bubble2Bubble
4. Sandy aka ScubaPunk
5. Gayle aka Scubadew
6. Victoria aka TexasStarFish
7. Mark aka Capn Jack
See For Yourself What All the Excitement Is About:
To see for yourself, click here for videos of the diving....absolutely awesome!!! Flower Gardens Videos - available in 2 download speeds. Or go on a virtual dive of this fascinating destination by clicking here!
Full Details below:
An OASIS in the Texas Gulf...fish, coral heads, rigs and more... This place is special....Picture yourself over 100 miles from land, in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. At times, the seas can be very unforgiving, and the weather can turn foul in an instant. That is why June - August are the premier months with July being very primo since weather related issues are very infrequent. But here, in the midst of this unpredictable Gulf, lie three of the most beautiful and wild places in all the world. Manta rays, whale sharks, coral heads that are bigger than cars, hundreds of species of fish and invertebrates... This place teems with life!
We will be diving and staying on the private liveaboard The Spree (NEWLY REFURBISHED TO HOLD LESS PASSENGERS AND BRAND NEW!!!) one of two sister ships comprising Gulf Diving LLC. For directions to the boat click here!
DIVERS GET READY!! EAT, SLEEP, & DIVE NITROX FOR FREE!!! FULL DETAILS!!!
Out of towners arrive no later then 3pm on August 13th if your flight is slightly later let us know...you may need to rent a car to make it on time. Depart Houston either by rental car, taxi or if available by shared transport arranged by our wonderful members to arrive 8pm in Freeport. (You will need to use this board and thread/topic to help coordinate shared rental cars, etc.) Once on the boat we will travel to our first dive site overnight and arrive 6am August 14th. Dive August 14th to August 17th. Return to Houston Sunday August 17th and we'll do a Post Trip & Local Area Happy Hour at the airport that night. Fly in divers depart anytime Monday August 18th.
SEE AT THE BOTTOM FOR MORE DETAILS ON SHARED LOCAL TRANSPORT.
Pkg includes:
4 nights/4 days Diving/August 14-17th boat dives/All Inclusive Food and beverages (no alcohol included)/ & Taxes, FREE 32% NITROX TO THOSE CERTIFIED ONLY $975 diver or $925 non-diver
- 4 nights aboard the MV Spree 100 foot NEWLY REMODELED liveaboard
- 4 days diving up to 15 dives total with minimum 2.5 hour surface intervals
- FREE NITROX for any nitrox certified diver! (Sorry there are no discounts for non-Nitrox divers. However we will have a special rate on learning to dive Nitrox so stay tuned for those details!)
- SD.com famous *Meet & Greet* Welcome Party at the Boat before!
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner & beverages plus in-between snacks
- SD.com signature t-shirt
- Diving Gifts and Giveaways from various SD Vendor Partners (when avail)
- Unlimited air & Nitrox (Compressors on board) (Note: Nitrox is usually avail for $90 upgrade price BUT FREE ON THIS TRIP!!! )
- The boat will furnish your tank if you dive Nitrox, You can bring your own air tank or rent an air tank from the boat. Rental is $5 per tank per day. (A limited number of 100cf tanks MAY be available.)
- Comfortable sleeping arrangements for 24 (used to be 31 before the remodel) in multiple sleeping areas
- Spacious salon and fully equipped galley
- Two restrooms and two fresh water showers
- 10 ft. Avon rescue boat
- Carpeting throughout and air conditioning for your comfort
- Salon has a TV and VCR
- Camera tables on deck with fresh water cleaning tanks
- More...
Tentative Agenda:
We'll depart Wednesday night and sail while we sleep so we arrive in time to dive at 7am the next morning. We'll do 4 day dives and 1 night dive on Thursday. On Friday we'll extend the surface interval and do 3 day dives and 1 night dive. On Saturday we'll dive the same profiles as Friday and on Sunday we'll dive on Stetson 2 dives and then travel 4-5 hours back to shore. If conditions permit we'll try to do at least one rig dive! That is 15 serious dives in the 70 to 85 ft range (first dive max 130 ft and each dive there after 100 ft max) in 4 days! Safety Note: The boat-imposed depth limit is 130 fsw for the first dive of the day ONLY, and 100 fsw for all subsequent dives. Dives must be planned within recreational limits—no planned decompression dives are allowed. Within those parameters, buddy teams plan and execute their own dives. Buddy teams must stay together so your survey is very important. Dive times are set by the boat crew. Bottom times are limited only by your no-decompression limits, air consumption and common sense.
