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eco-tours, Island Dancer Fiji, Maldives Aggressor, Baja Aggressor, Tropic Dancer Palau, Tikal honeymoon dive travel


© Copyright U.S. Dive Travel Network.


U.S. DIVE TRAVEL's RED-HOT
NEW DIVE VACATION PACKAGES
for divers who crave some Vitamin Sea ! !






Check the Specials Page on our new mobile-friendly site: LIVE-ABOARDS.com !





For more info or reservations, call John or Susan at U.S. DIVE TRAVEL Network: 952-953-4124.




Galapagos Humboldt Explorer, Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos live-aboard, Galapagos live-aboards, Galapagos liveaboard, Galapagos diving, Galapagos Islands
Exciting HUMBOLDT EXPLORER is the Galapagos' newest luxury dive yacht.
Photo courtesy of Explorer Ventures Fleet & Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER.

What's new with the beautiful HUMBOLDT EXPLORER in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS for this new season?

• Now we offer up to four dives a day !

• Also, exciting night dives are offered whenever the weather allows !

• Plus two land visits – for memorable photo opps -- normally are allowed on each cruise, as weather permits !

• Plus at least four action-filled days in the coveted Wolf & Darwin Islands, where only an elite handful of diving yachts have a permit to visit !

Please note: all of the above terms for HUMBOLDT EXPLORER are subject to changing weather conditions, location of the vessel and ocean-dependant transit times.

HUMBOLDT EXPLORER specials cannot be combined with other discounts or the small group policy & do not count toward the 6th trip credit. Additional booking terms & requirements may apply. Call Susan, John or L.J. at  952-953-4124  for specifics.  We look forward to working with you, as HUMBOLDT EXPLORER is the best-value luxury diving live-aboard we’ve ever repped in the Galapagos. She is THE best value vessel extant, for price & service. Please remember: for all Explorer Ventures yachts, 365 days a year, we offer these special terms (the most lenient deposits in the industry): bring 5 divers & the 6th diver gets a free boat package.

Call 952-953-4124 for up-to-the-minute details...





Thailand Aggressor, Thailand live-aboards, Thailand live-aboard, Andaman Sea live-aboards, Andaman Sea live-aboard, Andaman Sea diving, Thailand diving, Thailand liveaboards, Thailand liveaboard
Click here to check out the beautiful new THAILAND AGGRESSOR,
formerly Star Dancer in Papua New Guinea, now sailing the coral-rich
waters of west-coast Thailand's Andaman Sea -- a diver's dreamscape.

Discover the beauty of the South Andaman Sea with stops at some of our favorite sites:

·       Shark Point - named for the frequent leopard shark sightings.

·       Anemone Reef - blanketed by a living carpet of anemones.

·       Phi Phi Islands - filled with rich and colorful diverse marine life.

·       King Cruiser - 85m catamaran passenger ferry wreck with multiple decks and open passages that will thrill every level of wreck diver.





Carib Dancer, Dancer Fleet, Exuma Cays, Bahamas live-aboards, Bahamas liveaboards, Bahamas diving, Bahamas dive boats
The sleek chic new BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR is the respected AGGRESSOR FLEET's hot new Caribbean dive yacht.
Photo © Copyright Aggressor Fleet.


This announcement has been big buzz this winter & spring -- the BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR, which began sailing in spring 2016, will now be cruising smoothly along the Exuma Cays just south of Nassau, for fun & affordable Sat-Sat 7-day diving cruises.

We'll be announcing summer & fall specials soon for our beautiful brand-new liveaboard, the BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR, so please feel free to phone our live-aboard vacation experts at 952-953-4124 for more details.

Throughout this exciting action-filled scuba week aboard the BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR, an intimate 14-passenger monohull yacht, guests will depart Nassau to explore the dramatic walls, lush coral reefs and exciting animal encounters of the Exuma Cays. The itinerary also will include the Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park which is one of the world's most successful marine parks with an area of 176 square miles consisting of an array of more than 350 small islands and cays.

Prices expected to remain among the lowest of any luxury live-aboards in the Caribbean. Air tickets, hotel nights, side tours & tips are extra costs. This BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR really rocks, amigos del mar, in every culturally pulse-prodding good sense.

The BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR will be a delight to NorthAm dive trip clients, because of low-cost, super-easy air tix from Miami to Nassau. Nuts to this nettlesome recession, friends, we intend to offer BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR as a high-quality recession buster! Time to have some easy, accessible, fun winter diving.





Sun Dancer, Dancer Fleet, Silver Banks whale watching, Silver Banks live-aboards, Silver Banks liveaboards, Silver Bank whales, Silver Bank whale watching, whales snorkeling
Sunseekers & funseekers, WHALE WATCHING with CONSCIOUS BREATH ADVENTURES
is the top snorkeling-with-whales live-aboard on the famed Dominican SILVER BANKS.
Here a sweetly curious humpback whale calf eyeballs a snorkeler -- oh so close-up! --
as mom glides nearby. Yes, you'll get this close to these magnificent marine mammals!
(Photos © Copyright Conscious Breath Adventures & Aggressor Fleet.)


