Visiting AKR

[AZDaran]

Hello

I will be leaving for AKR on Saturday and was wondering if anyone could give tips for packing and what to expect at this resort. I was also planning on bringing some bottles of vodka to make my own mixed drinks. Does anyone know if you can bring alcohol in from the states? Or is there a small store where you can buy alcohol at a good price.

Thanks for any advice. I can't wait

 

[craracer]

Here are some topside photos I took while there:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yellod...&authkey=Gv1sRgCKTb9Y2gqojTTQ&feat=directlink

And underwater:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yellod...authkey=Gv1sRgCP78n5KaoqjDnwE&feat=directlink

Really a pretty nice resort. Food was good, and there was nightly entertainment. Shore diving from the island can be tough, and is prohibitive much of the time due to waves/current conditions. I wouldn't even bother diving the channel. Nothing worth seeing.

More than likely, you'll end up diving on the South side for a few days due to weather conditions. This requires loading up into buses, with your gear being hauled by a separate vehicle. Not a big deal, and I think the diving is better in this area anyway.

I didn't do the Dolphin Encounter, but I walked over to the pier and watched others interacting with them. It was a real treat none the less.

Make sure to visit their on-site little museum. It has some of the history regarding the area. In addition, visit the on-site clinic if you've never seen a hyperbaric chamber. Donated medical supplies/medications are always appreciated, so bring some if you have the means to do so.

Bring bug spray. I use 100% Deet. You will get bit. There's no avoiding it.

Save yourself some headaches and hit the dive shop immediately upon arrival. Bring your C-Cards with you. You'll need to do a checkout dive before you can hit the pool off of a boat. They did mine as soon as I could kit up.

Make sure to ask about the island they own in which they rehabilitate injured and wayward animals. Sorry, I don't recall the name of it. We did a surface interval with BBQ lunch there. Seeing all of the animals up close was pretty neat (Monkeys, birds, reptiles, seals, Sea-lions, ....).

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

channel diving was the creepiest. you go down at dusk, check the plane, and have to come back through the muck in the dark.

I don't remember the sea being rough when I went, although I only snorkeled a few times to the reef, but it is the same.

We were also ripped off, not making it to Mary's Place dive on the south side due to the real high fuel price at that time (which now seems to be the norm).

Put on bug spray, don't wait until you feel something biting you or you start seeing bites or itches, by then, it is way too late.

I swam in the channel and interacted with the dolphins behind the net. They will bring a seeweed to you so they can play fetch with you.

It is a guided dive, but the DM (at least ours) did not go look in every crevice for critters to point out to us. Most people were looking for things on their own, so if you are waiting for the DM to point out something, you might not see as much.

Nobody checks your bag for booze. And you can take a short cab ride to town to buy whatever you want.