City Seahorse, Inc. - September 13, 2009

Matthias Blättler's 2010 Calendar is featured in this newsletter To order, email Matthias (my cabinmate on Raja Ampat - Lembeh in May 2009! ) info@mblaettler.ch

These City Seahorse Trips are "specially recommended in Rough Guides’ new book – Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World. Rough Guides is one of the most successful and respected travel brands in the world, with over 300 travel guides in print. We have a reputation for good writing, accuracy and honesty. In writing this book, the authors have highlighted 500 fantastic places across the globe which will inspire people to see the world in a new light, selecting unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel which make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet. Only a few companies qualify for a special recommendation of this kind, which highlights your company as one of our authors' favorites.!" "I have seen my pictures with calm on my home wide screen and now I'm more satisfied than on board: this trip for me has been exceptional !!!!! Also I want to thank Norberto, Jerry and Aan, three dive guides truly very good. Deb and Tony have an exceptional organization: very many compliments sincerely for you. I hope to repeat a trip with you. !" Adriano, expert uw photographer from Italy - Nov 08 (winner of the 2008 Photo Contest) "This was the only organized trip I have ever taken where I was able to dive the way I like to dive, no problems and no hassles. I'll wait until the new year before I decide where I'll head next year but I'd like to join another of your expeditions in the near future." Jim, videographer from Canada - April 08 » more diver comments

This newsletter contains:

- Raja Ampat Dive Trip
- 2010 Nov/Dec Trips - Early Booking Bonus
- 7 Night Raja Ampat trip?
- Matthias Blättler Underwater Calendar
- A Spanish/Indonesian Wedding?
- Mikel Construction Update

Nov/Dec 2009 Raja Ampat Liveaboard

I still have a few spaces available on our best 2009 trips.

Book this month for diving on our limited participation trips with extra diving, special cruise director & dive guides. tours@cityseahorse.com for details:

Space available on the following trips only.

November 12-23, 2009: Sorong - Sorong (100% Raja Ampat)
November 26-Dec 7, 2009: Sorong - Sorong (100% Raja Ampat)

Full payment due upon booking : Direct Bookings Only

11 Days Diving in Raja Ampat, 100% liveaboard accommodations in private cabin with A/C, ensuite bath, double share 4+ dives per day in Raja Ampat 1:3 or 1:4 guide to diver ratio 4 meals per day + afternoon snack, 24 hr. free snacks, tea, coffee & bottled water Limited to total 12 guest divers On site trip organizer/leader to supervise & assist with problems transfers between the airport and ship ship fees and taxes for travel in Papua and Raja Ampat your choice of aluminum or steel tank, weights & weight belt

Both trips are 11 days, $3755 per person. A guaranteed single cabin is available on the Nov 12-23 trip (extra cost).

These trips are priced in USD. making them a bargain recently for divers worldwide.

USA divers: there are still some great airfares available to Indonesia during this period.

More info on these trip is at http://www.cityseahorse.com/rajaampat

Contact tours@cityseahorse.com ASAP for more details.

Mare Nostrum - Matthias Blättler's 2010 Calendar

In mid-August Matthias sent an email to me with an attached PDF file of a gorgeous calendar featuring his underwater photos. I asked if I could include it in this newsletter. You can see his calendar pages on the left side of this newsletter.

Both Tony and I agree it has some of the most stunning underwater images we've seen.

34 x 48 cm, spiral bound, heavy high-quality paper
"Mare Nostrum" = Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea

Matthias was my cabinmate on the May Raja Ampat to Halmahera trip. He is one heck of a photographer and a great person to share a cabin as well. His 2010 calendar still is not yet available on his website, but he does have a portfolio and video posted there. Contact him by email to purchase copies of the calendar

email: info@mblaettler.ch  :  website: http://www.mblaettler.ch/

Mare Nostrum Calendar http://www.mblaettler.ch/

2010 Raja Ampat - Early Booking Bonus

Raja Ampat - City Seahorse Special Charters
Sorong - Sorong (Indonesia) - OUR BEST TRIPS

2010 is the 7th year we've chartered SMY Ondina for all of November for two back to back dive cruises.

No price increase this year, still $3755+ I am offering an EARLY BOOKING BONUS to our newsletter subscribers for bookings confirmed with deposit this month (September '09).

Nov 12 - Nov 22: Raja Ampat, Sorong-Sorong. 11 nights
Nov 25 - Dec 6 ^{just added}:Raja Ampat, Sorong-Sorong. 11 nights

We like this trip because of the close proximity of excellent dive sites eliminating the need for long cruises between dives (so more dives!) and the ease of travel to the ship's departure and return points. The variety in the area is amazing. Most of the dive sites make the rest of the diving in Indonesia look like a desert! SMY Ondina is expertly designed for diving and photographers (the best we've seen), plus it is beautifully outfitted in traditional Phinisi style.

