U.S. DIVE TRAVEL: Index of Dive Resorts, Scuba Diving Centers.

Home / Dive Resorts / Live-Aboards / Snorkeling / Who We Are / Book a Trip

U.S. DIVE TRAVEL's INDEX of DIVE RESORTS -- CARIBBEAN & PACIFIC

WELCOME to a WORLD of

Unsurpassed Service +

Uncompromised Safety +

Unspoiled Seascapes +

Unhurried Serenity =

U.S. Dive Travel
Network ^TM

Diver / Snorkeler Hotline: 952-953-4124.

Website: www.usdivetravel.com

E-mail Address: divetrip@bitstream.net

U.S. Dive Travel / Reservations
PMB 307 -- Suite # 116
15050 Cedar Ave. S.
St. Paul, MN, U.S.A. 55124-7047

dive resorts, dive resort, dive vacations, dive vacation, snorkeling, scuba diving
Check VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK, Guanaja Island, Honduras !

dive vacation, snorkeling vacation, dive resorts, dive resort
LIONS DIVE RESORT, Curacao.

AUSTRALIA:
Heron Island is on the far-southern Great Barrier Reef, just east of Gladstone, Oz. Pacific travel experts agree that this is the best-value luxury resort for tropical snorkeling & scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. HERON ISLAND RESORT offers vast acres of corals, stunning in brilliance & density. Many of the most vivid and visually captivating coralheads near HERON ISLAND RESORT are found in only 7-15 feet of splish-splash water, very close offshore. There's plenty of equally colorful boat diving available near HERON ISLAND, Australia, for those who crave more color-intensive scuba diving. With its many options for private rooms & suites, HERON ISLAND RESORT is well-suited to couples seeking romantic honeymoon getaways or family scuba vacations. The continually sky-shifting turquoise hues of the HERON ISLAND lagoon are calming & re-energizing. This is one of the best snorkeling destinations + dive resorts in the Western Pacific; & an ideal place for "Need to Get Lost in the Big Blue" vacations. Give HERON ISLAND RESORT a dive tour whirl. G'day mates !

AUSTRALIA:
Lizard Island is on the Northern Barrier Reef, just north of Cooktown in Queensland waters. LIZARD ISLAND RESORT is one of the most respected and sought-after 5-star luxury dive resorts in the world & has been lauded by international hotel-rating agencies & travel magazines for many years. The LIZARD ISLAND RESORT reputation has been as classic & time-honored as that of Rolls Royce or Rolex. One friendly caveat: best to begin your reservations process at least 9-12 months early, since the preferred rooms are very challenging to secure on an latecomer basis. This is the unrivaled crown jewel of Australia's Great Barrier Reef & is perfectly matched to clients who demand nothing less than tropical lodging perfection -- from meals to amenities to the TLC client-attentive service. There is no lovelier resort island on the Great Barrier Reef -- for snorkeling vacations or dive tours -- than LIZARD ISLAND, the epicenter of Queensland dive tours. What's more, the resort recently completed a sweeping renovation project that has only added to the brilliance of LIZARD ISLAND RESORT. We recommend LIZARD ISLAND RESORT with unreserved enthusiasm. (Actually mates, you DO need reservations, to be precise ! :)

BAJA CALIFORNIA in MEXICO, La Paz:
La Concha Beach Resort / The Cortez Club. Located in the friendly village of La Paz, the LA CONCHA BEACH RESORT is a clean, serene 3-star property where all rooms have a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. This dive company, Club Cortez, is regarded as the class operation on Mexico's Baja Peninsula -- with swift, safe vessels & superior dive guides. We believe that LA CONCHA BEACH RESORT in La Paz offers the best bargains for lodging & meals in Western Mexico, plus an easygoing ethos that's not yet trampled to bits by the party-hearty tourist hordes. The pelagic fish & sea lion activity peaks & scuba diving here near LA CONCHA BEACH RESORT is outstanding from late November through April. This is basically Big Critter Central. No corals, modest "viz" all year, but muchos maritime creatures. Scores of pelagics in the cooler winter months. Healthy schools of gray whales abound in winter; & all year around you'll see scores of fat seals & sea lions cavorting on the offshore pinnacles. Hammerheads in schools of 50 - 150 or more are common, & sometimes clients get to see the elusive whale shark -- "Meester Beeg!" LA CONCHA BEACH RESORT in La Paz, of Baja in Mexico, gets our vote for one of the dive world's top value dive tours, especially in the cooler winter months, when the undersea critters school, big time.

BELIZE BARRIER REEF, Turneffe Atoll:
Blackbird Caye Resort & Manta Resort. Manta Resort is on Glover's Atoll in the Southern Barrier Reef. A brilliant 4+star property on a private island about 50 miles from the mainland, MANTA RESORT is one of the two finest dive resorts on the Belize Barrier Reef. After a 2-year hiatus for refurbishments, MANTA RESORT reopened to high acclaim in Feb. '05, & the diving world is buzzing big time. The owners of MANTA RESORT confirm their goal is to provide the ultimate Caribbean luxury getaway, & they have put some serious dollars into refurbishing this already brilliant island. The other of our favorite Belize dive resorts is BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT, located about 32 nautical miles SE of Belize City, on Turneffe Atoll. Many photog's & dive guides -- veterans of world-class dive tours -- believe that the corals & fish life of Glover's Reef & Turneffe Atoll rank them at the crest of Caribbean scuba diving. On a 12-acre sandy isle, MANTA RESORT offers quiet, quaint mahogany cabanas & an expert dive staff. MANTA RESORT is one of the most exclusive high-luxury resorts in the Caribbean, worthy of a solid 4+ star rating, perfect for stressed-out exec's, professionals in dire need of a complete tropical island escape; while BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT is a beautiful 4-star operation, a little more down-home, more room to stretch out in, more of an easy-breezy family feeling. BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT encompasses about 220 acres on a much larger 1400-acre island, not far from the famous Blue Hole dive site. BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT offers miles of hiking trails & tawny-sand beaches, so you can really stretch out & go for pleasant walks. We consider BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT to be one of the best & brightest Belize snorkeling and Belize diving resorts in this Caribbean nation. BLACKBIRD CAYE RESORT is a beauty, truly. Check out the amazing photos, recently taken. HOT TIP for a SIDE TRIP: ask about our exotic & affordable tours of the famous Tikal Ruins in Guatemala, & the world-renowned mainland Belize sites of Xunantunich Ruins, the Belize Zoo, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Preserve (where we saw a jaguar a few feet from our car the 1st 15 minutes after we entered the park!), the Guanacaste Forest & beautiful WINDY HILL RESORT in San Ignacio, a serene back-country village in the heart of Belize eco-tourism. CHECK our BRAND-NEW PHOTOS of the TIKAL RUINS & CARACOL RUINS. These Mayan ruins are astonishing in their sheer size & beauty; we were humbled, blown away by the experience ...

