In today’s ever-changing economy numerous dive centers are going out of business. The good news is that Aqua Safaris is not. We are going strong. We are always looking for ways to improve and serve you, our diving friends, better. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service by standing behind the services and products that we sell. If you have any ideas, please share them with David or DeDe, the store’s founders and owners. David’s e-mail is dive@aquasafaris.com and DeDe’s is dede@aquasafaris.com.

If you did not know, David and DeDe and their two boys, Luke and Ryan spent last year in Mexico leaving the store with Aqua Safaris wonderful staff. To break out of the mold and move away for a year to a foreign country was a dream come true. What an experience. We are back and almost caught up, raring to go with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Come see the changes as this year progresses.

One change is we have two new hires, Richard Haworth and Zack Zimmerman. Both have a love for the ocean and are excited to share their knowledge of diving with you. Next time that you are in the area stop by and say hi. In addition to the new sales associates we also have changes to our instructional staff. We are excited to welcome Scott Tims as an instructor. Scott comes to us with 19 years of experience and has instructed more than 400 classes. Aqua Safaris is also excited to welcome Matt Crisp back to our teaching staff, who has just returned from 6 months in Hawaii and is now our resident Hawaii expert. Matt has jumped right back into teaching and hopes to see you in one of his classes soon.

Scuba Tune up!

Are your gills dry and your SCUBA equipment dusty? We can fix that! We have two specials for you! How about a free SCUBA tune up. That’s right, watch a video and practice skills in a swimming pool for two hours with a Dive Pro. We want you back in the water and we want you to do it safely. If thats not enough review, we also offer a recertification program at half price.

Our second offer is an equipment tune up. If you decide to take part in the recertification program and you purchased your regulator from us, we’ll service your regulator for half price. We are fortunate to have Doug, one of the best, most experience dive technicians to personally service your life support equipment. Stop by Aqua Safaris and say hi and to get signed up for our next Scuba Tune Up or to be part of our recertification program.

Become a Scuba Instructor:

Aqua Safaris is conducting a Scuba Instructors course in conjunction with UCSC in early summer. This is going to be a great class. Are you looking for a second career that will be a labor of love filled with fun, adventure and travel? Look no further. Come play and work at Aqua Safaris or at any of the dive resorts around the world. Those that want to take this class will first need: Rescue certification, Divemaster or Assistant Instructor and a at least 50 logged dives in varying environments. Cost of the class is only $1200 plus books. Sign up today so that you can start preparing yourself for the course.

Annual Sale of Rental Equipment

Don’t forget that our biggest sale of the year is coming up February 10th and 11th. This is when we sell all of our rental gear. This quality equipment is in good shape and looks almost new. We also have great deals on new gear with discounts from 10 to 75% off. If you are looking for a full set of scuba gear this is the time. We recommend coming Saturday morning for the best selection. This is the absolute best opportunity to get yourself set up with your own dive gear for less than half price! Having your own gear makes scuba diving easier, safer and more fun. Check out the sales flyer on the next page to see some of the specials. Remember, everything in the store is on sale! Hope we see you there.

A FREE CLASS

That’s right; you could get your friends or family members certified for FREE! How’s that you ask? SCUBAPRO, one of our manufactures of equipment, is offering two rebates which could mean a free scuba class for you, your friends or family! The first offer is a rebate of $50 if you purchase a SCUBAPRO mask, snorkel and fins (all of which you need to own for the basic class).

In addition, they’re offering a $150 to anyone who purchases a SCUBAPRO regulator, computer and BC package. Combined that is $200, more than the cost of the class! Call today to get signed up – class space is limited and we only need a $50 deposit to reserve your space.

Mulegé Relief Update:

In December, David, DeDe, Luke and Ryan visited Mulegé and are happy to share that the community is recovering from Hurricane John, which hit them hard in early September wiping out about 1/4 of the town. This last trip we were able to take down 26 computers for the schools and delivered more shovels, brooms and supplies. Although Mulegé is still cleaning up, the spirit of Christmas filled the streets and everyone has high hopes for the New Year.

If anyone wants to help with our Mexico school upgrade program we would love it. We still need working computers, Pentium 2s or better as well as help installing them. We also need help installing playgrounds at the boarding schools surrounding the Mulegé area. We are visiting schools off the beaten path where few tourists ever go. These are boarding schools where children from poor ranching families spend their week. After only a few short months these kids are computer savvy and the teachers are using Spanish computer based scholastic programs. The kids are so appreciative. The computer system with high speed satellite internet provides them a real chance at an education at schools which often lack basic supplies. Our goal is to provide 10 computers at 10 different schools by the end of the year.

