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What could be better than leaving work behind and setting off into the sunset to swim with tuna and wild dolphins in clear warm blue water with the best instructors in the world? Emma is extremely excited to share with you life changing experiences, her spring and summer camps in Malta and interacting with wild dolphins in the Bahamas. Find out more below!
SUMMER TRAINING CAMP
Location: Malta and Gozo
Qualification: AIDA */** - AIDA ****
Cost: From 929 GBP
Dates: 11-25 August 2012 - come for one week or two!
Description: Join Emma for the holiday of a
lifetime, at her summer school on the beautiful islands of Malta and Gozo!
Your
week (or two!) in and around the beautiful islands of Malta and Gozo will provide incredible diving against a stunning background of art, culture, landscape and history. Our package showcases the very best diving that Malta and Gozo have to offer and no other package offers you more. From the incredible open air Olympic sized National pool, to cave dives, wreck dives, blue lagoon, azure window, blue hole and inland sea. Not to mention diving with tuna and getting to feed them! Our trip is also family friendly and your loved ones are welcome to join us during all activities*. Open to all levels of divers, come to Malta with us this summer and share a holiday of a lifetime!
For a photo gallery taken
on our previous trips to Malta, including accommodation photos, please click here!
What’s Included in
the Package price per week:
- 7 nights accommodation in either a double superior room with aircon in a 3* hotel with breakfast and dinner included or in a double self catering room at 3* apartments** If you wish to come for two weeks then choose a package for each week, for example an AIDA ** course in week 1 and training in week 2
- Airport transfers
- Transport to and from all diving activities around the islands
- Expert tuition from World class Instructor Trainer Emma Farrell and her team
- Two sessions at the National Olympic pool
- Entry to the tuna pens to dive with the tuna
- Open water dive sessions and boat trips to dive caves, wrecks, blue lagoon
- Whole day trip to Gozo to dive the blue hole, azure window, inland sea and also to sightsea
- Freediving weight hire
- AIDA Certification (depending on package option and performance)
- Yoga classes
What’s not included in the package
:
- Return flights to Malta
- Freediving equipment (weight is included)
- Food other than breakfast
- **Please note that accommodation is based on two people sharing. If you are travelling alone and wish to share with another student then we can put you in touch. If you wish to have the room on your own then there is a single supplement per week paid direct in Malta to our partners of 95 euros for the self catering apartment and 70 euros for the hotel.
Optional extras for family members not taking a course or qualified training (to be paid direct to our Maltese partners when on the island):
- Adult non-diver package per week (accommodation as above and airport transfers) 448 euros (HB hotel) 210 euros (self-catering)
- Child (3-11 years old, sharing room with two other adults) non-diver package per week - 150 euros (HB hotel) 105 euros (self-catering)
- Single supplement - 70 euros (Hotel), 95 euros (Self-catering)
- Gozo excursion with ferry tickets (swimming available) - 20 euros
- Return transport to shore based dive site (swimming available) - 10 euros
- Return transport and entry to the National Olympic pool as spectator - 10 euros
- Return transport and entry to National Olympic pool as swimmer - 15 euros
- Return transport and half day boat trip (swimming available) - 25 euros
- Return transport and half day boat trip including entry to tuna pens (swimming and feeding tuna available) - 45 euros
* Please note that non-divers accompanying the trips may swim where applicable but no diving is allowed, nor swimming next to the divers for safety reasons
BUY NOW!
Please note that the 'qualified diver' option is only open to those with an AIDA 2 star qualification or higher (or equivalent from another freediving agency) and for insurance purposes you can only dive to the limit of your qualification (20m AIDA 2 star, 30m AIDA 3 star and 40m AIDA 4 star)
Self Catering 3* studio apartment accommodation option
Half Board (Breakfast and Dinner) superior air-con room in 3* hotel accommodation option
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kit do I need to bring? (Some recommendations are below. Click the links to find out more and buy)
Mandatory kit:
- Wetsuit. We suggest a 5mm suit. Freediving suits are the most appropriate however a scuba suit may be fine
- A low volume mask
Cressi SuperOcchio Mask - Black silicone / Clear lenses
Cressi Minima Mask - Black silicone / Clear lenses
Beuchat Micro Max Mask - Black silicone / Clear lenses
Imersion Thazard Mask - Black silicone / Clear lenses
- A snorkel
Beuchat Activa Tubair Snorkel
- A rubber weight belt
OMER Rubber Marseillaise Weight Belt
OMER Rubber Weight Belt with Flip-up Buckle
- Long freediving bi fins
Imersion E-Black/E-Green Fins - Full Foot
OMER Runner Full Foot Fins
OMER Stingray Carbon 30 Full Foot Fins
- One handed quick release lanyard. You can buy direct from Emma for £45 or you can make your own. If you are coming with a buddy then you may share.
