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HERE TO SEE PICTURES FROM PREVIOUS FOREIGN TRIPS
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READ REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS FOREIGN TRIPS
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REEF SEEKERS PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT COMES TO FOREIGN VACATION TRIPS
We specialize in small groups (as few as 4
divers, generally 8-12 per group) and all are personally led by Reef
Seekers owner and NAUI instructor Ken Kurtis, who's been
doing this since 1980, so he may have picked up a few
tricks along the way. Ken's always available to be a dive buddy,
help with photo questions, ID fish (he always
brings his fish ID books with him), and just generally solve
whatever issues or problems may pop up along the way to insure you
have the smoothest, most-hassle-free, and
enjoyable vacation you can. You might be able to book something
cheaper on your own, but it certainly won't be better and you
certainly won't have someone with Ken's
experience and knowledge to run interference for you.
When you travel with Reef Seekers, all you need to do is get yourself to
LAX (well, after you've paid us for the trip of course) or, for
those outside of L.A., whatever our
rendezvous airport is. Then turn off your brain (within
reason)
because we'll take it from there. Generally, the prices you see quoted include diving, accommodations,
meals (all-inclusive for a boat and it varies
depending on where we are for land-based trips), airport
transfers, and crew tip/gratuity. Airfare is generally NOT included
in
the quoted prices. We would prefer that you arrange that
on your own, but we will give you the preferred flight itinerary
for a given trip. Prices quoted are cash or check.
Credit cards are okay but will be billed at a 4% higher rate.
To get more details on a specific trip, either e-mail
Ken or call him at (310) 652-4990.
CANCELLATION
POLICIES ON ALL FOREIGN TRIPS:
120 days or more
prior to departure: Forfeit initial $500 deposit.
90-119 days prior: Pay 50% of the entire
published trip price.
60-89 days prior: Pay 75% of the entire
published trip price.
59 days or less: Pay 100% of the entire
published trip price. |
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2025-2026
TRIPS (prices are cash/check and exclude airfare)
• March 8-16 -
Return to Easter Island (Group 1) (WE JUST GOT
BACK!!!)
• March 15-23 -
Return to Easter Island (Group 2) (WE JUST GOT
BACK!!!)
• June 28 - July 5 -
Return to Roatan and Anthony's Key (WE CAN ADD
LATE-COMERS)
• September 19-28 -
Maldives #1 (SOLD OUT)
• Sept.
29 - Oct. 8 -
Maldives #2 (SOLD OUT)
----- 2026 -----
• March 9-22 -
Yap (FILLING UP!!!)
• July
1-14 -
Manado, Indonesia with Murex Dive Resorts (ALMOST
FULL!!!)
• September 10-27 - Dumaguete combo land/liveaboard (do one or do both)
EASTER ISLAND - MARCH 8-16 . . . and . . . MARCH 15-23 (JUST GOT
BACK!!!) |
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ROATAN - June 28 - July 5, 2025 @ Anthony's Key ($3,195 +
airfare) |
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We had a
lovely time diving with Anthony's Key in Roatan in 2024, and we
thought it would make the perfect summer trip for 2025.
Anthony's runs a really tight ship and good operation (much like
Reef Seekers) which is one thing we really like about them.
We'll be getting in three dives each day for six days, plus two
nights dives during the week. The diving includes a trip to
Mary's Place, one of the best sites on Roatan, as well as a
couple of interesting wrecks. There's plenty of stuff to see
there and the diving is also well-suited to photographers as
well.
The other thing we like is that the diving is well-suited for
divers of all skill and experience levels. If you're a newbie
you won't be running into strong currents or depth-defying
dives. And if you're an old salt (or anywhere in-between),
you'll still find plenty of interesting things to see.
On top of all of that, all meals are included as well as airport
transfers, and the group staff tip. As always with Reef Seekers
trip, you pay once and we take it fro there. No
nickel-and-diming you to death. If you want to find out more or
secure your spot, give us a call at 310/652-4990. Prices quoted
are double-occupancy Superior rooms. Single-supplement is
available as is an upgrade to a Deluxe room (slightly bigger and
private over-water deck).
