USA Overseas Travel Meeting

Chris and I went to DEMA, a small and cozy show with a lot of old friends (past vendors) and a few new contacts...

Attendance in person is limited to fully vaccinated members. If possible physical attendance is encouraged so you can see maps and other documents.

The status of the dive industry - because of Covid-19 rescheduling we need to buy atypically far out in the future

• Long lead operators - liveaboards - their 2022 schedules are "full - with Covid-19 rescheduling"
• • we are good for exotic (Damai for 2023) - but we could look at Caribbean liveaboards for 2023...
  • Otherwise we are looking at 2024-25 ....
• Land based operations (short lead) - we can still find options for 2022 ....

Here is the agenda for the Monday meeting - if you RSVP - I might send you additional info -  as it becomes available....

A) 2022 - add a land based trip, best options - Sept/Oct 2022 - we can choose by price - or something "exciting" - do we have a market - younger divers - driven by price?

• Myan Princess, Roatan - Need to commit in Dec, 2021 - cheap 2 for 1 - (we did this destination last time in 2015)
• Cozumel - Scuba Club Cozumel (used to be "Galapagos Inn") - prices are always good - Safety? 
• • connecting AA flights from FLL less than $300 (6 hrs) or JetBlue to Cancun - and then ferry $300+ (eg more expensive)
• Saba - the most exiting - a little on the pricey side - we have a new ferry - 70 foot cat - from St Maarten (SXM -  we can fly FLL SXM onJetBlue)
  
• Curacao - we do have offers on the South side - or West Punt - Brian - last time in 2013 ....
• We can do Clearly Cayman - we have a big return customer discount - options - LCBR, Cobalt, or TCI - must travel by 10/9/2022 (13 months)

B) 2023:

• we got invited to put in a draft date for LCBR or Cobalt (cancelling is free) -j ust DEMA special prices
• DEMA special on Aggressor - T&C, Bahamas, Belize - high flexibility until 9 months - need commit by 11/30
• • We do have a request for Tiger beach .... 
  • PS - Bahamas Aggressor do have 3-4 different schedules ...7 or 10 days - we can easily get to Nassau (bahamas air) - getting to Freeport - for tiger beach/Bimini is terrible (unless we can find a fer
• BVI or USVI land based - most have good air connections from FLL (w/ Ferry) - [also 2024] - last time we talked about Virgin Gorda

C) 2024:

• BVi/USVI land
• Aggressor specials ....

D) Exotic - Tubbataha:

• Siren - for 2024 - via Porto Princesa - domestic air from Manila - need commit by 11/30
• New boat - for 2024 - driving distance from Dauin - need two boats of eight - boat (8) land(16) boat (8)
• two new boats - 2025 - 2 times 8  - driving distance from Daui

E) Deep Read Sea 2024/2025 - or Just Red Sea - aggressor special by 11/30 - or decide next time (February/May/August)

• there are Egypt land Extensions to consider ....

F) we are not well prepared for 2024/2025 exotic unless we go with one of the options above....

G) Damai - adding a 2nd (full or half) boat 3/26-4/6 - done ...

Entry and Exit arrangements - in progress

This is optional topic only for 11/29 - not urgent (can wait a week or two)

AA) Insurance updates for the Dami group - Nils - email only

The following is a link for Zoom,

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkc--vrDotGtDm7SmFxJgj1TiAhieg0qyD

Nils