[PSUBS-MAILIST] Interesting item on eBay web site item#2180264354: Titanic - Deep Sea Dive Expedition 2003

[asmyth@changepoint.com]

Now here's an unusual sub-related item. A bit beyond my budget I'm afraid!

Alec

Title of item:	Titanic - Deep Sea Dive Expedition 2003
Seller:	oceanusiyc
Starts:	Jun-19-03 21:00:00 PDT
Ends:	Jun-26-03 21:00:00 PDT
Price:	Starts at $25,500.00
To bid on the item, go to:	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2180264354


Item Description:		
	Oceanus International Yacht Club is auctioning a trip for one person to dive to the Titanic wreck, the most famous shipwreck in the world.  The regular price including one dive to the Titanic wreck is $ 35,950 per Person.   
 
 Expedition-Dates:  	
July 2nd to July 13th, 2003 

 Bidding policy:  
By placing a bid in this auction the bidder agrees to the terms and conditions of this trip as stated below.

 The RMS Titanic was the brainchild of the famous White Star Line, which specialized in luxury passenger vessels, and Harland & Wolff, the Irish shipyard which designed and built her.  
  
One-sixth of a mile long, Titanic was not only the largest moving object ever built by man, she was also the most opulent. More than 14,000 laborers and craftsmen poured their hearts and souls into her design, construction and appointment, toiling on her for four long years. So mighty was Titanic, with her sheer size and cutting-edge watertight features, she was promptly touted as “unsinkable.” 
  

That epithet proved particularly ironic the night of April 14, 1912, when Titanic, just days into her maiden transatlantic crossing, struck an iceberg and immediately began to take on water. Within a few short hours, the greatest ship in the world had come to rest on the bottom of the ocean, taking with her the lives of more than 1,500 people. The mystique surrounding the Titanic disaster has diminished little over 
 time. Each generation has held the memory close, preserving it in books, music and movies. 


Today, the story stands as modern myth: a luxurious dream ship brimming with the Gilded Age’s celebrities and its steerage class; a technological wonder so sophisticated, so sound, as to be deemed invulnerable. 
  
Add to that the tragic elements of human error and the inexorable power of Nature and the tale of Titanic, with its myriad stories of heartbreak and heroism, becomes a poignant chapter in humanity’s collective history. Now you can behold that history.


 Expedition Itineray:  
You will journey to the Titanic aboard the MIR I and II submersibles, deep-dive vessels capable of reaching ocean depths of 20,000 feet. Housed aboard the mother ship Akademik Keldysh, the two MIR submersibles are part of a group of only four deep-diving vessels available to the world's scientific community. Constructed of special nickel steel, they are specifically designed to withstand the enormous pressures that exist in the depths of the oceans.  Air pressure inside the habitat remains at a constant one atmosphere; the air is recycled in a manner similar to that used onboard spacecraft. During the dive, there will be a drop in temperature (to approximately 54F or 12C) and some slight internal condensation. 



 Trip Overview:  

 Day 1 / 2nd July:  
Arrive St Johns, Newfoundland. Orientation briefing. Overnight in a St Johns hotel 
 Day 2 / 3rd July:  
Check out of your St Johns hotel for a short flight to the french island of St Pierre. Spend several hours wandering this quaint township then board Keldysh for a mid-afternoon departure for the titanic wreck site 
 Day 3 / 4th July:  
En route the Titanic wreck site 380 miles South East of Newfoundland 
 Days 4-9 : 5th - 10th July:  
On site above the Titanic wreck. Diving and on board activities will continue during this period. As submersible diving weather is never guaranteed extra days are allocated on site to ensure everybody gets their MIR dive 
 Day 10 : 11th July:  
The final scheduled Titanic dive day. Keldysh will depart the Titanic site bound for St Johns, later today. 
 Day 11 : 12th July:  
En route St Johns Newfoundland. A farewell barbeque will be held with the complete ships complement 
 Day 12 : 13th July:  
Morning arrival St Johns, Newfoundland. Disembarkation and flights homewards. 
Itinerary subject to change. 

 Down Into the Deep  
Following a final briefing, you'll enter the submersible, then the Keldysh's on-board crane will lift you and the MIRs into the Atlantic's chilly waters. After pre-dive testing, ballast water will be pumped into the tanks and your adventure into the deep will begin. Three Plexiglas portholes, each 7 inches thick, will be your window to this undersea world. By 1,000 feet, all traces of sunlight will be gone and you will be immersed in total darkness. To conserve power, the MIR submersibles run without external lights, however, the pilot will occasionally switch on the lights to observe passing marine life. Some marine life require no viewing lights; be sure to look for these tiny bioluminescent creatures as you descend. By 4,000 feet, the interior of the MIR will start to cool and you may want to don your extra clothing. Topside, the Keldysh (never out of voice contact) will help navigate the MIR to the wreck site.Your deep-dive observations will provide valuable data for the!
 Keldysh's research scientists. 

