Best for conspiracy theorists is a visit to Washington, DC, the city that’s a hotbed of political intrigue both in real life and in fiction, from the Watergate story of Nixon to Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol which is being filmed in the city this year.  Visiting the main movie locations is easy, especially when you take a tour with Capital Segway www.capitalsegway.com/lost_symbol_tour .  The two hour tour cost from $70 per person and takes in all the major sights mentioned in the book.  For a walking tour Lost Symbol map of the go www.washington.org/lostsymbol

Best for empty nesters is the luxury and charm of the Orient Express Inn at Perry Cabin in St Michaels on Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The location for both The Wedding Crashers and Failure to Launch, the Inn is the perfect location for relaxation at the Linden Spa and celebration in style. 

3 nights at The Inn at Perry Cabin in a Signature room costs from £819.00 per person, based on 2 sharing (includes all taxes, direct return flights with BA from Heathrow to Washington, DC, and car hire for duration including all insurances).  Departure anytime time in September 2010.  Subject to availability. Visit www.perrycabin.com for more info or to book call Purely Capital Region USA on 0844 80 444 80 or go to www.PurelyCapitalRegionUSA.co.uk

 Inspired to learn more?  Go to www.CapitalRegionUSA.org

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 Press enquiries to Lisa Cooper / Kate Burgess-Craddy at KBC PR & Marketing

Lisa.cooper@kbc-pr.com / kate.burgess@kbc-pr.com

Tel: 01825 763636

Maryland Mountain Experience

The Catoctin Mountains of western Maryland form a 50 mile long section of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the hardwood trees that grow on their flanks create a wonderful array of stunning colours every autumn as the temperatures cool.  Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park are the perfect places to walk amongst the trees and experience the change of season first hand.

25 miles of hiking trails wind though both Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park, offering a variety of experiences ranging from easy to strenuous, many leading to outstanding scenic vistas and the roads of Catoctin Mountain Park offer scenic drives under the tree canopy.

During October each year, National Park Service Rangers conduct guided ½ mile walks, teaching the secrets of autumn colour in the eastern hardwood forest.  The walks take one hour and are appropriate for all ages.  For more details of dates and times of the guided walks go to www.nps.gov/cato .

Cunningham Falls State Park is 32 miles from Catoctin Mountain Park, linked by the “Journey Though Hallowed Ground Byway” which takes visitors past verdant farmland and historic sites.  Here the Cunningham Falls, known locally as McAffee Falls, are well worth a visit as at 78 feet they are the longest cascade in the state.  www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/cunningham.asp  

As well as hiking, both the parks offer great opportunities for wildlife watching, fly-fishing, canoeing, picnicking and even swimming in the lakes and rivers.  It is also possible to stay in the parks, either in a tent, a mobile home or by renting one of the cabins at Camp Misty Mount that are available until the end of October each year.

Blue Ridge Parkway Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

The famous Blue Ridge Mountains, a chain within the Appalachian Mountain range, continues south from Maryland down into Virginia.  This is the home of the Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile route known as “America’s Favourite Drive”.  While always beautiful, the Parkway, which celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year, is most vibrant in the autumn, when “leaf peepers” can marvel at the foliage’s flaming hues of scarlet, gold and orange.

Just 75 miles from Washington, DC, exploration of Shenandoah starts with the Skyline Drive which leads to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The roads take visitors along the crest of the mountains, through woods and past spectacular vistas, where eagles hang in the air so close that you feel you could reach out and touch them.

The Blue Ridge Mountains were so-named because the airborne water generated by the trees creates a faint haze, giving the mountains a blue tinge when seen from a distance.   Tens of thousands of creatures make their homes in the park, from black bear to tiny aquatic insects in the mountain streams.  Hardwood forests dominate the park and remnants of boreal forests prove that continental glaciers were once close by.

During the autumn, the deciduous forest becomes a blaze of brilliant colour that changes on almost a daily basis – the cooler the night, the deeper the colours become, until the leaves fall from the trees in late October/November. 