READ THE 2024
ROATAN TRIP REPORT
SEE THE 2024
ROATAN PIX
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MALDIVES - BACK-TO-BACK
TRIPS ON THE MANTHIRI IN 2025
TRIP #1 - SEPTEMBER 19-28 (SOLD OUT!!!) TRIP #2 - SEPT. 29 -
OCT. 8 (SOLD OUT!!!) |
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We
normally don't plan trips more than a year in advance but, for a
variety of reasons, we've committed to not one but TWO trips on
the Manthiri in the Maldives and will run them back-to-back next
year. Trip dates - actually travel dates will differ slightly -
are September 19-28 and September 29 - October 8. The reason we
booked these trips back-to-back was partially at the urging of
our dive guide/buddy Moosa on the Manthiri, and also because
when he proposed this, a number of folks on the boat at the time
said, "I'd do both trips!!"
Amazingly, we already have 8 people who
have committed to doing both trips. We also have a few people
doing only trip #1, and a few people doing only trip #2. The Manthiri only takes 12 divers (plus 11 crew),
and we are now
SOLD OUT
for both trips. Although this is weather-dependent,
our plan is run trip #1 as a northern route and run trip #2 as a
southern route. There are trade-offs to both but for those doing
both trips, the hope is not to do the same sites on trip #2 that
we will do on trip #1. And with everything you hear nowadays
about Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and coral bleaching, it's
important to remind you that, while the Maldives has become a
diving hotspot in the last decade or so, it's also one of the
few places in the world where you'll still find pristine reefs
loaded with thousands of fish. (Maldivians are very proud of and
protective of their reefs.)
Bear in mind that because the Manthiri
limits itself to 12 divers, this is effectively a limited-load
type of trip. Both trips are also 9-day trips rather than
7-days. You can absolutely find cheaper trips on other boats but
they will have upwards of 30 divers on board and many are only 7
days. In the Maldives, you get what you pay for. For our trips,
we will generally do three dives each day (occasionally four),
the food on-board is fabulous, plus we include a very generous
tip for the crew, a hotel overnight in the Maldives on the way
in, the 16% Maldives tax, and the $6/night "green" tax. So for
each trip through us, the cost will be $5,990/person.
Admittedly, not cheap. That's also why all we're asking for now
is a $500 deposit to secure your spot and then we can do
payments of $1,000 every other month or so to spread things out.
And if you need convincing as to how wonderful the diving can
be, take a look at last year's report and pix.
If you have questions, give us a call at 310/652-4990. If you
want to snag any of those last remaining spots, the sooner you
get hold of us, the sooner you can start anticipating this
trip-of-a-lifetime.
READ THE
2023 TRIP REPORT
SEE THE 2023 PIX & VIDEOS
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RETURN
TO YAP - MANTA RAY BAY & YAP DIVERS - MARCH 9-22 ($3,950 + AIRFARE) |
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We’ll be staying at Manta Ray Bay Resort and I’ve already got
the third floor Ken Kurtis Wing rooms set aside for us.
Breakfast on the fabulous Mnuw is included daily followed by
three boat dives just about every day we’re there. (We’ll do as
many as 26 dives overall.) Each day we do a 3-tank dive, we’ll
have lunch on the boat, which is also included. (We’re on our
own for dinner each night which can also be on the Mnuw or one
of the nearby restaurants.) We’ll take a break one day for a
half-day island tour. We’ll do a Mandarinfish dusk dive. And on
our last dive day, we’ll do the Shark Feed which I’ve always
said is one of the most high-voltage (in a good way) dives
you’ll ever do. Nitrox is also included (for those qualified) as
well as the crew/staff tip (which, as Reef Seekers is known for,
is usually considered somewhat generous). Cost of the trip for
all of that (and all the fun you can handle) is $3,950/diver,
only slightly higher than last year. Single-supplement is
generally available for those interested, often at no extra
charge. And while we have Ocean View rooms reserved, there are a
couple of Deluxe Ocean View rooms available at a slightly higher
price. I love diving Yap and have been going there for over 20
years now. Every time I go, I see something new or experience
something I’ve never had before. It’s really a fabulous place to
have a vacation. So who’s ready to join me? You can reserve your
spot now by calling us at 310/652-4990 or e-mailing me at
kenkurtis@aol.com. A $500 deposit will guarantee that you will
be exposed to all that Yap has to offer.
