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#1 Florida GOLIATH GROUPERS Aug 7-11, 2020: TRIP DEALS & DETAILS


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#1 WreckWench

WreckWench

    Founder? I didn't know we lost her!

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  • Logged Dives:5000+

Posted 28 April 2020 - 05:36 AM

Forums Menu: Orientation 2018-2022 Trips Topic Listing
Trip Topic Menu: Trip Details Trip FAQ Ask a Question Who's Going??? Book Now   See the PHOTOS!

 

IMPORTANT OTHER TOPICS FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN:

  • See how others are getting there and/or carpool or share an uber from PBI, FLL or MIA HERE
  • Tell us you are getting the ONLY ONGOING TRIP DETAILS LIFELINE we send out aka the TRIP PM HERE
     

Location: South Florida WPB Land based
Dates:      Aug 7-11, 2020  (3 days diving)
Hotel:    Super 8 by Wyndham
Dive operator:  Pura Vida Diving
Water Temp: 81 - 84 F
Air Temp: 86 F
Current: Mild (drift diving) to moderate (depends on the sites. Some of the best may have some current but we usually drift with it)
Visibility: 80 - 100 ft+
Experience Level: Advanced Open Water Certification or equivalent certification to include at least 40+ dives, comfort with current, drift dives, towing a flag, deploying a sausage, and 'live drops'

Are spots available?: We use a realtime shopping cart system for 99% of our trips so if there is a spot available you can book it in your cart. However due to cv19 and to allow for the MAXIMUM flexibility for our members we are managing this trip manually and so to check availability please click HERE or click the #4 topic link BLUE BOX entitled "Who's Going" at the top of this post.

 

 

TIME TO GET IT ON WITH THE GENTLE GIANT GOLIATH GROUPERS!!!

 

Here's the plan, how it will work what it will cost and how to join us.

 

OVERVIEW:

 

The virus has changed everything including how we manage all the magical behind the scenes resources that it takes to make a site this big actually be able to run!  MAD :respect: for our cyber helpers who make the magic happen! :wakawaka:

 

So when a small group of SDer's and few non SE'ers wanted to DIVE THE GROUPER AGGREGATION and invited me to join them two things happened.

 

  • I said "heck yeah" I wanna join you
  • And "please let me help organize it because its what I do"

 

Luckily for me they said YES to both so here goes. This will be a little different than the way we NORMALLY do an SD trip because its a hybrid and that's ok too. You gotta be flexible and move with a flowing tide right? Plus trying new things is ALWAYS good for you so here goes something different and hopefully just as awesome as all our trip organization normally is!

 

THE TRIP:

 

The trip is a long weekend Aug 7-11, 2020 during PRIME TIME Goliath Grouper Getting It On er... Aggregation Season! Also known as Goliath Grouper Mania!  It will have 3 days of diving of (2) tank am dives. And because this is something different we will allow you to customize the trip to EXACTLY what you want it to be for YOU. Want to relax in the afternoon? No problem. Want to do (2) more boat dives (after all the local mix is 34% on tap so you can easily do 4 dives in one day)... we've got that as well. Wanna do a Blue Heron Bridge dive? We've got that too! We have suggested a "best option itinerary" but you can have the final say on what you do based upon availability of course and even that is set up to all for the longest period of time to allow for the most flexibility!

 

Not a SD member? No problem. We'd love for you to join our club and enjoy the many amazing benefits but we can still use our platform to help organize the details as email, facebook and other methods fall short or are just too confusing. The beauty of the forums is that when you ask a question EVERYONE sees it and if you are  a FREE registered member you can reply and participate.  NORMALLY WE REQUIRE ALL TRIP GOERS TO BE A PREGISTERED AND UPGRADED MEMBER but we will try something new due to the virus and allow you to either just view things as a guest, or create a free membership so you can reply or upgrade your membership so you can use ALL the features of the site.  The choice is YOURS!!!