NOT Included:
- An air cylinder 80cf (fills are free but you must bring your own air tank if diving air)
- Airfare or transport to Houston,
- Additional nights stay,
- Fuel Surcharge(s) if applicable. (subject to change 30 days prior to departure)
- Lead (some lead is avail for fly in divers so we must know how much you need when you book)
- Transport to the boat, personal incidentals, and alcohol from the boat.
Alcohol: Beer $2.00 US
Optional Add-on's:
- Single Room Upgrade: N/A
- Extra Night Stay Before the Trip: Hotel Room: $TBD Extra night D/O: $TBD (if we can arrange a roommate for you and if space is available) We'll help you with this if you need it! (Hotels.com or other online booking engines provide great rates for people to share)
- Nitrox:* Nitrox is available for FREE for the 4 day trip and includes the price of your tank
- Additional Sightseeing excursions: We can help to arrange some fun things to do while in Houston if arriving early or staying late. More details will be forthcoming as soon as we know how many people are interested.
How to Book a Spot on this Trip:
NOTE: Premier Members will have a minimum of a week to pre-book this and all SingleDivers.com trips before the general membership. Members is only $35 a year and you get $25 everytime you travel with us.
1. Post in this thread that you plan to join us and your check or payment & forms are in the mail or on their way. We'll then put your name on the 'check's & documents in the mail' list. (Please send your pymt asap as we'll only hold your spot for 7 days.) You MUST tell us:
a. Flying or Driving In
b. How much lead you need
c. Diving FREE Nitrox or not
d. If Diving Air if you are bringing your own tank or renting one from the boat
e. If able to drive yourself only, others or you need a ride
f. If need any rental gear
2. Fill out the Trip Rooming & Diving Survey plus the SingleDivers.com Medical Liability Release which you'll find under "Stuff you need to know for ALL SingleDivers.com trips & activities!" AND the Spree Manifest Document or click here to link to it. (Send a PM or an email to trips@singledivers.com for the password.)
3. Send your deposit for the trip and/or monies due based upon the payment schedule posted below and payment options. If you need to make special arrangements about payments with me please contact me and I'll gladly work with you. If paying via credit card please use the credit card authorization form found in the docs forum. PLEASE make sure you send a detailed itemization of all payments, what trip they apply too and include your screen name.
4. Please read "Everything You Need To Know About A SingleDivers.com Trip located here.
Discounts:
1. SingleDiver.com Premier Membership & Above Rebate (form in the docs forum) <$25>
2. Note: Prices reflect a cash discount. If paying via paypal please add 3% processing fee.
Deposit Information:
1. To secure a spot on this limited availability trip either payment in full or a $200 deposit must be rec'd or the spot you hope to have may be taken by another diver. Unless arrangements are made prior with me, missing a deposit deadline can cause your spot to be released to another customer.
Deposit Schedule:
a. $200 Deposit due at booking to hold your reservation for trip
b. $200 due Nov 6th, 2007
c. $300 due Feb 6th, 2008
d. Bal of trip or $275 due May 6th, 2008
Payment Information:
Please add 3% if paying via paypal or via credit card. (Please use the credit card authorization form in the forms forum )
If paying via paypal go to www.PayPal.com and send payment to SingleDivers.com email = kamala@singledivers.com Be sure to include your address, contact number and screen name as well as the trip name you are sending money for in the details section. For the credit card form or any other SD forms, please Click here!
If paying via check or money order, please send payment with screen name & trip name on memo line on the check to:
Kamala Shadduck
SingleDivers.com
3957 Gaspar Ste#200
Dallas, TX 75220
214-350-7003
kamala@singledivers.com
Weather Cancellation Policy:
The Flower Gardens are well offshore and prone to heavy weather issues. However July and August are the premier months since most weather is non-existent. However should we encounter weather here is the boat's policy:
Kamala,
I will call off the trip if the seas are forecast to be 5ft or higher. We can depart with 5ft seas, only if I am confident the wave height will subside to less than 5ft. I also will cancel a trip with less than 5ft seas if there is weather in the forecast that could cause the seas to increase above the 5 ft mark. The boat will take it but the ladder becomes very challenging with seas near 5ft.
I will keep an eye on the weather as the weekend approaches and officially "make the call" no later than noon Wednesday. If the trip blows out, your money will be returned in a timely manner. - The MV Spree
Note: In the unlikely event that we are blown out, divers will be refunded their diving once SD.com receives it from the boat. For all fly in divers and all drive in divers that wish to join us...we will arrange land based activities in the area to enjoy and/or find a local watering hole to get wet in. If any diver wishes to fly standby back home or drive back home, that is fine too. TRIP INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
NOTE: READ NEXT POST FOR BALANCE OF TRIP INFORMATION
Edited by ScubaPunk, 12 August 2008 - 07:33 PM.