SandDollar Laura

It's $40 per trip! (not per tank) and as far as the transporation goes, that's our job. An additional benifit of using the ship approved shore excursions is that we handle all the logistics!

Dear Jim,

I think these types of questions are important, and lots of people want to know this type of information, so I'll be happy to tell you all here and now. Since Bruce was complimentary and all, I'll do my best to keep it brief.

As far as the dive sites go, we adhere to a schedule. You can look at your cruise schedule, figure out that you're in port on a Wednesday, check out our webpage (our current one, our fancy new one will be out in a month or so!) and figure out what 2 dives you'll be doing. One will always be an 80 ft wall (30- 35 min)and the second will be a 40-60ft (35-40 min) reef dive. There will be an hour inbetween dives and we often times return to our pier during this interval (it's a stable platform, and cuts down on the sea-sickness factor for many divers!!)

Boat size, that's hard to say in advance. We have 3 boats that we use for cruise lines, the Sand Dollar Express, The Sand Dollar Diver and the Roman Holiday. They all vary in size and capacity. Which boat you go on depends on how many people have signed on in your tour, as well as the other ships in town that day. These are large boats, have MSDs (that's a bathroom to you and I) fresh water, covered area, and dry spaces.

Our Guide to diver ratio is 8. That means even if you arrive with a group of 14 divers in your tour, you'll be broken down into 2 groups and the groups will be staggered so you won't "bump into each other" down under. Many people like the larger groups on board for the "bragging rights" of being the only group onboard to see the sea turtle.

Another option, if you're a little more experienced, a nervous nellie or travellig with junior open water divers is to opt for the private guide service. I can't reccommend this one enough (and that's no matter which tour operator you go with) For an additional $40, you can have your own private guide to show you around at your pace. If you've got little ones, you can entrust them to your private guide and explore the deep, reuniting on the second dive. If you're nervous you can take a little extra time and not feel pressured, or you just may want to feel like a rock star!!

Either way, that's my 2 cents. Bruce thank you for letting me get up on my soap box once again!! Jim, I hope this answers all of your questions!

Happy Bubbles,

Laura.

Bruce,

That would be us! Sand Dollar Sports. We've been their provider since 1994, so they tell me (of course I am way way to young to be here then!)

I'm not allowed to post our website but I'm sure with a little brainwork you can probably guess it!