The Park is also a wonderful place to view another of nature’s wonders – the night sky.  Being so elevated and away from the light and air pollution of cities, means there is a great chance to see many of the 2,500 stars visible to the unaided eye on a dark, moonless and cloudless night.

 www.nps.gov/shen  www.blueridgeparkway75.org

 Harvest-Time at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, originally the home of George Washington, is just a 30 minute drive from the centre of Washington, DC and is a “must see” destination for all visitors to the USA’s capital city.  During the autumn each year, a variety of events and festivals are staged including the Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tours and Fall Harvest Family Days.

The farm where Washington and his family lived was called the “Mansion House Farm”. This is the part of the plantation that visitors see today. Washington developed the property’s 500 acres to create a fitting setting for a country gentleman. He designed the grounds to include a deep border of woods, rolling meadows, serpentine walkways, a pleasure garden, a kitchen garden, and groves of trees. Between the Mansion and the shores of the Potomac River lay an extensive park. 

Today, Mount Vernon, as the house is now called, hosts a rain-or-shine celebration of the history of the Virginia wine industry on the east lawn, overlooking that same river.  The Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour is held this year from 1 to 3 October from 6 to 9pm.  At the adult-only event, participants sample wines from award-winning Virginia wineries, learned about the successes and failures of early wine endeavours in the State, enjoy live music and meet “George Washington” on the Mansion’s Piazza.

Guests can also experience an evening tour of the house and the rarely-open basement cellar vaults where George Washington stored his wine.   Picnics can be ordered in advance, to be enjoyed whilst listening to music and sampling the wine.  Tickets go on sale on 1^st September, costing $30 each. www.mountvernon.org

Later in October Fall Harvest Family Days takes place: as the name suggests a great occasion for the whole family.   Held at the four acre George Washington: Pioneer Famer sit,  Autumn activities on offer include wagon rides, wheat-treading in the 16-sided barn, 18^th century dancing displays, a straw bale maze, blacksmith demonstrations, bee keeping demonstrations, apple-roasting, corn husk doll demonstrations and early-American games and music.   All these great experiences are included in the admission ticket for the Estate at $15 per adult and $7 per child (7 – 11 years).  Children under 5 are admitted free.

Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price for festival goers courtesy of Spirit Cruises and Potomac Riverboat Company. www.entertainmentcruises.com

Matt was nominated by Lisa Cooper:

‘It’s been planning time again and this month has reminded me what a pleasure it is to work with you, Matt.  The planning process for FY11 has gone smoothly and that’s largely down to your professionalism, diplomacy and great understanding of the UK market.  It also really helps that you are so open to new ideas and willing to discuss different approaches to promote the Capital Region.  Thank you.’

This elegant property features 98 rooms and apartments, each with its own distinctive design and when you feel like a little culture, you don’t have far to go.  The Town Hall in Patriot Square, London E2 also resides as an art gallery featuring the work of six of the best local artists.  There is also a swimming pool, fitness machines, the services of a personal trainer and spa treatments available to help you ‘chill out’ after hours.

This East End neighbourhood has great restaurants, boutiques and galleries on your doorstep, whilst the Town Hall’s own restaurant, Viajante is perfect for entertaining or dining when you don’t feel like cooking in your apartment’s own well-equipped kitchen.

Select Apartments offers studio, one or two-bedroom apartment rentals at the Town Hall from just one night, priced from £160 + VAT per night, or from £136 +VAT per night for a seven-night stay.  www.selectapartments.co.uk/apartment.php?id=987

For further information on how to book a serviced apartment in the UK or worldwide with Select Apartments visit www.selectapartments.co.uk call 0845 055 6352.

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Media enquiries:

Eugéne Roberts, KBC PR & Marketing, Tel: 01825 763636 email: Eugene.roberts@kbc-pr.com

 or Adrian England, Marketing Director, Select Apartments Tel: 0845 055 6352 email: Adrian@selectapartments.co.uk

Chris Scott and Seb Roger receiving their GLL Sport Foundation Awards

The recent Sussex Parallel Youth Games, held at Olympos Burgess Hill, were also the setting for the presentation of this year’s GLL Sport Foundation Awards. These financial and training grants for talented athletes, provided by the GLL Sport Foundation, total over £400,000 and this year 19 young athletes in the Crawley area were presented with awards to help towards furthering their sporting achievements.

