Happy
Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!
Time has passed so quickly that we are very late for our forth quarter
enews. Thanksgiving is already here! In this issue we are covering
following:
Marilyn's
report on Hurricane Paloma
DEMA
report
Inter-Ocean
Tours DEMA Special "Dive Bonaire"
Before the
Trip and Airlines
Hurricane
Paloma: I have advised many of my clients over the years (30+)
that the dates they have picked for the Caribbean (August/September) or
for the South Pacific (January/February) have historically high number
of tropical storms or even hurricanes or cyclones. So far I have not
had a client in a hurricane or cyclone.
The last few years I have added that due to Global Warming (or
whatever?) the storms seem not to conform as much to the schedules I
had observed. I hedge by checking various weather websites and my
current favorite: http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/
I especially like reading what Dr. Jeff Masters has to say about
the Atlantic area and his forecast opinions seem more reliable because
they are based on NOAA and all the others I used to consult. I learned
a lot from his article “Hunting Hugo”.
When I looked at his blog on Paloma on Friday night, November 7, he
thought it would be Category 2 when it reached the Cayman Islands with
winds of 50-75 mph. He also thought Grand Cayman would be hit and
Little Cayman + Cayman Brac would be on be on the edge of Palamo’s
path. Good news, yeah! Especially since my husband, John and I had just
arrived on Cayman Brac for our first vacation at the house we just
finished building early this year.
Well, even Dr Jeff Masters can be surprised. Paloma exploded into an
extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds last night
as it hammered the Cayman Islands. The tornados were the most damaging.
And we learned that our house could take it! Kudos to the builders: my
husband, son Larry, 3 locals and some visiting friends.
We lost all our shingles from the roof; but have the snow shield to
keep it dry for months. We did get lots of water in both patio doors
and vent near the roof on the East. The tornado took the half-inch ply
from a patio door and john nailed closet doors on the inside and we
leaned on them to keep them from being blown out.
The closest house to ours on the beach was destroyed. The house across
the road had roof lifted up and then sat back down. Our rented car was
pushed 40 feet from the house to the road and then sideways, 75 feet
down the road. It was in park and had the parking break on. So much for
keeping it away from trees and branches! Took out the windshield and
drivers window.
Brac Reef is in bad shape, but according to the manager they will be up
and running again in January. Main building, kitchen took the worst.
Dive shop and Ed Beatty's Photo lost the roof, but ceiling stayed and
protected stuff in the shops. They were working on the new roof.
Here is a link to some photos after Paloma left the Brac. http://www.caymannetnews.com/palomabrac/
It is estimated 1,000 of the 1,800 living on Cayman Brac are homeless.
They are still in the Hurricane shelters or temporarily living with
relatives. Billy’s Supermarket has been destroyed, gas stations are
crushed, the
police station and airport are damaged and the islands last remaining
hotel, Brac Reef resort is devastated. There was a lot of damage to
some Brac Caribbean Condos but the newer Carib Sands Condos next door
looked ok. As of Nov 20, most of the island remains without electricity
or running
water. Many people lost their homes and all their worldly possessions.
Others lost their livelihood. Too many lost both.
You can help by making a donation to
Cayman Islands Red Cross http://www.redcross.org.ky or the
Rotary Clubs of the Cayman Islands
Hurricane Relief Fund. http://caymanrotary.wordpress.com/
DEMA:
DEMA (Diving Equipment and Manufacture Association) trade show was in
Las
Vegas this year. DEMA is always like going “Island Hopping”. This
year’s show had more destinations represented than ever before! Marilyn
and John received the latest news from friends from our favorite
resorts
and boats, learned about new destinations and met new owners and
managers from all around the world. Kyoko was managing Inter-Ocean’s
office
and missed this year's show and the island folk will have to wait till
next year to visit with her (unless she is traveling to their place on
a dive trip).
Some resorts we have
always liked just got new owners so they are having ‘Opening Specials’.