Hawaii snorkeling vacations, Hawaii dive resorts, Hawaii dive vacations

BONAIRE:
Sand Dollar Condominiums. Located on the South Shore of Bonaire, SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS is a spiffy 3-star resort with some of the easiest & safest scuba diving from shore-- right next to the beach -- that you'll find anywhere in the Caribbean. Be mindful, there WAS some storm damage from Hurricane Lenny, but Bonaire islanders are engagingly life-positive people. SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS owners are good folks; and they are optimistic that the corals will someday return to their full luster for snorkeling too. The best diving now is not from shore, but along the fringing reefs offshore. Or some of our clients rent pickups & drive up the coast to the more pristine, remote pockey coves & shorelines not biffed as hard by Hurricane Lenny back in November 1999. The best Bonaire diving is from dive boats 1/4 to 1/2 mile from shore, along the fringing reefs, or up in the more remote country coves. In short, SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS are very affordable & clean, the condos are quiet & comfortable; & the management prides itself on TLC service with a careful eye for details. The SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS dive shop is conveniently located right on site; & many fun dive sites are only a few kick cycles from shore. Sand Dollar Condominiums get our vote for a decent family locale, with activities for kids & plenty of safe beach play. SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS are not just for dive tours, they are perfect for dedicated beach baskers, too. SAND DOLLAR CONDOMINIUMS is a perfect locale for retired folks, families & snorkeling aficionados. Give Sand Dollar a try, amigos del mar. You'll be glad.

COOK ISLANDS, Aitutaki Atoll:
Are Tamanu Resort / Aitutaki Scuba ARE TAMANU RESORT is a friendly 3-star getaway on Aitutaki Atoll north of Rarotonga island. This locale is regarded as the best-value vacation property on Aitutaki & one of the best deals in all the Cook Islands. For years travel writers have labeled Aitutaki Lagoon one of the most photogenic & hypnotic coral atolls on earth. The ocean water near the ARE TAMANU RESORT is jewel-like. The little dive shop on Aitutaki Lagoon is a fun-loving, easygoing company that will show you a good time, whether you focus on snorkeling or scuba diving. Aitutaki Lagoon is the color-saturated soul of the Cook Islands. Dive resorts do not get much zestier than this one -- the ARE TAMANU RESORT.

COOK ISLANDS, Rarotonga island:
Edgewater Resort / Cook Island Divers. The EDGEWATER HOTEL is a high-value 3-star high-rise on Rarotonga, the country's capital island. The EDGEWATER HOTEL has a great beachfront, splendid views of the perimeter reef, & a pool & tennis courts right next to the shooshing surf. The EDGEWATER HOTEL staff attitude & resort ambiance are soothing. Just as you'd see on Tahiti island, towerlike peaks looming above nearby jungles might inspire you to take some inspirational inland treks. The Cook Islands were the kick-start of our adventure diving career, & we would love to share some of that tropical island spirit with you! Try EDGEWATER HOTEL and your tropical vistas will widen, big time....

COSTA RICA:
Villa Sol Hotel / Bill Beard's Diving Safaris on the Pacific Coast, is a new 3+star hotel with the country's leading scuba operation right next door. It's a great combo, sure to give you fine vacation value. VILLA SOL HOTEL, formerly called Sol Playa Hermosa Hotel, has two beautiful swimming pools & excellent dining facilities, plus clean modern rooms. We also rep 6 other nice mid-range hotels in this immediate area, in case the VILLA SOL HOTEL is filled. Happens a lot, as Costa Rica diving is becoming ever more popular, as word of mouth filters back to the States about this lovely lodging of VILLA SOL HOTEL in the village of Playa Hermosa. Bill & Nadine Beard founded the best & most experienced scuba diving guide service in Costa Rica -- more than 30 years ago -- & now new owners have taken over, following the Beard's traditions with a refreshing new twist. This dive shop rocks, check 'em out. HOT TIP for a SIDE TRIP: Eco-tours in the heartland of Costa Rica! VILLA SOL HOTEL & BILL BEARD'S DIVING SAFARIS are within an easy day's drive of five national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, active volcanoes, hot springs & biological preserves -- the glory of inland Costa Rica. There's a vast number of great hikes, gentle to strenuous, whatever you want, if you're willing to hoof it for verdant views. Costa Rica's eco-adventures are one of its top international claims to fame. The cloud forests in and near the Guanacaste Mountains are world-renowned. Once BILL BEARD'S DIVING SAFARIS brings you back from their magical scuba diving world, your appetite for eco-tours may be keen. If so read further on down the Costa Rica page. We have eco-travel energy -- to the max -- down in verdant Costa Rica! BILL BEARD'S DIVING SAFARIS is as good as they get, just super guides.