Sun Dancer, Dancer Fleet, Silver Banks whale watching, Silver Banks live-aboards, Silver Banks liveaboards, Silver Banks whales, whale watching, whales snorkeling
Your host yacht is the luxurious Belize Aggressor IV when you're
WHALE WATCHING with CONSCIOUS BREATH ADVENTURES,
on the serene, pristine waters of the Silver Bank,
near the friendly Dominican Republic.


Have you ever dreamed of snorkeling right alongside HUMPBACK WHALES on the spectacular SILVER BANK of the Dominican Republic? Is that one sterling nugget on your bucket list? Well, amigos del Caribe, now's your chance of a lifetime to do so, & with a wonderful discount for a Sat-Sat 7-day snorkeling cruise, just a zippety-quick hour's flight from Miami.

EXCITING CARIBBEAN LIVE-ABOARD NEWS!! We now have new openings -- exceptionally rare -- on the Caribbean's finest whale-watching live-aboard, the M/V SUN DANCER, for the Jan-to-March 2017, 2018 & 2019 HUMPBACK WHALE-WATCHING seasons. These are among the most sought-after snorkeling live-aboard berths in the world, folks. We are truly enthused to report this.

Also, every now & then 2 or 3 berths may open up for lucky snorkelers, certain weeks from January through March 2017 -- & also in 2018 -- as random cancellations occur. Because of the high demand worldwide for these limited whale-watching berths -- if you snooze, you lose, mates. Therefore, if you feel the Spirit move, you'd best not tarry. The phone rings daily for these prized whale-watching live-aboard packages, so stay on your toes, friends :)

Please feel free to phone our live-aboard vacation experts at 952-953-4124 for more details.

Whale-cruise skipper Capt. Gene Flipse, who is one of the most authentic & life-positive gents we've had the pleasure of collaborating with in decades, is an expert on these whales' behaviors, their delightful quirks & soulful natures. Here's what Cap'n Gene tells us to expect each heart-starting season...

Every year, from 3,000 to 5,000 humpback whales migrate from their summer feeding grounds in the North Atlantic Ocean to their winter breeding grounds in the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic, located on the Silver Bank. Under special permit issued by the government of the Dominican Republic, Conscious Breath Adventures leads groups of 18 lucky guests on a stellar bucket-list journey into the Sanctuary to see, swim and interact with these amazingly intelligent, wonderful animals.

The whales gather along the Silver Banks in great numbers to court, mate and give birth and, while floating serenely on the Silver Bank with the whales, guests will witness the full repertoire of spectacular surface social behaviors including pectoral fin slapping, tail slapping, spyhopping and breaching. It is not unusual to see "rowdy" groups of more than a dozen adult male whales vigorously competing for the attention of an available female. Being among the rowdies will re-format your definition of running with the bulls -- big time!

While the surface show is a fantastic heart-thumper, what brings most adventurers to the Silver Bank is the opportunity to actually jump in the water and swim near these whales in their natural environment, eye-to-eye. During these encounters guests will have the chance to see resting mothers with their playful young calves, with the curious calf frolicking at the surface and interacting with its new friends.

Another type of soul-stirring encounter is with a singing humpback whale. Humpback whales sing the most sophisticated song in the animal kingdom, and man alive folks -- they are singing their hearts out on the Silver Bank. Conscious Breath Adventures uses hydrophones to listen to the performance, and when conditions are right guests enter the water to literally immerse themselves in the song, with the music shaking them to the bone!

Guests may also be treated to a front row seat to the peak performance of two dancing humpback whales. Dancers are two adult whales in the final throes of their courtship, using their long pectoral fins to spin and whirl and swoop around and below the swimmers, inviting them to be part of the dance, before they depart to mate.

All cruises are 6 day, 7 nights in duration with guests boarding the vessel in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic after 5:00 pm Saturday afternoon and disembarking the next Saturday morning at 8:00 am.

Costs are about $3,395 per person (subject to change) for a berth in a Master Stateroom (single queen bed, double occupancy only) or $3,250 pp for a berth in a Deluxe Stateroom (two twin beds or a slide-together king w/ the twins placed together). In addition, all guests must pay a $250 Sanctuary Access & Port Fee. A deposit of about $1,700 + tariff is required to reserve a berth, with the balance due 110 days prior to departure.

(SPECIAL NOTE: Our thanks to Captain Gene Flipse, skipper/owner of Conscious Breath Adventures, for his whale photo.)




Now, THERE'S MORE GOOD NEWS for ALL LARGER DIVING GROUPS, AMIGOS!!

