Join our exclusive charter to dive the World War II Wrecks of Truk Lagoon on board SS Thorfinn in February 2014 - the 70th Anniversary of 'Operation Hailstone'!  

Truk Lagoon is a wreck diver’s paradise steeped in World War II history and is a unique destination. During WWII the atoll of Truk, in the south-west Pacific, was the forward base for the Japanese Imperial Navy.  On the 17th and 18th February 1944 the Americans laid siege to Truk Lagoon, executing a destructive  aerial  bombardment  known  as  ‘Operation Hailstone’. Around 30 waves of American bombers destroyed 250 Japanese planes, an estimated 60 vessels, as well as thousands of Japanese and Chuukese citizens.  ‘Operation Hailstone’ set a World War II record of destruction, with over 180,000 tons of shipping being sunk in just two days. Today, dozens of Japanese ships and artefacts can be seen in the clear Lagoon waters. The average depth for the majority of wrecks is between 28m - 45m and the diving is often in little current. Diving on these ships captures a historic moment in time. Their guns remain facing the sky, still armed with spent ammunition shells strewn across their decks, and holds are packed full of military hardware and explosives. Truk Lagoon is a 'must' for any discerning diver.

Our exclusive Scuba Tours Worldwide charter trip will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of ‘Operation Hailstone’. Preparations are already being made in Truk Lagoon for a commemorative celebration to remember this historic event, though no details are available at the time of print. By joining our exclusive trip you can be there on this special day  and experience for yourself this unique place.   Our exclusive charter trip will begin with one night’s accommodation at the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort,  to relax and unwind after your long journey, followed by 7nts on board the SS Thorfinn with 7 full days diving plus a further 3nts at the Truk Stop Hotel with 2 more full days diving. 

TRAVEL ITINERARY:

Sample itinerary on Cathay Pacific from London Heathrow via Hong Kong.

Tue 11 Feb - Heathrow / Hong Kong 2015/1505 CX256 (arriving next day)

Wed 12 Feb - Hong Kong / Manila 1635/1840 CX903

Wed 12 Feb - Arrive Manila and transfer to the Remington Hotel for 1 night

Thu 13 Feb - Manila / Guam 2255/0445 UA184 (arriving next day)

Fri 14 Feb - Guam / Truk 0820/1004 UA172

Fri 14 Feb - Arrive Truk and transfer to the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort for 1 night

Sat 15 Feb - Transfer to Thorfinn liveaboard for 7 nights with 7 days diving / Up to 5 dives per day

Sat 22 Feb - Transfer to Truk Stop for 3 nights with 2 days diving / 2 dives per day

Tue 25 Feb - Truk / Guam 1420/1555 UA154

Tue 25 Feb - Guam / Manila 1910/2125 UA183

Tue 25 Feb - Arrive Manila and transfer to the Remington Hotel for 1 night.

Wed 26 Feb - Manila / Hong Kong 1100/1315 CX906

Wed 26 Feb - Hong Kong / Heathrow 1440/2030 CX253

GUIDELINE PRICE: £2,625 PER PERSON + INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO MANILA

Price includes: In Manila price includes shuttle transfers and 2 separate nights at the Remington Hotel on a twin/double* share basis with breakfast and return Manila to Truk flights. In Truk price includes transfers, 1 nt at the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort on a twin/double* share basis with breakfast, 7 nts 'Sunrise Special' aboard the Thorfinn sharing a twin cabin, all meals, snacks, soft drinks, juices, free wifi, up to 5 dives per day with 3 free EANx 32% Nitrox fills per day and local Q fees**, and 3 nts on a twin/double* share basis with breakfast at the Truk Stop Hotel with transfers, 2 days diving with 2 dives per day.

Upgrade to the recently upgrade cabin 'Thors Lair' for an additional £100 per person.

* single supplements apply for Manila and Truk hotels.