 

BASIC PACKAGE AND PRICING:

 

  • Diving + D/O hotel accommodations via Super 8 by Wyndham for 4 nights  $429.50 CASH includes taxes
  • Diving + S/O hotel accommodations via Super 8 by Wyndham for 4 nights  $599 CASH includes taxes
  • Diving only (2) tank am dives via Pura Vida Divers for 3 days ao 6 dives (Aug 8-10)  $260 CASH includes taxes
  • Can't make all the days? Then tell us which days you want $87 CASH per day includes taxes (LET US KNOW AND WE'LL MODIFY THE HOTEL FOR YOU AS WELL via trips@singledivers.com)

 

EXTRAS MOST OF YOU WILL NEED:

 

RENTAL TANKS PRICE PER TANK**:

 

  • 80 cf Alum Air Tank $10.80 CASH  (includes taxes)
  • 100fc Steel Air Tank $16.20  CASH (included taxes)
  • 80cf Alum Nitrox 34% Tank $16.20  CASH (includes taxes)
  • 100cf Steel Nitrox 34% Tank $22.00 CASH (includes taxes)

 

TANK FILLS (must take to be filled by diver daily & own the tanks**):

 

  • Alum Air Tank $TBA CASH  (includes taxes)
  • Steel Air Tank $TBA  CASH (included taxes)
  • Alum Nitrox 34% Tank $TBA  CASH (includes taxes)
  • Steel Nitrox 34% Tank $TBA CASH (includes taxes)

**

The tank rental and fill prices include taxes which the prices on the boat's website do not and hence appear cheaper.

Also the boat *usually is not be able to fill tanks between the dives* so hoping you have 4 tanks so you can have 2 ready to do for the afternoon dives if you are doing fills and doing 4 dives a day on Sat & Sun.

 

OPTIONAL TO CONSIDER:

 

  • (2) tank extra dive for Sat $87 CASH (includes tax)
  • (2) tank extra dive for Sun $87 CASH (includes tax
  • (1) BHB dive Sunday = cost of add'l tank + self guided and tides not as ideal
  • (1) BHB dive Monday = cost of add'l tank + self guided but will have most of group & tide will be really good and it won't be too crowded since its Monday
  • Extra nite hotel with taxes $84.76 s/o CASH or $42.38 d/o CASH (may not have enough d/o for all who want but will help make it work)
  • Shopping $0 (and whatever your credit cards will allow)
  • Relaxing $0 (sans any paid amenities)
  • Entertainment $0 (except for what you opt to be entertained by)
  • Sight Seeing $0 (other than gas, admission fees, etc)
  • Hanging out with friends $ 0 but priceless!

 

SUGGESTED ITINERARY:

 

Friday: 

  • Travel day to Florida for the long weekend. (Can arrive anytime you want. Use THIS post to discuss arrival and departure times to facilitate getting from the airport to the hotel, dive boat etc.
  • Rest of day is free but suggest we all get together for dinner once we know who arrives when.

Saturday:

  • 2 tank am dives leaving the following options for your afternoon: 
  • Lunch either after diving (making it an earlier lunch) or after showering (making it a later lunch)
  • Additional 2 tank afternoon dives for a total of 4 dives this day.
  • Relaxing which could entail shopping, napping, beach combing etc.
  • Sightseeing which could entail checking out cool things to do locally
  • Dinner could be on your own or we can set a 'group dinner' time to set up reservations etc depending on the size of the group.

Sunday:

  • 2 tank am dives leaving the following options for your afternoon: 
  • BHB dive immediately following the boat dives. TIMING WILL BE TIGHT & BHB CROWDED SO ONLY SUGGEST FOR THE MOST DIEHARD DIVERS (Need to know to help with tanks, logistics, buddies)
  • Lunch either after diving (making it an earlier lunch) or after showering (making it a later lunch)
  • Additional 2 tank afternoon dives for a total of 4 dives this day. ALSO GREAT OPTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DIVE DIVE DIVE
  • Relaxing which could entail shopping, napping, beach combing etc.
  • Sightseeing which could entail checking out cool things to do locally
  • Dinner could be on your own or we can set a 'group dinner' time to set up reservations etc depending on the size of the group and what people want to do.

Monday:

  • 2 tank am dives leaving the following options for your afternoon: 
  • BHB dive immediately following the boat dives. TIMING IS BEST FOR TODAY AND (Need to know to help with tanks, logistics, buddies)
  • Lunch either after diving (making it an earlier lunch) or after showering (making it a later lunch)
  • OR Additional (1) tank afternoon dives for a total of 3 dives this day.(this day can possibly be set up as the 3 dive pkg deal that is $30 less and includes lunch if everyone wants to do 3 boat dives vs the bridge)
  • Relaxing which could entail shopping, napping, beach combing etc.
  • Sightseeing which could entail checking out cool things to do locally
  • Dinner could be on your own or we can set a 'group dinner' time to set up reservations etc depending on the size of the group.

Tuesday:

  • Heading home for most of you. Use THIS topic to discuss coordinating rides to the airport etc.

WHAT DO I DO TO SIGN UP?