Bring 5 divers & the 6th diver gets a free vessel berth --for ALL EXPLORER VENTURES DIVING YACHTS WORLDWIDE this NEXT WINTER SEASON -- as long as inventory lasts for any given cruise date. The vessel owners have several key stipulations -- * This special offer is limited to 2 weeks per month (the first 2 weeks each month to get bookings.) All other normal USDT booking terms will apply. Can't be combined with other special or offerings. Price includes: Accommodations for 7 nights/8 days, 3 meals daily, in-between dive snacks, all air fills, use of weights, weight belts and tanks, towels, linens, etc., transfers within Galapagos islands for same day arrivals & departures, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (premium alcohol beverages are available for an additional charge). Costs not included in Humboldt Explorer package: Airfare from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos islands, tourist card, fuel surcharge, nitrox, chamber fee, Galapagos National Park fee, gratuity, pre- or post-trip hotels, transfers, Sunday lunch, departure taxes.



IMPORTANT FLEET UPDATES for the PACIFIC REGION:

LIVE-ABOARD VACATION NEWS from AROUND the RIM !!!

WARM GREETINGS, LIVE-ABOARD LOVERS: THERE IS, INDEED, SOMETHING NEW UNDER the SUN in the BIG BLUE WORLD of LUXURY SCUBA DIVING YACHTS:

Perhaps no subset market of the tropical adventure travel industry is more dynamic, & evolves more colorfully each year, than our 25-year partners at the “Dynamic Duo” – the two premier 4-star live-aboard companies worldwide:  AGGRESSOR FLEET,  &  EXPLORER VENTURES FLEET.  Here are all of the most exciting & newsworthy new  developments that have occurred in both fleets in recent seasons:



Fiji live-aboards, Fiji live-aboard, Fiji liveaboards, Fiji liveaboard, Fiji diving, Fiji dive vacations
The beautiful sleek new FIJI AGGRESSOR in the FIJI ISLANDS.
© Copyright Aggressor Fleet & Wayne Works.


Our WONDERFUL NEW DIVING YACHT
in the warm & colorful FIJI ISLANDS !!! --
Recently launched FIJI AGGRESSOR,
a brilliant 4-star luxury live-aboard,
via U.S. DIVE TRAVEL ( 952-953-4124 )
is offering big small-group discounts!

The exciting new FIJI AGGRESSOR, our freshest new yacht in Fiji, carries only 10 guests, offering an intimate setting & the perfect venue for diving the life-rich, coral-rich waters of Fiji. Take a look at our newest 4-star SoPac diving yacht ...

Fiji live-aboards, Fiji live-aboard, Fiji liveaboards, Fiji liveaboard, Fiji diving, Fiji dive vacations
The new 4-star live-aboard FIJI AGGRESSOR
cruising in the FIJI ISLANDS.

© Copyright Aggressor Fleet & Wayne Works.


* * * *  Also an EXCITING NEW YACHT, the FIJI AGGRESSOR from the AGGRESSOR FLEET, now is CRUISING in the FIJI ISLANDS !

Throughout the week aboard the FIJI AGGRESSOR, an intimate 10 passenger yacht, guests will depart Suva (on the SE corner of Viti Levu island) to explore the reefs, bommies & walls of Nigali Pass, Wakaya, Koro & Namenalala Islands. Known as the soft coral capital, the brilliant colors on display will dazzle even the most experienced divers & photographers. Drift dives with eagle rays, mantas, turtles, sharks & giant groupers are also on the itinerary.

Clownfish, pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, & a multitude of nudibranchs bring smiles to every dive! With direct flights from several major cities worldwide, it is an easy destination to add to your dive log.

To top off the exiting diving on
FIJI AGGRESSOR & experience some of Fiji’s local culture, a visit to a Fijian village on one of the remote islands is arranged including a Kava ceremony & warrior dance. All guests are required to wear a traditional sulu (sarong or wrap) so either bring your own or we will gladly provide one for you!

The
FIJI AGGRESSOR appeals to those discriminating divers who prefer a smaller group & is perfectly suited for Fiji & the diving itinerary. All indoor areas are air-conditioned & each of the guest cabins feature ensuite facilities. The beautifully appointed salon on FIJI AGGRESSOR has ample room for divers to view their photos & videos or to enjoy a movie on the entertainment system. The sundeck on FIJI AGGRESSOR features covered & uncovered lounging & is a perfect place to relax with a book during surface intervals.

FIJI AGGRESSOR SPECIFICATIONS
Port of Registry : Suva, Fiji
Construction : Steel
Type : Mono Hull
Length : 101 feet
Beam : 22 feet
Max Passengers : 10
Stateroom : 5
Crew : 5
Tenders : 1
Fuel Capacity :  
Fresh Water Capacity : 5000 liters
Cruising Speed : 10 knots
Range :  
Navigation Aids : 48-mile radar, compass, depth sonar with alarm, Autopilot integrated with GPS, 2-GPS systems
Voltage : 240v/50hz & Australian plug
Photo Services :  Yes
Length of Charters : 7 nights
Dives per Day : Up to 5
Nitrox : Yes
Diving Instruction : Yes
Dive Gear Rental : Yes




* * * * OCEAN HUNTER 2 in PALAU has been sold & will sail no longer in the Palau Archipelago. She has been replaced by the beautiful new OCEAN HUNTER 3. Please call our expert dive travel planners at 952-953-4124 for new photos or info on any of these new diving yachts…

Welcome to Ocean Hunter III, the latest & most luxurious addition to the Ocean Hunter Fleet in Palau. The boat represents 25 years of knowledge in the liveaboard industry & like all of our liveaboards was designed by divers, for divers. Ocean Hunter III will be diving the reefs of Palau, plus special trips to places such as Yap. As usual with our fleet, you also have the knowledge & hospitality of our very experienced local crew.

