123 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

??? Are these dates firm and any late details?? I may be bailing from my LDS trip , change of resort and price, the week before tenative SD.com trip dates.
Thanks
Ss

Should be firm tomorrow or the next day. The van transport has been our biggest issue. I will be posting a list of flights that Dan aka ScubaTooth put together for us to show all the options.

If I price the trip WITHOUT the van then it will be tough for people to get to where we will be diving from San Juan. If I price it with the van it will be nearly impossible to get people into San Juan at similar timeframes to do the transport as you'll see by the matrix showing the multitude of flight options available.

So I'm going to put the working schedule out and the flight options and ask those interested to help us. The other obstacle is that what can be a 45 minute commute during certain hours quickly becomes a 2.5 hr commute during others. And finally, I have never dove this destination and ScubaTooth has graciously agreed to help us with this one since he did his DAN internship there this past summer. However if we do 2 vans...one early and one late as was suggested we face the problem of needing 2 people proficient in getting there thereby negating the value of having him to help with transport etc. UNLESS we do it caravan style.

AND...

We say if you want the group ride you'll need to arrive by ________ time and if you want to do your own transport you can arrive at anytime and/or fly into BQN instead which for most will be more expensive.

Therein lies the obstacles we've been facing. However I think we have made some progress so will share what we have starting tomorrow. Its too late tonight for me to attempt it and expect it to be even remotely accurate.

[Caribn_girl in NY]

Please include me on the list for the Puerto Rico trip. Id my work travel schedule permits, I would love to join you.
E.

[WreckWench]

Please include me on the list for the Puerto Rico trip. Id my work travel schedule permits, I would love to join you.
E.

Cool we'll get you on the interested list and hopefully soon the Who's Going List!!!

And thank you for the email...I'll be replying soon! kamala

[WreckWench]

Important Trip Update:

Ok we are getting closer... Here is our working itinerary:

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Sat/Sun

8-5:00pm
Arrival at BQN airport. Complimentary airport pickup and shuttle to hotel, after hours shuttle requires taxi
Arrival at SJU (San Juan) airport where SingleDivers.com is working on a shared van/shuttle for the group. (Price and arrival times to be determined)
Possible day of arrival shore diving available but most likely sightseeing, relaxing or getting to know people

Sun/Mon

7:00 a.m.
Pickup at hotel and shuttle over to dive shop to prepare for 1st day of diving (last minute gear, waivers, c-cards etc)

7:45 a.m.
Shuttle to Crashboat/Playa for two guided shore dives (note guided dives are important here for maximum safety as well as enjoyment!)

11:00 a.m.
Lunch a la carte on the beach

3:00 p.m.
Shuttle return to hotel

Mon/Tues

7:00 a.m.
Pickup at hotel and shuttle to dive shop to prepare for 2nd day of diving

7:45 a.m.
Shuttle to Crashboat to load Boat to 2-tank Dive local reefs; boat leaves @ 8:00 a.m

1:00 p.m.
Shuttle return to hotel

Tues/Wed

7:00 a.m.
Pickup at hotel and shuttle to dive shop to prepare for 3rd day of diving

7:45 a.m.
Shuttle to Crashboat to load Boat to Desecheo for 2-tank Dive; boat leaves @ 8:00 a.m

3:00 p.m.
Shuttle return to hotel

Wed/Thurs

6:00 a.m.
Pickup at hotel and shuttle to dive shop to prepare for 4th day of diving

6:30 a.m.
Shuttle to Parguera to a 2 tank wall dive: boat leaves @ 8:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m.
Lunch a la cart in Parguera

5:00 p.m.
Shuttle return to hotel

Thur/Fri - ANOTHER OPTION includes moving to San Juan for a day of sightseeing and staying over night there so people will be ready for early departures. Those wanting to stay in BQN can also stay in BQN...we'll just arrange rooming to try and accommodate!