scuba diving vacation, dive resort, dive vacation, snorkeling vacation

CURACAO:
Lions Dive & Beach Resort + Ocean Encounters Dive Center. LIONS DIVE & BEACH RESORT is the best-value 3-star dive resort on this friendly and fun Dutch island. This friendly locale is one of the classic dive resorts in the "ABC Islands" of the far-southern Caribbean. The beachfront at LIONS DIVE & BEACH RESORT is clean, serene, a great little getaway. Ocean Encounters offers safe & easy dive tours from walls & coral gardens to sloping reefs & wrecks. Experience the dive sites that make Curacao a top destination in the Caribbean, especially suited to new divers or snorkeling enthusiasts. Such sites visited by LIONS DIVE & BEACH RESORT boats each day include the classic "house reef" at the Seaquarium, plus East Point, Lost Anchor, Barracuda Point, Beacon Point, the wreck of the Superior Producer, the good ol' Tugboat & many more worthy dive sites. Try the LIONS DIVE & BEACH RESORT + Ocean Encounters dive duo & we believe you will come back for more of this Curacao scuba diving & snorkeling fun.

FIJI ISLANDS, Matangi island:
Matangi Island Resort is a wonderful rustic 4-star property just a few miles north of Taveuni in NE Fiji. One of many claims to fame here at MATANGI ISLAND is a coral-rich lagoon just offshore where you can enjoy safe & brilliant snorkeling or shore diving. MATANGI ISLAND RESORT (also known as Matagi Island from the classic ancient Fijian spelling) also offers 3 luxurious private honeymoon treehouses overlooking the water & estate. Meals are great & the portions generous at the tables of Matangi Island Resort (Matagi Island). Dive tours don't get much sweeter than this ! NOTE: We also now offer LALATI ISLAND RESORT down in southern Fiji, in the world-famous Beqa Lagoon sector, so ask us about combining MATANGI ISLAND & LALATI ISLAND on colorful 2-week Fiji dive vacations. MATANGI ISLAND or Matagi Island, however you prefer it, this is as beautiful as it gets in the Sunny SoPac, amigos del mar!

FIJI ISLANDS, Vatulele island:
Vatulele Island Resort is a 5-star luxury lodge on a private atoll just south of Viti Levu island. Like Australia's Lizard Island, or Lanai's Koele Lodge, VATULELE ISLAND is one of the world's finest on-reef hotels, featuring impeccable decor, brilliantly refined service, cuisine & amenities that are without peer in all the Fiji Islands. Few folks ever get to experience a tropical dive resort like VATULELE ISLAND. All who are blessed to visit VATULELE ISLAND say their lives are changed forever by the beauty & serenity. VATULELE ISLAND RESORT is something else, beyond the scope of trivial advertising. You have to see VATULELE ISLAND, drink in the visual beauty for days, to really understand its exceptional charm. No webpage nor brochure re' Fiji diving or Fiji Islands snorkeling could ever really capture this vivid Fiji vacation spirit at VATULELE ISLAND RESORT.

GRAND CAYMAN:
Treasure Island Resort / Treasure Island Divers. Experienced Caribbean travel guides agree that this property is the best-value dedicated dive resort on Grand Cayman, an island where bankruptcy is common as salt spray. TREASURE ISLAND RESORT is located just a short distance out of Georgetown, on the ocean & at the far southern end of 7 Mile Beach. The dive operation close by -- Treasure Island Divers -- is famous for daily visits to Stingray City, it's multiple options for dive trips each day & the friendly well-trained dive staff who will show you a great time. Treasure Island Divers is the class act for scuba diving charters on Grand Cayman. TREASURE ISLAND RESORT is where to go to save money & not skimp on creature comforts & Cayman diving quality. So many of our clients have written letters of satisfaction after visiting TREASURE ISLAND RESORT on Grand Cayman, that we feel it's a good bet you'll feel the same. Grand Cayman is still recovering from the vast devastation of the Fall 2004 hurricane that laid waste to much of the island. We are pulling for you folks & tourists will return soon to TREASURE ISLAND RESORT, to have a great time, we are confident.

LITTLE CAYMAN & CAYMAN BRAC:
Little Cayman Beach Resort / Brac Reef Beach Resort There must be something singular about LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT, this off-the-beaten-path destination -- if dive magazine editors & world-renowned underwater photographers are buzzing about it so consistently, year after year. Granted there are such abundant swells of hot air billowing from many of the diving magazines nowadays about Little Cayman & Cayman Brac islands, you'd almost think their editors need truth serum, or at least PR puffery regulators. But when respected industry figures like Philippe Cousteau & ace photographer David Doubilet sing the praises of LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT, one needs to do more than arch an eyebrow. These folks say that scuba vistas here off LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT & Cayman Brac too, are among the finest diving experiences available in the Caribbean. The fact is that they are simply correct. The truth is in the scuba diving at LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT. These reefs have coral colors & critters that cannot fib. And the resort service is exceptional. LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT rules the Caymans, we feel. The Cayman Islands still have their ol' magic touch of yesteryear's reef beauty with the luxury comforts of a really Today Getaway.

