The Aqua Safaris owners are back! David and DeDe, along with Luke and Ryan, are back from a year long adventure in Baja, Mexico. It’s great being home. We would like to thank you for your continual support of Aqua Safaris in our absence. We look forward to seeing everyone. We hope you’ll stop in to say hi really soon.

The Aqua Safaris team has become even stronger. We would like to welcome two new team members: Collin Winkowski and Kyle McDaniels. Collin is a UCSC Marine Bio graduate with a strong interest in sharks (elasmobrachology). An experienced cold-water Training Assistant, Collin plans to become an Instructor and pursue scientific diving. Kyle, who has been diving for 6 years, is a Marine Bio student at UCSC. He is a NAUI Divemaster, an AAUS Scientific Diver, a volunteer diver at Long Marine Lab and hopes to make diving an integral part of his career. Corey, Abigail, Alex, Noah and our team of instructors did a great job operating the SCUBA center while David and DeDe were abroad In addition to the new associates, Kristy Finstad has joined our instructional team. Kristy is an Aquatic Biologist who has been diving since 1984 and has more than 2500 dives. She completed her instructor training last summer with Aqua Safaris and started teaching with us in February. She is offering numerous classes this summer to get you back in the water. A favorite is her “Marine Bio” class. Having Kristy onboard with us has open another exciting door for Aqua Safaris. Bill Finstad, father of Kristy, has a masters degree in Marine Science, has over 35 years in the dive industry and is the owner and operator of Finstad’s Worldwide Diving Adventures. We have teamed up, and together we will offer extended trips to the Channel Islands (both Southern and Northern Islands). These trips include on-board presentations with slide shows, aquariums, and microscopes. You can also request advanced or marine Bio classes to be taught on board.

The 14th Annual Day on the Bay is happening on July 22nd at Cowell’s Beach and volunteers are needed. This year in addition to taking individuals with various physical challenges into the water on SCUBA, Aqua Safaris will also be hosting the “floating venue,” which means we need more folks to help. If you want a rich, fulfilling day full of smiles and laughter, join us as we reach out and offer something new to a very deserving group of people! Your heart will be touched. Contact DeDe if you’re interested.

We’re heading to Southern California’s “Wreck Ally’ in November—come join in on the fun. In preparation for the trip, David will be offering a wreck diving course in which certification will be completed during the trip. This trip and class is for everyone!

With more and more artificial reefs being created by the sinking of ships you’re bound to be diving one, if you haven’t already. Make sure you do it correctly with the training and knowledge that makes your diving safe. For more information on class and trip, contact David.

Our Memorial Day weekend trip on the Truth Aquatics boat the “Vision” proved to be another great trip. With an early weather report being a bit sketchy, folks were a bit concerned that the weekend may end up being more of a downer. This wasn’t the case—once again the crew found protected dive sights and as you can see from the photo, congratulations were in order to both Corey and Abigail, who both landed their first big catches! What a feast! If you weren’t able to make it on the last trip, you have another opportunity at the end of July. We have a two day charter aboard the Vision and space is still available. We also have three more Channel islands trips scheduled for this year.

It’s not too late to get signed up for this years NAUI Instructor Training course. It is scheduled for two 4-day weekends starting August 4th. If you have your dive master or assistant instructor certification and want to take the next step in sharing your love for both the ocean and SCUBA, here’s your opportunity. Being part of the course will bring your training to a new level, contact contact David, the course director. for more details.

Join Aqua Safaris in La Paz, Baja, October 29th–Nov. 5th, only $1399. Have you always dreamed of an encounter with hammerheads or whale sharks? Here's your opportunity to have them both! Last year’s holiday adventure was unbeatable, so we’re doing a repeat performance during an even more probable time for viewing such remarkable creatures. In addition, you’ll be in Mexico for the celebration of 𔄟Day of the Dead.” You’ll witness one of the most beautiful traditions in the Mexican culture. More details.
About This Adventure
We will be staying in the center of the tourist district surrounded by all the action, restaurants and night life. Daily breakfasts are included. We are chartering a large and fast dive boat that we will have exclusively each day for five days of diving. We will enjoy the beautiful beaches following our dives—as lunch is included on dive days. Don’t forget to pack yourself a costume as we’ll be celebrating Halloween. La Paz is the capitol of Baja California Sur, which was founded on May 03, 1535 by Hernan Cortez. It is the oldest registered town in the peninsula of Baja California. After a rough start, La Paz has become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Baja, because of its culture, small-town atmosphere and pleasant climate.