7:00 a.m.
Local options day or more local reef shore/boat dives

Fri/Sat

8-5:00
Prepare for departure

[WreckWench]

Important Trip Update:

As promised here is the list of flights that ScubaTooth researched for us so we could narrow a window for the rental van pickup(s) on the 12th or the 13th. As you can see there are MANY options available for people. And I already know that we are likely to have at least one person from England join us so they will want to arrive a few days earlier and stay a few days later thus they will fly into BQN most likely. When I post the final details we'll have two options for you...one via BQN and one via SJU. If we head back to SJU a day early to do some sightseeing and then stay over in SJU, we'll be able to allow people to return ANYTIME on the last day and they will not be limited in their return options which is why we did not research them. Our only concern now is to determine a window that allows several hours for people to arrive and reasonably be able to use the shared van(s) if they want to fly into SJU.

Flight list to SJU based on departures on 4/12-13
American :
BOS – SJU
AA 1937 0635 - 1025
AA1065 0930 – 0125
AA435 1435 - 1830
DFW –SJU
AA2058 0840 - 01310
AA606 1315 - 1845
AA688 1525 - 2050
FLL – SJU
AA2369 0640 – 0905
AA1963 1605 – 1830
AA605 1905 - 2130
JFK – SJU
AA647 1735 - 2130
AA769 06:40 AM - 10:25 AM
AA1635 08:05 AM - 11:55 AM
AA1639 05:35 PM - 09:30 PM
IAD – SJU
AA891 0815 - 1155
LAX - SJU
AA238 (2x weekly (Fri-Sat)) 11:45 pm- 9:20 am
MCO – SJU
AA861 0840 – 11:20
AA 1075 1230 - 1510
AA2251 05:55 PM - 08:35 PM
MIA – SJU
AA639 0625 – 0840
AA1845 10:05 -12:30
AA869 1210 – 1440
AA1700 1335 – 1600
AA1267 1535 – 1805
AA1299 1640 - 1905
AA1555 20:40 - 23:05
ORD – SJU
AA2057 08:15 - 01:50
TPA – SJU
AA513 0735 - 1020

Continental:
IAH – SJU
CO212 1000 - 1516
CO1753 1550 - 2112
EWR – SJU
CO470 0700 – 1053
C0471 0845 – 1250
CO472 1200 – 1549
CO473 1800 – 2211

EWR – BQN
CO312 1835 - 2235
United:
IAD – SJU
UA1689 0815 – 1210 – TED
UA1665 1739 – 2138 – TED
ORD – SJU -- Very Expensive lowest coach North of $800
UA 1675 0800 – 1341 – TED
UA1065 0825 – 1549

Delta:
ATL – SJU
DL785 0830 – 1159
DL907 0945 – 1323
DL485 1015 – 1353
DL579 1100 – 1431
DL487 1650 – 2024
JFK-SJU
DL929 0830 – 1237

Northwest:
DTW – SJU
NW1616 0915 – 1350
NW1607 1345 – 1819

Jet Blue: - Boston [seasonal], New York-JFK, Orlando
BOS – SJU
B6-759 0800 - 1200
JFK – SJU
B6-713 0600 – 0944
B6-701 0700 – 1059
B6-711 0910 – 1310
B6-703 1525 – 1922
B6-705 1625 – 2025
B6-707 2100 – 0102
MCO – SJU – very cheap when checked outbounds 90-110 each way
B6-743 0700 – 0943
B6-745 1445 - 1528
MCO – BQN – currently $49 outbound 89 return
B6-723 2320 - 0152
FLL – BQN – Via PSE
B6-775 0015 – 0405 (arrival at PSE 0245 departing 0325 for BQN)
JFK – BQN
B6-735 0600 – 0938
B6-727 2345 – 0328

US Air: -Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington-Dulles [seasonal]
BOS – SJU
US1969 0845 – 1246
US 835 1040 – 1429
PHL – SJU
US1268 0740 – 1134
US 861 0815 – 1204
US1071 0935 – 1330
US 765 1145 – 1534
US1005 1335 – 1725
US1037 1745 – 2143
CLT – SJU
US 905 0750 – 1124
US1297 0940 – 1321
US1568 1135 – 1515
US 851 1300 – 1632
AirTran:
ATL – SJU
FL 33 0920 – 1300
FL 21 1100 – 1440
MCO – SJU
FL481 1050 – 1330
FL 3 1310 – 1550
Spirit: – Atlantic City, FLL, MCO, TPA
MCO – SJU
NK 801 1217 – 1502
NK 899 1735 – 2030
FLL – SJU
NK 897 0600 – 0835
NK 705 1050 – 1315
NK 765 2010 – 2240
MCO – BQN
NK 811 2310 – 0150
FLL – BQN
NK1803 2320 - 0145

[Motown Cheesehead]

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!

