Category: Scuba

I have been attempting to make some reservations around our upcoming dive trip to the Florida Keys. However: all the rooms in the cheap hotels are booked and going fast. The cheapest rooms are now going for over $220/night. That’s not going to be affordable, what with diving and all.

So – it might be necessary to either 1) re-evaluate the location and possibly chose the old standby [Cozumel] or 2) postpone until next year when we can reserve dates futher in advance.

Postponing will give us a chance to save up some more money for both the trip and the underwater case for the camera [which is expensive], and Cozumel is like … home…

Decisions, decisions…

After Dive Turkey 5 [or DTV], we have by remote consensus began using the year name in the description of the Dive Turkey event. So, if it happens this year, it will be called Dive Turkey 2007 Dive Turkey 6, or DTVI, is now in a conceptual planning stage.

For DTVI, we are thinking domestic – Florida: the SCUBA state. DT1 was held there on Islamorada with the founding members of the DT team and much diving and many good times were had by all. That was in November of 1999. Now, eight years later, we’re thinking of a return. There are many reasons but among them are:

1. Ease of travel
2. Cost of travel/accomodations [much cheaper than, say, Cayman or Hawaii or somewhere in the South Pacific]
3. Nearness of neighbors [some of us have friends in Florida that can drop by if not for the whole time, for at least a portion]
4. Laura has never been to the Keys

What are your thoughts? Like to go?

[UPDATE:] I guess we are sticking with the original naming convention. Shoulda asked first, I suppose…

That’s the welcome phrase here in Curaçao. I have to say that this place is welcoming and friendly. We have been treated very well since our arrival here in both the airport and hotel. The car rental person was exceedingly friendly: she even escorted us to the car to make sure it met with our expectations. Upon arriving at our hotel, we were greeted by name by the guest services co-ordinator who before allowing us to check in, insisted on showing us two different available rooms for our choice. Now, some of this [well, let’s be honest – most] attention is due to the fact that I am a Diamond member of the Hilton Honors program. But I do have to say that nowhere else in all my travels have I been treated anywhere near this well.

We chose our room overlooking the inlet to Piscadera Bay and facing the setting sun. [I already have some sunset pictures.] That afternoon we spent checking out the grounds and setting up our dives for the week. The dive shop is on premesis, but you can’t charge your dives to your room [no Hilton points for me!] and they don’t take American Express.

We had dinner here at the hotel and it was an Italian buffet – and not like we get in America, but very authentic Italian food, with wonderful salads, pastas, and desserts. They even have a brewery on site, and since they were out of it tonight, I’ll be trying one tomorrow.

Being a Diamond member has it’s perks. We get either a free continental breakfast in the lounge or a coupon for a free full breakfast downstairs.

This place feels like a little Europe plopped down in the middle of the carribean. I like it very much.