452 replies to this topic

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Great news, Sam!! Cass, aka Hammered Head, is hooking up with Jerry, Dave & Theresa at the airport in Newark, and she asked me tonight if I knew if you had worked everything out or not. PM Cass tonight or tomorrow, and she'll send you her cell # so you can hook up at the terminal while waiting for your redeye fllight.

[ScubaPunk]

... if anyone departing on Saturday night from Newark wants to meet. we are going to meet at a watering hole near the gate. PM me and i'll give you my cell nember and you can send me a text or call when we all get there for a pre-flight HH. ...
jerry

I worked out my passport issues and am actually going to be able to make this trip. I've been working 14 hour days and haven't even packed yet. Talk about pushing my luck. The last month has been one of the most hectic of my life. I'm going to need this vacation!!

I'm flying out of Newark and will certainly be happy to meet up for a beverage or two... or 7. Looking forward to doing some diving! See everyone Saturday!

That is such a relief! We were getting worried about you.

[WreckWench]

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATES FROM BONAIRE:

1. We are on the island after several travel hiccups but as with all hiccups you get over them soon and you are fine when you are done! (Or after a few Bright's or Polars!)

2. The resort uses a locker system and you share 2 people per locker...your roommate will be your locker buddy. If you are doing a single room you will share a locker with another s/o. (I'll post the names in the private forum a bit later.)

3. You will need a shared lock for the lockers....combo or key but one that each person can use or access. Lockers will be assigned to you when you check in. (We are working on that so it will all be ready by the time you get here.)

4. If you do not have a lock or can not get one in time before the trip they do sell locks here at the resort. Maybe some of you will bring an extra one to share with your new friends...but no matter what it will all work out!

5. FORMS...to speed up the orientation process as well as the dive check in procedures...I'm attaching the forms for the dive shop for you to download and bring with you. If you can't bring them with you we'll have extra copies in the lobby when you arrive for check in. There are 2 forms you'll need to fill out. Fill them out as best as you can and DON'T FORGET YOUR C-CARDS INCLUDING NITROX IF YOU ARE DIVING NITROX!

6. And speaking of Nitrox...the resort has done an amazing job of 'pulling out all the stops' to get MORE NITROX for us on the island. (Seems my original email with how many were diving nitrox was not rec'd from Fiji and so they had to 'wing' the numbers who were using it.) However the resort has done an awesome job in working every angle to get more gas for us. I'll have more details in the special forum but I wanted everyone to know that the shortage issues were not the resort's fault. and they have done everything imaginable to help us!

7. If anyone is flying DAE be aware that they are inter-island transport primarily and so do not have large weight allowances. In fact the total weight allowance is 46 pounds or 20 kilos TOTAL. So that means if you brought 2 bags 50# each then you will be paying overage fees on the 54 extra pounds which will run you about $40US. (One possible caveat...they did not weight our hand carry bags and while you are still limited to 1 bag and 1 personal item...the more heavy stuff you can slip into them the better off you'll be.)

8. Don't forget your school supplies! We'll be meeting with the school's principal on Friday to deliver the supplies!

9. Don't forget the costume contest! I am still working on prizes but it should be a great time and the resort is looking forward to it!

10. TRANSFERS....If you are arriving on the CO or Delta flights DIRECT into Bonaire your transfers have been prearranged. If you are arriving via DAE and we did NOT receive the DAE details or you are on another flight due to delays or cancellations (like OTWDiver and myself) then your transfer may not be waiting for you. HOWEVER NO PROBLEM....simply ask any taxi driver to call you another driver and that driver will take you to the resort. The resort knows you are on a pkg that includes transfers so ask the driver to come WITH YOU to the front desk to get his payment. (The taxi drop off is almost part of the lobby so that is not a problem to do.) The front desk will then pay the driver for you. WORST CASE SCENARIO...you pay the driver and we'll refund you!

If we rec'd your flight details you should see OTWDiver and/or myself in the lobby when you arrive. We'll help you get checked in, answer questions, do a brief overview of how the week will work and give you an agenda.

