SABA Divers:
Please see the following
itinerary for Marilyn and
myself. You will note that we
are using a ferry to go between
SABA and St. Maarten. One reason
for using the ferry is that it
allows us to dive on the sixth
day without the concern for
flying the next day. John Harvey
advises that the plane flies
very low on the inter-island
flight and that he is not
concerned with the short dive to
fly interval for himself. The
ferry, which takes about two
hours each way, is cheaper than
flying and more convenient when
we go back to St. Maarten from
SABA . This is because we are
staying an extra three nights.
Additionally, we don’t have to
face the luggage restriction of
the small plane flight. We’re
using AA airline because it is
now cheaper than US air and we
don’t have to be concerned about
whether they will transfer
luggage to and from Winair.
Incidentally, AA allows 2-50 #
bags for international flights
and US air allows only one with
$25 for a second bag. No reason
that you cannot chose to fly
Winair from St. |Maarten to SABA
if you want to. Nor is there any
requirement that you stay over
in St. Martin after the dive
portion of the trip.
The
following is just an itinerary
of what Marilyn & I are going to
do.
Monday, May 12, 2008 Bob &
Marilyn Puschinsky Itinerary
Wed Oct 1, 2008 IAH Hotel
Thurs Oct 2
IAH-SXM (via Miami ) 0550-0910,
1110-1200, AA2127/687 $608.70 PP
RT
Thurs Oct 2 Xfer
Airport to ferry at Phillipsburg
Pier by Taxi 30 min.
Thurs Oct 2
Ferry Sint Maarten-SABA 1700 PM
Dawn II $90 RT booked in advance
Thurs Oct 2 Xfer
fm ferry by Juliana’s Hotel
Thurs-Thurs Oct 2-9 Juliana’s
& Sea Saba $1,300 DBL; $1,500
SGL 18 dives Day 6 diving $128
prepaid
Thurs Oct 9 Xfer
to ferry by Juliana’s Hotel
Thurs Oct 9
Ferry SABA-St. Maarten 0700 AM
Dawn II $RT
Thurs Oct 9
Rental car Avis P/U Phillipsburg
1100 $86.25 3 days
Thurs Oct 9 Xfer
to Resort by rental car
Thurs-Sun Oct 9-12 Hotel
L’Hoste Hotel Orient Beach St.
Maarten $453.60 3 nights
Sun Oct 12 Xfer
to Airport by rental car Drop
Off 1100
Sun Oct 12
SXM-IAH (via Miami ) 1510-1815,
2115-2250 AA2160/1811$RT
SABA DIVE TRIP - October
2-9, 2008 -$1,300 PP + BYO Air
(~$730)
Everything in Saba is clean and
sparkling, the streets are
clean, the houses all look like
they have been recently painted
with their white siding, red
roofs and green shutters. The
smiles and friendliness you get
from the locals are genuine and
on an island with only 1000
inhabitants it is easy to make
friends quickly. You'll find
that it takes less than a day
for some of the residents to
greet you by name.
Saba 's diving reputation comes
from its pinnacle dives. The Eye
of the Needle, for example,
starts at 90 feet and goes down
and down, supporting a profusion
of sea life both on and around
it. Sharks, turtles and other
pelagics are drawn to the area
like magnets. But even the
shallow dives are terrific.
Green Island , between 20 and 35
feet has bright, colorful ledges
and mini-walls, at 50 feet,
there are 3 healthy green and
pink black corals, 8' across.
Juliana's
Located in Windward side,
Juliana's is tucked neatly
amidst a well-manicured tropical
garden setting. Immaculately
maintained, this small intimate
hotel offers comfort at an
affordable price and reflects
the pride of its local
ownership. Each room is equipped
with cable TV and refrigerator.
During breakfast daily at the
poolside
Tropics Cafe, you can
enjoy the view or watch
hummingbirds dart about the
tropical flowers as you
dine. The recreation room has
another TV, honor bar--perfect
for late arrivals, and a
computer terminal. Send a
message home, download your
photos or check-in with the
office; extra services only
found at Juliana's Hotel.
Wireless ADSL is available for
guests throughout the property.
See
www.h20tours.net
Thurs - Thurs October 2-9, 2008
(Note option below)
$1,300 PP Package (Non divers:
$730 PP – no lunches included,
single supplement $200 PP)
includes:
Garden view accommodations
(Hotel service included)
7 nights/15 boat dives - 3
dives/day for 5 days all with
nitrox. Night dives $65,
snorkeling trip $30.
Tanks, weights & belts
First night orientation cocktail
- Final night evening BBQ dinner
at Juliana’s
Breakfast daily. Five (5) days
lunch and dinner. Dinners at
different venues on the island
each night. Dinner drinks and
service not included. Day 6
lunch and dinner at your choice
and expense
Round trip airport and boat
transfers
Hotel tax (Marine park $4/dive
PP and departure tax not
included)
“Sea and Learn” program will be
presented most days at no cost.
www.seaandlearn.org
Air: AA or US Air/Windward Isle
Air (Buy your own – $730 IAH –
SAB found on Travelocity
12/7/2007)
Option – You arrange air/ferry:
Fly into St. Maarten (~$608 +
$90 RT advanced booked ferry
cost) and stay for a few nights.
Avoid small plane transfer from
St. Maarten to and from SABA .
Ferry cost is lower than air
($90 vs. $165). The Dawn II
Ferry operates on Tues, Thurs
and Sat., departs St. Maarten 5
PM for Saba and Saba at 7 AM for
St. Maarten – 2 hour 45 min.
trip. Windward Isle Air checked
luggage allowance is 30 kg
(66#), carry on 3 kg (6.6#);
Dawn II allows one checked bag
free and $5 for each additional
bag.
http://www.sabactransport.com
There is another ferry between
SABA and St. Maarten. Its name
is the Edge and transits on a
different schedule 0900 to SABA
and 1530 return for the ~$112
RT.
Dive an additional day at SABA
($128; box lunch $7)
Experience extra days on St,
Maarten. Additional Hotel ~
$150/night (Hotel only, no
meals). Recommended hotels: Maho
Resort near airport & Casino,
Passahngrahn or Holland House on
Front Street . The Orient Beach
is the premier and the most
popular beach on the Island .
Therefore, we chose to stay
there as shown in our itinerary.
We have one more room available
for a short time and Sue wants a
roommate (female or male). A
$200 deposit by July 1, 2008,
final payment August 15, 2008
(all non refundable). Deposits
and final payment only by
check/cash. Payment for extras
at SABA such as drinks, extra
meals, night dives, snorkeling
trips, snacks and souvenirs may
be made by credit card.
Please contact Bob Puschinsky,
if interested. 281-326-1061 or
E-mail:
Puschinsky@aol.com.
for info purposes - not
affiliated with BAD
