Happy 2006 to you! All of us here at Aqua Safaris want to thank you for your support in 2005 and look forward to sharing 2006 with you. May you be wet (or dry if using a dry suit) and blowing bubbles often! The New Year always brings new and exciting gear. If you haven’t been able to brush up on what's new—please stop by the shop and we’ll share what’s new in SCUBA. In addition, remember that with the New Year comes new rental gear in our rental department. What happens with last year’s gear? We’ll be selling it off at our Annual Rental Sale that is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 4th and 5th from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. This is our biggest sale of the year. This is your opportunity to buy quality gear at half the cost of new. In addition, everything in the store will be marked down with savings of up to 70%. Aqua Safaris was sad to see Jon Collier, one of our instructors and team members, leave Santa Cruz. We wish him the very best with his new adventures in Washington. At the same time, we are very excited to welcome two new team members, Alex and Noah. Alex joined Aqua Safaris just after becoming SCUBA certified. A people person, he excells at customer service in the “family” atmosphere of Aqua Safaris. Noah was certified in Monterey 8 years ago and has done the majority of his diving in the Carribean. His goals are to expand his cold water experience and to become an instructor.

Our project in Mexico is coming along well. We have just about completed the garage with two apartments above it. If you are looking for beach vacation home or that ideal retirement community come down for a visit. The laws in Mexico have changed and now you can purchase the land free and clear. See below for more details on our April trip. We would also like to thank all those who donated their used computers to the schools of Mulegé. They appreciated your generosity. If you missed out on getting rid of your old one, we are happy to let you know we will be taking down another load in mid-February after David’s visit home. Simply drop your working computer (printers, monitors, etc.) off at Aqua Safaris and let the staff know it’s to go to Mexico.

During the holidays, thirteen divers met in La Paz for a true adventure. Not only did we swim with whale sharks the first day out, we also encountered fat and happy hammerheads on more than one occasion. It was a treat! The weather was beautiful, the food delicious and the holiday spirit alive and well. A special thank you goes out to Mark Woodhead who decided to stay out of the water to capture some awesome photos of the whale sharks. If whale sharks and hammerheads are on your list to see, come join us as we try for a repeat adventure in October of this year.

If you are looking for a memorable Memorial Day, how about joining Aqua Safaris aboard the Vision for three days of wonderful Channel Island diving. We board Thursday night, and wake up Friday morning ready for breakfast followed by diving. We have the entire boat chartered, that means we go where the diving is best. This is the 3rd year we’ve had this charter and the spaces fill quickly. Be sure to call Aqua Safaris to reserve you space.

Already have plans for Memorial Day Weekend, how about joining us for a two day trip in July or three days in September (Lobster Opener).

Come join us aboard the Escapade in Monterey and see some of the best diving Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur has to offer. We continue to charter the boat once a month exclusively for our clients. It’s a great opportunity to meet other divers.Call the shop to reserve your spot. Cost is only $85 for two tanks, drinks and snack. Come join the fun!

You haven’t lived until you’ve experience Cozumel during Carnival. It’s truly magical. Our trip for February 25th–March 4th still has space available. Lots of folks have been concerned because of the hit they took with the hurricane. We have received reports that the damage was minimal to the reefs. Cozumel is alive and well and needs our support. This eight day adventure includes 5 days of boat diving, luxury accommodations with food and drinks, and round trip from San Francisco, for only $1795.

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

Whether you are diving locally or abroad, it is highly recommended that you check with your insurance carrier prior. You need to secure verification that you have coverage should you experience a diving accident and require recompression treatment. For years, we have recommended DAN (Divers Alert Network) as an insurance company for divers. We haven’t heard of any disgruntled divers that have used their DAN insurance. Rather, we’ve received only positive feedback from divers that have had claims for lost equipment or cancelled travel. Luckily, our divers aren’t the ones finding themselves in recompression chambers. This being said, we all know the risk is present and it is always better to be prepared. Recently SSS (Sub-aquatic Safety Services) a recompression chamber network stated that they will no longer accept DAN America insurance. They will treat the diver, but only if payment is made up front, which requires the diver to file a claim for any possible reimbursement from DAN directly. This does not mean all chambers—only some. We advise you to check out the local chamber in your area or dive destination. For more details you can contact cdammert@medicalhyperbarics.com.