 Observing the Titanic  
As you reach your destination, the MIR's large halogen-mercury-iodine lights will unveil to you the remains of the R.M.S. Titanic. The ship is in two distinct sections: the demolished stern and the bow, separated by nearly 2,000 feet. The MIRs will spend 2-3 hours exploring the wreckage as well as the surrounding debris field. An outside still and video camera will record your experience; an 8mm video inside the MIR will chronicle the expedition's operations as well as your reactions. Upon completion of the mission, ballast water will be pumped out and the MIR will begin its ascent. Once you return to the surface, the MIR will be lifted back on board the Keldysh and you will be treated to a hot Russian sauna followed by a debriefing. 

 The Akademik Keldysh  
The Akademik Keldysh is the best deep-diving support vessel in the world. Owned and operated by the Moscow-based P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, its crew of scientists and technicians has worked together for 15 years, participating in deep-dive expeditions all over the world. In addition to its 17 laboratories, the Keldysh features a specialized library  covering underwater archaeology, oceanography, and deep-sea exploration and sauna. Your quarters aboard the Keldysh, while not lavish, will be comfortable and spacious. Meals will be first-class, prepared by a European chef and highlighted by the occasional Russian specialty. Satellite communications equipment will be available for contact with those at home. 

 Terms and Conditions  
All companies and personnel involved in this operation strongly believe that the integrity of the Titanic wreck and the surrounding debris field should be respected both as a historic site as well as a grave site. No salvaging will occur during this scientific expedition, nor will the MIR dives include use of any ROVs (remote operated vehicles) or any other device designed to enter or penetrate the wreckage in any way. Nothing will be taken, save photographs, videos and memories. 


 Cancellation Policy:  Notification of passenger cancellation must be received in writing by the booking agent. There is no refund due to client cancellation.These fees are due regardless of resale. These fees cannot be applied to future reservations. Therefore we strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance. 

 Share Policy:  Divers are entitled to a single occupancy cabin until the single room capacity is exhausted. After which, each diver will be assigned a roommate. All non-divers will be assigned shared rooms. Cabins will be assigned according to their place on the confirmed booking list (determined by deposit date). Cabins may have private and shared bathrooms. When pairing roommates, we will always pair participants of the same sex, and make every effort to accommodate smokers with other smokers. However, if it is necessary to pair a smoker with a non-smoker, overnight accommodation will be designated as non-smoking for both participants. 

 Medical Information:  Operation Titanic is intended for persons in generally good health and without physical disabilities which would create a hazard either for the passenger or other passengers. By placing an initial deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers.  All participants are required to complete a medical release form.  Passengers prone to claustrophobia are strongly advised to follow their physician's advice. The booking agent or the tour leader reserves the right to disqualify any participant at any time during the program should the person's health impede the operation of the program. There will be no refund given under these circumstances. It is essential that participants with any dietary restrictions make them known to us well before departure. 

 Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:  The booking agent reserves the right to change a program's dates, itinerary, leaders, or accommodations as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed, or the itinerary changed or extended due to weather conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, or other contingencies over which the company has no control and its agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is not included, and will be charged to the participant at cost. Due to the uniqueness of this program and flight availability, departure dates are subject to change. 

 Itinerary Cancellation:  The booking agent reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including logistical problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other circumstances which may make operation of the trip inadvisable. If the itinerary cannot be rescheduled by the company, all trip payments received will be refunded, and this refund will be the limit of the company's liability. We are not responsible for any expenses incurred by participants in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, passport or visa fees or other trip-related expenses. 

 Participation:  The booking agent reserves the right to decline acceptance of any individual as a trip participant for any reason whatsoever. 

 Passport & Visa Requirements:  Participants are responsible for securing proper documentation and vaccination certificate for entry into Canada. 

 Limitations of Liability:  The booking agent, its owners, agents and employees give notice that they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors and suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever caused for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, thefts, force majeure, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, government restrictions or regulations and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers. Certain operators require the use of pre-printed ticket forms which limit operator's liability. When such tickets are used, you are generally bound by the terms of these t!
ickets with respect to their legal relationship to those operators, their agents and the operator¹s crew. 

 All participants are required to complete and sign a reservation form and a release form. On advancement of deposit, the depositor acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the above recited terms and conditions, and agrees to be bound by them.  

 What's Included:  Seat on MIR submersible for scientific expedition tour of the RMS Titanic wreck; accommodations aboard the Akademik Keldysh; one night accommodation in St. John´s;  orientation meeting; three meals daily (starting with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with breakfast on final day); activities within the program: lectures, briefings, slide/film shows; baggage handling, amenities/gifts, personal video. 

 Not Included:  Air transportation to/from St. John's; transfers to/from airport; airport arrival and departure taxes; excess baggage charges; personal items such as laundry, bar charges, gratuities to service staff, telephone/fax/cable charges, travel insurance; passport & visa fees; pre or post-voyage arrangements. 

Further Information:
www.oceanusiyc.de   
 www.deepoceanexpeditions.com 

 Payment:  
After auctions end per bank-wire transfer with tra

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