Ocean Hunter III has 3 standard cabins, 3 deluxe cabins & 2 master staterooms all with private bath & a/c, & accommodates up to 16 guests with personal attention & plenty of space. There is a large dining room & a comfortable salon with sofas & an entertainment system. The salon also contains a high quality espresso machine. Alternatively you can relax in the Jacuzzis on the spacious sun deck. Furthermore, Ocean Hunter III is designed for professional underwater photography, TV & Film production, with a sizeable working area, 110, 220 & 415 volt electrical outlets & extra storage space. Ocean Hunter III offers powerful PC's for movie & video editing with download, email & CD burning services.

Technical diving support:

Nitrox, TRIMIX & Rebreather support

Nitrox certification available onboard

Twin Bauer compressors, Nitrox membrane

Production support:

Twin generators for high voltage equipment demand.

1.6 tons hydraulic crane offers lifting capacity for most ROV's, underwater cameras & Mini-subs.

Enclosed & Air conditioned lab for scientific research & film productions.

Underwater Scooter

1200 Watt HMI lights to back-light corals, UV Filters, caves & wrecks.

Ocean Hunter III offers the very latest of high quality liveaboard experience. The superbly talented chefs serve fresh, low-fat gourmet cuisine.


* * * * YES, there's ANOTHER BRILLIANT NEW 4-STAR DIVING YACHT in PALAU - the ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR from the wonderfully luxurious AGGRESSOR FLEET ! The ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR, a spacious, comfortable catamaran specifically built for diving, stretches 106 feet long, 31 feet wide and accommodates 18 guests who are pampered by a crew of 8!

Deluxe cabins are $TBD pp & a Double cabin is just $TBD pp !!

Does not include port charges, other fees, or VAT tax. All are additional. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. Subject to withdraw or change without notice.

Agggressor Fleet is now back in Palau, after years away! ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR offers the zenith of quality liveaboard experience. Please read on …

Dancer Fleet, in cooperation with owner Palau Watersports & U.S. DIVE TRAVEL, presents the ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR. Based in Koror Palau, the ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR explores the waters in & around the Palau including the Famous Blue Corner. The ROCK ISLAND AGGRESSOR, a spacious, comfortable catamaran specifically built for diving, stretches 106 feet long, 31 feet wide & accommodates 18 guests who are pampered by a crew of 8! From warm water lagoons to dramatic drop-offs, the Palau archipelago that surrounds & protects the famed mushroom-shaped Rock Islands is known as one of the top dive destinations in the world. And, now, the renowned Dancer Fleet® is back to take you there in style, onboard the TROPIC DANCER. Get ready to enjoy the thrill of drift diving with schooling sharks, the beauty of healthy hard & soft corals, the tranquility of Jellyfish Lake, the historic WWII wrecks & the vibrant fish life that all make up the diving in this grand place. Diving will be conducted from an 18 passenger tender which will transport guests to exciting Palau dive sites like Peleliu Corner, Blue Corner, German Channel & Ulong Channel, just to name a few. Most of the diving in Palau is drift diving & this speedy tender, easily boarded from the dive deck of TROPIC DANCER & easily re-entered from the water when you surface, will deliver you to the best diving imaginable.


To make your reservations, please call Susan, John or L.J. at U.S. DIVE TRAVEL reservations: 952-953-4124.



Check 2 superb new luxury liveaboards, likely to be ranked

among the top 4-star scuba diving yachts of the Pacific & Caribbean --

the 21st Century hi-tech OCEAN DANCER in the lazy hazy MALDIVES ISLANDS of the Indian Ocean +

the long-awaited NEW DUNBAR VILLA in the BAY ISLANDS of HONDURAS + scuba & snorkeling adventures

on the mystically beautiful isle of   YAP in MICRONESIA   <<< click there for amazing new HD photos !! +

also check 2 superb yet affordable 4-star guest inns on MAUI ( $250 per room night below Maui norms ! )

plus we offer the sunny SULTANATE of OMAN,   stellar DUNBAR VILLA on Guanaja,

& take an exciting look at our best & brightest ECO-TOURS in KADAVU, FIJI,

BELIZE,  GUATEMALA,  COSTA RICA & rural HONDURAS,

& all-new photos of our   TIKAL  HONEYMOONS !



