IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE:LUGGAGE TAGS: Usually the resort sends out tags to the trip leader who then gets them to the divers to put on their luggage. These tags say BAY ISLAND BEACH RESORT on them. While we are filing thru the immigration line the resort can start collecting our bags because of the tags. This saves LOTS of time. For some reason the USPS chose not to deliver these tags to me so we need to try and make due as best as we can. SO....
If you can take a thin peice of cardboard or heavy paper or take an old luggage tag and tape a sheet of paper that says BAY ISLAND BEACH RESORT on it. They can at least spot some of the bags quickly and that will help them out alot.
AIRPORT PICKUP: When you arrive at the airport you'll need to clear immigration and then head for your luggage. AT THE LUGGAGE PICK UP AREA be looking for someone (usually Cam one of the owners) with a Bay Island Beach Resort shirt on, a Sign that says Bay Island Beach Resort and possibly a SingleDivers.com sign. I promise they will be easy to spot.
If you supplied us with your flight details then we have supplied the resort with them and they will know when to pick you up.
ROOMING: By now I'm sure that many of you are curious about who your roommate will be. Sadly your curiosity will have to wait a bit longer until you arrive at the resort. Once there when you get checked in by Cam and her staff, they will direct you to your rooms. Your roommates have been assigned based upon the survey you filled out for us. In many cases we have matched your sleeping, temp, snoring, smoking preferences perfectly. In a few cases we've not been able to match all your preferences but we have matched ALL your critical preferences. However if for any reason your rooming does not work out, simply let myself or scubapunk know and we'll work to make on the spot adjustments or work to resolve the problem. If you have a problem with your room let us know that too. We can not help you fix something if you do not tell us about it. Sometimes if you give yourself and your new roommate 24 hours to get settled in, get some rest/sleep, etc whatever was bothering you might not be so problematic the next day. However if its not working out, then don't ruin your vacation over it...simply let us know and we'll do all we can to fix it!
DIVING BUDDIES & BOAT ASSIGNMENTS: The first thing most new divers worry about is who will I be diving with. Its a common concern and one we take seriously at SingleDivers.com. We think we have come up with an innovative way to help you find a compatible and as a result...great dive buddy. Here is what we do. We take the information you supplied us on your surveys and in the case of a large group like this we will break the divers out either by number of dives, diving certifications and/or who is diving air and who is diving nitrox. Since about half the group is diving nitrox and half is diving air we will on this trip divide the group that way. We will have 2-3 boats...I'm not sure but once I know we'll do the splits and then we'll let you know Sunday Morning which boat you are on. There will be a sign with a boat number and name on it and your name under it. Once you know your boat one of the trip leaders will help you pair up with someone on your boat that has similar air consumption. diving styles and diving preferences. For example if you are a 'same day same ocean buddy' you will NOT be a good buddy for someone that wants to keep you very close or no further than line of site. On the other hand, if you typically dive for an hour on an 80cf tank and your buddy is done in 30 minutes or less then you won't be good buddy match ups. And finally if you like to stay near the boat or just hang out in one place then pairing you with someone who wants to cover a lot of real estate again will not work out. So since we have all the information on you...we'll help you to buddy up with others that are going to be similar buddies.
Ok you say...so what happens if it all sounds good on paper but in reality we don't mesh so well. NO PROBLEM. We simply make changes to the buddy arrangements. Just tell one of the trip leaders (either myself or ScubaPunk) and we'll discretely help make changes for you. Its as simple as that. In fact the first dive or so is really a 'reality' test to see if the theory meshes with the reality!
AGENDA FOR THE WEEK: I am working on an agenda for the week and hope to have it posted tomorrow!
My creative ability lies in other areas so I won't likely participate. I might have won had there been a prize for the least creative and/or most lame costume. ALSO..... is it better to use US dollars or should I exchange for the local currency???