- Swimsuit and towel
Optional kit:
- Neoprene socks and gloves
Imersion Florida 3mm nylon/nylon Booties
Imersion Super Stretch 2mm Gloves
- Freediving computer
Suunto D4i Dive Computer & Freediving Watch/Depth/Timer
- Underwater camera
- Pro-plugs
Docs Ear ProPlugs - Vented - with leash
- Fin retainers
Fin Retainers
- Knife
Imersion Barracuda Knife
- Monofin
- Yoga mat
We recommend you buy from Apnea. For every purchase made by clicking on the following link or the ones above, Emma will make a donation to Marine charities.
When should I arrive?
You should arrive into Malta on Saturday 11th or 25th Augsut preferably before 6pm as we will be having a welcome briefing in the evening
Do I have to attend every diving activity?
You're on a freediving holiday and so you don't have to dive every day if you don't want to! If you are doing a course then for certification you will need to attend a certain number of dive and theory sessions but anything extra to that is optional. There will be opportunities to go sightseeing and non diving family members are welcome to join us on all trips
SWIM WITH WILD DOLPHINS
Location: Indigo Boat, off
Bimini Island
,
Bahamas
Qualification: AIDA *
Cost: £199.00 deposit and $1,557.50 payable on arrival at the
boat for adults or $1,250 for children 17 and under (final 2013 prices to be confirmed)
Dates: Spring 2013 (date coming soon)
Description: Join Emma for the holiday of a
lifetime, swimming with wild dolphins in the Bahamas!
Your
dolphin week will be a live-aboard, all inclusive experience which has
been voted one of the six best eco-friendly wild dolphin swim experiences
in the world and number one in the Bahamas since 2004 by ‘Frommers Travel Guides.’
No
other dolphin operator comes close to the amount of interactions or time
spent in the water with the dolphins. In 2010 when Emma was invited
onboard, she swam with dolphins every day, stroked and fed sting rays,
saw sharks, a huge loggerhead turtle and countless other reef fish.
Because the dolphins are wild, we are not allowed to touch or feed them
but that doesn’t stop them from touching you as Emma found out on
numerous occasions!
With
incredible food and company to top off the dolphin encounters, this
really is the week of a lifetime.
For a photo gallery taken
the first week of May 2010, please click here!
What’s Included in
the Package:
- All boat government taxes including the Bahamian 45.00 eco tax
- Accommodation
- All boat cooked delicious meals and snacks including departure and
return dates
- Expert tuition from World class Instructor Trainer Emma Farrell
- Fuel charges
- non-alcoholic beverages
- All top quality freediving kit hire
- AIDA Certification as 1-star Freediver
- Yoga classes
What’s Not Included in
the Package:
- Travel expenses to the boat – airfare, taxis etc
- Bahama departure tax - $20.00
- One night out to sample Bahamian style cusine
- Gratuities to the crew
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I get there?
All
flights to Bimini are from Ft Lauderdale in Florida or Nassau in
the Bahamas.
Flying from Fort Lauderdale
If you are flying from Ft. Lauderdale then Dolphin Expeditions uses Bimini Isand Air (BIA) 00 1
954 938 8991. They have a discounted price, currently at $245.00 return.
Price is subject to change. Dolphin Expeditions have made arrangements
for free pickup to and from the airport and a corporate discount at the
Comfort Inn. Their phone number is 00 1 954 922 1600. Please let them
know you are with Dolphin Expeditions for the discount.
When you receive your email receipt from Bimini
Island Air, make sure to check which airport you will be leaving from. If
it is FXE that is the Executive Airport and you will need a taxi in the morning
to get to the Executive
Airport and BIA. It
helps if you bring you email confirmation with you. That also has
directions for the taxi to BIA so as not to get lost. If the ticket says
FLL that is the International
Airport and there
is a free ride available from the Comfort Inn. All flights with BIA will
eventually be from the International
Airport.
The flights are currently scheduled to leave at 09.00am on Sundays from
Ft Lauderdale and return at 10.00am on Fridays. Contact BIA and let them
know you are with Dolphin Expeditions and they will take great care of
you.
Arriving in Bimini (you will arrive on South Bimini at the International Airport),
clear Bahamian customs. We will either be there to meet you or take a
taxi to the Beach club which should cost around $5.00. We are three
minutes from the airport and everyone knows us.
Flying from Nassau
Western Air fly from Nassau and in
2010 the return trip was $180.00 departing Nassau at 09.00 on Sunday morning and
returning at 09.45 on Friday morning. http://www.westernairbahamas.com/
Please be aware that you need a
valid passport and if necessary – depending on your country of
origin – a visa to enter the US
and the Bahamas.