Plus EXOTIC LIVE-ABOARD ADVENTURES in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS,  BALI & KOMODO in INDONESIA,
& stat tuned for some amazingly beautiful new packages in the friendly FIJI ISLANDS !
Call our Dive Vacation Planners at   952-953-4124 , any time, for details ...

( Just click on the blue or red hotlinks below to visit
the new dive vacation page of your choice. )




Our fascinating find in the far south of the Fiji Islands,
just an hour's puddle jumper from Nadi + another hour by skiff to --


KADAVU, FIJI, ASTROLABE REEF: Scuba Diving, Fishing &
Snorkeling Vacations at Fiji's Top Eco-Resort
!!

MATAVA RESORT on Kadavu Island is one of the most exciting new destinations we have discovered in the South Pacific in 3 decades. MATAVA RESORT is such a uniquely gifted green retreat, that it now ranks among our top seven small resorts anywhere in the Pacific. That’s among a couple hundred tropical island locales we've been blessed to visit & review. MATAVA is run by purpose-driven men who refuse to fudge even a smidge on what they know to be true: this beautiful but weary planet is in trouble from careless developers & wanton resource sponges. Thus it needs constant daily TLC, from every caring person, in even the little things to restore a healthy balance to Good Ol’ Mama Earth. These guys at MATAVA have green ethics down to a system, & we will show you how refined & intelligent that system is. Yet the inspired team at MATAVA RESORT – led by expat Brits Richard Akhtar & Adrian Watt -- keeps the preservationist faith in a humble manner, never tooting horns nor swaggering, never fashioning an idol out of their eco-mission. They go for the green, not the long green, never resorting to self-righteous zeal or stuffy PC (politically correct) politics. This place is about fun in the sun, with an earth-friendly tilt. MATAVA RESORT (MAH’-tah-vah) is just plain exciting to visit, amigos del mar. Here is one reason, a major geographic blessing -- MATAVA RESORT is the only vacation destination of note on the entire 65 km of nearly wilderness south Kadavu shoreline. As the only game in town, they enjoy one enormous advantage. While MATAVA RESORT is a comfy 3½ star retreat, fully civilized & offering lush gardens, well-manicured lawns, delightfully rustic cabins (called “bures”) & meals to-die-for delicious, it is also the only significant resort close enough to the famed Astrolabe Reef to reach most dives in a wink. You’ll recall, the Astrolabe is one the world’s greatest living coral expanses. What’s neat is that from MATAVA you can reach most of the isle’s best diving & snorkeling sites in less than 20-30 minutes. The stunning corals of Astrolabe Reef, which wrap the southern shores on up to the NE wasp’s head in an upside-down fishhook shape, offer more than 80 miles of prime fish habitat & may be the prime polyp-spawning center that seeds much of the entire Fijian archipelago with new coral life each year. However, mind you, there is always a catch in Paradise. Sorry to be blunt, but MATAVA is not for sissies. MATAVA RESORT is not the spot for mincing tenderfoot tea sippers with pinky finger extended a la matrons on the Titanic, nor for obsessive-compulsive white glovers & delicate buttoned-down types who, like Niles Crane, seek chrome ‘n’ whitewashed spas. MATAVA RESORT is not for fussy folks who send their steaks back to the chef because they’re not “medium rare with a pale blush.” This place is for adventure-minded folks seeking some of the best reefs & deep sea fishing in the world. MATAVA is for down-to-earth people who don’t mind roughing it a little, who don’t mind 7-10 nights where cell-phones won’t hound you & TVs won’t blare. MATAVA RESORT is not for cream puffs, nor perfectionists, just straight-ahead folks seeking old-fashioned simple pleasures. I mean TLC service with a smile, perfectly fresh breezes with zero pollution, ocean waters so clean they defy the norm Pacific-wide, & the best Fiji diving or Fiji snorkeling you ever could wish for. MATAVA RESORT offers a square deal for a modest price: great reef diving + world-class deep-sea fishing + easy breezy kayaking & village visits + warmly hospitable service + scintillating supper-table conversations with like-minded eco-travelers.



A fun, affordable new Maui B & B; this place is impressive --
Auntie Tanna's MAUI GUEST HOUSE + EXTENDED HORIZONS DIVING !!

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 !"



Travel magazines call this Maui gem "one of America's best country inns" --
The LAHAINA INN + internationally renowned LAHAINA DIVERS !!

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.





Xunantunich Ruins, Belize honeymoon, eco-tour honeymoon.
Ace Belize tour guide, Hector Bol, "living on the edge"
at the main temple summit of the Xunantunich Ruins.
Our honeymoon guests for Belize Eco-Tours all enjoy
comfy cabanas at Windy Hill Resort, in San Ignacio.

© Copyright John Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel.