There are many interesting places to visit such as the Cathedral named after Nuestra Señora de La Paz, built 1861, that overlooks the plaza of the town. Don’t miss the Museum of Archaeology of Baja California, displaying over 1000 pieces that represent the early life of the peninsula.

Join us for a holiday adventure you'll never forget. Belize has been known as a Caribbean paradise for years. It’s crystalline blue waters offer bountiful marine diversity. The diversity isn’t limited to the water only. On this trip, you’ll experience 5 days of diving (including a trip to the Blue Hole), river rafting / cave tubing, manatee viewing, visit to the jaguar zoo and tour of Maya Ruins. Your 12-day trip will be filled with adventure, yet you’ll have plenty of time for relaxation and time to appreciate the natural beauty of Belize.

You’ll be diving with Aqua Dives, having 4 days of local diving with the option to upgrade to the outer reefs. Breakfasts are included daily and lunch is included on the “Blue Hole” and cave tubing days. The resort offers golf cart rentals which will give you the freedom to explore. Accommodations are nice beach front units with AC and ceiling fans. A beautiful sandy beach is right in front of these units: you can lounge away, play volleyball or snorkel in the clear, warm blue-green waters.

Belizean waters are home to 3 living atolls; Turneffe, Lighthouse (home of the Blue Hole) and Glovers Reef. These sites are excellent for the novice diver, yet interesting to the more experienced diver. Shark Ray Alley, Hol-Chan Marine Reserve, Mexico Rocks and many other snorkeling areas are only a short boat ride away from the Sun Breeze Hotel pier, where we will make our stay while on Ambergris Caye.

Ambergris Caye, the largest of Belize’s more than 200 offshore cayes is approximately 35 miles from the Belize mainland and the main destination for travelers to this friendly and unspoiled Caribbean nation. Ambergris Caye is Belize’s paradise and features many attractions for the entire family, especially those interested in diving and snorkeling, which makes the island the premier dive and water sports capital of Belize and Central America. Enjoy the wonders of the worlds second longest barrier beef (186 miles), one-half mile east of the shoreline and runs the entire 25 mile length of the island.

Carnival Week!
We are Going Back to Cozumel for Carnival! You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced Cozumel during Carnival. It’s truly magical. Our trip for February 2007 will be better than last year since Cozumel just announced the sinking of two new wrecks. This ten adventure includes 5 days of boat diving, luxury accommodations with food and drinks and a round trip from San Francisco.

Cozumel is well known as one of the premier diving destinations in the Caribbean. Carnival Week on Cozumel is one of the most colorful and biggest celebrations in Mexico. It is a week of parades, dances, costumes, music and street carnivals. Almost all work stops and everyone joins in the dancing and celebration. Schools, clubs, and community organizations spend weeks making floats, costumes, and practicing their dances and music. The competition increases every year and the result is evident in the elaborate costumes and floats.

This is definitely a diving adventure. We stay at a beautiful hotel right on the beach. Daily our private dive boat pulls up in front of our hotel to take us to beautifully colored reefs. You’ll experience current (drift) diving at it’s best. You’ll be able to dive incredible walls and swim your way through magnificent caverns as sea life dances around you. Get up close to huge groupers. The night diving is unbelievable. Imagine warm water, spectacular colors, and bottom times of an hour or more. Get certified or upgrade your certification on this trip.

Make plans today to join us on this grand celebration. It’s definitely a trip you won’t forget and don’t want to miss—only $1,995 for RT air, hotel and 5 days of diving, all the food you can eat and all the drinks that you want.

Interested in diving Mexico’s famous cenotes, an add on trip can be arranged. Come enjoy Caribbean Carnival in Cozumel.

Join us for a quick adventure to Southern California as we explore Wreck Alley. Wreck Alley is one of the most popular dive destinations in the San Diego area. Less than two miles offshore are several wrecks including the Ruby E, a 130-foot coast guard cutter, the 110-foot long kelp harvester El Rey, the NEL tower and the Yukon—a 366 foot long Canadian destroyer sunk 6 years ago. All are excellent dives, covered with marine life. Wreck diving can be enjoyed by all divers. One doesn’t have to enter the wreck to enjoy it. We’re currently fine-tuning this trip—e-mail your input to dede@aquasafaris.com.