 

  1. First tell us what you want to do HERE. Tell us much as you can like hotel yes or no and preferred occupancy single or double, all 3 days diving + any extras including tank choices (don't forget it nitrox or air and what size tank and how many including the BHB). Spots are being held but have to be cancelled if we do not fill them.
  2. You can 'tell us' by posting in the topic. Or if you don't want to register so you can post them email trips@singledivers.com and tell us what trip and clearly what you want etc, (PLEASE ONLY EMAIL IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER. Members pls use our regular trip booking process.) Please be as detailed as you can.
  3. We will have a topic dedicated to how people are getting to S Florida either via driving or flying etc. HERE
  4. We will create lists everyone can see of who wants to do what. HERE
  5. Pretty soon you'll see what the trend is ....either dive and chill or dive dive dive and you can make your final decisions
  6. Please note that while we won't make anyone be a premium member for this trip or even register...we will do all updates in the forums and ask that you check that information there. :respect:
  7. Once we know what people want to do AND the economy is open and people are ready we will give you a OTP one time payment link that will let you pay for everything you have signed up for. (We will help you with the total, tax, how to do it etc)
  8. If you are planning to FLY to S Florida get your ticket NOW... prices will go up when airlines resume if they force them to space passengers 6 ft apart. Plus all ticket bought before the end of April are refundable, changeable etc.  (Suggest you fly to PBI or FLL but NOT MIA unless renting your own car)
  9. We will help with coordinating of rental cars, airport info, ride sharing etc. to make it easier for everyone.HERE
  10. We will help with getting to and from the boat each day for the dives as well as meals etc.
  11. We will give you the payment info when we know basically what everyone wants to do or we have reached the boat payment deadlines etc.
  12. We will give you easy ways to ask questions, get more info etc.  HERE  or use link above

TRANSPORTATION:

 

Driving:

Some of you will fly and we'll get you hotel directions/address shortly.

 

Flying:

If you fly we strongly suggest PBI in West Palm Beach so you are about 10-15 mins from the hotel and the diving. If you can't fly into PBI then fly into FLL Ft Lauderdale. That will be about 1 hr away if traffic is light.

 

Transfers to/from airport to hotel:

You may need a rental car or you can uber OR we can set up 50% off regular uber rides for you by one of our members/friends of the club. They will meet you there and pick you up and can also return you. Hopefully we can combine 2-3 people max depending on luggage per trip to save you even more money. Use THIS topic to help organize what you are want to do.

 

HOTEL:

 

We have a group pkg and rate at the Super 8 by Wyndham that is about 3-4 mi from the diving.  Its a super diver friendly hotel and we have a group rate of $75 + tax per night s/o and half that for d/o.  You can do your own accommodations but we will make this the group hotel for the better rate and ease and comfort.

Super 8 Riviera Beach West Palm Beach

4112 West Blue Heron Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL, 33404, US

 

 

WHAT IF I CAN'T REALLY PULL THE TRIGGER ON THIS BUT I'M INTERESTED?

 

Simply tell us HERE and you can even plan on the trip and sign up until we have to "fish or cut bait" with the operator. Then it will be pretty close and you'll know better if you can get away, afford it, etc.

 

NOTE we are not forcing anyone to pay until the very last minute for everyone's benefit! But these GG's are special and it would be a super kewl way to 'break the diving quarantine'.  :fish:

 

DIVING INSURANCE:

 

DIVE Insurance is required on all trips! DIVE insurance is VERY inexpensive. Even if you have insurance that you think covers DIVING ACCIDENTS and air lifts…it is CHEAP (approx $100-$125) to get a supplemental policy to ensure you are covered for an entire year of diving. 

 

PRO TIP; The two primary suppliers of dive insurance DiveAssure.com and DAN are inexpensive enough to carry both. This way you will have the best coverage internationally, the best coverage domestically, primary insurance, secondary insurance and if a claim is denied on one policy you can submit it on the other. No matter what happens...YOU ARE COVERED!!! ... PRICELESS!!!
 
We recommend:
 

Dive Assure: for either a 'one time' policy OR an annual policy for BOTH Dive & Trip Insurance providing PRIMARY COVERAGE with excellent rates and coverage! Please use THIS LINK and/or reference SingleDivers.com via the drop-down menu under GLOBAL PARTNERS. (If you can not find the drop down, do not reference anyone and email info@singledivers.com your policy info and we will do it for you via our Dive Assure company representative. OR SIMPLY USE THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TIED TO US. )

Alternatively you can also use....
Diver's Alert Network: Please use our reference number when ordering: ID1603080   (This only works if you are a new first time DAN member.)