dive resort, scuba diving vacation, dive vacation, snorkeling vacation

HAWAII, Molokai island:
Molokai Lodge / Kaupoa Beach Camp &
Eco-adventures with Tim Forsberg's dive & fishing shop.
At long last, the shy little isle of Molokai is opening up soon for scuba diving vacations. And we are feeling stoked, funseekers, after waiting 10 years for this moment! Molokai is so rarely visited by North American tourists, we sense a watershed moment here for serious snorkelers & scuba divers, who like us are searching for something fresh, sweet-spirited & untrampled, a little wild & yet still comfy. Visually compelling, spiritually invigorating, emotionally healing. We call that a "Tropidelic" Hawaii vacation! You can find something for everybody at MOLOKAI LODGE -- scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking along 3,900-ft sea cliffs, archery, horseback riding, skeet shooting, serious hiking & mountain trekking, sea kayaking & cultural tours. The original MOLOKAI RANCH LODGE, is a classic hunting lodgy 4-star luxury getaway, with a huge Great Room & massive log beams & buttresses, a chandelier & wood paneling Robert Redford might envy in his mountain retreat. The crystal-clear pool, glowing green lawns & indigenous-flora garden are something to behold, & the meals are more art than cuisine. We were treated like ohana (family) by all the staff & it felt so much like home after a few hours, we had to pry ourselves away to take the tours. Susan & I like to shake a leg on our vacations, we're always moving, but we could see how easy it would be to melt into a lounge chair there at Molokai Lodge & just vegg away a couple days to decompress from our city stress. Some day.... There's also the new KAUPOA BEACH CAMP, is an astonishing place, unique in the Pacific -- a cushy tent-bungalow village on the wild west end of the island. There are 40 neatly built "tentalows" & they are 100% comfortable, clean, right near the two pocket cove beaches. These sturdy high-walled canvas bungalows, stretched over aluminum frames, are built atop spacious wooden platforms with a bathroom, huge hotwater shower & a private deck. The showers & toilets are super-clean & solar powered, designed impeccably for minimal impact on the earth. Big healthy wild turkeys strut the grounds like they own the place, & rare Hawaiian monk seals flop around happily all over the beaches, wherever they feel like planting their flubber. This is stylish tropical camping, amigos, & perfect for families with kids, big church groups, or a passel of dive shop buddies from Michigan. It's a cool new take on 21st century camping. MOLOKAI LODGE & KAUPOA BEACH CAMP, try these on for size, sunseekers. We were amazed at the serenity and brilliance of the MOLOKAI LODGE on Molokai Ranch. This little island rocks!

HAWAII, Kauai island:
Kauai Sands Hotel / Bubbles Below Diving The KAUAI SANDS HOTEL is our vote for the best-value 3-star vacation property in Kapa'a, Kauai, right on a beautiful stretch of surf-lapped beach & within close walking distance to many nightclubs, restaurants & fun shopping areas. Since 1992's Hurricane Iniki, Kauai has fully rebuilt even beyond its fine form of days past. In fact, the staff at KAUAI SANDS HOTEL will bend over backwards to make you happy; & there are many primo vacation deals to be found on Kauai as they strive to lure tourists back. Linda Bail, expert diving guide & owner of BUBBLES BELOW on Kauai, has long been respected in Hawaii scuba circles for her fine underwater photography & thorough knowledge of Kauai & Niihau marine species. This dedicated, hard-working gal is one main reason to dive Kauai, year after year. She's the best guide on a beautiful island; God bless her family & BUBBLES BELOW associates. KAUAI SANDS HOTEL is a friendly gracious place to stay; you will be glad you stopped in, we assure you. BUBBLES BELOW is the dive guide service of choice on Kauai. HOT TIP for a SIDE TRIP: 3-tank All-Day Diving Adventures to the Mysterious "Forbidden Island" of Ni'ihau! In August & September the channel waters are calm enough to make the crossing to this extraordinary wild island. Ni'ihau is the last true sanctuary for full-blooded native Hawaiians, who still speak their mother tongue & raise their children by the old sacred ways of the Hawaiian kahunas. Ni'ihau is the coolest dive trip in the Hawaiian Islands, & one that very few mainlanders will ever get to see. We've been to Ni'ihau; we've tasted its raw magic; & it is without question an awe-inspiring dive tour that occupies the pinnacle of Hawaii scuba diving! When you visit Kauai, the KAUAI SANDS HOTEL & BUBBLES BELOW Diving are the way to go, our agency has established.

HAWAII, Maui island:
Lahaina Inn + Lahaina Divers, Lahaina. Prices at this classic historical LAHAINA INN are at least USD $140 per room night below the average lodging cost on Maui's famous Ka'anapali Coast, where the beautiful people pay far too much to play, wine & dine. For the price of three nights on the Ka'anapali Coast, you can spend a delightful week in downtown Lahaina, only 2 minutes stroll from the waterfront. Clean, quiet, managed by pleasant folks who truly accommodate you, LAHAINA INN is nestled smack dab in the heart of this vibrant, colorful village. LAHAINA INN is only walkin' minutes from all the nighttime action, the best restaurants, art galleries, shops & it's less than 3 blocks easy jaunt from the Lahaina Boat Harbor, where LAHAINA DIVERS two beautiful vessels are moored. LAHAINA INN is a diamond amongst the pearls of West Maui's pricey luxury hotels, one of the best deals we have found on Maui in 15 years. Two big reasons why: meal costs & transportation costs are lower. First, in Lahaina village you can walk almost everywhere you need to go. Next, meals in Lahaina will run at least 25% - 30% more economical than in Wailea or the Ka'anapali Coast area. What's more, this classic country-style guest inn is perfectly located -- within quick strolling distance from the best scuba center in the village -- LAHAINA DIVERS. We have worked with LAHAINA DIVERS for more than 14 years now, & since day one they have had the top-rated diving yachts on Maui -- big powerful Newton 46s -- the "Dauntless & the Dominion" -- with twin Cummins turbo-Diesel 430s. A dive op that's respected widely in Hawaii, LAHAINA DIVERS has two strappin' power yachts that are among the largest & fastest Coast Guard certified diving vessels in the Hawaiian Islands. At least 3-4 times a week there are exciting day trips from Maui across the big channel to dive at Lanai, the exclusive isle where Bill Gates was married. Plus they visit the famous Molokini Crater, both inside & outside wall, several times a week. We have known Greg Howeth, the owner of LAHAINA DIVERS, for more than 14 years. He is salt of the earth, salt of the sea, easy to work with & a gentleman of his word. His crew is smart, savvy & friendly as the day is long. These guys are pros, from guages to gunwales, & they have served scores of our good Maui diving clients since the early 1990s. For scuba divers, LAHAINA DIVERS is the class act on the isle of Maui.