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, dance, 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. 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 its 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 $1,795 for RT Air, hotel and 5 days of diving, all the food you can eat and all the drinks that you want.

Aqua Safaris will be making its regular trip to Mulegé, Baja California. Come celebrate spring, join us on an adventure to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and play in the sunny Bay of Conception. Come and enjoy camping on beautiful sandy beaches, eat hearty and make life-long friends! Drive down and enjoy 10 days of travel, diving, skin diving, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and fun in the sun! Only $499 per person (all inclusive), stay and extra week for only $199 more! So much fun in the sun in beautiful Baja Mexico can be packed into 10 days plus and only 7 days off work.

o SCUBA and Snorkeling o Kayaking o Kneeboarding o Windsurfing
o Swim with the dolphins o Fishing o Mountain Biking o Hiking

Don’t be left behind, come play. A $100 Non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. Don’t miss out. Pressed for time? You can fly down for about $450 and we will pick you up at the Loreto airport.

Come with us on this exquisite dive destination to one of the top rated dive resorts in the world. Private beach, bungalows and unlimited world-class easy diving and great food. First we arrive in Bali and are whisked away on a private airplane to Wakatobi. In a distant corner of Indonesia, about 2 hours by air from Bali, on a small island the locals call Onemobaa, you'll find yourself in one of the most extraordinary marine parks in the world. Spend a week enthralled with some of the world's best diving. Pamper yourself at this year’s #1 rated dive resort.
The Epicenter of biodiversity.
Situated at the core of the ocean’s highest coral reef biodiversity, the 372 square-miles that comprise the Wakatobi National Marine Park was considered to be “probably the finest diving site in the world” by underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. Today, it is ranked as one of the premier coral reefs in the world. With 85% of the world’s coral reef species located in the region, the display of diverse marine life is unparalleled.
Marine Life.
The adventure begins only 80 meters from the resort’s powder white beach where a lush drop-off stretches along several distinct dive sites. Lionfish, clownfish, rays, batfish, crocodile fish, jawfish, ghost pipefish, waspfish, schooling jacks, turtles, mandarin fish, leaf fish, and four species of pygmy seahorses inhabit the reef. Even the elusive blue-ringed octopus makes a rare appearance. Brilliant soft corals, oversized gorgonians, vibrant sponges and delicate tunicates in every hue create an intricately woven tapestry of color and texture. Shallow depths enable divers to enjoy unusually long bottom times during which they may explore a thriving marine environment. At night, the resort's famous “House Reef,” one of the world’s best shore dives, explodes with riotous color.
Bali Add-On
Since you’re so close come with us for five more days in Bali. Enjoy the splendor and hospitality of the legendary Balinese culture: 2-hour massages, fantastic restaurants and shopping at unbelievable prices. Stay with us at a wondrous resort immersed in local culture. This Bali add-on trip is only $685 additional.

The Maldives draws divers from all corners of the world. Emerald lagoons and perfectly white beaches, all surrounded by a deep blue sea are unique features. A diver’s paradise located off the coast of India. Come help support this Tsunami swept nation in need of our tourist dollars. Let’s enjoy this world-class diving destination and in doing so help reduce the impact of the disaster.

We will be diving from a liveaboard and fully explore this beautiful, exciting location far off the beaten path. A Christmas Adventure to be remembered. If you have the time, come play with us in India for a second week of cultural adventure. Maldives Liveaboard Diving Experience the wonders of unlimited diving off the beaten path on this well-equipped liveaboard.