READ THE
2024 TRIP REPORT
SEE THE 2024 PIX & VIDEOS
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SULAWESI,
INDONESIA WITH MUREX DIVE RESORTS - JULY 1-14 ($4,630 + AIRFARE) |
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We’re using Murex Manado as our home base and will venture over
to Bangka Island for a day of diving (some spectacular soft
coral reefs) and we’ll also do a day diving the Lembeh Straits,
often referred to as the Muck Diving Capital of the World.
In-between we’ll do morning dives exploring the reefs of Bunaken
National Park and then have either an extra afternoon boat dive
there as well, or do one of the close-by shore sites that are a
short skiff ride from Murex Manado (where we’ll also have a
sumptuous lunch). The resort, which is set amidst a very
tranquil tropical forest with ponds and running streams, has
always been very nice. But they’ve ramped it up a notch and have
been doing a lot of reconstruction over the past year or so,
which includes a new category of room known as Premium Deluxe
Cottages (we’ve got three of them reserved) which are slightly
bigger than the “standard” room (which is also pretty nice). As
usual for Reef Seekers, this trip includes all diving, including
nitrox if you’re qualified (three dives/day plus a late
afternoon house reef shore dive for those interested), three
meals a day (plus tea and snacks around 4PM daily), day trip to
Bangka, day trip to Lembeh, double-occupancy room (single
supplement generally available for an extra charge), marine park
fee, airport transfers, and a generous crew/staff tip. Also,
assuming based on the initial number of people on the
“interested” list that this will be a sizeable group, what we do
is actually then do it as two groups so that the boats don’t get
too crowded. Generally each group will be 7-10 divers. Cost of
this fabulous adventure for the Deluxe room category will be
$4,360. (The Premium Deluxe adds $250/person if available.) If
you’d like to secure your spot, a $500 deposit will do the trick
and we’ll work out an every-other-month payment schedule. So if
you want to get in on this, call us at 310/652- 4990 or you can
always e-mail us at kenkurtis@aol.com. Don’t miss out on the
fun!!!
READ THE
2024 TRIP REPORT
SEE THE 2024 PIX & VIDEOS
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THE
PHILIPPINES WITH ATLANTIS - DIVE RESORT & BOAT - SEPT 10-27 ($4,630
+ AIRFARE) |
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Bear in mind that this is a two-week trip. The first week will
be on land at Atlantis Dumaguete Resort (which seems like the
Frogfish Capital of the World). The second week will be on
Atlantis' newer boat Infiniti (which
will have come out of drydock two weeks prior to our trip). On
top of that, airfare from Manila to Dumaguete and back
(Philippines Air) is also included in our package price as is
the generous crew tip. But also be aware that there are some
incidentals NOT included in our package price such as park fees
and boat fuel surcharge. Nitrox is also an extra charge each
week should you choose to dive that. At the resort in Dumaguete
(I was there last year on my own), we'll have opportunity to do
as many as five dives a day. You can also do fewer if you like,
since each dive is a 1-tank dive and you come back to the
resort. (The sites are really close by.) It also means,
especially if you're a photog, that you can swap lenses or make
adjustments between dives before going out again. Dumaguete is
known for macro and muck diving, but I enjoyed the reef there as
well. So not everything is muck. (I prefer the term "muck-ish.")
And many of the dives were muck with an adjacent reef so you
could choose. The one exception to all of this will be the day
we go over to Apo Island to explore the reefs there and will
likely get inundated by turtles. Our last day at the resort, we
should get in two morning dives and then we'll board the boat in
the late afternoon and take off on a northern route, exploring
the many reefs there as well as have a shot at seeing some
Thresher Sharks. We are at the resort September 12-19 and on the
boat September 19-26. So the overall dates including travel will
be September 10-27. Cost of the trip to Reef Seekers is going to
be $6,499 (remember, this is for TWO weeks). Airfare LAX-Manila
looks to be running around $800 or so. Because we're on a boat,
we're limited in the number of spots we have so we can only take
11 divers (plus me). A $1,000 deposit will hold your spot and
we'll do on-going payments every other month or so. If you're
interested, either e-mail me here or call us at 310/652-4990.
READ THE
2024 TRIP REPORT
SEE THE 2024 PIX & VIDEOS
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