Get SGD $200 DISCOUNT per couple when you book any of the 3 new EcoAdventure trips at NATAS Travel Fair this weekend of Feb 26-28, 2010.

2010 Holiday Fixed Departure Dates for the
9D Darjeeling & Sikkim EcoAdventure …

• Good Friday Apr 02-10
• Labour Day Apr 30 – May 08
• School Holidays Jun 04-12
• Hari Raya Puasa Sep 10-18
• Deepavali* Nov 05-13 *The date for Deepavali, Nov 05, 2010, needs to be checked against the Indian Almanac when it is available
• Hari Raya Haji Nov 17-25
• School Holidays Dec 03-11

Click to check out our range of Jet Airways’ Eco-Adventure holiday itineraries.

Welcome to Jet4Eco!

Created for travelers who seek to enrich their lives with meaningful travel experiences, Jet Airways EcoAdventure holidays combine visits to places of outstanding beauty with heartwarming opportunities to make a positive difference to local communities.

Check out Jet Airways new range of EcoAdventure Holidays to Darjeeling & Sikkim

These exclusive holidays are crafted by local ecotourism experts who aim to showcase the best natural and cultural heritage of their region in a responsible manner. Under their guidance, each day of your vacation is filled with new discoveries as you interact with locals and move among some of the last remaining pristine ecosystems in India.

There will be many instances when the majestic landscape takes your breath away and times when you are moved by the sincerity of the locals and the innocence of the children. At such moments, you instinctively look for ways to give back to the people and the place that instilled the sense of wonder and joy in you.

With Jet Airways EcoAdventure holidays, you can transform this instinct into action. A range of simple activities taking a few hours can be incorporated into your itinerary while still allowing you to concentrate on enjoying the sights. The range of activities is varied enough to suit different interests, physical levels, time and financial commitment of most visitors without being too demanding.

These vacations are suitable for all travelers. Even those who have might not have experienced this eco-conscious way of travel will find the Jet Airways EcoAdventure holidays a gentle introduction to enjoying a vacation that makes a difference.

Press Release
dated Feb 22, 2010

Click to check out the range of Jet Airways’ Eco-Adventure holiday itineraries.

Ever felt like you were diving in the pages of a National Geographic magazine? Well that’s how I felt last Sunday on Christmas Island … The day started off like any other, meet at the Cove at 8am to head out for our two dives. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and have never tired of my weekend diving here on the Island. But today was to be a very special Sunday.

Spinner Dolphin

On the way out we were lucky enough to snorkel with the spinner dolphins – and then, along came the whalesharks. Not 1, not 2, but 4 – all different sharks, all in different locations, and we had the opportunity to snorkel with them all. Whew, and we hadn’t even hit the water for our dive yet. Given the whalesharks were around my buddy and I decided to stay off the reef and sit in the blue – and were we rewarded for missing one of the most intact oceanic reefs in the world? – you betcha – 2 whalesharks and a manta ray went sailing by … And then we could hear the dolphins underwater.

Whale shark!

Isn't she beautiful?

Next thing, we had around 50 spinner dolphins checking us out in the blue, playing around with us – I was mesmerized. What a dive … But it’s wasn’t over yet – sitting enjoying our coffee and cake in the surface interval and our dive operator yells “whaleshark” so in we jump again – this was now 7 in one day … Then 8, then 9 … And each one staying around for a few minutes just to check us out.

Whale shark

8m long?

But the best was yet to come – on our second dive we were visited by one of the largest whalesharks I have seen, and she was ready to play – for over 40 minutes she played above us in our bubbles, having the equivalent of a whaleshark day spa letting our bubbles flow through her gills, she was below us, then she played around us, and above us – I just could not believe our luck … That’s now 10 in one day …

Divers with whale shark

But wait, there’s more … Having completed two of the most amazing dives and encounters with dolphins and whalesharks underwater, we saw another 3 whalesharks on our way back to the Cove – that’s 13 in one day … I still can’t get the smile off my face. I know this was one of those “once in a lifetime” dive days, but Christmas Island definitely delivers its fair share of once in a lifetime “National Geographic” experiences.

Guest blogger Linda Cash must be in one of the most enviable jobs in the world – Marketing Manager for Christmas Island Tourism Association. Catch her on the Island and ask her to show you her favourite sites on Christmas Island, both topside and underwater!

Check out our Dive Christmas Island packages.

Introducing our Snow Bucks Special – a Warm Vacation to Ward Off the Cold!