Freedom Leisure, which runs K2 Crawley in partnership with GLL, will be supporting these young individuals, who have shown exceptional potential and long-term commitment to succeeding at an international a level in their chosen sport. The young athletes using K2 Crawley’s state-of-the-art facilities represent a broad range of Olympic disciplines, ranging from athletics to swimming, basketball to cricket and hockey to gymnastics. All these sponsored athletes will benefit from up to £1,250 to be spent of training, travel and equipment during the next 12 months. 

The 19 young athletes receiving GLL Sport Foundation support for 2010 are as follows:

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: “I was delighted to attend the GLL Awards and meet our sporting stars of the future. I hope the grants they receive help them to achieve their goals in the coming months and, who knows – maybe we’ll see them at London 2012 or a future Olympics.”

Peter Bundey GLL Sport Foundation Chair said; “The aim of the Foundation is to provide practical and tangible support for talented young athletes.  After the first two years of these awards, it has become clear that the support given to these young athletes is having a tremendous impact. The success of the scheme has already surpassed our expectations and we have been able to promote these young people as role models within their communities. This is very important to us and we will continue to positively support this message.”

On behalf of Freedom Leisure, Crawley Borough Council and the GLL Sport Foundation we would like to thank two of these talented athletes, Seb Rodger and Chris Scott who attended the event to promote the awards and inspire other young people.”

This is an extremely exciting opportunity for each of these young athletes and the team at K2 Crawley will continue to provide support, encouragement and motivation to help them all achieve the sporting ambitions over the coming years.

To find out more about the K2 Crawley call 01293 585 300 or visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk  

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Media contacts:

Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR on 01825 76 36 36 kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com or Karen Burrell, Freedom Leisure’s Head of Sales & Marketing on 01825 747710 Karen.Burrell@freedom-leisure.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Freedomleisure is a not for profit leisure trust managing 19 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex and Kent, including K2 Crawley, one of the country’s flag-ship leisure centres. From July 2009 new additions to the portfolio included Olympos leisure centres in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, and entertainment venues Clair Hall and Martlets Hall.

The GLL Sport Foundation was founded in 2008 with Sally Gunnell OBE as Patron.  It plans to give in excess of £1.5m to young athletes in selected areas of London and the South of England in the run up to 2012.  Further information on the Foundation and details on how to apply for the next round of funding can be found at www.gllsportfoundation.org

• Launched at the House of Commons in 2008 by Olympic Gold Medallist Sally Gunnell OBE, the Foundation is the brainchild of charitable social enterprise GLL.
• The GLL Sport Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation.  Operating under the patronage of Sally Gunnell OBE, it is supported by GLL, Bunzl Vending Services, Technogym, Insite, Zurich Insurance, Powerade, Accessplus, Noah, Margolis, Birdsall, Gladstone, McCabe, Ford Williams, Tennant Group and Crystal Palace Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Centre.
• The GLL Sport Foundation work in partnership with Sportsaid to co-ordinate talent identification and funding recommendations.
• Other funding awards does not prevent athletes from applying to the GLL Sport Foundation.

The new Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre will provide great facilities, including 10 grass pitches, a café, a multi use games area, a 3G Artificial Turf Pitch and much improved changing facilities. A second phase of improvement will include the building of a state-of-the-art fitness facility, a meeting room and a bar. The development will provide the local community with a full range of facilities and a plethora of activities throughout the year, whatever the weather. An Open Day will take place in the coming months so that customers can visit and try some of the great activities on offer.

Jeff Hart, Freedom Leisure’s Managing Director commented, “Together with the centre in Sandwich, this will be Freedom Leisure’s second Kent site. We are looking forward to working with the local sports clubs and community to make the Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre a great success for the town. Freedom Leisure is delighted to offer a growing variety of activities in fun, friendly and inspiring environments”.

Freedom Leisure is a not-for-profit leisure trust, based in Uckfield, East Sussex. They are the largest provider of community leisure in Sussex and have seen continuous and steady growth over the past six years, building its current portfolio to 20 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex and Kent. This has been achieved by working closely with seven councils including Wealden District Council and Hastings Borough Council.  Freedom Leisure now employs 1,200 staff and has an annual turnover of £20 million.

Customers who wish to discuss future bookings for any of the facilities at the new Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre can contact Matt Hunt via email on matt.hunt@freedom-leisure.co.uk.