What time should I get there and when do we
leave?
You
must arrive in the morning of Sunday 1st May and you will leave
the boat after breakfast at 9am on the 6th.
Why
don’t we touch or feed the dolphins?
On our dolphin expeditions there is absolutely no touching or feeding of
the dolphins. The beauty of the Bahamas dolphin trips is that
they are wild, it is their home and we are the guests.
We work hard to ensure that the dolphins way of
life remains as untouched as possible by the human presence.
Even after over 40 years of swimming with these wonderful mammals we are
still working to refine and improve the quality of our swims for both the
dolphins and our guests. This has led to longer interactions both in and
out of the water-with all choices being made by the dolphins.
Dolphin Expeditions definitely does not condone certain behaviors that some operators use such as circling
dolphins to attract them or when the dolphins have left the swimmers in
the water, chasing them and jumping in again--the dolphins have made
their decision and moved on. Also; we feel that putting 20 to 30 people in
the water is counter productive to both the dolphins and the guests in
many ways. We average 12 guests for a more intimate experience for both
our guests and the dolphins.
When the dolphins have made the choice to join and interact with us it is
a much more mellow, relaxed and longer
interaction--we feel really blessed to be a part of it.
Are special diets catered for?
Yes,
just let Emma know when you book. The food is
absolutely delicious and you will never go hungry!
How much should I pay for the crew gratuity
and why?
The
crew gratuity is optional, however the crew work tirelessly with you and
behind the scenes to make sure your every need is catered for and you get
maximum time with the dolphins in the water. 10-20% would be a good basis
on which to work, which would be about $100 - $200 in cash which is then
shared between the crew.
What else should I budget for onboard?
The cab
fare on the island is around $5.00 each way. It is usually around $25 -
$35.00 on our night out to experience some great Bahamian food. There is
a $20.00 tax when leaving the Bahamas.
Dolphin Expeditions have new t-shirts for $20.00 and $25.00 and hats for
$20.00. Delicious massages are available from Terri (price TBC) and at
the end of the week you may wish to purchase an edited DVD which records
your week with us for $45.00. This is incredible value and comes with a
CD of hundreds of photos taken by the onboard photographer throughout the
week.
What should I bring?
2
towels, bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, long sleeved shirt and trousers
to protect against the sun, sun hat and sunglasses. Some people also like
to bring a simple dressy outfit for the night out.
Depending on how cold you might get, a light wetsuit, shorty
or rash vest. White sports socks in case your fins don’t fit
perfectly and a light weight rain jacket-wind breaker.
SPF 30 or higher Sun Tan Lotion – NO OILS OR SPRAY LOTIONS.
Lip balm, insect repellent, toiletrees, motion sickness pills.
Flip flops with no dark or black bottomed soles. You will mostly be
barefoot on the boat.
While not necessary, the following items may make your trip more
enjoyable: Camera/ Light blanket or sleeping bag for sleeping on deck if
you wish/ reading material/ binoculars/ journal for keeping notes.
Please do not bring illegal drugs of any kind, spray sun tan lotion or
sun tan oils.
Is there internet access onboard?
There
is no internet access when we are out at sea however when we are docked
at the beach club there is free wifi.
Does the boat take credit cards?
No, travellers cheques or cash.
Can I smoke onboard?
When we
are at the dock you may smoke on the dock away from the boat. At sea
there is a designated smoking area on deck and never any smoking below.
Will I be comfortable onboard? What about
sea-sickness?
The
Indigo is a very large, stable and comfortable boat. There is lots of
room on board and on deck and air-conditioning inside as well as proper
beds, toilets and showers. In the event that you suffer from sea sickness
then tablets are available on board to help you and most people who are
prone to sickness find that their symptoms wear off after a couple of
days or after taking the tablets.
Why can’t I get the AIDA 2-star
qualification or higher?
Nearly
all of our stingray, shark and dolphin encounters are within 12 metres of
depth. This is not deep enough for the AIDA 2 star qualification.
Occasionally we may dive for depth in the gulf stream, but as this comes
second to diving with dolphins, depth, and therefore the 2 star, cannot
be taught.
I’ve never done any Freediving before
and am quite nervous. What do you suggest?
Not to
worry! Emma is highly skilled at helping people with nerves in the water,
as are the rest of the crew. Emma will teach you breathing techniques
that help calm the body, and Emma or a crew member will stay by your side
always. Bimini is a wonderful place to
experience Freediving (or snorkelling if you prefer) as it is so shallow.
And once the dolphins come and say hello you’ll be too excited to
think about anything anymore!
Can I see some photos?
Absolutely!
Please click here!
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