Save USD $300 and stay warm when you book by February 28, 2010!

Ward off the cold by heading somewhere warm and saving money at the same time!

We’ve got you covered from April through December but you must book by February 28, so don’t delay!

Here are the Yachts, Destinations and Dates for our 2010 “Snow Bucks Special”

• Sky Dancer – Galapagos
  • Apr 04-11, 2010
  • Apr 11-18, 2010
• Star Dancer – Papua New Guinea
  • May 15-24, 2010
  • Jun 19-28, 2010
  • Jun 29 – Jul 08, 2010
• Komodo Dancer – Komodo National Park
  • Jun 11-21, 2010
  • Jun 23 – Jul 03, 2010
  • Jul 17-27, 2010
  • Aug 10-20, 2010
  • Sep 03-13, 2010
  • Sep 15-25, 2010
• Wind Dancer – Cocos Island
  • Jul 08-16, 2010
  • Jul 29 – Aug 06, 2010
• Paradise Dancer – Raja Ampat
  • Jul 06-17, 2010
  • Jul 18-29, 2010
  • Jul 30 – Aug 10, 2010
• Sun Dancer II – Belize
  • Aug 28 – Sep 04, 2010
  • Sep 11-18, 2010
  • Oct 09-16, 2010
• Island Dancer II – Fiji
  • Oct 23-30, 2010
• Ocean Dancer – Maldives
  • Nov 28 – Dec 08, 2010
• Tropic Dancer – Palau
  • Dec 05-12, 2010
  • Dec 12-19, 2010

Terms & Conditions

• This special cannot be combined with any other discounts, specials, promotions or standard privileges.
• It is valid with groups, however,and if you are already booked on one of these cruises, you will automatically receive the discount!
• Offer is subject to withdraw or change without notice.
• Reservation must be made inside the booking window (by Feb 28, 2010).
• Discounts apply to cruise only and not fees or surcharges.

Please email us for Snow Specials for Dancer Fleet 2010.

The 24m S/Y Mandarin Siren will be joining the Siren fleet in June 2010 and will be found in both Raja Ampat and Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The S/Y Mandarin will host 8 guests in 4 cabins aboard each trip. The cabins are all en-suite and offer a choice of double or twin bedded cabins. The dining area is at the rear of the yacht and offers a spacious and comfortable dining experience. The saloon offers a relaxed area to chill between and after dives and enjoy a movie on the large screen or sample a cocktail from the bar.

The dive deck follows the design of her larger sisters offering you ample space to set up your dive equipment. The cylinders are filled in situ and diving is done from the dive tenders accessed via the dive platform.

The SY Mandarin Siren is currently being built on the island of Sulawesi and is being overseen by Frank van der Linde and his father to ensure the same high standards are met of the other Siren yachts. The difference of designing and building our own boats is clear to see.

Source » S/Y Mandarin Siren – VIP Diving for 8 Guests

Check out » Dive Safaris aboard the Siren Fleet in Komodo, Thailand and The Andamans

Peter Hughes Diving is pleased to announce the addition of M/Y Tropic Dancer to the Dancer Fleet!

Peter Hughes Diving in cooperation with owner Palau Watersports, presents the M/Y Tropic Dancer.
Beginning June 6, 2010, Tropic Dancer, based in Koror, Palau, will cruise the Rock Islands of Palau and beyond, taking divers to the best diving Micronesia has to offer.

We are excited to have found the long sought after opportunity to return to Palau, one of our favorite destinations and one that has never been far from our hearts.

M/Y Tropic Dancer, a spacious, comfortable catamaran specifically built for diving, stretches 106 feet long, 31 feet wide & accommodates 18 guests who are pampered by a crew of 8! Eight deluxe cabins with picture window views and one double cabin with porthole view all feature en-suite facilities and are equipped with modern conveniences. Following the standards of the Dancer Fleet, the Tropic Dancer replicates Peter Hughes Diving service, amenities and the highest standards of safety in the industry.

Once settled in on this comfortable yacht and ensconced in Dancer Fleet surroundings, guests will be ready to focus on the huge variety the underwater world of Palau has to offer. Diving will be conducted from an 18 passenger tender which will transport guests to exciting Palau dive sites like Peleliu Express, Blue Corner, German Channel and Ulong Channel, just to name a few.

Most of the diving in Palau is drift diving and this speedy tender, easily boarded from the dive deck of M/Y Tropic Dancer and easily re-entered from the water upon surfacing, will deliver your clients to the best diving around.