Excluded: International flights, Truk Dive Permit currently $30 per person payable locally, Truk departure tax of approx. US$30, Meals where not stated, on board alcoholic drinks and gratuities.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM THE UK:

There are several flight options to Manila, but we can recommend travel on Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Emirates Airlines via Dubai with flights departing from various UK airports. Flights start from around £485 plus taxes. Cathay Pacific and Emirates offer 30kgs baggage allowance per person. Manila to Truk flights have a baggage allowance of 23kgs; an extra can be purchased locally at a current cost of $40 per sector.

NOTES:

All above accommodation and flights are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Prices are based on two people sharing accommodation. For single travelers, we will do our best to ‘room’ you with someone of the same sex, but this may not always be possible.

Above quotation is a guide price and based on a £/$ exchange rate of 1.6 and is subject to fluctuation. Thorfinn local Q fees may be subject to change.

We can also offer extended stays in Truk Lagoon, whether on board the Thorfinn or additional nights at the Truk Stop Hotel. It is also possible to incorporate a side trip to Palau or to make city stop-overs, such as Hong Kong or Singapore,  on the way back. Our sales team will be happy to chat to you about possible options and to give you a quote. Places are limited - call us now to book your place on 01284 748010.

May is manta and whaleshark season in the Socorro Islands and we invite you to join our resident manta expert, Dr Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler, on an exclusive charter to these rugged and remote volcanic islands. They are home to a vast array of wildlife, including many endemic plant and animal species, and have been compared to the Galapagos Islands and Cocos for the big animal encounters that divers can expect here. This is the perfect time of year to visit and we expect some amazing encounters. We are pleased to offer our customers an exclusive charter date on board the Rocio Del Mar liveaboard with an optional extension to dive with the Sea Lions from Cabo San Lucas.

TRAVEL ITINERARY:

Fly on American Airlines from London Heathrow to San Jose Del Cabo via Dallas Fort Worth.

Mon 19 May 14 - Heathrow to San Jose Del Cabo (via Dallas) 09:45/19:35.

Mon 19 May 14 - Overnight stay at Posada Real Los Cabos Hotel, Los Cabos

Tue 20 May 14 - Transfer to Rocio Del Mar liveaboard - Morning departure for Socorro Islands (arriving next day)

Wed 21 May 14 - Rocio del Mar arrives to San Benedicto around 6:00 a.m. Start Diving! 4 dives scheduled...

Thu 22 May 14 – San Benedicto, 4 dives scheduled.

Fri 23 May 14 – Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled.

Sat 24 May 14 – Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled.

Sun 25 May 14 – Socorro Island, 4 dives scheduled.

Mon 26 May 14 – San Benedicto, schedule 4 dives. Return journey to San Jose del Cabo (arriving next day).

Tue 27 May 14 – Arrive at San Jose del Cabo. Overnight on the boat.

Wed 28 May 14 - Transfer to airport. San Jose Del Cabo to Heathrow (via Dallas) 12:10/09:35 (arriving next day).

Thu 29 May 14 - Arrive to London Heathrow at 0935hrs.

GUIDE PRICE: £2,295 PER PERSON + INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:

Prices includes: All transfers, 1 night at the Posada Real Hotel in a twin share Standard Room with breakfast and domestic drinks (between 11am - 11pm) and 8nts accommodation on board the Rocio Del Mar liveaboard in a twin/double share cabin, all meals, soft drinks and snacks, local beer and wine, 6 days diving (typically 3-4 dives per day) with use of tanks and weights.

Excluded: Nitrox at US $120 per person, Marine Park Fees US $25pp, US $15 Hyperbaric Chamber Fee and Gratuities.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION - CABO SAN LUCAS

We are also offering an optional land based extension where you can dive with the sea-lions. This includes 4 nights at the Solmar Hotel on Cabo San Lucas with 3 days diving the local dive sites. Dives are based on local dive sites and a supplement can be paid locally to extend these to longer range sites if required.

