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2011 DIVING NEWSLETTER
The 2010 diving season started out with a bang. Our first trip took place on June 18th with a total of 12 sharks sighted. Eight of those were tagged for research. The next three days had results mirroring the first day. After 4 days of diving, we had tagged 36 sharks with more below us, but we couldn’t get them close enough to be tagged. Visibility was an added bonus with clarity to 35 ft. We continued to have good results through early July.
Many of you who had booked early trips in the season had done so with hopes of finding basking sharks. We failed to find any during the period in June when the basking sharks pass through our southern New England waters. For the coming season, I will not target the basking sharks in June and put my divers through another let down. We will target blues, makos, and sunfish during the month of June. If we get lucky and stumble across a basking shark, we will welcome it.
Most of our trips throughout the season were very successful. In addition to seeing sharks, some groups got lucky and were able to view schools of porpoises and whales while on the way to and from the shark grounds. Others saw ocean sunfish, sea turtles, and mahi mahi swim through the slick. However, on two occasions we did not find any sharks. A total lack of wind on July 31st affected our ability to put out the necessary slick for sharking, and on September 12th there was no apparent reason - but we couldn’t draw a shark.
If you are a first timer to shark diving, I would highly recommend diving during the month of June. It was our most productive month last year with most days experiencing calm seas and clear water. If a storm or strong winds are predicted to pass through the area, we can cancel ahead of the trip and rebook you later in the season. If you wait until August or September to book your trip and we have to cancel due to a storm, there may not be any space available to place you. My veteran divers choose late August and September as the preferred month because of the possible 80 ft. visibility and variety of marine life. It’s a gamble that is well worth it if you have done this before and experience a calm day.
Wreck dives will also be offered this year to the German U-boat, Grecian, Black Point, Idean, and the Pinnacle. Group rates for 8 divers start at $895 for 6 hr. and $1195 for 8 hr.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the success we had last June and the state of the economy, I’m going to offer a reduced rate on weekdays between June 20th and 30th, and eliminate the weekend surcharge all season. The June discount rate for a private group with 8 divers will be $1600. The cost for individual divers during the same period will be $200/person. In addition, I am offering a 5% discount for all full payments received 5 months in advance of your trip or by April 1st, excluding the June discount.
FUEL SURCHARGE: Even though the price of fuel has increased dramatically from last season, I have decided to keep my rate at the same price as last year for all trips booked (with deposit) by April 1st. After that date, there will be a fuel surcharge of $50/group or $5/individual if the price of diesel reaches $3.50/gal. and at each 50 cent incremental increase thereafter.
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