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS
All SingleDivers.com trips require:

  • You complete the necessary documentation as referenced above for each trip you sign up to take with us. A $75 document fee will be applied if you fail to submit your online and uploaded documents withing 21 days* of signing up for a trip or within 3 days if signing up within 45 days of departure. NOTE THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO AIRFARE UNLESS SIGNING UP WITHIN 45 DAYS OF DEPARTURE.  *Remember the Forms can be edited at any time up to 30 days prior to departure with updates such as insurance purchase/renewal, change of address, even preferences for rooming and diving so there is no reason to delay your initial Forms submissions.  This enables us to meet the reporting deadlines imposed by our suppliers.
  • SingleDivers.com LLC reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.
  • You read all the trip details before booking and commit to being responsible for post trip booking follow up by use of our TRIP PM, FORUM DISCUSSIONS  and in some cases emails. You commit to ask us how to use these tools if uncertain and commit to keeping your premier membership dues current and email on file current so we can contact you. Our tools require your dues and email to be current to work. Any delays/expenses/issues due to lack of trip information will be borne by the trip goer and NOT SingleDivers.com as we regularly and routinely use these tools to communicate extensively with you. If you are not hearing from us it means you are not using the tools we have in place. Email trips@singledivers.com for help.
  • You have read the EXPERIENCE REQUIRED & TRAINING/WORKSHOPS information in the online trip details to ensure that you are able to safely and comfortably meet the requirements of the trip. Please contact to further discuss any questions you have about attending one of our trips. We often accept students who would not otherwise meet the stated trip requirements because they are taking a class that will then enable them to meet the trip specifications and they will be diving with an instructor or dive master during the dives.
  • We require Dive Insurance for all dives and trips as stated above and we STRONGLY recommend trip insurance for all dives and trips but in some cases require it due to vendor specific mandates. Please see the online trip details under INSURANCE to see if the trip has optional or mandatory trip insurance requirements.
  • In the event of cancellation, your trip insurance will be your first line of defense. Secondary remedies include some rights afforded to you based upon when you have to cancel your trip in writing. Please see THIS link for full additional trip cancellation details.
  • Please read THIS link for our Guaranteed Double Occupancy Policy, Rooming Policies, Payment Terms, the "Ex" Rule etc

 

 

 

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Edited by WreckWench, 29 June 2020 - 09:52 PM.
Added insurance and Terms & Conditions


Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !

Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!

Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906

#2 WreckWench

WreckWench

    Founder? I didn't know we lost her!

  • Owner
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 53,490 posts
  • Location:FL SC & Dallas, TX
  • Gender:Female
  • Cert Level:DM & Technical certs
  • Logged Dives:5000+

Posted 07 May 2020 - 12:23 AM

NOTE: I have listed the basic info but will add some additional 'nice to know' info for you. HOWEVER THIS TRIP IS OFFICIALLY READY FOR SIGN UPS! 



Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !

Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!

Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906

#3 WreckWench

WreckWench

    Founder? I didn't know we lost her!

  • Owner
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 53,490 posts
  • Location:FL SC & Dallas, TX
  • Gender:Female
  • Cert Level:DM & Technical certs
  • Logged Dives:5000+

Posted 24 June 2020 - 10:06 PM

FLIGHT UPDATE:

 

If you want to join us and you have not bought a plane ticket (assuming you are flying in) then check out SPIRIT Airlines as they are running some great deals to FLL (Ft Lauderdale) from a ton of different places:

 

Atlanta, GA Atlantic City, NJ Austin, TX Baltimore, MD Boston, MA Cancun, MX Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Denver, CO Detroit, MI Guatemala City, Guatemala Guayaquil, Ecuador Hartford, CT Houston, TX Kansas City, MO Kingston, Jamaica Las Vegas, NV Latrobe, PA Los Angeles, CA Los Cabos, Mexico Managua, Nicaragua Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Montego Bay, Jamaica Myrtle Beach, SC Nashville, TN New Orleans, LA New York, NY - LaGuardia Newark, NJ Niagara Falls, NY Oakland, CA Oranjestad, Aruba Orlando, FL Panama City, Panama Philadelphia, PA Phoenix/Sky Harbor, AZ Pittsburgh, PA Plattsburgh, NY Port Au Prince, Haiti Portland, OR Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Raleigh, NC Richmond, VA San Diego, CA San Jose, Costa Rica San Juan, Puerto Rico San Pedro Sula, Honduras San Salvador, El Salvador Santiago, Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Seattle-Tacoma, WA St. Croix, US Virgin Islands St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Tampa, FL



Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !

Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!

Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906




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