ADD-ON GUIDE PRICE: £585 PER PERSON

Price includes: 4t the Solmar Hotel in Cabo San Lucas it includes 4 nights in a Twin/Double Junior Suite on an All Inclusive meal plan with 3 days local diving (2 tanks) with tanks and weights only and return airport transfers.

Excluded: Nitrox on the local dives and Park Fees for longer range dives.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM THE UK:

International flights travelling on American Airlines from London Heathrow are expected to cost around £500pp plus £425pp taxes.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

All passengers travelling to the United States are required to complete the on-line ESTA form on the US Embassy website in order to receive authority to travel. It is highly recommended that you take the authority with you as you may need to present it at check-in or immigration on arrival. The ESTA costs approx US $14 and is valid for 2 years.

NOTES:

The above itinerary is a planned itinerary and dependent on weather conditions, the captain’s discretion and may be subject to change.

Prices are based on two people sharing accommodation. For single travellers, we will do our best to ‘room’ you with someone of the same sex, but this may not always be possible.

The price has been calculated on a US$/£ exchange rate of 1.6 and is subject to rate fluctuations.

Accommodation and flights are subject to availability at the time of booking – please ask our Sales Team for a quotation.

An exclusive 10 night dive cruise aboard Deep Blue that will take in the best of the Galapagos – including spectacular diving at Darwin and Wolf Islands. Our dive itinerary starts and ends in San Cristobal with a mixed program of dive and land visits planned en-route to and from Darwin and Wolf. This trip offers nine and a half days diving with four full days at Darwin and Wolf, with up to 4 dives per day planned.

TRAVEL ITINERARY:

Travel on KLM Airways from London Heathrow via Amsterdam.

Sun 08 Jun 14 - London Heathrow / Amsterdam 06:30/09:00.

Sun 08 Jun 14 - Amsterdam / Guayaquil 10:15/17:15.

Sun 08 Jun 14 - Arrive Guayaquil and transfer to the Grand Hotel for 1 night.

Mon 09 Jun 14 - Flight to Galapagos Islands and board Deep Blue.

Tue 10 Jun 14 - North Seymour 1 dive in the morning. Afternoon land visit. Overnight to Wolf Island.

Wed 11 Jun 14 - All day diving Wolf Island (4 dives).

Thu 12 Jun 14 - All day diving Darwin Island (4 dives).

Fri 13 Jun 14 - All day diving Darwin Island (4 dives).

Sat 14 Jun 14 - All day diving Wolf Island (4 dives).

Sun 15 Jun 14 - Roca Redonda & Punta Vincente Roca (4 dives).

Mon 16 Jun 14 - All day diving Cabo Marshall (4 dives).

Tue 17 Jun 14 - Morning 2 dives Cousin Rock. Afternoon land visit and snorkel with the penguins of Bartolome.

Wed 18 Jun 14 - Gordon Rocks (2 dives) and afternoon land visit to Isla Plaza.

Thu 19 Jun 14 - Morning land tour then afternoon flight to Guayaquil. Transfer to Grand Hotel for 1 night.

Fri 20 Jun 14 - Guayaquil / Amsterdam 18:35/13:05 (arriving next day).

Sat 21 Jun 14 - Amsterdam / London Heathrow 15:45/16:10.

PRICE:

£4,695 PER PERSON (LOWER DECK) OR £4880 PER PERSON (UPPER DECK) + INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Price includes: In Guayaquil price includes transfers and 2 separate nts at the Grand Hotel on a twin/double* share basis with breakfast. In Galapagos price includes transfers, return Ecuador to Galapagos flights, 10 nts aboard the Deep Blue sharing a twin/double cabin, all meals, soft drinks, local beer, diving and land visits.

* single supplements apply for Ecuador hotels.