To find out more about Freedom Leisure visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk 

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Media contacts:

Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR on 01825 76 36 36 kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com

or Karen Burrell, Freedom Leisure’s Head of Sales & Marketing on 01825 747710 Karen.Burrell@freedom-leisure.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Freedomleisure is a not for profit leisure trust managing 20 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex and Kent, including K2 Crawley, one of the country’s flag-ship leisure centres. From July 2009 new additions to the portfolio included Olympos leisure centres in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, and entertainment venues Clair Hall and Martlets Hall.

Mel Fisher Days activities benefit the not-for-profit Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, operator of the museum where objects from the Atocha and other shipwrecks are conserved, studied and displayed. Museum visitors can view items including gold and silver bars and coins, cannons and smaller weapons, rare navigational instruments, ornate jewellery and even a 77.7-carat emerald.

The galleon, which sank approximately 35 miles southwest of Key West during a 1622 hurricane, was rediscovered by Fisher and his crew in July 1985.  After a sixteen year search for the notorious vessel, they uncovered a $400 million cache of Atocha treasure and artifacts.  Today Fisher’s son and grandson continue the search for remaining artifacts and treasures on the ocean floor and each year, along with friends and family, they open the festival.

The festival kicks off with the presentation of the Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award to the internationally recognised shipwreck search and salvage expert Captain Carl Fismer, who worked alongside Fisher on recovery of the Atocha.

Other attractions during Mel Fisher Days include the “Miss Atocha” bikini contest, an exuberant “tropical rock” block party headlined by Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, a dunk tank, tricycle races, carnival games, raffle prizes and plenty of family fun. For those possessing Mel Fisher’s optimistic spirit, there is a Midnight Gambler Poker Tournament aboard Sunset Watersports’ Party Cat catamaran.

The festival culminates in a reunion of the “golden crew”.  These are the men that helped in the search for the Atocha alongside Fisher.  As the festival draws to a close they will be regaling festival goers with their tales of the search for the fabled shipwreck.  In addition, long-time Fisher associate, Pat Clyne, plans to debut his book, “The Atocha Odyssey,” featuring personal insights and more than 100 photographs that chronicle the epic adventure.

For more information on the festival visit www.melfisher.com  or the Keys website at www.fla-keys.com .

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Contact: Lisa Cooper / Kate Burgess-Craddy
lisa.cooper@kbc-pr.com / kate.burgess@kbc-pr.com

+44 (0)1825 763636
www.fla-keys.com/media

Notes to Editors:

Mel Fisher Days is scheduled to begin at 18:00, 15 July, at the Schooner Wharf Bar, William Street in Key West’s Historic Seaport.

Main events during Mel Fisher Days:

15 July –          

Presentation of the Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Miss Atocha” bikini contest – with contestants encouraged to make and wear their own treasure-themed bikinis. The competitor who raises the most money for the museum wins an authentic silver coin from the Atocha site, valued at $1,800. Second- and third-place entrants receive rough emeralds.

16 July –           

Block Party in the 200 block of Key West’s Duval Street

17 July –          

Midnight Gambler Poker Tournament runs 20:00 – 02:00 abroad Sunset Watersports’ Party Cat catamaran.

18 July –          

“Golden Crew” reunion at the second-level Sunset Deck of the Westin Key West Resort, 245 Front St, runs 19:00 – 21:00

21 June 2010

Left to right: Keith Wilson, Crystal Conroy and Dave Downey

Freedom Leisure’s FNP at K2 Crawley offers young people between the ages of 11-19 the chance to participate in activities including basketball, football, climbing, trampolining, streetdance, breakdance and boxercise. The sessions run from 8pm-10pm every Friday night and cost only £2 per person for the whole evening.

Dave Downey, Freedom Leisure’s Community Sport Development Officer at K2 Crawley, who devised the project, commented, “The K2 Crawley FNP has been a great success. Thanks to significant partnership funding from Crawley Borough Council, West Sussex Police and West Sussex Youth Service, Freedom Leisure has been able to open its doors to young people from all backgrounds. We have been able to respond to local needs by providing young people with very affordable and accessible activities.”

Crawley Police District Commander, Inspector Steve Curry said that the project “has made a significant contribution to enhancing community safety in Crawley”. Reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) on Friday evenings have fallen by 29% when comparing the four months before and four months after the project started.

