An Email sent to us from Calypso Divers South Africa, about their tour to Pemba Island.
Sent: 23 October 2006 08:15 PM
To: Select Africa Safaris - Africa Scuba Travel
Subject: Thanks from Calypso
Hi Lawrence and Pat
MEGA thanks for the great trip you put together and organized for Calypso to Zanzibar and Pemba.
We really enjoyed every minute. Glad we saw what Zanzi has to offer. Next time we go straight back to Pemba. What a destination Manta Reef Lodge was!. Perfect care was taken of us. We felt like family.
Words fail to describe the efficiency and professionalism of the dive charter guys. Banda was spectacular. Looked after our every need and never took his eyes of us in the water. They never lost their cool once and not a drop of food or water over their lips, due to Ramadan.
Please pass our thanks and congratulations to the manager and staff at Manta Reef.
Calypso will be back.....we already miss them.
Louise and the group
LONGING FOR AN ISLAND...
Looking back on our wonderful holiday in Zanzibar and Pemba, the first
thing that springs to mind is no stress and plenty fun.
18 of us with different likes, dislikes and expectations. I have to add
that this trip exceeded all of mine.
What a treat to be picked up and delivered to the airport and home again!
The 3 days in Zanzibar were visually and sensually very stimulating with
vibrant colours, delicious smells and delightful people. Picture perfect
white beaches with turquoise and azure blue seas, perfect weather and lots
of Kilimanjaro beer.
Pemba Island is densely vegetated and beautiful beyond description. The
whole 6-day trip took on a dream like quality and we all felt as if we had
stepped into a film set of Treasure Island. Just when we thought we had
died and gone to heaven, it got even better…a day trip to the tiny,
uninhabited island of Mesali. With a fantastic, lazy cruise all along the
coastline viewing its mangroves, coves and rainforests, to our hotel at
Manta Reef with the most perfect, huge, airy bedrooms, overlooking a setting
beyond description.
On our last night the hotel presented us with a beach braai complete with
huge bonfire, whilst we sat with our feet in the whitest sand on earth
being waited on by the entire compliment of staff.
Diving proved very exiting with two drop off dives per a trip out. Deep
blue water on the one side with mind blowing colour and life on the wall.
Even the paper fish - thanks to Brian's spotting, were vermilion, deep
purple and yellow. Whip, fan, mushroom, brain, honeycomb and turret corals
galore!
The DM's where so professional, they are all Muslim and it was the time of
Ramadan. With quiet dignity they herded us all safely along, solved all
problems, fed us orange and watermelon slices after each dive, ensuring
that we all drank plenty of water. All with no water or food passing his or her
lips! A humbling experience and an insight into deep spiritual strength.
Sunsets over the perfect sea with Dhow's quietly slipping home calmed the
soul and refreshed us all for the year ahead.
Thank you Calypso, for this wonderful opportunity!
Marian Rudge