405 replies to this topic

[ScubaPunk]

I am interested in the photo workshop.

Blue151

I'll put you on the list.

[WreckWench]

I am interested in the photo workshop.

Blue151

Great news! Hopefully we have enough to make it fly...might need one more person!

[ScubaPunk]

Payment Update:

1. Stephane aka ClickSteve: WW received your payment of $4475 for the trip, tour, Nitrox, Galapagos Islande Day tour $125.00 + $135 extra nights hotel !
2. Susan aka btu911 ww rec'd your payment of $125 for land tour!
3. Liz aka Liz ww rec'd your payment of $125!

Edited by ScubaPunk, 06 October 2009 - 12:17 PM.

[Chad]

I am interested in the photo workshop.

Blue151

Great news! Hopefully we have enough to make it fly...might need one more person!

I will take the photography class.

[WreckWench]

I will take the photography class.

AWESOME!!! I will summarize how many people we have so Gabrielle can make a final decision. Kamala

[WreckWench]

Those interested in a photo workshop from a photo pro ($100 SPECIAL SD PRICE):

1. Kamala aka WreckWench (if camera arrives in time) CAMERA STILL NOT HERE...
2. Chad aka Chad -- CONFIRMED 10-8 he will take the class
3. Barb aka Texan_In_China -- Still uncertain????
4. Pam aka Blue151 - CONFIRMED SHE IS TAKING THE CLASS
5. Bill aka OTWDiver -- CONFIRMED
6. Bill aka GrayFins -- CONFIRMED
7. Deb aka deb4diving -- CONFIRMED

So we have 5 confirmed and 2 unconfirmed.

[WreckWench]

NITROX UPDATE:

We are trying to update the first post which shows 4 people NOT diving nitrox. However upon closer look it seems that only

PAULT is not diving nitrox....is that correct?

If you are NOT diving nitrox let us know.
And Paul if you are diving nitrox...let us know.

[stu]

Hey,

I am leaving Thursday, and will be there Friday. In case
you can not find me through scuba iguana of hotel sol y mar,
is there a way I can find every one? With the Galapagos add
on is there a plan to get people to the boat and a time of
departure.

Also can I fill out the ev waiver when I get there? I already
have a plane ticket through other arrangements.

Thanks,

Stu

[WreckWench]

Hey,

I am leaving Thursday, and will be there Friday. In case
you can not find me through scuba iguana of hotel sol y mar,
is there a way I can find every one? With the Galapagos add
on is there a plan to get people to the boat and a time of
departure.

Also can I fill out the ev waiver when I get there? I already
have a plane ticket through other arrangements.

Thanks,

Stu

Stu you really need to fill it out before if at all possible. I am sure they won't deny you boarding since you are part of a group but you could be denied boarding otherwise. I am not sure they will have blank waivers there. They need it for a variety of reasons....many legal so I would say to get-er-done today!

If you have issues faxing it send it to me and I will send it for you. Also bring the original with you just in case.

Stu we are staying at the Rio Amozones Oct 10th. (I will try to get a tel# for you. A few people including myself will arrive late on the 9th.) Then we go to Galapagos the 11th sightsee and stay overnight, check out the next day, drop bags early at the boat and then tour the rest of the day until boarding time which is when I expected to see you unless we met you first on the 10th.

The boat will depart at 1pm per the Schedule portion of the first post. So when you arrive IF they have your flight details they will have a transfer waiting for you. So since you made your own you need to include that in your WAIVER info you send to EV so they will be looking for you.

Schedule:

Arrival: Transfers within the Galapagos are included in your package, and you will be met at the airport by our tour operator. If you miss any of your flights and are not able to make it to Ecuador or the Galapagos on schedule, please contact Galasam, our Ecuadorian partner, at 011-593-9703-1382 and notify them of your updated arrival time should you have that information, and where you may be reached in the meantime. The Galapagos Estrella del Mar will leave port on Monday at approximately 1:00pm.
(See contact numbers at end of this post.)

San Cristobal/BALTRA Departures
All departures are expected to be out of Baltra, Galapagos Islands for 2009. A guide will meet you upon exiting the baggage claim area for transfer to the vessel. If the departure island changes, your airlines tickets from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands will automatically be changed to San Cristobal (so long as the tickets have been purchased through our partners).

Monday: Baltra/North Seymour
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the Estrella del Mar. After boarding the vessel by 1:00pm, guests will depart for a short crossing to North Seymour for a check out dive and safety orientation briefing Lunch will be served during the crossing and dinner will be served after the check out dive. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination.

[sunshinediver]

Those interested in a photo workshop from a photo pro ($100 SPECIAL SD PRICE):

1. Kamala aka WreckWench (if camera arrives in time) CAMERA STILL NOT HERE...
2. Chad aka Chad -- CONFIRMED 10-8 he will take the class
3. Barb aka Texan_In_China -- Still uncertain????
4. Pam aka Blue151 - CONFIRMED SHE IS TAKING THE CLASS
5. Bill aka OTWDiver -- CONFIRMED
6. Bill aka GrayFins -- CONFIRMED
7. Deb aka deb4diving -- CONFIRMED

So we have 5 confirmed and 2 unconfirmed.

