American Express Travel Agency & SCUBAmerica announce eco-cruises for divers; luxury cruises with NCL now let divers give something back

Business Wire, Feb 7, 1996

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 1996--SCUBAmerica Tours, the Miami-based tour company specializing in exotic scuba diving vacations, Wednesday announced a cooperative effort with American Express and Norwegian Cruise Line to promote luxury scuba diving cruises for certified divers.

SCUBAmerica's "ScubaCruises(tm)" feature supervised scuba diving excursions, scuba gear, environmental and marine life identification seminars, and a full range of activities for divers and non-divers alike. American Express Travel Agency serves as the exclusive booking agent for SCUBAmerica's ScubaCruises, which will sail weekly on three different NCL ships beginning in March 1996.

Unlike typical diving-oriented vacations, SCUBAmerica's ScubaCruises are perfect for divers who prefer to vacation with their non-diving friends and family. Exciting shore excursions, snorkeling instruction, and children's programs are included for non-divers. For a small fee, baby-sitting services are also available.

For divers, cruise itineraries feature some of the most popular and beautiful dive destinations in the Caribbean. 4-Night ScubaCruises aboard NCL's newest ship, the M/S Leeward, include scuba diving in Key West and Cancun. 7-Night Western Caribbean cruises aboard the beautiful M/S Dreamward include dives in Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Cancun, plus unlimited snorkeling at NCL's private island in the Bahamas.

An exotic 7-Night Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the M/S Seaward visits the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Aruba and Curacao. Perfect for New Yorkers, the M/S Dreamward's 7-day Bermuda ScubaCruises feature four days of diving (including an exciting night dive), and depart from Manhattan between April and October.

Diving activities are coordinated with the most reputable and reliable dive operators in each port of call, all of whom are certified as "5-Star" facilities by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). In addition to meeting PADI's safety requirements for air purity, equipment maintenance and insurance, SCUBAmerica's affiliated dive stores and dive boats undergo regular safety and quality assurance inspections by SCUBAmerica instructors. All diving activities are supervised by SCUBAmerica instructors, under stringent safety standards. Space is limited to 30 divers per cruise, so dive boats are never crowded, and dive operations run smoothly and safely.

"Our aim is to offer our divers the world's most popular dive destinations in comfort and style," said Stacey Berk, director of Marketing for SCUBAmerica. "Our all-inclusive diving cruises deliver what no other dive vacation can offer: first-class service, the best diving, and a full range of non-diving activities. There is never a dull moment on our ScubaCruises, above or below the water."

While on board, Norwegian Cruise Line's world-acclaimed chefs prepare gourmet meals, including a 24-hour room service menu, midnight buffets, and tempting desserts. Broadway-style shows, full service casinos, and live entertainment are but a part of the seemingly unlimited shipboard fare. In contrast to the rugged style of most dive vacations, SCUBAmerica divers can even opt to bring a tuxedo for formal night(s), adding a formal flair to this extraordinary dive vacation.

SCUBAmerica's on-board marine life identification seminars were developed by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (R.E.E.F.), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the marine environment, through the gathering of marine population data for use by the world's scientific community. Scuba divers are encouraged to participate in SCUBAmerica's 3-hour R.E.E.F. course, and to join in identifying and charting the various species of fish and invertebrates encountered during each dive. Results of each dive are reported to R.E.E.F. for entry in their global computer database.

"Our environmental programs are a way of giving something back to the marine environments from which we divers derive so much enjoyment," said SCUBAmerica founder, Eric Engler. "We educate divers in safe and environmentally friendly diving practices, and take an active part in the gathering of scientific information that will help us learn more about how to protect the reefs and their inhabitants."

SCUBAmerica's ScubaCruises are presently available ONLY by calling American Express Travel Agency, at 1-800-DIVE-NCL. In the near future, bookings will also be accepted at all American Express Travel Agency locations worldwide, as well as through American Express' ExpressNet on America Online. Please see SCUBAmerica's advertisement in this month's issue of Ocean Realm Magazine (inside front cover), as well as this month's Porthole Magazine.

CONTACT: SCUBAmerica Tours Inc., Miami

Eric Engler, 1-800-DIVE-NCL/Fax 305/461-1591