PHi Phi Island, Thailand Oct.

CabanaKoh (Island) Phi Phi consists of two dramatic limestone outcrops divided by a narrow flat isthmus.  Our resort, the Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel, is located on this isthmus and is nestled on a coconut beach overlooking the deep water anchorage of Tonsai Bay.  The grounds and the 50-meter infinity swimming pool are gorgeous.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the meal package. The restaurant serves a wide variety of delicious Thai, Chinese, Western and seafood cuisine. Breakfast is served buffet-style.

DFL will have exclusive use of Buildings 2-6.  (Thai hospitality requires that Building 1 be left available for other hotel guests).  All rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, tea/coffee maker, refrigerator and mini bar, safety deposit box, hair dryer, private balcony and a view of Loh Dalum Bay. 

Room categories include:

Junior Suites

In addition to the above amenities, there is a king sized bed, a separate living room and an outdoor Jacuzzi on the balcony. 
Per person- $1,632 (non-diver $1,326).
 
Deluxe Rooms

Double occupancy:  These rooms can be configured for a couple (one king bed); or two singles (two twin beds). 
Per person- $1,257 (non-diver $951).

Single occupancy: Available in the Deluxe Room category.
Per person- $1,617 (non-diver $1,310).
Triple occupancy: Available with one king bed and one twin bed.
Per person- $1,227 (non-diver $921).

triple roomRoom prices include the cost of room, meal package, transfer to Phi Phi Island from Phuket airport and back, diving and all tips (dive staff, hotel and restaurant staff).

This year we do have a currency fluctuation clause in the application.  In order to secure this fabulous resort we agreed to pay the contract in Thai Baht (local currency).  Because we are a non-profit charitable organization and because of the volatility of the currency exchange rate, we reserve the right to increase the price of the trip.  The pricing structure above assumes a conversion rate of 30THB to $1 USD.  If the conversion rate falls to below 26THB on the date of the final payment (June 2, 2008) an additional amount no more than 12% (in $USD) may be added to the price of the trip to cover the difference in conversion rates.

Phi Phi SCUBAWe will be diving with Phi Phi Scuba. Koh Phi Phi offers a great variety of diving on its local reefs, with abundant hard and soft coral and a rich diversity of marine life. There will be two dives a day with no shore diving available.  Night diving will be available for an additional cost.  Topography includes walls, pinnacles and fringing reefs.  Marine life includes lion fish, scorpion fish, leopard sharks, cuttlefish, butterfly fish and much more.   The visibility is not as pristine as the Caribbean; however, it should be around 50 feet with a water temperature of 80 degrees. Snorkeling will be permitted from the dive boats. Non-diving activities include Thai cooking classes and rock-climbing.  Massages are available on the beach.

view2Airline transportation to Phuket is available from many U.S. and other major cities (transfers are available from Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore).  Airfare is currently around $1,000 from both the east and west U.S. coasts.  It will be up to each participant to book the airline flights to Phuket.  Please remember that you will cross the international date line to get to Thailand (from the US) and you will lose a day (so if you leave on Thursday afternoon you will arrive Saturday morning), however on the way back you will likely arrive home before the time you left Thailand.

Upon arrival at the Phuket airport, participants will take a taxi to the ferry terminal for one of two daily ferry boats that depart Phuket City in the morning (approximately 8:30 am) and in the afternoon (approximately 1:30 pm).  Allow one hour to get from the airport to the dock.  If your flight arrives after the afternoon ferry departs, you will have to arrange for accommodations on Phuket Island (at your cost).  Transfers will be made from that hotel to the ferry. You will be met at the dock on Phi Phi Island. 

We anticipate many people will register for this exciting trip.  Please complete your application and send your deposit right away to obtain your first choice of lodging.  We look forward to seeing you in Thailand!

