LOS ROQUES, VENEZUELA

Year:2003

Diving the Caribbean's last frontier

Season: Year-round diving

Visibility: 20-35 metres

Water temperature: 26-30°C

The 350 tiny islands that lie within the beautiful Los Roques archipelago, just 160 kilometres north of Caracas, the seething capital of Venezuela, are almost uninhabited. Indeed Gran Roque, currently the sole permanently inhabited island, has a guest capacity of only about 50 beds. Just a few of the islands are named, and here one will find adobe and cement homes, streets of sand and a population that makes its living from the sea. Recognizing the importance of Los Roques as a valuable resource, the government of Venezuela has taken steps to protect the area from the perils resulting from overfishing. Consequently, this chain of small islands, lying between Bonaire and Grenada, is in one of the Caribbean's largest and oldest marine parks. The islands' vegetation consists of grasses, cacti and low bushes with mangroves. Only a handful of intrepid divers, drawn by the soft white sandy beaches and extensive coral reefs, have ventured to these remote islands over the last few years. Antares Dancer provides the keen diver with an unrivalled opportunity to explore the underwater world around these remote cays and at some open ocean dive sites.

The reefs of Los Roques have suffered little from the impact of mankind. Shallow reef tops, swift drift dives and enormous caves await the diver who ventures here. Huge orange-cup-coral-covered volcanic pinnacles rise to within a short distance from the surface. Spadefish, snappers and large groupers (including the huge Jewfish) swim around the pinnacles. Caves hold treasures of silversides, minnows and scad. Where silversides are found, tarpon are not usually far away and Los Roques is no exception. These large silvery fish with their mirror-like scales have been likened to an old-fashioned chrome car bumper forcing its way through clouds of darting bait! The offshore location of these islands means that pelagics such as Horse-eye Jacks, mackerel, Permits and Rainbow Runners are attracted to the reefs.

At Piedra de la Guasa a large wedge-shaped rock soars from a depth of 40 metres to about 10 metres beneath the surface. It is the eastern drop-off which is the most fascinating area as it plunges vertically some 30 metres. Encrusting sponges in hues of yellow, purple and green are interspersed with Tubastrea orange cup corals. Huge Black Groupers along with Tiger and Nassau Groupers hang around to greet the arriving divers. Schools of Cubera Snappers patrol the edges of the reef whilst Ocean Triggerfish swim by a little further out in the clear blue water.

La Buceadora (The Cave), which extends about 20 metres back from the entrance, ends in a crevice filled with small shrimps, a variety of lobsters and a population of Blackbar Soldierfish.

Around the western tip of the tiny Cayo Sal the face of the drop-off has seven large, wide-mouthed cave entrances. During the afternoon this area becomes a magnet for a variety of marine life. Spotted Eagle Rays, some with very large 'wing-spans', Horse-eye and Bar Jacks, silvery, cigar-shaped Boga, elegant Permits and some very large Jewfish congregate here.

The unique La Cueva de los Sabalos (Tarpon Cave) is as large as St Paul's Cathedral! Once inside, the noise of waves crashing on the island above sounds like a series of well-timed explosions. Glassy Sweepers congregate in the shadows and hungry Tarpon await the clouds of scad and minnows washed into the cave by the surge.

Wonderful forests of elkhorn coral, sometimes with sleeping Nurse Sharks hiding in the crevices, clothe the reef at Noronquises whilst at Dos Mosquises a privately funded scientific research station incubates the eggs and releases four species of turtles back into the sea.

ANTARES DANCER

Newly acquired by the Peter Hughes' Dancer Fleet, the Antares Dancer carries a maximum of 12 passengers in 6 double-occupancy staterooms. The two Master Staterooms have two single beds side by side, private head and shower and a picture window view. The three Deluxe Twin Staterooms have two single beds (side by side), private head and shower and a porthole view. The Twin Stateroom has two single beds (upper and lower), private head and shower, and a porthole view. Each cabin provides a quiet and elegant space for relaxing, reading or sleeping. Towelling robes are provided for your stay on the boat. Clean towels are provided daily and clean sheets are provided mid-week. Complimentary toiletries are placed at the wash basin. The crew offer superb service at all times, from morning coffee in your room to taking your tank at the dive platform on your return to the boat or providing hot towels at the end of a night dive.

The dive deck features a mask defogging station, weight belt area and a supply of fresh towels. Special rinse tanks for cameras are situated on the dive deck. Dive information is displayed on a large board which shows depth and marine life information. Of special interest to underwater photographers is the spacious multi-tiered, carpeted photo-table complete with photo supplies and small towels. E-6 processing is available daily. Light tables are always available for slide viewing. A full camera and video rental service is available at daily or weekly rates. The boat has a photo pro on board who will assist you with your photography and also, if you wish, take a customized video of your diving holiday. Antares Dancer offers a range of courses including PADI Advanced Open Water Certification and Paul Humann Fish and Creature Identification. A full range of diving equipment is available for rental.

After diving most people head for the sundeck where they can relax (either in or out of the sun) and help themselves to iced drinks and delicious snacks. Freshly baked breads and biscuits show up in the morning and appetizers are served in the afternoon. Beverages and snacks are available at all times in the salon (along with a well-stocked bar). Hot breakfasts are cooked to order. Lunch is usually a buffet-style spread and dinner is a waiter-served gourmet feast. Wine is served with dinner and after dinner drinks are always offered.

Antares Dancer operates out of the harbour at Los Roques for 7 nights cruises, departing every Saturday throughout the year.

A Peter Hughes' Dancer Fleet brochure is available from our office on request.

£1237 in a Twin Stateroom or a Deluxe Twin Stateroom.

£1308 in a Master Stateroom.

Includes:

· Airport transfers on Los Roques, if arriving/departing on Saturdays.

· 7 nights cruise on Antares Dancer on a twin/share basis with full board, including soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits.

· 5 full days of diving (up to 5 dives per day, including night dives) plus one or two dives on the last day, cylinders and weights.

· Port tax.

Non-divers: A 10% reduction applies.

Additional Week: A 10% discount applies.

Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin to yourself a 50% supplement applies and the deposit requirement is doubled.

Deposit: £450

FLIGHTS

Antares Dancer packages run from Saturday to Saturday, which means leaving London on Friday morning and overnighting in Caracas en route.

The airfares shown are the least expensive fare category available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. The usual airfare deposit is £100.

KLM

Depart on Friday morning from London (Heathrow) to Caracas via Amsterdam, arriving in the afternoon. After an overnight stay, continue in the afternoon on Linea Turistica Aerotuy to Los Roques. Return from Los Roques and Caracas on Saturday, arriving at London (Heathrow) via Amsterdam on Sunday morning.

Flights are also available from the following airports (often at no extra cost): Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, Stansted and Teesside. Please contact our office for further details.

£525 for departures 1 January-30 June, 1 September-14 December, 25-31 December.

£665 for departures 1 July-31 August, 15-24 December.

Includes:

· Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Amsterdam/Caracas/Amsterdam/London (Heathrow) by KLM.

CARACAS/LOS ROQUES FLIGHTS

£63 for scheduled flights Caracas/Los Roques/Caracas by Linea Turistica Aerotuy.

Overnights in Caracas: We can reserve rooms at the Best Western Porto Viejo Inn for approximately £48 per night, payable locally in US $, on a twin/share basis with breakfast. This comfortable hotel is situated 3 miles from Caracas Airport. A single occupancy supplement of approximately £48 per night applies. Please note: airport/hotel transfers are not included. Taxis are freely available.