HAWAII, Maui island:
Maui Guest House + Extended Horizons Diving, Lahaina. Here is a chic yet surprisingly affordable way to beat the high cost of dive trips & snorkeling vacations on Maui. This lovely luxury home, right near Lahaina's scuba diving nexus, is one one of our best secret getaways on an island where vacation costs are spiraling into the stratosphere. You will be astonished at the high quality & low price of this MAUI GUEST HOUSE. Here is one of the best Hawaii honeymoon or Hawaii vacation bargains we have discovered since the early 1990s. The MAUI GUEST HOUSE & the EXTENDED HORIZONS dive operation are only a few quick minutes drive from each other, super convenient. The MAUI GUEST HOUSE offers a lush green yard with colorful gardens, a private swimming pool & 4 deluxe rooms, each with private Jacuzzi or hot tub + elegant bathroom + garden lanai + TV-VCR-DVD + Queen bed + full use of kitchen, laundry & high-speed Internet access. MAUI GUEST HOUSE is nestled in one of the prettiest areas in north Lahaina, Maui, only a block from a big public beach. On a beautiful yet spendy-elite island, the MAUI GUEST HOUSE is far & away Maui's best lodging deal we know of -- anywhere in or around Lahaina -- which is West Maui's cultural nerve center. You will save from $120 to $150 per night below the costly Ka'anapali & Wailea sectors of Maui & still enjoy the same delightful creature comforts + super-swift access to Maui's most well-known scuba diving center. A dive op that's respected widely in Hawaii, EXTENDED HORIZONS has a big fast twin 215 hp Diesel vessel that can scoot across to Lanai island in under 35 minutes most days. EXTENDED HORIZONS are specialists in diving the unspoiled classic sites of Lanai island -- across the Auau Channel from Maui. At least 3-4 times a week there are exciting day trips from Maui across the big channel to dive at Lanai, the exclusive isle where Bill Gates was married. For scuba divers, EXTENDED HORIZONS is one class act on the beach-rich isle of Maui, we feel confident in sharing with divers who love Hawaii as much as we have these last 15 years.

HAWAII, the Big Island (Kona Coast):
Royal Kona Resort / Dive Tek Adventures. This friendly 3+star hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii (formerly the Kona Hilton) is blessed with large garden-rich grounds, a beautiful pool & the best oceanside restaurant view in the Kona village area. ROYAL KONA RESORT has been a favorite of our clients for many years, & now it's even snazzier, since completing a multi-million-dollar renovation in Dec. 2001. ROYAL KONA RESORT officials promise a new even bigger renovation in 2005, to really spiff up the locale. The respected dive operation DIVE TEK ADVENTURES offers Kona's most comfortably appointed dive vessels, with an ace diving crew whose swift & stable crafts can reach many miles, in a hurry, for the best dive sites. ROYAL KONA RESORT offers the best-value dive packages for breakfast + car + room anywhere on the Big Island, & some folks say in the state of Hawaii. Our replete, complete ROYAL KONA RESORT / DIVE TEK ADVENTURES package price will surprise you. Call us for details about ROYAL KONA RESORT & DIVE TEK ADVENTURES on the Kona Coast of the Big Island, HI.

snorkeling, scuba diving, dive resorts, dive vacation

HONDURAS' BAY ISLANDS, Guanaja island:
Villa at Dunbar Rock & Nautilus Dive Resort is located on a quiet little isle with no roads, no industry & no crowds & no hassles. This pleasant old turn-of-the-century mansion (2+ stars) has 6 simple yet comfy guest rooms. There are 4 more delightful rooms on nearby 3+star DUNBAR ROCK in Sandy Bay, a beautiful Mediterranean-style villa right in the middle of the ocean -- atop a 25-foot-high rock dome, only a quick 300 yards from shore ! Plus we have 2 small apartments atop the brand-new dive shop on shore of the main island. Groups of 9-12 are ideal at this resort, but we can accommodate up to 18-20 pax. From DUNBAR VILLA you can fish off your bedroom balcony if you wish. Nautilus Dive Resort / DUNBAR VILLA is private, serene & close to some of the best coral & sponge life on the Honduras barrier reef. Visibility sometimes tops 100 feet on the southern fringing reef of Guanaja. The DUNBAR VILLA staff is gracious & attentive & the super-low prices rank among the best anywhere in Central America. We love this little dive resort, as have scores of our most value-discerning clients each year. We hope the throngs don't descend upon VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK too soon. It's fun & quite economical to add a COPAN RUINS side tour to the Guanaja island adventure as well. Nautilus Dive Resort + the COPAN RUINS = a sure bet to please even jaded dive travelers. HOT TIP for a SIDE TRIP: Visit the ancient COPAN RUINS, largest city in the Mayan Kingdom!

INDONESIA, northern Sulawesi island:
Nusantara Diving Center in Manado at the far-northern tip of Sulawesi island, is a small simple 2-star family-owned lodge & diving operation only a 30-minute boat jaunt from the famous Bunaken Islands. This cluster of unspoiled isles merits a true 9.5-on-a-scale-of-10 reef destination. The Bunaken Islands rival the Red Sea & Papua New Guinea as one of the world's most brilliant marine playgrounds. The proprietors here at NUSANTARA DIVING CENTER are uncommonly gracious & sweet-spirited. NUSANTARA DIVING CENTER's meals are hearty home cooking, Asian style. The diving near Manado in Indonesia is otherworldly in color & species diversity & the low-low price for room + meals + diving is hard to beat. Few U.S. divers ever have been privileged to visit Manado, Indonesia. Give NUSANTARA DIVING CENTER a go! Our clients have returned from Manado, Indonesia with amazing slides & stories of diving vistas that were so lush as to seem dreamlike. If you want a scuba vacation to remember, consider Indonesia & NUSANTARA DIVING CENTER, one of our favorite low-cost dive resorts.