Announcing an introductory special of USD $600 OFF, plus FREE NITROX – so take advantage of this!

That’s right. Those traveling on Tropic Dancer between Jun 06, 2010 and Nov 27, 2010 will pay only USD $2,335 for double accommodations and only USD $2,535 for deluxe accommodations, a $600 discount off the regularly priced trips!

Those lucky enough to get on the Jul 25, 2010 charter which is one of our Buddy Weeks, will get an even bigger discount! The Nov 28, 2010 charter is also a Buddy Week and after that, deluxe accommodations will be USD $3,135 per person, and double accommodations will be $2,935 per person.

Diving is meant to be shared with someone special.

We introduced our “Buddy Weeks” in 2009 to encourage positive Buddy relationships and declared 2009 the “Year of the Dive Buddy”. These weeks were so popular, we’ve decided to do it again in 2010!

On “Buddy Weeks” we offer special “Buddy Pricing”.
Book your trip at regular price and your dive buddy travels for ½ off the regular cruise price!
Single Traveler Alternative: 25% per person discount.

Here are the yachts and dates for our 2010 “Buddy Weeks”

• Komodo Dancer – Komodo National Park
  • March 19-29, 2010
• Star Dancer – Papua New Guinea
  • Apr 23-May 3 and
  • Sept 24-Oct 04, 2010
• Island Dancer II – Fiji
  • May 8-18, 2010
• Sun Dancer II – Belize
  • Jun 19-26 and
  • Aug 14-21, 2010
• Paradise Dancer – Raja Ampat
  • Oct 10-21, 2010
• Sky Dancer – Galapagos
  • Dec 12-19, 2010
• Tropic Dancer – Palau
  • Jul 25 – Aug 02, 2010 and
  • Nov 28 – Dec 05, 2010

Terms & Conditions

• Limited to new bookings only on specified cruises. Must mention this special at time of initial reservation.
• Reservation must be made inside the booking window (Dec 10, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010).
• Discounts apply to cruise only and not fees or surcharges.
• Cannot be combined with other discounts, promotions, or special incentives.
• Subject to withdraw or change without notice.

Please email us for Buddy Week Specials for the Dancer Fleet 2010.

UPDATED!

A New Year’s Gift for January Divers!

All cabin availabilities on Mermaid II.
Was € 990 per diver NOW € 699 per diver, an unbelievable 30% discount!

Dates
Minimum 4 divers to depart.

• Jan 07-11, 2010
• Jan 11-15, 2010
• Jan 15-19, 2010

Cabin allocation is on a first come first served basis starting with Deluxe and when filled then budget will be sold at the same price.

Discounts apply to individual bookings, groups or charters – book now to take advantage of this great offer!

MV Mermaid 2 sails the waters of Similan, Surin and Richelieu from November to April every year

Check out the Mermaid II prices and schedules here!

Email us for availability and Mermaid II discounted packages including ex-Singapore airfare

You only have a few weeks left to secure your chance to WIN a FREE complete set of AQUA LUNG scuba equipment. Simply book a dive liveaboard holiday with us on one of our four luxurious yachts and be in with a chance to win.

Any bookings made up until the 31st December 2009 will be automatically entered into the draw that will take place in the first week of January 2010!

Last Minute Offers for following departures

S/Y Siren

Diving The Andamans on the SY Siren
Mar 29 – Apr 07, 2010 Was €3,300 NOW €2,640
Twin and double cabins available.

Diving Best of Thailand on the SY Siren
Jan 14-24, 2010 Was €2,100 NOW €1,680!
Twin and double cabins available.

S/Y Philippine Siren

South Visays on the SY Philippine Siren
Jan 07-17, 2010 Was €2,400 NOW €1,920
Jan 29 – Feb 03, 2010 Was €1,200 NOW € 960
Feb 03-08, 2010 Was €1,200 NOW € 960
Twin and double cabins available.

It appears that the Indian government has unilaterally decided to grant VOA (visa on arrival) to citizens of a select group of 5 countries including Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Finland,

The decision to offer visa-on-arrival is currently only a pilot project. And the choice of the selected countries has been dictated by the fact that no national of any of these countries has ever been found to be involved in — even linked to — any terror-related incident anywhere in the world. The nod came after detailed consultations with intelligence agencies like Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing.

A formal notification in this regard is likely to be made very soon.

» Click here for source of news – the indianexpress.com