Excluded: International flights, Galapagos National Park Fee of US$100pp (payable in cash on arrival), Ecuador departure tax of approx. US$40, Recompression Chamber Fee of US$35pp, Ingala Tax US$10pp, on board alcoholic drinks and gratuities.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM THE UK:

There are several flight options to Ecuador, but we can recommend travel on KLM Airways via Amsterdam with flights departing from various UK airports. Flights start from around £575 plus taxes. KLM currently offer 2 bags at 23kgs per person for all flights to Ecuador.  This will be changing for all tickets purchased from the 22nd April 2013.

NOTES:

Prices are based on two people sharing accommodation. For single travellers, we will do our best to ‘room’ you with someone of the same sex, but this may not always be possible.

The price has been calculated on a US$/£ exchange rate of 1.6 and is subject to rate fluctuations.

An exclusive 10 night dive cruise aboard Deep Blue that will take in the best of the Galapagos – including spectacular diving at Darwin and Wolf Islands. Our dive itinerary starts and ends in San Cristobal with a mixed program of dive and land visits planned en-route to and from Darwin and Wolf. This trip offers nine and a half days diving with four full days at Darwin and Wolf, with up to 4 dives per day planned.

TRAVEL ITINERARY:

Travel on KLM Airways from London Heathrow via Amsterdam.

Thu 03 Jul 14 - London Heathrow / Amsterdam 06:30/09:00.

Thu 03 Jul 14 - Amsterdam / Guayaquil 10:15/17:15.

Thu 03 Jul 14 - Arrive Guayaquil and transfer to the Grand Hotel for 1 night.

Fri 04 Jul 14 - Flight to Galapagos Islands and board Deep Blue.

Sat 05 Jul 14 - North Seymour 1 dive in the morning. Afternoon land visit. Overnight to Wolf Island.

Sun 06 Jul 14 - All day diving Wolf Island (4 dives).

Mon 07 Jul 14 - All day diving Darwin Island (4 dives).

Tue 08 Jul 14 - All day diving Darwin Island (4 dives).

Wed 09 Jul 14 - All day diving Wolf Island (4 dives).

Thu 10 Jul 14 - Roca Redonda & Punta Vincente Roca (4 dives).

Fri 11 Jul 14 - All day diving Cabo Marshall (4 dives).

Sat 12 Jul 14 - Morning 2 dives Cousin Rock. Afternoon land visit and snorkel with the penguins of Bartolome.

Sun 13 Jul 14 - Gordon Rocks (2 dives) and afternoon land visit to Isla Plaza.

Mon 14 Jul 14 - Morning land tour then afternoon flight to Guayaquil. Transfer to the Grand Hotel for 1 night.

Tue 15 Jul 14 - Guayaquil / Amsterdam 18:35/13:05 (arriving next day).

Wed 16 Jul 14 - Amsterdam / London Heathrow 15:45/16:10.

PRICE:

£4,695 PER PERSON (LOWER DECK) OR £4880 PER PERSON (UPPER DECK) + INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Price includes: In Guayaquil price includes transfers and 2 separate nts at the Grand Hotel on a twin/double* share basis with breakfast. In Galapagos price includes transfers, return Ecuador to Galapagos flights, 10 nts aboard the Deep Blue sharing a twin/double cabin, all meals, soft drinks, local beer, diving and land visits.

* single supplements apply for Ecuador hotels.

Excluded: International flights, Galapagos National Park Fee of US$100pp (payable in cash on arrival), Ecuador departure tax of approx. US$40, Recompression Chamber Fee of US$35pp, Ingala Tax US$10pp, on board alcoholic drinks and gratuities.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM THE UK:

There are several flight options to Ecuador, but we can recommend travel on KLM Airways via Amsterdam with flights departing from various UK airports. Flights start from around £675 plus taxes. KLM currently offer 2 bags at 23kgs per person for all flights to Ecuador.  This will be changing for all tickets purchased from the 22nd April 2013.

NOTES:

Prices are based on two people sharing accommodation. For single travellers, we will do our best to ‘room’ you with someone of the same sex, but this may not always be possible.

The price has been calculated on a US$/£ exchange rate of 1.6 and is subject to rate fluctuations.