INDONESIA, northern Sulawesi island:
Kungkungan Bay Resort in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. KUNGKUNGAN BAY RESORT is an upscale, comfortably elegant dive resort set in an old coconut plantation on the leeward side of North Sulawesi island. You know, that's the enormous Indonesian island with a shape like a half-melted "Special K" cereal box logo, located smack dab in the center of the sweeping 3,000-mile-long Indonesian archipelago. KUNGKUNGAN BAY RESORT is right on the well-touted Lembeh Strait, which many dive guides in this country consider one of the finest macro-photography & critter diving destinations in a world weary of superlatives. The KUNGKUNGAN BAY RESORT staff likes to say, "We're so sure you'll locate what you're looking for here, that if you can't find your favorite ocean critter here, it probably doesn't exist!" Now THAT indicates some pretty cool critter confidence. We recommend KUNGKUNGAN BAY RESORT without hesitation.

KOSRAE:
Kosrae Village Resort, Kosrae Island, Micronesia. This is one of the most intriguing new dive resorts we have discovered in several years. Here, the dive resort staffers are exceptionally gracious hosts & the product they are offering merits a good hard look by bargain hunters, we feel. One of our web-meisters, Big Daddy Guru Bob, has visited Kosrae several times & he says the island is charming, serene & relaxing. KOSRAE VILLAGE RESORT has a lot to offer the lucky visitors who venture this far: a clean, friendly & hospitable island that's small enough to hide from the stampeding tourist hordes, yet easy enough to reach in a hassle-free day & a half from the West Coast; plus an unsullied reef that's relatively nearby, clean & replete with marine life; plus great meals & clean rooms at prices comparable to low-season Caribbean bargains. Give KOSRAE VILLAGE RESORT on Micronesia's most laid-back dive tour destination a try. KOSRAE VILLAGE RESORT is one of the most intriguing new scuba diving buzz-makers for this year.

dive resort, dive vacation, snorkeling vacation, scuba diving

OMAN, what a feeling -- on the ARABIAN SEA:
Radisson SAS Hotel in Muscat / Oman Dive Center
You've gotta love a country where the cops write you a tougher ticket for driving a dusty car than for speeding happily down the highway. That's Oman, baby. You've gotta love a country where the national cuisine is a palate-perking meld of Lebanese, Greek, Indian, Pakistani & Arabian dishes. That's Oman again. Where kids & old folks are revered, & people really do rest on their day of rest. Where education & medical care are free for most citizens. Where robberies, rapes, assaults & chemical abuse are virtually nonexistent. Where the weather is sunny & only partly-humid about 9 months a year. Oman's diving isles offer bustling fish schools & big critter encounters that invoke the underwater zest of Costa Rica's Pacific coast or Mexico's Sea of Cortez. (Here's a plus -- the Oman Dive Center, just 25 minutes from downtown Muscat, is one of the best scuba operations we have reviewed anywhere in the world.) This new multi-million-dollar dive resort spans a pristine white sand cove, is crisply managed, safety conscious & friendly. Please check our 10 detailed articles on Arabian Sea vacations in the Gulf of Oman. There's SO much more than scuba diving when you plan an adventure vacation in Oman: namely world-class caving, canyon trekking, desert camping, oasis hiking, exploring ancient forts & some of the best market shopping anywhere in Asia. This beautiful nation has to be seen to be believed. Yes, we recommend Oman with enthusiasm. Oh, & did we mention -- after weeks in Oman on our first reconaissance tour, we learned with confidence that there's zero threat from Islamic fundamentalism. Oman may be the "Switzerland of the Arab world," with none of the reactionary excesses of some neighboring states. This is a country where women drive cars & run companies & where foreigners are welcomed warmly, right from the get-go.

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS:
Bohio Dive Resort & Spa -- Grand Turk island: This idyllic spot, part of a protected marine park, in March �05 was awarded the accolade of "Best Diving Beach" by the national magazine Men�s Journal. It�s often possible to see humpback whales cruising past Grand Turk island from January to April, says Kelly Shanahan, dive guide & co-owner of the BOHIO DIVE RESORT & SPA. On many dives, all year long, there are lively sharks, mantas & assorted colorful reef fish in abundance, with �viz� sometimes reaching close to 150-200 feet in calm seasons. Snorkeling & scuba diving conditions are perfect for beginners & advanced divers alike. The �outstanding wall�, just a few hundred yards off the beach was voted among the Top Ten Advanced Diving Sites in the April '05 issue of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine. This dramatic dropoff runs from shallow reefs to an ocean trench a mile deep, with chutes & tunnels to explore. This huge wall attracts a wealth of wildlife & richly colorful corals. �You never know what you'll see - whales, sharks, turtles, mantas,� declares Kelly. The staff at BOHIO DIVE RESORT & SPA is all-star: their chef is an acclaimed culinary wizard from Vancouver, BC, who received wonderful reviews from his local press for years; the scuba diving department is run by a talented & energetic PADI Course Director from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; the local divemasters are gracious, strong & savvy. These gents have hundreds of dives under their belts. The domestic staff & servers are as lovely & cheerful as a spring garden. Wait until you see what co-owner Nick Gillings & Kelly have done with this place. It is going to be the class act of Grand Turk, & our vote hands-down for the best-value 3+star lodging � with scuba diving & snorkeling emphasis -- anywhere in the Turks & Caicos. The BOHIO DIVE RESORT & SPA has 16 comfy rooms �- 12 standard beachfronts + 4 special deluxe suites -- just steps from their scenic waterfront. All rooms are air conditioned, with ensuite facilities, ceiling fans, fridges & TV. The newly refurbished BOHIO DIVE RESORToffers the best sandy shoreline on the island for Grand Turk scuba diving. They also offer small-craft sailing & ocean kayaking. Now we cannot fail to mention the superb cuisine, created by a renowned Vancouver, Canada chef who recently caught the diving bug & relocated to secure a new dream in this tranquil, visually vibrant Caribbean setting.

