21 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

I think I am interested. It has been a while since I have been on one of Kamala's trips. Cuba has been on my bucket list too! What will the weather and water temps be like?

 

Oct is great weather bot above and below. Water will be mid 80's and air will be the same. We'd LOVE to have you join us again. I am trying to get some more spots but we are nearly full.... I hope you can join us! Kamala

[WreckWench]

IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE - DISCOUNTS:

 

Hey gang we need you to look at the purple TAB called DISCOUNTS in the booking system (click on the link at the top of this topic and it will take you to the specific booking details for THIS trip or click on the blue box called BOOK NOW and it will take you to the full trip details in the new website/booking system.  Once there click on the trip you are interested in and READ THE DISCOUNT details under the purple tab called DISCOUNTS  to know what they are AND to get the code needed to get the discount. You must use the code when you book as they are not retroactive after you sign up. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but the accounting expenses of manually trying to do the discount is far exceeding the discount amount making it very prohibitive to manage this way. So please be sure to use the discount code AT TIME OF INITIAL BOOKING. 

 

NOTE: The EBD or Early Booking Discounts can only be used as follows:

1. When paying in full

2. When you first sign up

3 By the deadline given. After that deadline they disappear and the code will not work. (So please leave a buffer if you need to xfer money or have questions.)

[Sqbagal]

WHO'S GOING has been updated.

 

ONLY 3 spaces left!!! Don't wait and miss out!!

[TwoWheelGuy]

Water temperature expectations?

I found this on line:

Cuba's warm 24C/76F (yearly average) waters are clear and pristine with hardly any coral destruction or pollution, making it ideal for a diving holiday.

The average visibility is 30 to 40 metres, and Cuba's diving holiday makers will delight in the underwater paradise unveiled before their eyes - home to 50 species of coral and 200 species of sponge! Pillar, staghorn, elkhorn, spectacular gorgonians, sea fans and plume worms are all there to be seen, as are barrel and tube sponges, sea urchins, spiny lobsters, coral shrimp and crabs on the seabed ensuring a fascinating variety.

Seems like a 1 mil suit might be ok, and a 3 mil suit will ensure comfort.....

Suggestion?

[WreckWench]

Thanks TwoWheelGuy! Great info!

 

Always LAYER!!!  You can always let water in and cool off...but its hard to warm up if you don't have some layers.

 

I may have some great news...one of our corporate sponsors offers an amazing line of thermal products that add NO buoyancy yet gives the same thermal properties as a 1 mil or a 3 mil but you never have to change your weight belt.

 

I will get you all some more info soon! They will even allow us to try some of it out before you buy! And they give great discounts when they sponsor one of our trips even though they are already the most aggressively priced for products of this type in the marketplace.

[WreckWench]

VERY SAD BUT IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE:

 

It is with great sorrow that I post this message. I am sitting in the airport on my way to Cozumel so will be offline until this evening after noon Central time.

 

I rec'd the following email from the owner of the Spree which is the boat we were using for our Cuba trip. I have not had much correspondence with him yet and hope to while I'm at the airport waiting on my next flight.

 

I will have refunds issued in the next day or so, please bear with me as the first day or so of a trip is the craziest but I am arriving early so will have a small window tomorrow to get this started and have my accountant start refunding money.

 

I have not checked to see if we can do a Keys Krawl with local dive ops because I have no idea if anyone wants to do this. Most will simply opt for a refund vs another trip to Cuba or Key West  or even apply the funds to another trip. After the refund you are welcome and encouraged to sign up for one of our other amazing trips. If you do sign up for either our  Magical Maldives trip in March 2017 or our Raja Ampat trip for Oct 2018 which we will being opening up in the next week or so for booking. (Hopefully sooner now that we have lost this iconic trip) I will do something extra special for THOSE ALREADY BOOKED ON THE CUBA TRIP for all the inconvenience. Let me figure this out but it will be a financial incentive to encourage you to consider these other trips.

 

I have also reached out to the other Cuba operator for availability during this time and/or rebooking the trip to another timeframe.

 

HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS OPTION?  Aggressor is more expensive and holds a few more people on the boat but is the only other option other than Avalon who I have also reached out too.

 

As soon as I hear from them I will let you know so we can perhaps see if there are any contingency plans. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF ANYONE IS UP FOR ANY OTHER CONTINGENCY PLANS OTHER THAN JUST A STRAIGHT REFUND.

 

Thank you, Kamala

 

Dear Kamala;

 

It is with mixed emotions and no small amount of sadness that Melanie and I need to tell you that we have accepted an unexpected offer to buy the Spree.  We received the offer this morning, the final inspection will take place on July 18, after which I will no longer be allowed use of the vessel.  This, as you know, is before your scheduled charters to Cuba, which are now cancelled.  We are sorry that we are unable to complete the charter we arranged with you and your clients, but the buyer has use for the Spree right away and once accepted, will no longer allow us to use it.

 

Kevin will, of course, refund your charter fees immediately.  

 

I apologize to all of you who were looking forward to your charter, and wish you the best.

 

Sincerely, 

Frank and Mel

 

Captain Frank Wasson

M/V Spree
 

 

 

[Scubatooth]

Dang it just as I was getting ready to drop full payment for the trip.

I so wanted to go to Cuba before the crowds hit