This should work. Please post the following:
1. What camera(s) you have, if you have cameras
2. What you'd like to learn most.
3. How you would categorize your level of expertise with underwater photography and with your camera(s)

That will help me prioritize the learning objectives for the course. Thanks!

Take care,
Gabrielle

[WreckWench]

MORE IMPORTANT UPDATES WITH AT LEAST ONE MORE COMING WITH FINAL DETAILS:

1. Air Temps:

Highs are in the low 70's
Lows at night are in the low 50's



2. Extra Thermal Protection:

Hey gang the local dive shop has very few hoods, hooded vests, and gloves. SO PLEASE BRING WHAT YOU NEED WITH YOU AND AN EXTRA IF POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE OR IN CASE WHAT YOU BRING IS NOT ENOUGH.

(We'll use the special forum to figure out who needs what.)


3. SAFETY EQUIPMENT:

They should bring safety flags or sausages, dive alerts (the horns that go on the BCD inflator). We have some on the boat but not enough for all nor for all types of BCDs. The EPIRBs are on the boat. They are not the same as the transponders for returning to the boat. The base unit is above water as the divers are too far from the boat to use the underwater ones. We cannot use the underwater ones on the pangas as they are in constant motion.

4. NIGHT DIVES:

Night dives were made illegal 18 months ago by the Galapagos National Parks.
They are not permitted at all anymore.

5. Emergency Contact Info:

Hotel Rio Amazonas - Cordero 1342 & Ave. Amazonas, Quito - Ecuador
Reservation Toll Free: 1-888-790-5264 / Phones: 593-2-2556666 / 2566667 fax: 593-2-556670

Local In Country Numbers:

•Please contact us directly in case of emergency or travel delays.
Phone: 011.593.2.290.3909 or
011. 593.2.250.7080 or
011. 593.2.250.7081
Cell: 011. 593.9.703.1382

[WreckWench]

Hey,

I am leaving Thursday, and will be there Friday. In case
you can not find me through scuba iguana of hotel sol y mar,
is there a way I can find every one? With the Galapagos add
on is there a plan to get people to the boat and a time of
departure.

Also can I fill out the ev waiver when I get there? I already
have a plane ticket through other arrangements.

Thanks,

Stu

Stu...I have an update for you...

The boat cannot pick up Stu in Puerto Ayora. We need to know where he will be on Oct 12 to arrange for him to go meet the boat in the canal at Baltra.
What we will do is set a time for him to be at the canal to meet the boat. The canal is 45 minutes from Puerto Ayora. Let him know asap and I will have the boat set a time for him to meet them. He can take any taxi to the canal for $15.

[MNJoe]

I am extrememely envious of all going on this trip!!! I really wish there could have been a way for me to afford it.

Wishing you all safe travel and expecting many pictures in return!!

Have a great time!!!

[WreckWench]

I am extrememely envious of all going on this trip!!! I really wish there could have been a way for me to afford it.

Wishing you all safe travel and expecting many pictures in return!!

Have a great time!!!

Sweetie we wish YOU could have joined us too....ALL TRIPS ARE BETTER WITH MNJOE!!!

[WreckWench]

LAST OF THE UPDATES....SEE YOU ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU ARRIVE!!!


1. Water Temps:

Water temps are 73-76 at Darwin and Wolf and 62-65 in the central islands (the last 2 days).

2. Additional Air Temp Info:

Quito can be anywhere between 40 and 80 in a day. Bring a jacket!!
Air temps in the islands are in the high 70s low 80s but there is always a breeze at sea.

3. Pick Up Of Stu:

Stu needs to get to the canal at Baltra to meet the boat. He needs to meet the boat at 2 pm at the canal and I will let the guide know.

Luggage Reminders:

We are limited to 44 pounds checked baggage and 18 pounds hand carry. If you are a bit over they will not bother you on the hand carry. If you are obviously over they will hassle you HOWEVER ALL BAGS ARE SUBJECT TO BEING WEIGHED.

So....make it look light and you are probably ok.

Checked bags will be weighed and you will pay overages of approx $1 a pound. There is no costume contest on this trip nor school supplies due to the extremely limited luggage allowances on the SMALL LOCAL FLIGHT TO AND FROM GALAPAGOS. AND SingleDivers.com will be giving everyone a cool mesh bag instead of a t-shirt to avoid excessive baggage overages.

We may even see if the hotel will allow us to store a few empty suitcases since we are coming back and roommate teams can try to consolidate into 3 bags per team to save some money. (Not sure we can do this but we can try.)

It is STRONGLY SUGGESTED that you carry your regs, computer, mask, a chg of clothes, meds and of course camera equipment with you. AGAIN MAKE IT LOOK LIKE 18 POUNDS AND THEY MAY NOT WEIGH YOUR BAG. All bags are subject to being weighed but sometimes in a group they do not weigh every bag.