I just found out that Parguera Divers has shut down their operation - last trip out was the end of January. I dove in Grand Cayman a couple of weeks ago, and found out from a fellow diver (which the website confirms) that they were going out of business. The story was that it was because the owners wife wanted to move back to the US. In any case - not sure what dive shop you were planning on using in La Paguera - but that one, very unfortunately, is not available.

There were a couple of other dive shops in town - the other one was right down the street, but who's name I can't remember (we did a night dive with them)

[WreckWench]

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!

I just found out that Parguera Divers has shut down their operation - last trip out was the end of January. I dove in Grand Cayman a couple of weeks ago, and found out from a fellow diver (which the website confirms) that they were going out of business. The story was that it was because the owners wife wanted to move back to the US. In any case - not sure what dive shop you were planning on using in La Paguera - but that one, very unfortunately, is not available.

There were a couple of other dive shops in town - the other one was right down the street, but who's name I can't remember (we did a night dive with them)

Yes we were using Parguera for part of the trip. That has caused the final delay in opening this up. However one of our members who has lived in PR as well as ScubaTooth who did a DAN internship there are helping me to replace that vendor while still keeping it a worthwhile trip.

I think we'll have it all worked on in a day or so...

[Fordan]

You can take me off the Interested list... Decided to do Bonaire instead after discovering I can use FF miles for it.

[ScubaPunk]

You can take me off the Interested list... Decided to do Bonaire instead after discovering I can use FF miles for it.

OK

[Outdoorswon]

Flying over night into Aquadilla from Boston and NYC on JetBlue in mid March '07 was a breeze. Shorts and flipflops the whole week. Great clear blue water diving in La Paguara. Only suggestion I have would be to split the week between La Paguara and Rincon. Needless to say "I'm All In".

Cool...I was looking at that...just not sure of how hard it will be to 'move' people from one resort to the other...but the diving is certainly different and worth the effort to do the split!

You've done a big SD trip now...not sure this will be big but you know how group dynamics are.

I would be interested in this trip April is a great time to get out of the cold here!! I dove with Olympus Divers in N.C and the Dive Master there couldnt say enough about Rincon!

Attached Images

• 

[Mermaid Lady]

I am interested at that price range!!

[lynnlchan]

I am brand new to SD and interested in this trip. You guys come recommended by divers from other sites and I'm thrilled to find a site where I can meet other singles to dive with. Thank you.

[WreckWench]

IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE:

One of our vendors went out of business throwing a wrench (not wench) in the works. I should know if we can do an entirely different trip next week going to the East vs the West. Getting to Rincon which is what we originally planned is not going to work out for THIS trip but PR is not off our radar screen....merely going to be pushed to another month. And the diving in PR is great...that is why we wanted to do the trip.

If anyone is seriously interested we may offer a 'scouting trip' and give you a discount to go and check it out for us...rather than straggling to get a full group together. I do apologize for this hickup in our regulaily planned diving agenda.

And thank you for your support. -ww

[WreckWench]

I am brand new to SD and interested in this trip. You guys come recommended by divers from other sites and I'm thrilled to find a site where I can meet other singles to dive with. Thank you.

Welcome! We are THRILLED you found us and yes we all like the fact that everyone is either single, buddyless or solo looking for other travelers like themselves!

I am sorry that your first trip that you are interested in is having logistical issues but that is the nature of diving.

I am glad that we came recommended...we are looking forward to getting to know you! Welcome to our diving family! -ww

[lynnlchan]

I am brand new to SD and interested in this trip. You guys come recommended by divers from other sites and I'm thrilled to find a site where I can meet other singles to dive with. Thank you.

Welcome! We are THRILLED you found us and yes we all like the fact that everyone is either single, buddyless or solo looking for other travelers like themselves!

I am sorry that your first trip that you are interested in is having logistical issues but that is the nature of diving.

I am glad that we came recommended...we are looking forward to getting to know you! Welcome to our diving family! -ww

It's the nature of life, isn't it? Sometimes things work out, sometimes not so much. I've always wanted to go to Bonaire so I'll start looking at that one or if you have a group going to check things out - I'd consider that too. Thx.