Tikal Ruins, Belize eco-tours, honeymoon in Belize + Guatemala, Windy Hill Resort, San Ignacio.
Bird's-eye view of the magnificent central plaza of Tikal,
ancient Mayan capital in Guatemala, next-door to Belize.
Our Tikal Ruins eco-tour, guided by English-speaking experts,
is a day full of breathtaking vistas & amazing wildlife.
Located a scenic 90-minute drive from Windy Hill Resort
in San Ignacio, these world-renowned Tikal Ruins will
boost your pulse rate & jolt your joie de vivre,
as you climb & photograph pyramids up to 220 feet high.
© Copyright John Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel.


Tikal Ruins, Belize eco-tours, honeymoon in Belize + Guatemala, Windy Hill Resort, San Ignacio.
Two young honeymoon couples, left from Calgary, right from SoCal,
enjoyed their recent Belize & Guatemala eco honeymoons.
© Copyright U.S. Dive Travel.



The BEST & BRIGHTEST   NEW  DIVE RESORT & LIVE-ABOARD VACATION PACKAGES for this NEW SEASON !



NEW BELIZE HIGHLANDS + TIKAL HONEYMOON PACKAGES --
Check the dramatic & colorful new photos of our
HONEYMOON PACKAGES in TIKAL & SAN IGNACIO, back in highland BELIZE & GUATEMALA !!

U.S. Dive Travel now is offering carefully planned, customized honeymoon packages for young or middle-aged couples who are fit & fun-loving, & who are seeking to flee the hum-drum-beat of touristy islands like Jamaica, Roatan or Grand Bahama. Read on, if you're in search of eco-adventures with a backdrop of serious creature comfort + expert guides who know their flora, fauna & archeology to a 'T'. We've got the ticket for you, honeymooners -- major eco-fun melded with romance to the Nth Degree. Here's the gist....We just returned from helping several couples organize (in part) the trip of their lifetimes to Windy Hill Resort in the highlands of Belize, San Ignacio Village in the famous Cayo District of Belize. Our cameras were clicking non-stop for almost 10 days. Sneak a peek at these brand-new photos of the Belize Barrier Reef islands, the ancient Mayan Ruins of Tikal & Caracol, the sultry little getaways in back-country Belize, where most tourist handbooks -- thank God! -- do not ever venture. We had the time of our lives, everyone. We recommend the Belize Highlands & the Tikail Ruins national park in Guatemala as one of coolest, most emotionally inspiring locales we have ever been blessed to visit in Central America. Reasonably easy to get there, fully safe, affordable yet exotic as the day is golden, dawn to dusk ! Tikal Ruins, the largest pyramids ever built by human hands before the Modern Era in this entire hemisphere, are enough to take your breath away, amigos. It is tough to understate your emotional & spiritual reaction to the Tikal Ruins. So check out these new pix & see what you think !! Hope you go down there & feel blown away by the majesty & sheer visual power of this magical destination, just the way our recent honeymoon couples have been experiencing the tours. The U.S. DIVE TRAVEL TROPICAL HONEYMOON MANIFESTO, born soon after our own monthlong South Pacific honeymoon in 1990 inspired the very formation of this company -- "Honeymoons were never meant to be so-so. We believe honeymoons are meant to be life-changing, soul-stirring, heart-stoking, eye candy adventures -- nothing less -- that a honeymoon couple will remember for a lifetime." That's that. & our experienced honeymoon vacation planners know how to make it happen for you, tout de suite. So, when you get a sec', take a look at these glorious, affordable Central American honeymoon packages. They may rock your worldview for keeps ....




GUANAJA isle, Jewel of the Honduras Bay Islands --
VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- there's nothing like this private isle anywhere in the Caribbean !  
Guanaja really is the last best locale for pristine reef diving + snorkeling in the Honduras Bay Islands, since Roatan & Utila islands were glutted with tourists & over-development back in the 1990s. Good buzz abounds in the scuba diving & snorkeling communities of North America & Europe for Guanaja island in Honduras. Guanaja offers all the dazzling reefs & crystal "viz" that reminds one of Caribbean corals way back in the 1970s -- before tropical tourism billowed into exploitation. No worries about that same ol' cycle grinding down Guanaja's virgin ecosystem, because this isle's tiny airstrip only allows a couple 18-seaters a day to arrive & depart, ensuring Guanaja will remain pristine for decades to come. We live for islands like Guanaja. Since 1991 it has been one of our core missions at U.S. Dive Travel to find these gems worldwide, reveal them carefully, then promote them with TLC + respect for delicate social & reef systems. Never massive gaudy ad campaigns. Only a privileged few hundred sunseekers visit Guanaja each year. & nearly everyone we have sent returns home to write us a love letter about their delightful tropical adventure. That's the operational word here -- "Delight." Now let's focus on Dunbar Villa itself. This cool little Mediterranean-style mansion is incredibly affordable, clean, friendly & brimming with tropical adventure options from the best topwater fishing in the Caribbean to scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain hiking, horseback riding & photo jaunts to two quaint Norman Rockwellian villages. Now here's the prime location magic -- Dunbar Villa sits 300 meters from Guanaja's protected south shore, serenely in the middle of a calm shallow ocean bay, perched regally atop a huge granite dome. It has to be seen to be believed ! Check our website photos & you may find your heartrate accelarating within a few sec's of opening the page. Dunbar Villa is something else. Owned by a successful Texas real estate wizard, who has gives U.S. Dive Travel exclusive access to his private family getaway for 10 of 12 months each year, this Guanaja vacation getaway offers your own staff of personal servants for the week -- maids, cooks & the best scuba diving guide in the Honduras Bay Islands -- at prices on average about USD $450 per client below the Caribbean median. Dunbar Villa is a favorite of celebrities or corporate exec's on retreat from their jobworld stress. Professional couples, family reunions, private schools, even gypsy solo travelers are discovering Dunbar Villa too. This mini-mansion is remote without being isolated -- there's still good telecomm, + a couple nearby villages for desserts & drinks. No roads on Guanaja, funseekers, & that makes the island evern more like a National Geographic dreamscape. Everybody gets around by water taxi & the village is like a miniature Venice, with seawater streets. Dunbar Villa has delighted hundreds of our preferred clients, from honeymoon couples to families with teens to corporate teams to celebrities fleeing the paparazzi for some Caribbean sun & serenity. Check the photos, mates, they might just astonish you as you dream of the possibilities !!


