As the brilliant foliage of autumn recedes to memory, the days grow shorter and darker, and with cold winter weather just around the corner, those warm, inviting white Caribbean beaches and crystal blue water provide a welcome alternative to noisy snowblowers, ice, and freezing rain…

Wouldn’t you rather be underwater on New Year’s Eve than under a foot of snow?  Read on…  

As just about everyone knows, it’s high season in the Caribbean from December through April, and a particularly good time of the year to visit both Tobago (Wind Dancer) and Belize (Sun Dancer II).

In Belize, the crew of the Sun Dancer II has just finished installing a series of new moorings for sites in the Lighthouse Reef area of the offshore atolls.  Plus a couple of new ones at Turneffe Island as well.  And divers always rave about the pristine reefs and walls at Lighthouse Reef, which many divers consider to be the best in the entire Caribbean.

For Tobago,  experienced divers rate December through May the absolute best time to visit.  It’s the dry season (and Tobago does have a pretty healthy “rainy” season), and we see a lot of blue water conditions during this period each year.  The combination of blue water and the incredibly dense reefs of Tobago make for some exciting diving!

And, we’ve got two great ways to get away from your winter weather, and/or experience the New Year underwater!   And please don't miss the opportunity to win a FREE TRIP to Indonesia by participating in our "Name the New Dancer" Contest.  Details below!

CARIBBEAN CASH:  We have designated TWO Weeks over the next several months for our deepest Caribbean discounts of the year...  If you'd like to take a break from winter up north AND save big, please consider the following "Caribbean Cash" weeks:

WIND DANCER, TOBAGO:

Jan. 27, 2007 - Feb. 3, 2007:  SAVE 25% on this cruise.
Feb. 24, 2007 - Mar. 3, 2007:  SAVE 25% on this cruise as well!
Now ONLY $ 1199 for a Delux Cabin that is usally $ 1595!

OR, Join us for New Year's on these boats:

NEW YEAR'S CRUISES on SUN DANCER II, BELIZE, and WIND DANCER, TOBAGO

Dec. 30, 2006 - Jan. 6, 2007:  $ 100 Dancer Dollars PLUS New Year's Eve Midnight Night Dive, Champagne Toast after the dive...

Please call or email to take advantage of these great deals!

PHD's Chef Ryan Edwards (Wind Dancer) recently teamed up with Florida Culinary Institute Master Chef  Walter Tanner to redesign the menu onboard Wind Dancer in an intensive "one on one" course held right on the vessel...  This is part of our ongoing program of upgrading our staff's skills...

Well Done, Ryan, and thank you, Chef Walter. To read more about Chef Ryan's experience, please visit: "Chef Ryan Designs New Menu for Wind Dancer"         
 

Veteran Diver and Underwater Photographer Terri (and PHD Territory Manager) recently traveled to South Africa to get first hand experience with one of Nature’s most incredible events, THE SARDINE RUN (and all of the sharks, dolphins, and sea birds that also attend the dance). 

Last month, we gave you a look at Terri’s trip report, and if you missed it, you can read it here… 

This month, some of the photos of this breathtaking trip:  Sardine Run Photos

Writers and Photographers:  DEADLINE FOR STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE 2006/2007 PHOTO CONTEST IS JANUARY 15th, 2007.

Remember, writers AND photographers can both compete (with stories and photos on their best PHD Dive Experience) to win TWO GRAND PRIZES.

For more details on how to enter, please click to: 
www.peterhughesdiving.com/2006_photocontest.html  

Peter Hughes Diving is looking for some unique and high quality photos of our vessels and topside activities (no underwater, please).  Specifically, we’re looking for shots of the various Dancers (underway or at anchor), briefings, dinners, etc. 

A $ 250 Fee for each photo accepted will be credited toward your next Dancer Vacation.For details on exactly what type of shots we're looking for, and how to submit them, please go to:  www.peterhughesdiving.com/photo_bounty.html