Florida Keys – Marathon Islands
Florida Keys – Marathon Florida
4 days/3 nights – $479 + airfare
Sept 21-24, 2012
Join us on our ULTRA-FLEXIBLE vacation to the Florida Keys. We know everyone has a budget and most of us have a boss…so we’ve put together options to allow you to squeeze the most out of both.
The Florida Keys are comprised of over 1,700 islands, 32 of which are inhabited. We’ll be based halfway down the Keys in Marathon, Florida. Drive time from Miami is approx. 3 hours (including your rental car pick up). For this trip, we’re taking over a quiet, waterfront motel with a pool for a relaxing getaway without the tourist element. This will allow for you to relax or partake in the optional activities as you wish.
Coral Swim Throughs
Nurse sharks, green moray eels and schools of colorful tropical fish all gather in the crystal clear waters of the Keys. We’ll do two dives per day on the reefs and shallow wrecks throughout the area, never diving the same site twice. Diving from a boat makes dive life easy…and with the Florida sun still shining while the October rains are hitting the rest of the country, we’ll be basking topside as well.
On land, you have plenty of optional activities to do. With kayaks and bicycles provided for our group, there’s plenty of space to explore. The Turtle Hospital is the home of a loggerhead turtle rescue operation and offers several tours per day. If you’re extending a day, you may want to head down to Key West for a bite of the best Key Lime Pie in existence.
Whether you’re a new diver doing your Open Water check out dives with us in Florida or a seasoned diver just wanting a relaxing getaway, we’re offering our fall trip to fit your needs.
OPTION #1 – Open Water Class in the Keys – 4 days/3 nights
You’ll do your class and pool work back in Seattle with Cindy (or if you’re coming from another area of the country, we’ll meet a day ahead to do the pre-work) then we’ll do your 4 Open Water dives over two days in shallow, bright water with tropical fish watching you clear your mask. On your off time, you’ll enjoy kayaking through mangrove forests, bicycling to Seven Mile Bridge, or simply relaxing at the pool. $679 – …including your class, course book, deluxe log book, student dive insurance and certification fees.
OPTION #2 – Weekend Getaway to the Keys – 4 days/3 nights, 4 dives, Kayaking through Mangrove forests on dry day. $479- Add a night dive for $95 Non-diver rate $329 September 21-24
OPTION #3 – Mini-Vaca to the Keys – 5 days/4 nights, 6 dives, Kayaking through mangrove forests on dry day. $679 – Add night dive for $95 Sept 21-25
$250 non-refundable deposit holds your spot on any package
FOR DEPOSIT ONLY (with remainder due 30 days prior to departure)
Disclaimer on itinerary
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This includes changes to activity locations in the Keys based on weather or cancellation of dives. We recommend purchasing trip insurance to cover any disruption caused by forces out of our control.
Single Travelers
If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available.
- Accommodation at the Coconut Cay Resort
- 3 days of 2-tank ocean diving (for the divers package)
- Tanks, weights and weight belt (for the divers package)
- Kayaking through mangrove area
- Free use of bicycles
- Hotel taxes
- Dive boat gratuities
Price Does Not Include:
- Personal Dive Equipment
- Gratuities (other than dive charter)
- Insurance (Dive & Trip Cancellation)
- Transportation to and from Marathon, Florida
- Optional activities on free day
- Food and beverages
Payment and Cancellation Policy:
The required $250 deposit to reserve your space on this trip is due at the time of registration. The deposit is non-refundable 120 days prior to departure. If you needed to cancel your participation on this trip for a reason covered by your optional Travel Insurance plan, this cost would be reimbursable by that plan.
Qualifications: This trip is rated Easy [2]. It contains a variety of activities including tours, snorkeling and scuba diving. Advanced Open Water certification for diving is highly recommended.