We accompany and oversee all our charters. Each has limited participation and extra guides with special services above and beyond a normal liveaboard trip. They are all targeted toward producing the best opportunities for photographers and videographers -- however "just" divers who like to go slow and dive only the best parts of the best dive sites will also enjoy these trips too.

I still have a guaranteed single cabin available on each of these trips.

For bookings confirmed with a deposit this month, deduct US$200 and get Free Nitrox (together a $360 reduction!)

All these trips are priced in USD. making them a bargain recently for divers worldwide, especially since each trip takes only 12 divers. Ask about extensions at Lembeh or in Bali to the above trips.

In 2010 I will accompany only the two publicly available trips listed above.

I am also running & accompanying two private trips available only to divers who have been with us before. If you would like to join us again on a "repeat diver" trip, please send me an email for the destination & itinerary.

More info for our 2009 and 2010 trips is available at http://www.cityseahorse.com/rajaampat

If you are interested, send me an email at tours@cityseahorse.com

Possible 7 night trip -- DEC 14-21, 2009?

I have a small group trying to put together a 7 night Raja Ampat trip for Dec 14-21, 2009. Because of its length this is a less expensive trip. For minimum 6 divers 1,325 euros per person, for 1-4 divers, 1,590 euros per person + US$150 in fees.

email about the 7 night trip at tours@cityseahorse.com

Norberto & Melysa

An Indonesia/Spanish Wedding?

No, I would never have recognized him in a suit either!

Norberto, the young Canarian cruise director / divemaster that we all adore was married to Melysa, his girlfriend of several years on August 9.

It was a shame to miss the wedding, but unfortunately it was much too far to drive! I understand there were Javanese dancers, Flamenco dancing, much wine & food, Spanish brothers and new Indonesian in-laws. I'll bet it was a pretty wild wedding celebration.

Melysa and Norberto bought a new house in Bali in August and have moved there already and I understand have the place nearly furnished. Many changes in a very short time!

Congratulations Mely and Norb!

I have already apologized for taking Norberto away to be cruise director for our 3 back to back dive trips in Oct-Dec. Melysa wrote that she is already used to it! I'm certain Norb will have many photos to show us during the trips.

Update on Mikel's Construction

In previous newsletters I told the story of Mikel's run of bad luck. In this one I finally get to show some progress on the construction of a new house from funds donated by the divers Mikel has assisted on our Raja Ampat trips.

If you haven't been on our trips, Mikel is normally a very hard working, energetic and extremely outgoing, lively, animated guy always laughing, singing and joking with his diver friends. His presence (pre-stroke) was always one of the highlights of our trips.

Mikel suffered a stroke in February right AFTER his small house on the beach at Doom Island was badly damaged by a storm. Things were looking pretty bad for him and his kids until his diver friends stepped up to help.

Many of you contributed some money for materials and a carpenter, Norberto and Captain Alan made the plan and Norberto helped me communicate with Mikel to get the construction started and funds to Mikel and Jerry (dive guide) to get the project started.. Jeremy Barnes at Safari Tours has also helped by accepting our USD converting to IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) and sending it to Mikel's account in Sorong. These images came via Jeremy.

I have several photos, probably made with a handphone, that show the walls up, roof on and a fairly high retaining wall that will help to prevent any further erosion of the beachfront. These are a few weeks old. I expect to have photos of the completed project while we are in Sorong in November.

Thanks again for your help! I'm sure our assistance has made a huge different in the lives of Mikel and his many small children.

2009-2010 Liveaboard Trips

There are spaces still available on the SMY Ondina 2009 & 2010 "normal" trips. The schedule through January 2010 is here:

http://www.cityseahorse.com/indonesia-liveaboard-schedule.php.

Contact me for individual or group bookings or to start planning for your group for 2010.

Please note that I will not be able to assist with travel arrangements if your trip is booked directly with the ship or if you are using a trip voucher.

If you do not want to receive news and trip notices like this, remove your address from our list by using the Unsubscribe info at the bottom of this note.

 Happy Diving!

DebF
Deborah Fugitt,   City Seahorse, Inc.   tours@cityseahorse.com
6387B Camp Bowie, #308,  Ft. Worth, Tx. 76116 
Phone:   (817) 626-0636

www.cityseahorse.com/rajaampat
www.cityseahorse.com/indonesia-liveaboard-schedule.php