Add-On Tour Packages for DFL Participants

For those wishing to extend their stay and see more of Southeast Asia immediately following DFL, the following group trips are available. All packages begin on October 25. Land packages return to Bangkok on October 31 and live-a-board trip drops off in Phuket on October 29.
Contact the corresponding booking agent for more details or to make your reservations. Space may be limited, so book early!

OPTION 1: Bangkok/Angor Wat
Price $1100*Oct 25-26 - Bankgkok, Thailand
Oct 27 - Ayuthaya, Thailand (day trip)
Oct 27 - Bangkok, Thailand
Oct 28-30 - Angor, Cambodia (combined with option 2)
Oct 31 - Bangkok, Thailand
Includes: 7 nights hotel accommodations, Breakfast every day, Transfers to and from Hotels, Airfare RT from BKK to Cambodia, Airfare RT from BKK to , Lunch for 3 days in Siem Reap (Angkor), Ayuthaya tour (bus and entry fees), Angkor entry pass for 3 days. Does NOT include: tips, any dinners, lunches in BKK, or final transfer for return home.
>>More information
Contact: Harry Roberge, cehar@aol.com, office 954-929-1060

OPTION 2: Hanoi/Angor Wat
Price $1275*
Oct 25 - Bangkok, Thailand
Oct 26-27 - Hanoi, Vietnam
Oct 27 - Hanoi Bay Sailing trip (overnight)
Oct 28-30 - Angkor, Cambodia (combined with option 1)
Oct 31 - Bangkok, Thailand
Includes: 7 nights hotel/ship accommodations, Breakfast every day, Transfers to and from Hotels, Airfare from BKK to Hanoi to Siem Reap (Angkor) and on to BKK. Lunch for 3 days in Siem Reap, Angkor entry pass for 2 days. Visas for Vietnam and Cambodia.
Does NOT include: tips, any dinner or lunch in Hanoi, dinners in Angkor, lunch or dinner in BKK or final transfer for return home.
>>More information
Contact: Harry Roberge, cehar@aol.com, office 954-929-1060

OPTION 3: SCUBA-diving Live-aboard
Price: $950* Dbl Bed Cabin, $890 Dbl Bunk Cabin
DFL contribution $50 per booking
Oct 25-29 - At sea, Similan & Surin Islands (the tour leader and Captain will decide the best course based on weather conditions at the specific time) Includes: rental diving equipment, tanks, weights, belt, dive masters, unlimited diving, full on-board accommodations, snacks, fruits, drinking water, tea, coffee. use of dingy for on-shore exploration. Pick-up from Phi Phi Island & transfer to live-aboard in Phuket by private speed boat.
Does NOT include: Tips, national park fees, soft drinks, beer wine, etc., any food/drinks purchased on-shore
 >>More information
 Contact: Adam Preston, Rainbow-Scuba Thailand, adam@rainbow-scuba.com, mobile/SMS: +66(0)86 2720980

Live-aboard: Similan Islands or the Mergui Archipelago
Our diving hosts for the Diving For Life event at Phi Phi Island are Siam Dive n' Sail. For those of you who have some extra time before or after the event, they are offering a special 10% off on any live-aboard boat to the famous Similan Islands or the Mergui Archipelago. Please see their liveaboard website page for more details like boat information, itineraries, schedules, and prices: http://siamdivers.com/dive/liveaboards.htm.

The Similan Islands in Thailand and Mergui in Burma offer some of the best diving in all of Southeast Asia. One of your hosts, John Williams (http://siamdivers.com/sites/aboutjohn.htm), is the author of three books on diving in these areas, including a book published by Lonely Planet. He is happy to give you personal advice on what kind of diving you might want to do outside of the week with DFL.

When inquiring, please mention DFL in your email. Looking forward to having you out.

*Note that price is based on a current exchange rate of 32 Bhat/USD, subject to fluctuation. Final price is not guaranteed until payment

Kelly Thiemann and John McCall, Co-Organizers

Email: DFL@divingforlife.org
Diving For Life, Inc.  
241 West 23rd St. Box 8, New York, 10011-2328
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