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. & we are feeling psyched, funseekers, after waiting more than 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! But there's more to Molokai dive trips than just the scuba. You can find something for everybody on Molokai -- 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. 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 blubber. 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. Try the Molokai dive trip !

Molokai vacations, Molokai vacation, Molokai snorkeling, Molokai diving, Molokai Lodge
Thrilling mountain bike tours atop 3,900-foot Molokai Sea Cliffs,
above Kalaupapa Peninsula, where Father Damien once worked.

© Starwood / Molokai Lodge.

Molokai vacation, Molokai snorkeling, Molokai diving, Molokai Lodge
Sea kayaking along Molokai's pristine southern shores.
© Starwood / Molokai Lodge.


Sheraton Molokai Lodge, Molokai vacations, Molokai vacation, Molokai snorkeling, Molokai diving
One of Molokai's best snorkeling sites at Murphey's Beach Park.
© Copyright John Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel.



Molokai vacation, Molokai snorkeling, Molokai diving, Sheraton Molokai Lodge
Just before sunset, a Molokai field glows with ethereal light.
© Copyright Susan Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel.


AGGRESSOR FLEET'S INDO AGGRESSOR:
In INDONESIA -- BALI, KOMODO & FLORES island groups.

The sparkling new INDO AGGRESSOR performed her inaugural cruises in early 2016. This is a beautiful 4-star motor-sailer, built to cruise swiftly under sail or when needed, at a healthy 10-12 knots under engine. This dual-power combo is ideal for the often peaceful, sometimes challenging waters of the central Indonesian Archipelago. Komodo Dancer offers 8 luxury cabins (16 passengers) & ample deck space. This yacht was built & now is managed in Indonesia through PHD's partners, Meridian Worldwide Ltd. & P.T. Ombak Putih. Komodo Dancer will be based in Bali & will cruise the passages surrounding Bali, Komodo ( a national park), & Flores islands. Air links are easy via Denpassar in Bali. Scuba divers on all cruises also have opportunities for several colorful land excursions. Here's what Peter Hughes once said of Komodo Dancer, a dive trip project he was excited to create: "The lure of the unexplored is irresistible, & welcome to a brand new journey to the land of Dragons & Volcanoes, a real life 'Jurassic Park' above & below the surface of the seas. This is Komodo, Indonesia, one of the last true frontiers of the U/W world. This 'Land That Time Forgot' is located some 200 nautical miles east of Bali, deep in the Indonesian archipelago between the islands of Sumbawa & Flores. Most world-class diving sites are usually formed by either unusual volcanic formations of undersea rock or by massive amounts of unusual limestone (coral) deposits. This portion of Indonesia is blessed by both ! You will see plenty of volcanic action as you explore the numerous sea mounts in the area, with vast schools of jacks, pelagics, mantas, the occasional whale shark, & other stunning members of the blue water community. The gusting currents that surge & swirl through the deep channels between Komodo & Rinca islands produce such a wild variety of conditions that there is something here for everybody. Great visibility, drift dives, massive cliffs of black basalt, endless sheer walls & dazzling coral gardens combine to house one of the most prolific & diverse marine ecosystems on earth." Amen to all of this Peter, & as soon as the time's right, we're psyched about heading back here for some splendid dive trips.


