DiveTulsa
Grand Bahama/UNEXSO Trip

November 24th to 29th (Tuesday to Sunday)
Dates have some flexibility

Something for every diving (and non-diving) taste:
Maybe you like reefs, shipwrecks, dolphins, caverns & caves, even sharks if you want.
For non-divers there are dolphin encounters, shopping, beach, exploring...

Easy but wonderful...
A nice short walk from your hotel to the dive shop, dive boats just a few steps from the shop, lunch at the outdoor cafe at the dive shop, an after dive drink also at the cafe, many dinner choices just down the pier.

Grand Bahama Island and UNEXSO offer one of the most pleasant and easy trips we've ever had.

Relaxed pace but not slow service. Inspiring dive staff, short boat rides, critters that you'll fall in love with.

The diving has everything, reefs, dolphins, sharks, wrecks (yes, wreck class!) and caverns. The dive staff is friendly, professional and frankly, inspiring.

UNEXSO has a huge shop, huge pool, outdoor cafe and an atmosphere that you just want to be a part of.

Underwater Explorers Society

UNEXSO is one of the oldest dive resorts around, it was founded in 1965. That history is apparent when you walk around the shop and see the historic displays. It is a very large facility that has diving, swimming, food, shopping and just the right environment for divers to spend time between dives or even after diving.

There are always divers hanging around UNEXSO for a chat over a coke, sandwich or a meal right within sight of the boats.

At UNEXSO there is always something to see and do, people to meet and talk to.

UXEXSO has an enormous dive shop, rental gear area, gear washing facilities, gear lockers for guests, full showers and bathrooms.

UNEXSO's Dive-In Bar & Grill is a great place for breakfast and lunch, or simply for a relaxing and refreshing drink. They serve good food like great burgers cooked to your liking, a tasty Grilled Chicken Caesar, and Conch Fritters cooked the Bahamian way

UNEXSO's 4,500 square foot retail store, Sun & Sea Outfitters, offers endless browsing for just the right shirt, souvenir or that scuba item that you forgot. The store is loaded with great vacation items from apparel to beach-wear to sunglasses and snorkeling equipment.

Only at UNEXSO can you swim and interact with trained dolphins in the open ocean environment. You'll begin this once in a lifetime experience in a boat with our dolphins following you out into the ocean and leaping alongside the boat. Then you'll enter the water and interact with our dolphins in their natural element of the open ocean. You'll be shown hand signals and the dolphins will come right up to you inviting you to pet them and interact in other ways.

Dolphin programs are available for non-divers too including children. There are even all-day programs for kids to come assistant dolphin trainers.

UNEXSO pioneered shark diving almost 20 years ago and was the first to offer shark diving on Grand Bahama Island. Our staff are considered experts in shark behavior and conservation and will organize an up close and personal experience with the sharks at UNEXSO's Shark Junction. The expanded pre-dive briefing dispels the misconceptions about sharks, covers information about shark behavior and highlights interesting facts about these misunderstood creatures. During the dive, you'll observe these magnificent creatures as our experienced staff feeds and interacts with sharks of all sizes. You will come away from the experience with a new appreciation of these beautiful animals and understand the need for increased conservation's measures

More information on UNEXSO:
http://www.unexso.com/

A mixture of Caribbean island flavor and European architecture combine to create the Pelican Bay Hotel and Suites.

The rooms look out onto the courtyard that has a pool, jacuzzi, bar and gardens. Just beyond the pool is the waterway that leads to the harbor. You can watch boats go back and forth all day long.

General info on the rooms:

Rooms:
All rooms are 640 square feet with Italian-tiled floors, shower and tub and private balconies.
Rooms are equipped with two double beds or one king sized bed.
All rooms are fully air conditioned.
Each Pelican Bay room is equipped with a coffee maker. Prepackaged coffee is provided each day in both regular and decaffeinated varieties.
Each room has two luxurious cotton bath robes as well as hair dryer, ironing board with iron and in-room safe.

Complimentary al fresco continental breakfast is served daily from 7:00 am until 10:30 am.

Laundry machines are available for guest use.

In-room baby sitting can be arranged through the front desk. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required.

