REEF surveyors will enjoy the fish diversity found in San Salvador, voted one of the best wall-diving locations in the Caribbean. The island, located in the southeastern Bahamas, is the tip of a submerged mountain that plunges more than 15,000 feet below the ocean's surface. Shark lovers will especially enjoy this location, as it is one of the few places known to attract Scalloped Hammerheads, which are seen more frequently during the winter months. Family-owned and operated Riding Rock Resort is one of only two resorts located on the San Salvador waterfront. Three daily meals featuring home-cooked American and Bahamian cuisine are included, making this the ultimate trip for diving and relaxation.
Project Focus: This purpose of this trip is to conduct fish surveys to support REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Click here to learn more about participating in fish surveys on a REEF Field Survey Trip!
Accommodations: All rooms at Riding Rock Resort have a pool and ocean view, air conditioning, mini fridge, cable TV, private bathroom, porch or balcony, hair dryer, and outside drying hooks.
Diving: The trip package includes 16 dives, beginning on Sunday, June 20 and ending on Friday, June 25. The dive schedule includes a 2-tank morning dive trip and a 1-tank afternoon dive following lunch. The final dive day includes one morning dive. Nitrox is not included but is able to be provided if requested in advance, for $15/tank. Please be prepared to present your certification card. The average water temperature in San Salvador during the time of the trip is approximately 80 degrees F.
Trip Leader: Madalyn Mussey (aka "Moose") is REEF's Education and Outreach Program Manager. She is responsible for planning and executing informal education and training programs, along with outreach events, such as the Ocean Explorers Program, Ocean Explorers Summer Camp, and Invasive Lionfish Collection & Handling Workshops. Moose is an Expert surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic region.
Pricing, Inclusions, and Other Fees
$1,650 per diver based on double occupancy.
Single occupancy may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact REEF Trips for more information.
Your Package Includes: The trip package includes 7 nights of accommodation, 5 days of 3 dives (2 morning and 1 afternoon), plus 1 dive on the final day of the trip, round-trip airport transfers to and from San Salvador airport, three daily meals, tanks and weights.
REEF Program Fee: A REEF Program Fee of $300 will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leader, seminar, and REEF survey materials. The REEF Program Fee applies to all divers and any attendee age 18 or older.
Additional Fees - Not Included: All flights and associated travel to and from San Salvador, optional Nitrox available for $15/tank (must be requested in advance), additional dives outside of the package inclusions, optional rental gear, alcoholic beverages. Gratuities are not included in the trip package and are at each individual's discretion.
Registration
To reserve your space, email trips@REEF.org or call 305-588-5869. A $500 per person deposit will be due to confirm your reservation. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules.
The Bahamas Travel Info
Insurance: Travel insurance is not included. REEF strongly recommends that each participant purchase adequate dive travel insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances. REEF partners with both DiveAssure and DAN to offer travel insurance packages specifically for divers. REEF will receive a portion of the proceeds from travel insurance purchases when you click on the following affiliate links for DiveAssure or DAN.
How to Get There: Direct flights from the USA to San Salvador are not currently operating. At this time, participants must travel through Nassau on their way to/from San Salvador, and then arrange for a connecting flight on BahamasAir. Participants will need to book a round-trip flight to/from Nassau, Bahamas, arriving on June 19 and departing on either June 26 or June 27. As of April 1, the BahamasAir flight from San Salvador to Nassau on June 26 is full, so alternate travel arrangements must be made via one of the options outlined below.
Option 1: Arrange a charter flight from San Salvador to Nassau on Saturday, June 26. The cost for the charter flight is $1,600 total and the flight can take up to 5 people, who may split the cost between them. Riding Rock Resort is able to arrange this charter flight directly – please contact REEF if you would like to pursue this option.
If taking the charter flight, you will need to book a one-way flight from Nassau to San Salvador on June 19. There are still seats available on the BahamasAir flight to San Salvador on June 19. You can visit http://www.bahamasair.com to book this flight.
On June 26, the charter will be scheduled to depart San Salvador based on connecting flight times in Nassau, so it’s not necessary to book specific flight times to/from Nassau.
Option 2: Spend an additional night at Riding Rock Resort and depart on June 27 via BahamasAir. BahamasAir currently has seats available on the return flight from San Salvador to Nassau on Sunday, June 27. Anyone who wishes to spend Saturday night at the resort will receive a special rate of $140 for the night of June 26, which includes accommodations and all meals.
If you choose this option, you will need to book a round-trip flight on BahamasAir from Nassau to San Salvador, departing on June 19 and returning on June 27. It is suggested to allow at least 2 hours between your arrival into Nassau and your connecting flight back to the USA.
Transfers: Transfers are included in the trip package. Guests will be picked up at the San Salvador airport upon arrival, and transferred to Riding Rock Resort and Marina.
Passports, Documentation and Visas: Visitors to The Bahamas are required to have a valid passport with two blank pages. U.S. citizens visiting The Bahamas for less than 30 days do not need a visa, however residents of certain countries may need a valid visa to enter the country. Click here for more information about entry requirements for The Bahamas.
COVID Travel Considerations
This information is current as of 3/26/21. Please review this page, which details Bahamas entry requirements: http://travel.gov.bs
Negative COVID Test Required: Everyone traveling to The Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival. Negative PCR tets results must be uploaded in order to complete a Bahamas Health Visa application as well as presented upon arrival in The Bahamas. Any person presenting test results older than 5 days will not be allowed entry into The Bahamas.
Bahamas Travel Health Visa Required: Once in possession of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test, travelers can apply for their required Bahamas Travel Health Visa at http://www.travel.gov.bs. (Click on the “International” button.) Travel Health Visa applications can take up to 24 hours to process and should be completed with adequate lead time. We suggest taking your COVID test 5 days prior to the trip departure and submitting your Travel Health Visa application as soon as your results are available. Please select “San Salvador” as your destination when prompted on the Travel Health Visa. The cost of the Travel Health Visa depends on the length of your stay. According to Riding Rock Resort, the current price is $40 per person for a 7 night stay.
Antigen Test/Returning to the USA: Travelers staying in The Bahamas longer than four nights/five days are required to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test. Riding Rock will arrange for everyone to take an antigen test on the 5th day of the trip. Results will be available in 60 minutes or less, via text message and email. This test may also be used to fulfill the negative viral COVID-19 test requirement for reentry into the USA. Please see this page for more information about CDC re-entry requirements: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html