OMAN  DIVING  CENTER   &  
RADISSON  SAS  HOTEL,  MUSCAT

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.  You've gotta love a country where the national cuisine is a palate-perking meld of Lebanese, Greek, Indian, Pakistani & Arabian dishes.  Yep, 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 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 complex 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 dive trips 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 fully appreciated.   Yes, we recommend Oman diving with enthusiasm.   Oh, & did we mention -- after weeks in Oman on our first reconaissance tour, we learned with confidence that there's no threat from Islamic fundamentalism.   Oman is the Switzerland of the Arab world, with none of the reactionary excesses of some neighboring states. No worries on that score; this will be a dive tour sans hassles. This is an Arab country where women drive cars & run companies & where foreigners are welcomed warmly, right from the get-go. Give the exotica of Oman diving a whirl! Our founder, John Hessburg, enjoyed Oman thoroughly -- the people as much as the geography. Oman dive trips are mega-fun, folks, we will vouch for that.


U.S. Dive Travel, eco-tours, Molokai Lodge, Tahiti Aggressor, Oman, Tobago
Consider a scuba diving + cultural adventure in Oman?
All 4 Oman pic's are © Copyright--Werner Thiele.

dive travel, eco-tours, Molokai Lodge, Tahiti Aggressor, Oman, Tobago
Safe & colorful caving in Oman.

Tobago, eco-tours, Molokai Lodge, Tahiti Aggressor, Oman
Brilliant canyon treks in Oman.

U.S. Dive Travel, eco-tours, Molokai Lodge, Tahiti Aggressor, Tobago
Vivid corals in Daymaniyat Islands, Oman.



MANTA  RAY  BAY  HOTEL  on
YAP  ISLAND  in  LOVELY  MICRONESIA.

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 some action-packed days on the legendary isle of Yap, where for centuries natives used huge circular stones, like massive rock donuts, for currency. This island is well-known 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. Yap is one magical & innocent island, funseekers. For years our group guides & clients have reported back to us that some of these rays come in schools of 7 - 10 huge critters, some grand-daddys with wingspans more than 12-14 feet wide! This is a breath-taking experience that can be found only in Yap & a few other locations worldwide. Yap dive vacations at Manta Ray Bay Hotel = teeming manta rays + streaming rays (solar that is). The Yap Magic of Manta Ray Bay is pure & simple, amigos del mar.


KOSRAE  VILLAGE  RESORT  on
KOSRAE  ISLAND  in  MICRONESIA

The island of Kosrae is among the most intriguing new dive resort destination we have discovered in several years. Kosrae Village Resort staffers are warmly gracious hosts; & the product they offer bears a good hard look by bargain hunters, we feel. These folks will take care of you, at happily affordable rates. One of our web-tech 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 1.5 days from the West Coast. You'll enjoy an unsullied dive trip experience on a reef that's nearby, clean & replete with marine life; plus great meals & tidy rooms at prices comparable to low-season Caribbean bargains. Give Micronesia's newest dive tour destination a try -- "Kosrae Village" is a key buzz phrase for dive tours this year & next.


KUNGKUNGAN  BAY  RESORT  on  the
NORTH  SULAWESI  PENINSULA,  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 some windblown "Special K" cereal box logo, located smack dab in the center of the sweeping Indonesian archipelago. Kungkungan Bay Resort is right on the well-touted Lembeh Strait, which many dive tour 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's what we call solid Critter Confidence on any dive tour. These dive tours to Indonesia create lasting memories that invigorate the spirit for decades to come. Dive Trip your way to Oceanic Serenity, amigos.


CURACAO  in the  "ABC  ISLANDS" --
LIONS  DIVE  HOTEL  +   OCEAN  ENCOUNTERS  DIVE  CENTER.

Savvy Caribbean guides regard Lions Dive Hotel as, hands down, the best-value 3-star hotel on this fun Dutch island. This friendly locale is one of the classic dive resorts in the "ABC Islands" of the far-southern Caribbean. The beachfront is clean, serene, a great little getaway. Curacao lies far south of the Caribbean hurricane belt & is nicely sheltered 12 months a year. Ocean Encounters offers safe & easy dive tours from walls & coral gardens to sloping reefs & wrecks. Experience the dive tour sites that make Curacao a top destination in the Caribbean, especially suited to new divers or snorkeling enthusiasts. Mastered by the divemasters at Lion's Dive Hotel, such sites 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 tour sites. Try the Lion's Dive Hotel + Ocean Encounters dive duo & we believe you'll come back for more of this scuba diving & snorkeling. Dive tours do not get much smoother & more affordable than Curacao island will offer you. Quick cheap air tix + easy shore diving + affordable meals = one dandy dive trip, we feel.


U.S. Dive Travel, eco-tours, Komodo Dancer, Oman diving, Molokai Lodge
Tabacon Springs in highland Costa Rica
in lush jungles of the Arenal Volcano foothills.
This is one refreshing, photo-rich eco-tour.
Photo courtesy of Bill Beard's Diving Safaris.


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.

BELIZE MAINLAND: World-Renowned Tikal Ruins + Jungle Treks.

COSTA RICA's MOUNTAINS: Volcanoes + Jungle Hiking + Wildlife Sanctuaries.

HONDURAS HIGHLANDS: the ANCIENT Mayan Ruins of Copan.



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