White Sands Resort / Sea Eye Diving -- Grand Turk island: Through most of the 1990s this was the renowned Arawak Inn, soon to be renamed White Sands Resort. They are blessed with a staff that will spoil you all week, offering affordable 3-star beachfront rooms. WHITE SANDS RESORT is just a stroll from the Sea Eye dive boat. This resort is on a nice sandy beach on Grand Turk island, with excellent unlimited beach diving every day. The scuba diving & snorkeling on Grand Turk is superb, with up to 200-foot visibility & coral gardens that make the Turks & Caicos one of the Caribbean's hidden gems. Grand Turk IS really grand. SEA EYE DIVING is Grand Turk diving, & has been for many years. The owner & dive guide for SEA EYE DIVING is a legend in the Turks & Caicos -- Cecil Ingham -- along with dive team they are solid & dependable people & their good spirit of customer service really makes this trip to Grand Turk fly. We warmly recommend SEA EYE DIVING + WHITE SANDS RESORT as a good economy dive package.

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS:
Ocean Club Resort & Ocean Club West -- Provo island. OCEAN CLUB RESORT & OCEAN CLUB WEST are a 5-star luxury dive resort duo nestled along the relaxing shores of Grace Bay, one of the Caribbean's best-kept beachside treasures. The beach sands are as sugary fine & clean as baby powder. The island waters are clear & warm, with many melding hues of aquamarine blue & emerald green. The sun always seems to be high & bright. Weather is ideal most of the year. And on many days, you may be blessed with a visit from the legendary little Jo-Jo, a wild dolphin who feels right at home near OCEAN CLUB RESORT, cavorting in the surf within easy view of your beach stroll. Casual yet elegant suites are your retreat after play time. A beautiful melange of pastel floral hues await you within the OCEAN CLUB RESORT tropical gardens. Resplendent with lush grounds & whispering palm trees, OCEAN CLUB RESORT has a warm welcoming vibe in each one of its 86 suites -- overlooking a stretch of 12-mile-long Grace Bay Beach. At OCEAN CLUB WEST, land & sea, relaxation & recreation, grand style & understated elegance are in a gentle harmony. This place is well worth the price for clients who demand an impeccable standard of vacation comfort. Three thumbs up for OCEAN CLUB RESORT & OCEAN CLUB WEST. (OK, borrow your spouse's thumb if need be :)

YAP ISLAND, MICRONESIA:
Manta Ray Bay Hotel, Yap Island. U.S. Dive Travel now is offering customized Yap dive vacations for any clients who book the Star Dancer in Palau, or the Truk Aggressor, or Palau Aggressor; & also neighbor islands in Micronesia such as Kosrae & Pohnpei. You can add 4 -14 nights on the legendary isle of Yap, where for centuries natives used huge circular stones, like massive rock donuts, for currency. This island is renowned for gracious & hospitable people, plus schools of huge manta rays that will amaze you as they sweep past your dive group like a B2 bomber squadron on full after-burn. This is one magical island, funseekers, & MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL is the premier dive resort to be found on Yap, bar none. For years our group guides & clients have reported back to us, after returning from MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL, that some of these rays come in schools of 7 - 10 huge critters, some grand-daddys with wingspans more than 12 feet wide! This is a breath-taking experience that can be found only in Yap & a few other locations worldwide. Yap dive vacations = teeming manta rays, pure & simple, amigos del mar. Try Manta Ray Bay Hotel in Yap, Micronesia. The owner, Bill Acker, is a congenial spirited gent who is beloved by MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL clients. The staff of MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL will charm you thoroughly with their warm and relaxed esprit.

CHECK THESE EXCITING ECO-TOURS !
HONDURAS MAINLAND:
Copan Ruins / Mayan Caribbean Tours. Enjoy our smooth 3 day / 2 night guided tour of the ancient Mayan ruins at Copan, once the spiritual, political & economic nerve center of all the Mayan empire for many centuries. The COPAN RUINS are a square mile of arenas, towering pyramids, huge statues, royalty dwellings, eerie catacombs & sweeping courtyards. In short, the COPAN RUINS complex is one of the little-known wonders of the Americas, & remarkably well worth the visit. All of our guides, & scores of pleased clients have reported back to us that they found the COPAN RUINS to be a safe, refreshing & very low-cost side tour for divers heading to the Bay Islands. Our Honduran travel partners at MC Travel are a first-rate COPAN RUINS guide service with courteous & attentive English-speaking guides, roomy & comfortable air-conditioned vans & keen knowledge of the hidden lore at Copan. These stellar gents have guided hundreds of our preferred clients since 1992 at the COPAN RUINS in highland Honduras.

BELIZE MAINLAND:
Tikal Ruins, Xunantunich Ruins, Belize Zoological Gardens & Windy Hill Resort in San Ignacio, Cayo District. Our WINDY HILL RESORT guides take you on an exhilarating 3-day / 2-night tour of the towering pyramids at TIKAL RUINS in nearby Guatemala. Plus you'll see the world-famous outdoor Belize Zoo & the mysterious Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, pronounced "Shoo-NON-two-neetch". You'll love the quiet estate of WINDY HILL RESORT, with its comfy pool & the relaxed family-style service. The classic TIKAL RUINS Tour with WINDY HILL RESORT is the best & safest way to see the untamed interior of Belize & neighboring Guatemala. We offer a dozen different eco-tour packages -- combinations of TIKAL, the jungle treks, various ruins, rain forests, anything you can imagine in Belize -- to match every budget, schedule & eco-travel preference extant. If you do visit Belize dive resorts, to skip WINDY HILL RESORT & the nearby TIKAL RUINS would be like visiting Paris & ignoring Eiffel Tower.