The City Park Playgrounds that we have been installing also provide years of enjoyment to thousands of kids. These play structures are large and built to serve for generations. You will be happy to hear that both playgrounds we installed in Mulegé survived the flood. After a palm trees and flood debris was removed from them they were 100% intact with no damage. For more info see our hurricane page.

Cozumel Mexico: Feb 16–25, 2007 $1,995 including airfare

Carnival Week! 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 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.

Philippines, Aug. 17–31, 2007 $2395 including. airfare

Join us on an exciting adventure at the Atlantis resort at Puerto Galera on Mindoro Island in the Philippines. Truly one of the last undiscovered dive destinations on the planet with some of the world’s best diving. Atlantis’ beach front is in the heart of over 10 km of marine reserves featuring pristine coral reefs. You couldn’t be any closer.

This 8 day, 7 night adventure offers 6 days of diving (up to 4 dives per day) at a 5-star resort, and all food, taxes, transfers and roundtrip airfare for $2395.

In addition to fantastic dive sites (more than 30 of them) the Atlantis resort offers a wide range of non-SCUBA activities including: beach combing, island hopping, golf and excursions which include Sunset Cruises, the Tarzan Trek Tour, Jungle River Kayaking, Sea Kayaking and more.

In addition to the above adventures, we will also be offering a one week add-on trip to the sister resort of Atlantis in Dumaguete. Here, we will experience some of Asia’s best “muck diving.” You’ll be able to find some of the ocean’s rarest underwater creatures, a photographer’s heaven.

La Paz, Baja October 13–20, 2007 $1799 including airfare

Join Aqua Safaris in La Paz, Baja, October 13–20, only $1799. Have you always dreamed of an encounter with hammerheads or whale sharks? Here's your opportunity to have them both! We are two for two, so we’re hopeful we’ll find the hammerheads and whale sharks again this October. On our last trip all the divers were treated to an encounter with a whale shark out in the blue near El Bajo. She hung out for almost an hour while everyone watched in awe. October offers some of Baja’s best visibility and warmer waters.

We will be staying in the center of the tourist district surrounded by all the action, restaurants, and night life. 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. Lunch is included on dive days.

About La Paz. 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, it 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 like 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 representing early life of the peninsula.

Taveuni/Fiji 2007–2008 $2695 including airfare

Dec. 25–Jan. 6th, $2,695 per person / double occupancy. We’ll be visiting Taveuni, the “garden island.” Diving in Fijian waters is a unique experience. On land,volcanic mountains tower above rain forests abounding with exotic plant and animal life. In the sea, coral gardens explode with kaleidoscopic colors and a profusion of marine life. The water is warm and the visibility is spectacular. This is a dive adventure you’ll always remember.

Aqua Safaris’ all-inclusive price includes:

• Roundtrip airfare (from SFO)
• Airport/hotel transfers
• Hotel room with ocean view
• Three meals daily at the resort
• 5 days of boat diving (two-tank dives)
• Tanks and weight belt

The incredible diversity of life can be seen on land and below. There are towering volcanic mountains, rain forests with exotic flora and fauna and the coral gardens explode with vibrant colors and a multitude of marine life.

Diving the Fijian waters is an exciting and memorable adventure. You’ll dive the Great White Wall, Blue Ribbon Eel Reef, the Cabbage Patch and many others. Each dive site is spectacular and the warm, clear tropical waters will spoil you rotten.

The Garden Island Resort is a small, intimate hotel with great food, right on the water. It’s warm and friendly Fijian staff will make your stay extremely pleasant. After spending the morning diving, we will arrange for a waterfall trek, or a cultural village visit. There is a wonderful restaurant and bar on site.

Our experience in the South Pacific Travel market has enabled us to offer an optional add on trip to Pacific Harbor. This includes hotel, air fare, shark diving and other adventures for just $600. Normally, an add-on like this would cost much more. Clearly, there’s no better time to plan a trip to the South Seas.

Channel Islands.

Join us on one of our numerous Channel Island adventures. The truth Aquatic boats were designed by divers, for divers. The trips are effortless and offer some of the best diving in California. We have both 3 and 4 day trips booked this year. The 4-day trips give us enough time to travel to some of the less visited islands, the Southern Channel Islands, which typically provide warmer water, better visibility and incredible encounters with all sorts of animals. Please refer to the Channel Islands page and then contact us to get signed up.