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Talk to the dive chairs early. Please sign up in advance. All people who sign up are responsible for fees at the dive. People who don't sign up for the dive may be excluded from the dive and shunned for life. On camping trips, each diver is responsible for finding its own campsites. The chair will attempt to organize campsites, but no guarantees can be made. There is a $5 per day fee for use of the club boats. Personal flotation devices should be brought for all dives using club boats.
The trip dates have been set: for Saturday, September 7th through Saturday, September 14th, 2002. The Ms. Christie has been reserved to take us and gear from Marina del Rey to Emerald Bay and return, and trip co-chairs Rocky Rockafellow and Mike Daily are working out camp arrangements with the Boy Scout Camp as we speak...
The heads up is to let you know that collection of trip deposits will begin at the April general meeting. Please bring your checkbook on April first if you are planning to come to Catalina! Trip spots are on a first-come first serve basis for members. We would like to collect deposits from as many trip participants as possible, in order to have an accurate head count of divers planning to join us on this great vacation. (and it is always possible that the trip could fill up, so to be sure of a spot, get in your deposit early!)
The amount of the deposit will be $150. Please pay at the July general meeting. It is estimated that the total trip cost will be approximately $675, which includes all meals during the week, accommodations, use of club inflatables to dive, airfills, club liability insurance, tips, and transportation to and from Marina del Rey. In other words, everything is included except your adult beverages of choice if any, dive gear, transportation costs to Marina del Rey, (Los Angeles) and hotel room Friday night September 6th (if you choose not to drive all night to get to the departure point by 7 a.m. on Saturday). For the benefit of new members, please be aware that the trip is on a cost-only basis, and if the trip ends up costing less than estimated, you will get a refund of your share of the excess. Since the biggest single expense, the charter of the Ms. Christie, is a fixed cost, a larger number of trip participants will reduce the per-person cost.
Deposits can also be mailed to the Club Treasurer, John Purnell. Be sure to note that your deposit is for ``Catalina 2002''.
Mark your calendar, and we will see you there!
We will start loading the Miss Christie by 7:30 am at the Sea Scout Base in Marina del Rey on Saturday, September 7. The Sea Scout Base is at 13640 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. Long term parking is available in the nearby lot as usual, but you must register your vehicle with the Harbor Master, 310-832-7762, in advance. Be sure to offload your stuff before you park!
Lodging options for Friday night:
| Best Western Jamaica Bay Inn | 310-823-5333 |
| Holiday Inn | 310-821-4455 |
| Foghorn Harbor | 310-823-4626 |
| Marina del Rey Courtyard | 310-822-8555 |
| Econolodge | 310-398-1651 |
Boat moorings at Emerald Bay should be arranged through the Catalina Harbor Dept. at 310-510-4210.
Bring all of your dive gear, including tanks and weight belts. Tanks must have current hydro and visual certifications. Also, you must bring a coast guard approved flotation device.
We will be using tents only on this trip. There will be a group of naturalists coming in on Monday, and they have first shot at the cabins. But as Brian (camp manager) points out, with all those teenagers around, we probably wouldn't want to stay in a cabin anyway.
The routine will be the same as previous years--arrive at Emerald Bay about lunchtime on Saturday. After lunch, assemble the boats and set up campsites. I am bringing the club coffee pot, so if you have a coffee preference, bring it along.
We will be having our usual happy hour before dinner, so feel free to bring whatever munchies and beverage you prefer. Other than that, bring the usual Catalina stuff--hat, ant spray, sunscreen, ant spray, insect repellent, ant spray, light jacket, lawn chair, a pillow, sleeping bag, or sweatshirt for evenings, and of course, ant spray. A small cooler is nice too, there is a refrigerator and ice in camp, but having cold drinks handy at your tent cabin site is nice too.
Pick up time is scheduled for 9 am Saturday, September 14, which should put us back in Marina del Rey by 1 pm.
At the June meeting we discussed a possible Alacosta trip to the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort in 2003. This luxury resort is located on a secluded peninsula on the island of Vanua Levu, the second largest island of the Fiji group, and has spectacular diving. Resort info is available at www.fijiresort.com. Dates are under discussion. Contact Nancy Stryble for more information.
With a group of 8 or more we can get a special dive club group package at 40% below the regular rate. Rates are based on double occupancy, minimum 8 paid packages, with one free package available with 9 paid packages. This would further reduce the cost for each participant.
GARDEN VIEW ROOM - $1,353/person double, $960 non-diver double, $1,584 single
OCEAN FRONT ROOM - $1,600/person double, $1,210 non-diver double, $1,850 single
SPLIT LEVEL OR TWO BEDROOM - $1,775/person double, $1,385 non-diver double
Children 12 and under stay free with their parents
This rate includes:
Additional charges would be international and inter-island air fare. The resort works with a travel agency that has negotiated rates, with the fare usually around $1,200. Air New Zealand honors United frequent flyer miles and Air Pacific takes American miles.
blurb@alacosta.org