COSTA RICA MAINLAND:
Costa Rica Canopy Tours, Jungle Eco-Tours, Volcano Tours. THE Original CANOPY TOUR® is a new adventure sport, invented ( patent pending ) & developed in Costa Rica by the company founder Darren Rennick. By modifying techniques and equipment originally used by spelunkers (cavers) & canyon rappelers, THE original CANOPY TOUR® company offers any adventurous tourist the opportunity to ascend into the forest canopy & see jungle life from a perspective available previously to only a select few researchers & photographers. THE CANOPY TOUR® Research Team is owned & operated by two able Canadians, Darren Rennick, & Rick Graham, whom Bill & Nadine regard very highly for their competence. Alongside this great side tour are a dozen other exciting options, from river rafting to a "Chasm Canyon" tour, & from volcano hikes to natural hot springs. There's vastly more to Costa Rica than dive resorts....

IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE FROM U.S. DIVE TRAVEL:

Dear Diving Friends:

Based on years of overseas property visits, photo shoots, scuba diving trips & staff interviews, this dive resort directory below is an "A List" of the best & brightest dive vacation destinations in the U.S. Dive Travel system. This is only a fraction of the about 200+ beach resorts & scuba diving operations we represent worldwide in 30 countries, because limited website space demands that we present only the popular or distinctive dive properties each season. Some of these tropical vacation resorts & hotels belong to large chains of vacation properties, & we can offer you scores of these "sister resorts" any season, depending on availability & size of group. Because dive resort staffs, properties, prices & programs never stand still in the dynamic world of dive travel, this "A List" will be updated periodically to reflect new service offerings & new dive vacation specials that we believe will give you exceptional benefits in economy & service. Thanks for dropping by the dive resort index on our website. Hope you're having a great time planning your next dive trip. Isn't that half the fun?

Dive packages, dive packages, dive packages -- we have them for you -- & whatever you can dream up, we can deliver promptly, accurately & efficiently, to your precise specifications.

Remember, if you have a hankering to learn more about these topics: U.S. Dive Travel company, the art of tropical dive travel, other overseas dive resorts we rep, Sea Eye Diving on Grand Turk island, tips on scuba diving certifications for new divers, customized dive vacations for travelers melding eco-tours or mainland adventures with exotic diving islands, your own person dream dive vacation, technical diving tours in Hawaii, Heron Island and Lizard Island in Australia, Matangi Island in the Fiji Islands, Blackbird Caye Resort in Belize, Manta Resort on Glover's Reef Atoll of the southern Belize Barrier Reef, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Vatulele Island in Fiji, the newly renamed Villa Sol in Playa Hermosa of Pacific Costa Rica, the magnificent Tikal Ruins, Lahaina Divers on Maui in Hawaii, Kauai Sands Hotel, the beautifully remodeled Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii's Big Island, the ancient Mayan city in Honduras called the Copan Ruins, Manta Ray Bay on Yap Island in Micronesia, the Villa at Dunbar Rock near Guanaja Island in the Honduras Bay Islands, Kungkungan Bay on the Lembeh Straits of northern Sulawesi island in Indonesia, Kosrae Village, snorkeling, Arawak Inn on Grand Turk island in the Turks and Caicos, Dive Tek Adventures on the Big Island of Hawaii, Treasure Island Divers or last but never least the 30-year-respected Bill Beard's Diving Safaris in Costa Rica, please call us anytime & we are glad to call you back on our nickel: 952-953-4124.

John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg, Mgrs
U.S. Dive Travel Network

St. Paul, MN / Vancouver, BC / Phoenix, AZ / College Station, TX

FOR MORE INFORMATION or RESERVATIONS:

U.S. DIVE TRAVEL Network
PMB 307 -- Suite # 116
15050 Cedar Avenue S.
St. Paul, MN, USA 55124-7047
Voice Mail: 952-953-4124

E-mail: divetrip@bitstream.net

Website: www.usdivetravel.com

***************************************************

IMPORTANT NOTE about PRICES & TARIFFS:

All package prices listed here are subject to possible change in this steadily evolving travel market. Lodging & side tour prices are traditionally stable, while air prices can fluctuate daily. Until air tickets are issued, all airlines reserve the right to change airfares without notice -- an industry standard. We at U.S. Dive Travel will price-protect you to the utmost of our professional ability; & that has been our pledge for one decade now. We normally secure excellent discount air tickets. Remember please, the federal government has deregulated airlines, so only they control their pricing -- not any travel professionals.

Unless specifically noted, these above scuba diving packages reflect prices for only the land-based portion of your dive vacation, in most cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. At many hotels there will be no triple-occupancy rooms offered. Some exceptions will be noted. International & commuter "island-hopper" airfares are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are assessed for air tickets & the lodging + diving components. The baseline tariffs for all dive vacation clients are $45 per person for the land portion + $25 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients at dive resorts may receive slightly higher tariffs on the lodging + diving. Solo clients will sometimes pay a single supplement to secure a private room on a dive package normally priced for double-occupancy.

The preferred payment mode for all lodging, scuba diving & side tours is by cashier's check or wire transfer in U.S. dollars. All clients living outside the USA or Canada will need to pay for their dive vacations only via direct wire transfer in U.S. dollars. No personal checks will be accepted for any reservations, please. Thank you for your gracious understanding, as our service level is concientious & our prices for these dive resorts are low. For published-fare air ticket bookings, USDT always accepts Visa & Mastercard.

Remember, all clients to all foreign destinations will be asked by local officials overseas, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $35 - $45 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away a little cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your travel plans. We hope your dive vacations are all safe & satisfying adventures. Blessings & best wishes in your quest for the perfect dive resorts.

Best wishes!

Best fishes too....

>////*> <*\\\\<

John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg
Managers / Founding Partners
U.S. Dive Travel Network.