Pete's Gotta Go There Private Tours

 
 

 

April, 2010

Who am I? My name is Pete Peterson and I'm the retired owner of MDA. I've been traveling the Pacific since 1974 and usually make about 6 trips a year. I've got a ton of dives and produce the Diver Below tv show. End of commercial.

What are Pete's "gotta go there" Trips? These are trips that I just started this year to the more exotic or specialized locations that MDA doesn't regularly book clients to.   Almost all of these are to film for th Diver Below tv show.   

Some of these are places I've previously been, and the others are a combo of what others have highly recommend that Ihaven't been to (my drool list) and most are brand new "lets go take a look".

I try and keep them within a reasonable radius from Guam.  I also try to arrange them that we can get in one dive in within 24 hours of leaving here.  Some destinations that's impossible due to the airline connectios.

2010: So far this year it's been a PI year. We've been to see the whale sharks in Don Sol and then the magnificent reefs at Anilao, a brand new destinations at Sipalay in March, and in late June we went to Malapascua for thresher sharks and more. We are also going to return to Kosrae at the end of October to do a lot more diving and land tours for the visitors bureau.

2011 My Drool list: Right now I've been corresponding with operators for a return trip to Lembeh Straits (Indonesia), and a combined trip to Lankayan island and the Sepilok Nature Resort (Orangutans) in Sabah, Malaysia. I have still not given up on Sipidan/Mabul or Layang Layang island in April.

IN June MDA will have a return trip to Malapascuya, and YES, it's that good.

Just do a Google search or click on the name above and you'll see why I want to go there.

NOTE: If it's a return trip it's to do something different, or do more of what we liked there. Example: I'd go back to Sipidan/Mabul every year if they'd let us get 2 days at Sipidan.

Why am I doing these trips? I've got two priorities. The first one is to film for the Diver Below tv series, but there's no requirement that you have to be part of it or on camera. That's totally up to you. The second priority is to just have fun and see something different.

Who can go along? Virtually anyone. But I have to admit that I really like to keep the group size around 8 (or less) if at all possible. It's a lot more fun with small groups, and I'm too old to babysit anyone. I also try to match the group according to the experience needed and/or the 'social awareness' of what we're doing.

How do I do this? As the travel representative to MDA, I personally contact the dive/activities/hotel operators and introduce what I'm doing and the group size I expect to bring along. They send me their net rates, the same ones that MDA travel gets, and if it looks like the prices/services, etc. are good I put together a package using the lowest prices possible.

The pricing for these trips? As low as I can get it consistent with good service. My criteria is not just the price, but reasonably good accmodations and comfort.    If you're a backpacker- or- nickel and dime everything to death, you can probably get a better cost at some other operation that caters to this market. That's fine.  Do it. 

One time only at this price. Since most of these are usually "familiarization" trips on a one time only concept, the price will certainly be below the normal cost of trips there later on.    I add on a small amount, usually 5%, to cover the administration and money transfers that MDA incurs. I don't add on anything to cover my personal expenses like food, drinks, etc.

MDA collects all the money and gets the tickets/ vouchers, etc., to you. However, I will recommend from time to time how to take advantage of internet e-tickets that you can do to keep your costs low.  On most of the trips to date that's what's happened.

You have choices. Once I figure out a range of options (# of days, dives, etc) I put the info out to all that have emailed me expressing interest in the trips, and ask for more opinions before settling on a firm price. Majority usually rules here. Once thats set, it's reconfirmed with the operators, and then it's open to anyone that wants to go. I try and include everything (airport transfers, etc) in the 'final price' whenever I can.   All of these trips will require a deposit since they are to areas that have limitations on how many can dive each day.

How do you get more info on these trips? Since these really aren't "mass advertised" on the E divers list, just send me an email at info@avpguam.com and I'll send you info on the trips. Just type in "add me to the private list". If you've been getting my trip info you don't have to do anything. You're already on it.

Thanks for getting through all of this, and I hope you'll consider joining me on a future trip.  You can also see some of the trips we've taken at www.vimeo.com.

Pete