See you all soon! -ww

Attached Files

•  registration_form_diving.pdf   41.92KB   45 downloads
•  Assumption_of_Risk_and_Relase_and_Diving_Addendum__2_26_2008_.pdf   66.45KB   48 downloads

[WreckWench]

... if anyone departing on Saturday night from Newark wants to meet. we are going to meet at a watering hole near the gate. PM me and i'll give you my cell nember and you can send me a text or call when we all get there for a pre-flight HH. ...
jerry

I worked out my passport issues and am actually going to be able to make this trip. I've been working 14 hour days and haven't even packed yet. Talk about pushing my luck. The last month has been one of the most hectic of my life. I'm going to need this vacation!!

I'm flying out of Newark and will certainly be happy to meet up for a beverage or two... or 7. Looking forward to doing some diving! See everyone Saturday!

That is such a relief! We were getting worried about you.

YEA!!! SAM!!!!

You are making it!!!

[Scubatooth]

Im on the ground in aruba after traveling for nearly 24 hours. I have good news and i have not so good news. Good news is that im here and one step away from bonaire. Bad news is that my bags are still in miami and its going to be 24 hours atleast till they get here (TSA decided to "rescreen and hold them" with out a reason to the airline). Needless to say im not a happy camper about that as I only have clothes for about a day and no dive or swim gear .

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Sorry, Dan. You should always, always, always take a swim suit in your carryon! If nothing else, you can sit on the beach with an adult beverage until your gear catches up to you!

[Scubatooth]

I dont have a swimsuit persay but I can get wet. Hmm that adult beverage sounds good right about now... Duty free shop or bar hmmm need to kill two hours still I may just take that bar. oh bTW the aruba airport does have wifi for free which is good.

well if it comes down to it I will buy a swimsuit and rash guard and American and TSA can reimburse me for it, if the trip insurance doesnt beat them to the punch.

[georoc01]

And if I remember, they sell swimwear in the dive shop. If not there, its a short walk to town where you could get something that would work.

Same thing happened to me on the Belize trip. For me, I did have a suit, but no toiletries. Found a decent store for those in San Pedro that saved me on that count, and Continental reinbursed me those costs.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Hmm that adult beverage sounds good right about now...

Now you're talkin'!

See you in the morning! Like, very early!

[Scubatooth]

And if I remember, they sell swimwear in the dive shop. If not there, its a short walk to town where you could get something that would work.

Same thing happened to me on the Belize trip. For me, I did have a suit, but no toiletries. Found a decent store for those in San Pedro that saved me on that count, and Continental reinbursed me those costs.

Well fortunately for me I did pack a tooth brush, deodorant, my rasor, and a swimmers towel so i atleast have that (that and my camera, laptop and some other misc electronics that i never check). I have some clothes (t-shirt, boxers) as I had planned on taking a shower this moning at that airport but didnt have a chance to. I may be scatter brained but i do have some of the essintials with me to get me through a day or so. now dive gear is a seperate story, i may rent it from the resort and then get reimbursed for it along with incidentals by trip insurance, AA, etc

[scubaski]

4. If you do not have a lock or can not get one in time before the trip they do sell locks here at the resort. Maybe some of you will bring an extra one to share with your new friends...but no matter what it will all work out

How big or small a lock do you need? I have 2 combos I will bring which work in my gym size lockers at GOLD"S. I can lend out 1. Perhaps your LUGGAGE TSA approved locks will work in a bind??? Is the locker room open to all or just resort people? how secure in general?

[ScubaSis]

You all have a Great time!!!

[finGrabber]

4. If you do not have a lock or can not get one in time before the trip they do sell locks here at the resort. Maybe some of you will bring an extra one to share with your new friends...but no matter what it will all work out

How big or small a lock do you need? I have 2 combos I will bring which work in my gym size lockers at GOLD"S. I can lend out 1. Perhaps your LUGGAGE TSA approved locks will work in a bind??? Is the locker room open to all or just resort people? how secure in general?

I used one of the Master combo locks last year and it was a perfect fit! and the best part was I didn't have to worry about losing the key

[Starfish Sandy]

Have a great trip - I love Bonaire!