Business Services
We offer complimentary 24-hour wireless internet access, a printer and copier in our business office. High speed wireless internet access is offered resort wide; a fee applies.

Other amenities:
Tour desk on site to accommodate guest requests.
Use of the Westin Our Lucaya Resort's beach amenities and facilities.

More information on the Resort:
http://www.pelicanbayhotel.com/

Grand Bahama Island

Freeport/Lucaya, the capital of Grand Bahama, and the second largest city in the Islands of The Bahamas, the city was built expressly for tropical fun. It is the site of many of the tourist beaches and activities, as well as the International Bazaar and Port Lucaya Marketplace.

The trade winds that blow almost continually throughout The Islands of The Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate which varies little year round. The most refreshing time is between September through May, when the temperature averages 70-75F degrees. The rest of the year is a bit warmer with temperatures between 80-85F degrees.

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Some island details:
English is the official language.

Electricity runs on 120 Volts/60 Cycles, compatible with North American appliances

Eastern Time zone with Daylight savings observed April - October.

The Official Currency is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent in value to the US dollar. Both US and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands.

Entry Requirements : All visitors must hold a round trip ticket, valid passport.

More information on Grand Bahama in general:
http://www.grand-bahama.com/

http://www.the-bahama-islands.com/island maps/freemap5.html

Shopping, dining, refreshments all just a short walk away...

This picturesque waterfront marketplace and marina has something for everyone.

Map of Port Lucaya Market Place, Grand Bahama (detailed with labeled businesses)

There is a full service marina that has over 100 large slips and a state-of-the-art fuel dock that is open 18 hrs. a day. From the marina you can find water sports and tour operators, fishing vessels, the Dolphin Experience and even a trip on a semi submarine. There are so many different options you will have a difficult time choosing what to do!

For the shopper in us all there is everything and anything you can think of from fine gems and jewelry to the local straw markets where you can watch some of the local craftsmen produce these wonderful souvenirs. Shopping at Port Lucaya offers world-wide imports and many duty free bargains.

Dining at the port. You can choose from a romantic dinner or a quick snack. Pick one of the many international restaurants like Greek, Italian or try something a bit different in one of our Bahamian restaurants. Some of the fine dining features waterfront or water view tables and ambiance. Others include views of the live entertainment in Count Basie Square. We have fast food (unfortunately) and US chains as well as gourmet dishes and Bahamian food that will help you experience the full flavor of our island.

Entertainment. There is live music and on some nights native shows in the Count Base Square, our native entertainment complex. Sit back with a cool tropical drink, enjoy the music and dancing, you can even join in and learn the local dance steps or a familiar one such as the Electric Slide. As a grand final watch as the limbo artists amaze you with there flexibility and balance.

Airport transportation is included

Breakfast included

Resort + diving:
Pelican Bay - 5 nights accommodations, occupancy numbers are noted below alongwith the costs. 4 days of pre-planned moring dives, 2 dives each of the 4 days. We expect most people will want to plan additional diving to their taste, those costs are not included in this package. It is normal to plan these ahead however as this resort is open to the public.

Ideally we'll have enough divers to take over one of the boats, if not we'll meet some new friends.

$730 per diver based (double occupancy)
$1030 per diver (single occupancy)
$675 per diver (triple occupancy)
$415 non diver (double occupancy)

Airfare:

We each book our own airfare, here is the latest info that we have:

Best carrier to fly to Freeport, Bahamas (FPO) is Delta with only one connection in Atlanta. Currently fares are approximately $669 round trip. Additional carriers servicing FPO are: American Airlines, Continental, Spirit Air and US Air.

Our group is always on the lookout for better fares and we all share the info when we find it.

Wreck Diver

Underwater photographer

• Deposit of 1/3 of costs per person is needed to reserve your place at the resort and diving.

• Full payment is due 45 days in advance of arrival date

• Cancellation fees:
$50 cancellation fee 30 days or more ahead of arrival date

$150 penalty for cancellation up to
29-15 days before arrival

Less than 15 days before arrival, no refunds are allowed

Please note that booking late risks not having space or hotel rooms nearest to UNEXSO.

Credit cards are welcome:

Contact Loretta Engler
918-633-3251
Loretta@DiveTulsa.com