Ocean Safari 10 days Iceland expedition 2015

From Ontario to KEF

1  AS     537  V 24APR F  ONT  SEA 1030A 0110P 73G 0 /E    

1  FI       680  S 24APR F  SEA  KEF 0430P 0645A 75W 0 /E    

2  FI       681  S 03MAY S  KEF  SEA 0500P 0545P 75W 0 /E    

2  AS     534  V 03MAY S  SEA  ONT 0745P 1015P 73G 0 /E    

 

From LAX to KEF

1  AS        475  V 24APR F  LAX  SEA 1040A 0109P 734 0 /E    

1  FI          680  S 24APR F  SEA  KEF 0430P 0645A 75W 0 /E    

2  FI          681  S 03MAY S  KEF  SEA 0500P 0545P 75W 0 /E    

2  AS        456  V 03MAY S  SEA  LAX 0755P 1019P 734 0 /E    

 

Friday Apr 24 departure, Arrive Iceland on Apr 25 Saturday 6:45am, free program. 

Start the7 days tour on Apr 26 Sunday.  Finish on May 2 Saturday. 

Fly out 5pm on May 3 Sunday.

 

Preliminary itinerary:

Day 1 Apr 24 Fri - Depart Ontario airport mid-morning by Alaska airline to Seattle. Connect with Iceland Air at late afternoon, depart to Iceland.

Day 2 Apr 25 Sat - Arrive, airport transportation to hotel Odinsve, meet and greet at the dive center, free program…

Day3 to 7 Apr 26-30 Sun-Thur - Dive the Big Five In five carefully planned days, we will explore Iceland’s varied and spectacular landscape and dive into Iceland’s unique and renowned underwater worlds.

On land we will visit the Golden Circle area near Reykjavík.  Here we will witness the powerful geothermal and hydrothermal activity in the Geysir area and at the Gullfoss waterfall.  The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular tourist excursion, and truly worth seeing, but we will also take some off the beaten paths on our tour.  With weather permitting, we will drive through the impressive Nesjavellir area on the way to Thingvellir.  After the dives, we will have the opportunity to hike up Kerið, an old volcanic crater, and visit the boiling mud pots in the town of Hveragerði (´Hot Spring Garden´).

In the north we will explore the craters, lava fields, hot springs and otherworldly landscapes of the lake Mývatn area.  From here we will also drive through moon-like terrain to get to Dettifoss, an impressive waterfall that holds the rank of Europe’s most powerful waterfall.  We will also have a half day free in Akureyri during which time you can stroll through the town, go horseback riding, hiking, or relax in a café.

The sites that we will dive are the “best of the best” diving locations that Iceland has to offer.  In the south we will dive Silfra, the famous dive between the continents with the greatest underwater visibility on the planet.  The other dive sites are located in the north of Iceland.  The first are the hydrothermal vents Strýtan and little Strýtan in Eyjafjörður.  These are the only underwater geothermal chimneys known to man shallow enough to be dived by recreational divers, and the chimneys attract abundant marine life.  In Eyjafjörður we will also dive “The French Gardens” and “The Wall,” which are amazing geological structures with thriving marine life.  Next is Nesgjá, a freshwater site also referred to as the “Silfra of the North.”  Last but not least is Litlaá, which is a geothermally heated river that we will snorkel.  The river contains dancing volcanic sands and multi-colored sediments leaping from the riverbed.breakfast included

