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Relax to the Old Time Bahamian Feel
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The small island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, just 360 miles southeast of Miami, is one of the premier scuba diving and fishing Mecca's of the world. Perched on a pinnacle and washed by warm breezes and clear azure waters, San Salvador is also home to Riding Rock Resort and Marina.
Being one of the southeastern most islands in the Bahamas chain, San Salvador, also known as Columbus Isle, is just twelve miles long by five miles wide and home to approximately 950 residents. Life on San Salvador is pretty much as unhurried as it has been through the ages. Quiet, friendly and unspoiled it offers miles of deserted beaches and lush underwater reefs that were "discovered" by scuba divers as early as the 1960's. Shortly thereafter, Riding Rock Resort and Marina was built, custom designed for dive travelers, with all of the facilities close at hand. Nearly 50 years later, the property continues to host dive groups, clubs and individuals from around the world who come to experience the quality and diversity of diving for which San Salvador is legendary. It however, the first trip for Sub Aquatic Sports but comes highly recommended by one of our instructors who has been there multiple times. Most of the dive sites are located nearby and on the islands lee side, so rough seas are rarely encountered. The dive sites are almost all walls so the possibility of going deep is available, though you need not dive deeper than 40 feet to reach the reef if you prefer to keep a shallow profile. Dive staff at Guanahani Divers enjoy nothing more than introducing "new-to-the-island" divers why San Salvador has the well-earned reputation for being some of the best in the Bahamas - and welcoming the many repeat guests back to visit their familiar sites. San Sal is one of the top five wall-diving destinations in the region. Underwater visibility can easily reach 100 feet or more. Shark lovers will be pleased to hear that San Salvador is home to many shark species, the Scalloped Hammerheads being a favorite with our divers. The marina is also a highly popular stop over for visiting sport fisherman, and Riding Rock the restaurant and Driftwood Lounge a hot spot where the after-dive crowd and the after-fishing crowd can mix and mingle. Riding Rock makes it easy for you to budget for your trip by including everything in one package price with the exception of your bar tab, any personal purchases and dive staff gratuities. So all you have to do is lay out on the beach and enjoy the fantastic Bahamian sunshine....snorkel along the shallow beach front area....or take a dip in the swimming pool. Whatever your option, Riding Rock offers you all of the excitement and adventure or rest and relaxation you've been searching for. |
Package Includes:
Not Included:
Cost: Dive: $1599, Vacationer: $1199 Price based on double occupancy. Add $350 for single supplement/ A $300 non-refundable deposit is necessary to guarantee space on this trip. A second deposit of $500 is due November 1st. Final payment is due December 1st. Strongly recommend trip insurance. Airfare: Since San Salvador is not tourist, it's a little challenging getting to the island. SASS will assist. Call us at 269-968-8551.
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Accommodations:
Riding Rock Resort and Marina is one of only two resorts located on the scenic San Salvador oceanfront. Built, owned and operated by the William's family since the 1960's, the resort is and always has been dedicated to the comfort and convenience of water sports enthusiasts. With that said, this is 'Old Time Bahamas.' If you want shopping, nightlife, luxury hotel, fine dining, consider Nassau or Freeport, Grand Bahamas. SASS has reserved Deluxe Ocean Front rooms that have spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. All rooms are air conditioned and offer cable TV, telephone, private bath,, outside drying hooks, tile floors and daily housekeeping. Beach towels are available at the resort laundry facility or at the dive shop. In addition to the standard room amenities these rooms have a mini fridge, ocean view, patio with chairs and a writing table and chairs. The resort also features a freshwater swimming pool and access to a breathtaking white sand beach. Meals: The restaurant specializes in American and Bahamian cuisine with an accent on fresh fish. The friendly, casual atmosphere at both the restaurant and means you only need to pack t-shirts and shorts on this trip. Breakfast is served from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. Fresh fruit, cereal, French toast, pancakes, bacon and sausage are served to order or buffet style. Lunch is served from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. Conch chowder and fresh Bahamian bread are served daily. Your choice of a meat or fish dish or a buffet style meal is prepared. Cracked conch, grouper fingers, steamed conch, pizza and baked chicken are some of the selections. Dinner is served from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. A garden salad and soup are served with each entree. Your choice of meat or fish dish is prepared or a buffet style meal. Grilled dolphin, roast beef, steamed grouper, stuffed chicken breast and steak are some of the selections. The Bar, The Driftwood Bar, is open from 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm daily and a great place to check on emails or share your dive images utilizing the free WiFi. Beer, wine, sodas and a wonderful variety of blended island drinks are available. Cable TV brings in the sports games from home. The management sponsors two cocktail parties each week. Try the ring toss game or relax on the open air patio overlooking a beautiful swimming beach. Don't forget to leave some personal artwork behind to adorn the ceiling and walls. |
The Diving:
The diving in San Salvador has the well-earned reputation for being some of the best in the Bahamas. It is one of the top five wall-diving destinations in the region. Underwater visibility can easily reach 100 feet or more. The majority of the diving takes place among the many dive sites that are located in close proximity to the marina on the islands lee side, so rough seas are rarely encountered. Two dive boats are docked in the marina, which is also the location of Guanahani Divers, equipment rental and gear storage facility. Both boats are suitable for 20 divers. Sun decks, camera water rinse barrels, large swim platforms with ladder, seated tank racks, bottled drinking water, ice chest with fresh fruit and well maintained safety gear is available on both boats. The dive boats depart the marina at 9:00 am for the first of the two morning dives. The close proximity of the dive sites enable the boats to return to the marina between dives, allowing divers to take a break off the boats during the surface interval. The afternoon dive boats depart after lunch, generally at 2:30 pm, for a one-tank dive. For our hardiest divers, additional boat dives may be added for $45.00 per dive, provided there are a minimum of 4 divers for additional day dives, 6 for a night dive. The dive sites are almost all walls so the possibility of going deep is available, though divers need not go deeper than 40 feet to reach the reef if they prefer to keep a shallow profile. Shark lovers will be pleased to hear that San Salvador is home to many shark species, the Scalloped Hammerheads being a favorite with visiting divers. These giants are regularly seen i in the cooler winter months. Hammerheads are not an aggressive sharks, but their size, crazy-shaped head and eye placement on either end of their head does make the spotting of them more than a bit exciting! Caribbean Reef Sharks are also frequent visitors, and our reef fish are more than abundant. |