An example is Lalati
Resort on Beqa Atoll in Fiji. The new owner is going to start
refurbishing all the bures, plus new furniture and lots of upgrades to
the whole property and work up to a 4 or 5 star resort. He assured
Marilyn he will continue to protect Jane’s Lane house reef and it’s
creatures. Meanwhile he has some great package prices to introduce
returning clients to the new management and attract new divers to the
great diving around the atoll. $2999 per diver including 7 nights
accommodation, gourmet meals, 5 days of 2 tank boat and unlimited shore
dives, round trip airport transportation in Fiji, airfare from Los
Angeles and taxes.
Marilyn got more information and details on some pristine destinations
she has not visited yet. “I have always been intrigued with the
Marshall Islands. Now that John and I learned more from a long time
resident and dive operator, Layne Ballard of Central Pacific Dive
Expeditions. I have
moved the Marshall Islands to a top spot on my “Wish List”. What other
places are on my Wish List? Resorts in Raja Ampat and other remote
areas of Indonesia, the resorts near Borneo I haven't visited plus back
to the
rainforest, Yap, Vanuatu, Cocos Islands, Galapagos Islands, Burma Bank
near Thailand,
Maldives, and more. I just realized how long my wish list is! I better
set aside some time and work on some itineraries."
Marilyn added: “My list is not based on my rating of the quality of the
diving. If I haven’t been there; how can I judge and rate them? But my
fascination is based on reports from old friends and divers who are
well traveled and whose opinions I respect”.
What destinations do
you
have on your wish list? If Marilyn has not been to the ones on your
list in her 35 years
of traveling to dive, probably Kyoko has been there.
We received DEMA
specials for 2009 from resorts and boats, plus some are having 'Last
Minute Specials' for 2008. This is a
great time to plan your next
trips; the rates will never be lower! Please visit our SPECIAL page for
the great savings. If you are a group leader, please ask for our group
specials.
You can explore the
many dive areas worldwide by visiting Inter-Ocean Tour’s DESTINATIONS page.
We are constantly updating the information on our web site. Please use
the links to check them out.
Marilyn and/or Kyoko have been to the most of those listed and can
help you choose. We try to learn what you are dreaming of and what will
work best for you. We can discuss the pros and cons of different
destinations, resorts or boat as they relate to you and your goals.
Inter-Ocean Tours DEMA special
Bonaire: Kyoko is leading a trip to Captain Don's Habitat in
Bonaire in July 2009. Book by Dec 31, 2008 and receive DEMA special
discount. Bonaire offers the easiest diving in Caribbean if not in the
world. It is below the Hurricane Belt so the diving is great year
round. Bonaire was the Caribbean's first Marine Preserve and was the
first to install permanent moorings, so the reefs are healthy with lots
of life. Habitat is where it was started by
Captain Don. In front of the resort is healthy fringe reef where you
can dive 24 hrs! Kids 16 and under
will stay and dive free on this trip.
Captain
Don's Habitat Bonaire
July
4-11, 2009
$798
per diver in Habitat 2bdrm/2bath quad ($884 after Dec 31, 2008)
$1021
per diver in Deluxe Oceanview double ($1132 after Dec 31, 2008)
The
price is per person based on the number of persons in accommodation. 3
in room less & single more. The package includes 7
nights at Captain
Don's Habitat,
full breakfast daily, 5 days of 2 tank boat and 7 days of
unlimited shore diving,
round
trip
airport
transfers, and
taxes. Airfare, Bonaire National Marine Park fee (diver $25 &
snorkeler $10), and gratitudes are not included. Please contact us for
the best airfare. Non-diver deduct $297 ($330 after Dec 31, 2008). Kids
16 and under stay and dive free with paying adult divers.
$100 per person
deposit secures
your reservation and full payment is due on May 1, 2009.
E-mail travel@interocean.com
for more
information.
If you
have any questions
or would like some information to help you plan your trip, your can
email us
at travel@interocean.com
or call us
at 1-800-345-7159.
