Last Minute Updates!Hey gang...well its time to hit the road and some of you are in transit but we do have a few last minute details for you.
First off this is officially the largest SD group we've ever had...43 direct booked and another 3 that booked via the resort but wanted to be part of our group. We've worked VERY hard to accommodate all of your special requests and ensure that this is the best vacation and trip you've ever had!
We are VERY excited about this milestone as well as our first ever opportunity to co-sponsor this great Singles Event!
The resort has asked for LOTS of participation and that includes the cosutume party, the daily contests and games as well as mingling with the rest of the participants at the resort. We've ASSURED them that we'll do just that and that our group will CERTAINLY BE INCLUSIVE of the other single and buddyless divers at teh resort...so come on gang and do us proud!!!
Now for the sanity check...there are always a few things beyond our control and how we deal with them is a truer sign of who we are than what happens to us. While SD works very hard to accommodate everything within our control...those that we can not accommodate, we do our best to deal with in a positive manner and adjust accordingly.
So yes there are a few things beyond our control and here they are:
1. The resort has run out of nitrox due to popular demand so we've been told that if you ordered it early and paid SD that you'll have it. Even if you are willing to pay more for it on island, it is we are being told no longer available.
2. We have we've been told a main bldg near the dive shop that many of us are housed in. We requested that we have bldgs near that central building and the resort has tried its best to accommodate that but we do know that some of you will be scattered throughout the resort especially if you wanted a single room. The resort has tried to keep us together as much as possible but I know that was not entirely possible. We have had a number of rooming lists back and forth between the resort so while we know that the 3 trip leaders are in this primary building (Fingrabber, Capn Jack & ww) we are not sure who else is in the bldg and who else is not. We tried to get the final rooming number but the resort said they were not ready so we'll know tomorrow when we start checking in. (I arrive around 12:30 so I'll be there with the first group and should be in the hotel lobby until we get the last of the group checked in!)
3. Many of you asked for day of arrival diving and we asked the resort if this was possible. We've been told that the dive briefings will all be done on Sunday only so day of arrival diving is not possible but snorkling, freediving, swimming and other welcome activities will be available.
4. Since SD is one of the event's sponsors we fortunately have rec'd a HUGE shipment of t-shirts just in time for this trip. And thanks to the help of ASDMike, Capn Jack, Desert_Diver, Fingrabber and my extra luggage checkin...we'll have a t-shirt for everyone in our group as well as everyone at the resort. We are very excited to be an official sponsor and the new shirts turned out GREAT!!!
So PLEASE thank your resident SD t-shirt sherpas for making this possible as it is impossible for me to bring computers for DAN testing, school supplies, 115 t-shirts, Happy Hour munchies, oh yes dive gear, clothes and a few personal items without having to buy another ticket to ship it all! But our very own dive sherpas are VERY AWESOME and have graciously offered to help haul all the loot for everyone...so hats off to them and dont' forget to buy them a drink!
Well everyone...its T-20 and counting...see you all soon! kamala
Keep on swimming, swimming, swimming...
