U.S. Dive Travel is delighted to announce the exciting new, 110-foot, Peter Hughes Diving / Dancer Fleet Ocean Dancer. Ocean Dancer will cruise not just one, but three of the best & brightest atolls in the general region of the capital city (and international airport) of Male. These expansive atolls (North Male, South Male, & Ari Atoll), encompass hundreds of square miles of ocean & offer excellent diving on nearly all points of the compass. & the Ocean Dancer will explore the atolls of the Maldives in an adventuresome yet safe & uniquely efficient manner. A total of 16 divers per cruise will enjoy fine luxury accommodations, while all of the diving will be done from a custom-built, 55 ft. dive tender called the “Diving Dhoni.” that shadows the mother ship every day like a loyal sidekick. This second vessel will accompany Ocean Dancer on all of its Maldives scuba diving voyages, & features a very spacious dive deck, sun protection, & easy entry/exit. The luxury "tender" will cruise at 12 knots & will have all of the tanks, compressors, Nitrox station, camera tables, & diving amenities on board. Truly an efficient 1-2 boat combo for a one-of-a-kind destination. Maldives scuba diving has never been this streamlined & hassle-free, funseekers ! We are feeling stoked just thinking about it from afar. Can you feel your inner adrenal teen re-emerging yet ?

One of the best things going for Utila Aggressor now is the fact that its toughest competition, the Peter Hughes Wind Dancer, was moved shortly before Hurricane Mitch struck -- in the fall of 1998 -- up north across the Caribbean to Grand Turk, then down to Tobago. That means the only 4-star live-aboard now available for serious scuba divers, that's still plying the waters of Bay Islands, Honduras, is this brand-new live-aboard -- the Utila Aggressor. Another notable fact: the Utila Aggressor is a totally refurbished version of the previous Turks & Caicos Aggressor. When it comes to Honduras diving, if you need some live-aboard action, this is THE nerve center from now on, sports fans -- Utila island. The only game in town. The itinerary for this dynamic new Honduras live-aboard will be the Bay Islands of Utila, Guanaja, Cayos Cochinos, perhaps Roatan if weather permits. You'll visit classic Honduras diving sites off both major coasts of Roatan, such as the deep sea fans & sea mounts of Enchanted Forest, & also "Grand Canyon." Then there will be the elusive caves & bright coral colors of Toon Town, a major dive site just off Los Cochinos islands. Other treats include the wrecks, tunnels & multi-hued virgin reefs off Guanaja island. The warm, calm waters of the Utila offer dramatic underwater grottoes, huge tube sponges & resplendent corals. These islands are still unspoiled, with a peaceful, turn-of-the-century historic flavor. Some of the largest & most vibrantly colorful hard corals & sponges in all of the Caribbean region are found among the secret crannies in the Utila of Honduras. Underwater photographers will be delighted with Honduras diving aboard the Utila Aggressor. You'll have a wonderful time; especially knowing that this Honduras diving vessel offers one of the best-value live-aboard trips in the world. Compare this price, shop around & you'll see this is the best cost-buster the Aggressor Fleet offers. This yacht's top speed is about 15 knots.

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.

Wait until you see these inside photos of the Maui Guest House. The value factor here is incredible on one of the priciest isles of the Pacific -- good ol' Maui. These superbly low rates come in at least USD $200 per room night below the average lodging cost on Maui's famous Ka'anapali Coast, or in the Wailea area, where the mainland glitterati pay WAY too much to play, wine & dine. Meals in Lahaina will run at least 25% - 30% more economical than in Wailea or the Ka'anapali Coast area. Your savings + the less frantic atmosphere are evident immediately, the first day on West Maui. Plus these two beautiful guest homes are within easy driving distance from an excellent dive tour operator -- Extended Horizons -- whose specialty is the pristine & uncrowded diving off Lanai island, right across the channel. Founded by Erik Stein & Chris Millen, Extended Horizons offers a spacious custom-built aluminum dive vessel -- a 36-footer that caters to only 12 divers at a time -- ideal for clients who prefer a less-crowded scuba experience. Extended Horizons will depart for beautiful Lanai island most days at 6:45 am from Mala Wharf in Lahaina, near the old Cannery at the northern end of Old Lahaina Village. The dive guiding team run by Erik & Chris is one of the most amiable & professionally solid we have worked with in the Hawaiian Islands since the early 1990s. These guys will be big fun to dive with. Plus their divemaster team knows more than 60 classic Lanai dive sites, thoroughly. One neat fact here, the Mala Wharf is only a couple minutes easy drive downhill from Tanna's Maui Guest House. Super convenient location + you avoid all the Lahaina Village traffic. Like we always say -- "Here today, gone t' Maui !"

Like some delightful reminder of Aspen or Vail in the 1970s, before commercialism ran rampant, 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." These boats pack two Cummins turbo-Diesel 430s at the stern, & they really haul when the skip needs to. These boats are roomy enough to accommodate 49 passengers, but they typically carry no more than 20-24 pax at a time. LAHAINA DIVERS offers Nitrox, even custom blends, as well as 56 cf & 100 cf tanks for extra petite gals & extra-large guys. Clean, quiet, managed by pleasant folks who bend over backwards to 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 & dessert locales; & it's less than 3 blocks easy jaunt from the Lahaina Boat Harbor, where LAHAINA DIVERS two beautiful vessels are moored. LAHAINA INN + LAHAINA DIVERS = a thrifty, convenient, comfortable alternative to the big-buck high-rises on the Ka'anapali Coast, or the prefab crowded hotels in the Kihei area, or the tourist-inundated condo villages of NW Maui. We love Lahaina village, folks; it's a li'l bit country & a l'il bit rock 'n' roll. Ideal for a relaxing, refreshing Maui snorkeling vacation package, or Maui diving vacation, or Maui honeymoon escape. Once you experience LAHAINA INN, we feel confident you will likely never wrestle with the $350-$450 / night median price at so many coastal hotels on West Maui. This place has our attention, & it deserves yours.

EXCITING NEW ECO-TOURS --
After your island stay why not consider
a cloud forest trek, or a photo safari
to mysterious & moody Mayan Ruins?

Before or after your dive trip, are you in the mood for volcanoes, ancient Mayan temples, jungle hiking, cloud forest monkeys, exotic birds & big jungle cats? Have you been bitten by the eco-tour bug yet? We certainly have & we know how it feels. The lure of the lush rain forests is pretty tough to ignore. The pull of the mystery-shrouded Mayan ruins is deeply compelling. Consider joining John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg & our USDT partner-guides for some exotic yet affordable addendae to these dive tours that you'll never forget. After your dive vacation on the Belize Barrier Reef, or the Costa Rican Pacific Coast, or in the Honduras Bay Islands, check out these exciting eco-tourism options in the green highland jungles of the Central American Interior, where countless archeological excavations, colorful flora & bizarre fauna await your exploration. Our guides will show you a great time, as you walk softly, but carry a big lens. You will leave only footprints, & take away only great memories, plus rolls of classic adventure photos. That's eco-travel, amigos de la tierra. A dive tour done the right way, A to Z, all T's crossed & all I's dotted.