Feb. 12-15, 2010 Manatee Trip to Crystal River, FL. Leaving from Biloxi, MS
The plan is to drive to Tallahassee on Friday evening and spend the night. Get up on Saturday and drive into Ocala, Florida and dive two tanks at either Forty Fathoms Grotto or the Blue Grotto. After diving, continue on about an hour further and arrive at the hotel, The Plantation Inn, where we will be staying. Get up on Sunday and begin a manatee tour. Sunday afternoon will be the drift dive/snorkel on Rainbow River. On Monday morning we will be doing another manatee tour and then departing for home. You are welcome to stay additional nights at the resort, just let me know so that I can notify the hotel. For those of you who are off on Wednesday as well for Mardi Gras, Orlando is 87 miles away so a quick trip to Disney might be in order for Monday afternoon or Tuesday.
Cost per person for hotel and diving is going to be $320.00 per person, double occupancy for 3 nights, one in Tallhassee and two in Crystal River. If you have children, please let me know to adjust the count. Diving fees include spring fees, park fees and tour fees. Gear and air fees are not included. Air fills range from $5 to $10 per tank. Scuba gear can be rented onsite or you can rent it here locally before we leave. I can get a price together if any of you want to rent gear to take with you, just let me know. Keep in mind, the water temp is going to be 72 degrees so bring necessary thermal protection. For those of you who have family members that don’t dive, snorkel gear and wetsuits can be rented on location as well. Members not wanting to snorkel or dive, but wanting to ride on the boat must still pay for the tour.
A $100 deposit will be required by November 27, 2009, per person. The deposit is non-refundable. And the remaining balance will be due by January 22, 2010.
The resort we are staying at in Crystal River is a Spa and Golf Resort so everyone can get pampered or practice to take on Tiger Woods if they so choose. The dive shop is also on site at the hotel.
Also, if any of you are interested in getting your Advanced Certification on this trip, we can do that too. We will get two dives in on Saturday, including Deep, two dives on Sunday including Drift, and then one on Monday. And just in case you didn’t know, you can go to Disney and dive the Living Seas exhibit at Epcot for $175. Just FYI.
Shrek