Day 8-9 May 1-2 Fri-Sat - 2-Day Eco Tour to the Jökulsárlón Glacial lagoon! Activities and sight-seeing stops include: Seljalandsfoss, a 60 meter tall waterfall that we can walk behind for a Kodak moment of a life time, Skógafoss, one of Iceland´s most beautiful waterfalls, picturesque basalt columnar jointing formations on a magnificent black sand volcanic beach facing the vast expanse of the North Atlantic, visit to theEyjafjallajökull volcano museum at the foothills of the notorious Eyjafjallajökull volcano!, Vatnajökull National Park surrounding Europe´s largest glacier with over 50 outlet glaciers, next to one of which we´ll find the 18 square km large and 250 meter deep Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. There we´ll watch natural ice sculptures of all shapes and sizes floating around this captivating body of water where seals are commonly spotted lounging around on the ice or playing in the rushing current in the channel leading to the sea. In good weather and clear skies we´ll look for the amazing northern lights (aurora borealis) dancing across the midnight sky. Included is also a glacier hike on one of the outlet glaciers (bring good hiking shoes!) and a visit to the Skaftafell nature reserve center. Last stop is a farewell party at a renowned lobster restaurant on the south coast about an hour out of Reykjavik. Arrival back in Reykjavik will be in the late evening after dinner and northern lights hunt, with hugs and kisses all around. Dinner is not included but very reasonably priced for the unforgettable feast we´ll enjoy!

Day 10 May 3 Sun - free program throughout the day. check out hotel, farewell to Iceland late afternoon and fly back to Sunny southern California late evening on the same day.

 

Visiting Iceland in April, the shoulder season, offers some unique opportunities. It´s late enough in the winter to allow for manageable enough weather to conduct extended journeys while still allowing for the chance of some snow, winter activities and the ever enchanting northern lights (keeping in mind that this may take us late into the night as we´re coming towards the tail end of the northern lights season).  So, given a bit of flexibility and responsiveness to changing weather conditions (i.e. Plan B´s), in many respects we´re getting the best of both worlds!

Diver Price includes:

5-Day Iceland Highlights Dive Tour with full diving services, including: boat transportation, tanks, weight belts and English speaking guide

2-Day custom Scenic South Coast Adventure – with guided glacier hike (including ice axe, crampons, helmet) and other exciting one of the kind outdoors activities

8 nights accommodation w/breakfast

4x4 9 seater Toyota Hiace minivans throughout the trip

Airport transfers in Iceland

Snorkeler Price includes:

Same as above + Silfra snorkelling day tour (value €90)

The reason there´s a fee for the Silfra snorkeling and not for the other two spots is that Thingvellir National park regulations dictate that snorkelers must accompanied by a qualified guide (i.e. divemaster), whereas no such restrictions apply at the other spots.

 

Exclusions:

International airfares, currently around 1000USD

Travel and dive insurance.

Meals and activities other than specified

Scuba / snorkeling equipment rental

Drinks, souvenirs, tips and guide gratuity

 

Snorkeler details:

You would sit out the 3 non-snorklable dives and either come a long for the ride and scenery or stay in the local town of Akureyri for other activities. Divers will take 1 full day (8 hours) to do the two dive combo and 1/2 a day to the one dive - a total of 3 dives.

Akureyri is Iceland´s largest town outside the Reykjavik-area with a population of about 18000 people and plenty to do, both in town and surrounding area.

http://www.visitakureyri.is/en 

Snorkeler would have the opportunity to snorkel 3 amazing sites

http://www.dive.is/dive-sites/silfra/

http://www.dive.is/dive-sites/nesgja/

http://www.dive.is/dive-sites/litla-a/

 

Snorkeler Rental package rate

The total snorkeling equipment rental (dry suit, undergarment, mask, fins, snorkel, hood, gloves) would be €110 per snorkler. This is for 4 days´ rental with 50% discount (even though you would only use it twice, apart from the Silfra snorkeling tour – quoted separately)

 

Only 12 spots available (either max 8 or 11-13 pax, no 9 to 10 due to vehicle restriction)

 

Payment details:

 

Costs:

Diver double occupancy: Euro 2598----currently around 3400USD

Diver single occupancy: Euro 2998----currently around 3950USD

Snorkeler double occupancy: Euro 2348----currently around 3100USD

Snorkeler single occupancy: Euro 2798----currently around 3700USD

 

Payment:

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

AMOUNT

PAYMENT DUE DATE

1st Deposit

$1,000

Upon Reservation

Final Deposit

remaining balance

Before Jan 17, 2015

For credit card payment please add 3%        

 

Cancellation Policy:

(Trip insurance is available thru Ocean safari, please ask)

Before Jan. 17,  2015, 1st deposit forfeited

After  Jan. 17 2015, no refund (unless replacement can be found)

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