UNEXSO of Grand Bahama Island Expands Dates for Legends

Legendary Room Rates offered in this April 2-6, 2009 Package

Robert Croft

Nick Icorn

Dottie Frazier

Dr. José Jones

Alec Peirce

The International Legends of Diving, with its inaugural event in 2006 at Portage Quarry, is expanding into the Caribbean starting the first week in April of 2009. And we are doing it with your style of diving, classy at a very low cost. Each package includes a stay at the legendary Pelican Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island and legendary dives including Theo’s Wreck, Sea Hunt Reef, and an optional shark dive. Then throw in some reef dives, some surface interval time with friends and legends, and a late banquet for a memorable dive week. You supply your gear and your friends for an added value. Even your surface loving friends will stay at reduced costs and have events scheduled around your down time. Portage Quarry legends author Keith G. Cooper of the International Underwater Explorers Pelican Bay Hotel with one of its many luxury rooms Society (UNEXSO) will be one of your hosts for the week. UNEXSO is the world’s first dive training and resort facility.   New Passport Requirements for Caribbean Travel New requirements in effect, Full implementation on June 1, 2009   Pelican Bay Hotel is one of the newest boutique hotels on Grand Bahama Island, their accommodations afford visitors the finest combination of island and European architecture and service. Its unique Caribbean hotel and suites, accompanied by renowned hospitality and attention to detail will ensure that your stay in the Bahamas will be memorable. The rates here are lower than you will find through most travel agencies or online booking sites. Take advantage of it now and book before it is sold out. With the help of sponsors and Bryan Pennington of Vintage Double Hose we are able to extend this offer to the Midwest United States divers. They will also be there with their original gear. 1960s panorama photo of UNEXSO Dive Facility Photo courtesy of Dr. John Clement, one of the founders of UNEXSO Official Photographer Named for UNEXSO Event February 2009 Christopher Guglielmo has been developing quite a following in underwater photography. His photos have been featured worldwide. Read his bio. Christopher was named as the official photographer for the UNEXSO event. The photo at left is his photo of the month for the Legends of Diving site. See more of his photos at aquaexposure.com. Vintage Double Hose Celebration In 2009 Sand Dog V will be combining forces with Portage Quarry and the International Legends of Diving event to host the biggest and best vintage equipment trip yet. We will be diving in the crystal clear waters off of Grand Bahama Island with the world famous group at UNEXSO. This is the first event of its kind held at the resort and will no doubt be a hit with the world wide diving community. The vintage equipment divers will have their own private boat with a select Captain and crew that will cater to the unique needs and experience level of the divers in the group. These divers will be hand-picked to represent the very best in historically accurate vintage equipment configurations and diving techniques. Not only will this group enjoy the finest diving available around the island they will also have an opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the vintage equipment diving community by hosting a reception one evening to discuss their unique style of diving. Visitors as well as local and international press are invited to this celebration of diving event. Bryan Pennington of Vintage Double Hose will be responsible for the selection and organization of this group of divers. Please contact him directly if you are interested in being part of this exclusive group. Contact Bryan through his eMail address here at Vintage Double Hose or call toll free 1-866-304-2388. Jeff Rice, Portage Quarry owner, speaks with the Sand Dog V group at their annual meeting in Silver Springs, Florida, on March 28, 2008. He discussed diving in the Bahamas. They lived the history, they wrote the books, now they appear at the International Legends of Diving. UNEXSO pioneered this exciting dive almost 20 years ago and was the first to offer shark diving on Grand Bahama Island. The staff is considered to be experts in shark behavior and conservation and will organize an up-close and personal experience with the sharks at UNEXSO's Shark Junction. The expanded pre-dive briefing dispels the misconceptions about sharks, covers information about shark behavior and highlights interesting facts about these misunderstood creatures. During the dive, you'll observe these magnificent creatures as its experienced staff feeds and interacts with sharks of all sizes. You will come away from the experience with a new appreciation of these beautiful animals and understand the need for increased conservation measures.   Original staff of UNEXSO include Al Tillman, Jack McKenney, Chuck Peterson, and Dave Woodward Two of the Great Legends at UNEXSO Photo with Lloyd Bridges and Al Tillman at UNEXSO - Lloyd Bridges appears with guests and UNEXSO founder Al Tillman. Dave Woodward stands behind the counter. Tillman was a legend and co-authored with Zale Parry the dive book, Scuba America Vol. I, the Human History of Sport Diving in America. Tom Tillman photo, from the family archives

Dive Marker Set to Honor Legends in April This marker buoy will be placed at a new dive site that has been set up for dedication at the legends of diving event in April. The new site was prepared by Al Purdy of Blackbeard Cruises, Niall of UNEXSO and Keith Cooper of UNEXSO. They spent a day making sure the boats could tie up to the buoy and not hurt the reef nor the environment. It will be dedicated with the legends present at the April event.

International Legends Of Diving
April 2-6, 2009, Grand Bahama Island

5-Day Rates Below include:

• Standard Room Accommodations

• Roundtrip Airport Transfers

• Continental Breakfast Daily

• Welcome Packet and Registration

• Legendary Dives including Theo’s Wreck, Sea Hunt Reef, Shark Dive

• International Legends of Diving Collectors T-shirt

• Welcome Reception (Non-diver guest included)

• ILD Seminar with Dr. Sam Miller

• Awards Ceremony and Dinner (Non-diver guest included)

• Special non-diver activities including shopping at Port Lucaya Marketplace

• Tanks and weight belt

• 12% Bahamas Government Room Tax

• Seven nights stay

• Choice of Standard, Superior and Deluxe Room Accommodations

• Roundtrip Airport Transfers

• Continental Breakfast Daily

• Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner

• Educational Seminars

• An Exciting Week of Legendary Shark, Wreck and Reef Dives (plus scheduled non diver activities)

• Tanks and weight belt

• 12% Bahamas Government Tax

Legends Weekend Links
2008 Legends Information

Updates for Travel to the Bahamas are listed here,
sponsored by Discovery Cruise Lines

Experience UNEXSO - Land and Sea

'09 Legends Double Date Press Release

Legends of Diving Series Archive Library

© 2009 Portage Quarry, All Rights Reserved.