THE TRIP WAS FABULOUS, SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTO'S

Grenada, the “Spice Island” so named for its impressive production of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, ginger and cloves will be the 2007 Jack’s Dive Center, Inc. Live-aboard destination. A brand new location for the Wind Dancer, our home away from home for a glorious week of diving, exploring, and relaxing. The Grenadines have a rugged, mountainous terrain and interior rain forest and waterfalls, with a coastline indented with protected bays and beaches.

Grenada, Carriacou (pronounced Carry-a Koo) and Petite Martinique (pronounced pitty Mar-tin-NEEK) are three beautiful islands located in the eastern Caribbean at the southern extremity of the Windward Islands, only 100 miles north of Venezuela, and 12 degrees north of the equator. The islands are threaded by the Caribbean Sea, connecting North and South America. The Caribbean Sea bathes the western shores of these islands, while the Atlantic washes the eastern shores. Average temperatures during our dry season visit will be 77 to 88 degrees, with water temperatures about 82 degrees.

Our home for the week will be Peter Hughes’ Wind Dancer, undoubtedly our favorite live-aboard boat. She is 120 feet in length, and 28 feet wide, her steel hull built for the roughest seas and of true ocean going design. She can accommodate 18 passengers in 9 staterooms, all with private bath, and carry’s a crew of 10. Fresh water is no problem as the water capacity is 7,000 gallons and her water makers produce 3200 gallons per day. Her fuel capacity of 22,000 gallons gives a range of 5,000 nautical miles. All indoor area’s are air conditioned for you comfort, and of course the ship carry’s all of the modern safety and navigation equipment. Our diving will be served by two compressors, and nitrox is available to those who wish and have the proper certification.

Your typical day will start with a wake up call (time determined by yourself) when your cabin steward delivers your coffee or tea to your cabin. You slip on your bathing suit and go to the main deck, where a continental breakfast is laid out for you to nibble on, as you gaze upon the morning sun reflected off the azure blue sea.

In a short time, breakfast is served. Cooked to order selections of eggs, pancakes, French toast, or whatever is on the list for that day. After breakfast you wander to the dive deck, and board one of the 25’ tenders.

After a short ride you roll off the tender and suddenly find yourself in 100 plus foot visibility, surrounded by tropical fish, and exotic corals. You think to yourself “it just doesn’t get much better than this” and you’re right!

After your dive, helping hands whisk off your tank and a short ride brings you back to Wind Dancer, where you proceed to the warm shower on the stern deck. As you leave the shower, a warm towel is wrapped around your shoulders and you are enticed by the scent of freshly baked brownies or cookies. The rest of the day proceeds like this through two morning dives, buffet lunch, and two afternoon dives.

On surface intervals we enjoy reading, good conversations, trips to the snack tables and coolers, or a nap on the sun deck. Or perhaps you would rather relax in your comfortably air conditioned cabin or the salon area. Dinner is always a gastronomic delight, with choices of fresh fish, meat, and poultry. Special dietary needs are accommodated with prior notification. Our night dives bring us to areas where the night life and corals, hidden during the day, give us a whole new perspective of the underwater world. That hot towel sure feels good after the dive, not to mention the “Adult Beverages” that warm us from the inside out, as we lounge in our luxurious terry cloth robes, thoughtfully provided by Mr. Hughes.

We plan to cruise up the island chain, starting at Grenada and continuing up to Bequia, where we will anchor in the harbor overnight. Those of us who wish to tour rather than dive, will be ferried to the town, where you can enjoy an afternoon of relaxing and talking with the residents, or walking around to take in the local sights.

The Grenadines are not on the beaten diving path, therefore the reefs, wrecks and coral remain unspoiled by crowds and many have yet to be explored. The area is known for it’s untouched sea fans, gorgonians, sea horses, rays, and colorful reef fish. The reefs are mainly composed of finger coral, sea whips, sea fans, brain coral, pillar coral, black coral and deep water gorgonians, plus lots of colorful sponges, hydroids and soft coral.

You may have heard that Granada diving involves brisk currents, more for the advanced rather than the beginner diver. Because of my long time friendship with Peter Hughes, he has agreed to let me have control of the boats dive destinations. I will compose an itinerary with the captain, assuring that divers of all abilities will be accommodated. Since our diving will be off of the two 25’ purpose built tenders, we will have two destinations on most dives, one tender going to the more protected dive sites for those who’s abilities are developing, and one to the more challenging location. In this manner everyone will enjoy each dive, without compromise.

For photographers wide angle and macro opportunities will abound, and those shooting digital will be able to view their results on the entertainment center in the main salon, just bring your appropriate connecting cables. A large camera table is built into the dive deck area and has plenty of space in which you can assemble and maintain your equipment. A 110v charging station is provided for all of your battery charging needs, and a cameras only rinse bucket on the dive tenders assures a fresh water rinse after your dive.

We will be offering up to 5 dives per day, and will plan some exploratory diving, to assure you of the “We were the first ones there” Jack’s Dive Center experience. The wreck enthusiasts will not be disappointed with a trip to the “Bianca C”, dubbed the “Titanic of the Caribbean”, arguably the largest ship wreck in the Caribbean at 600 feet in length, and one that was not intentionally sunk as an artificial reef or dive spot. Our cruise will take us to Isle De Ronde, diving the area of the Sisters and if weather permits the offshore sites of Bird Rock or London Bridge. Off Carriacou we will among other areas dive the edge of the active submarine volcano. All in all our experience will take in the best that the Grenadines has to offer.

If you have ever wanted to experience Caribbean diving like it used to be, if you have always wanted to say “I dove it when it was fresh and new” this is your chance, and one that is becoming rarer by the year. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to be one of the first explorer’s into this unspoiled region.

This All Inclusive Expedition Includes   Round-trip Air from JFK 7 nights aboard “Wind Dancer” Up to 5 dives a day All meals & snacks aboard boat All beverages (including well alcohol) aboard boat Tanks, fills and weight belts

Price for this fantastic trip is only—   $2600   Not included, tips to boat crew, Grenada departure tax approx $20, dinner on shore the last night. Bus transport to and from the dive center and JFK will be offered on a cost share basis. All prices and specifications per person, double occupancy, subject to change without notice.

   SOLD OUT, PLEASE CALL OR CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON 2008 INDONESIA EXPEDITION, FILLING RAPIDLY

Please make a reservation for ( ) people. Enclosed is my check for $_____________ ($750.00 per person deposit, non refundable, non exchangeable). Dec. 1, 2006 an additional $1000 per person deposit is due. Final payment is due by Jan. 20, 2007. Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. No refunds or exchanges on unused package features, trip and dive insurance brochures available on request. I understand I will be required to sign a waiver-release form.

WHERE'S ERIC?

PHOTO'S BELOW COURTESY OF LYNN GASTIA

CLICK HERE FOR BOB GASTIA'S PHOTO'S

CLICK HERE FOR STEVE MOORE'S U/S PHOTO'S