Nigel Sheehan, Head of Community Services at Crawley Borough Council said, “ASB incidents on Friday evenings have traditionally been a real problem in Crawley. The K2 Crawley FNP has been a real success in providing constructive activities for young people and has made a measurable difference in reducing incidents of ASB. This programme is also helping to develop healthy and active lifestyles, thereby supporting our health and well being priority.”

The award is great recognition for Freedom Leisure, its partner agencies, staff, volunteers, young sports leaders and sports clubs who are involved in the planning and delivery of the Project. It’s a great example of how Freedom Leisure’s effective and innovative partnership work can make a real difference to young people and local communities.

To find out more about the K2 Crawley Friday Night Project, all the activities and future opportunities please call K2 Crawley on 01293 585 300 or visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk  

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Media contacts:

Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR on 01825 76 36 36 kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com

or Karen Burrell, Freedom Leisure’s Head of Sales & Marketing on 01825 747710 Karen.Burrell@freedom-leisure.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Freedomleisure is a not for profit leisure trust managing 19 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex and Kent, including K2 Crawley, one of the country’s flag-ship leisure centres. From July 2009 new additions to the portfolio included Olympos leisure centres in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, and entertainment venues Clair Hall and Martlets Hall.

Crawley South West Youth Awards are hosted by West Sussex County Council Youth Service. They are run annually and are designed to recognise and award young people’s achievements across the locality in Crawley which cover Broadfield, Tilgate and Furnace Green to which K2 is a part of. The award for most ‘Innovative Youth Project 2010’ is decided by the youth work team and local young people.

Prince Edward Island may be Canada’s smallest province but it offers the perfect summer escape. Full of character and offering a warm welcome, the 5,656 square kilometre island sits in Atlantic Canada’s Gulf of St Lawrence.  The Island’s fertile green fields are surrounded by 1,600 kilometres of coastline, dramatic red sandstone cliffs and white sandy beaches that dip into the warmest waters on the Eastern Seaboard.

Beachcombing, clambakes, lobster dinners, great music, time on the fairway or in the saddle all add up to a perfect holiday. Prince Edward Island is the epitome of a traditional beach holiday – the type which creates happy memories for years to come for both adventurous families and pleasure seeking couples.

Take to the waves

With over 90 beaches and warm waters Prince Edward Island is perfect for water-based sports and experiences. Here are five of the best.

1. Deep Sea Fishing – Join a local fisherman to fish for giant bluefin tuna, mackerel and shark.

2. Kayaking & canoeing – Explore hidden bays and watch bird and marine life as you paddle your own canoe – great fun for families!

3. Kiteboarding – One of the fastest growing watersports in the world, the Island’s shallow bays and consistent winds provide an excellent setting for kiteboarding adventures.

4. Sailing – Join a charter or brush up your skills at a sailing school. Prince Edward Island offers stunning harbours and breathtaking coastlines to explore.

5. Parasailing – What better way to see Prince Edward Island than with a birds-eye view?

An island packed with flavour – top experiences for “foodies”

As an island of farmers and fisherman it offers unrivalled cuisine experiences from gourmet dining to local lobster suppers. Visitors are always left satisfied with memories of marvellous meals.

Tong & Shuck – Take an oyster dory and sample PEI’s freshest oysters as you learn how to harvest, tong and shuck.

Culinary Boot Camps – For a food experience never to be forgotten, visitors can sign up for one of the Culinary Institute’s Boot Camps half or full-day courses. Work with an experienced chef in a state-of-the-art kitchen and learn how to create mouth-watering dishes from PEI’s freshest ingredients.

Windows on the Water – Sit on a wrap-around deck and enjoy the view of Montague Harbour. Using locally grown produce whenever possible, the restaurant is the winner of the coveted Island Shellfish Chowder Competition.

PEI International Shellfish Festival – 17 – 19 September – Renowned as the biggest Kitchen Party in Atlantic Canada, this fun-packed festival offers plenty of live music, cooking demonstrations, brimming bowls of Seafood Chowder and freshly steamed mussels and clams.

Fall Flavours Culinary Festival – 1 September – 3 October – Across the Island, over 150 culinary events will be taking place from rustic suppers to lobster dinners with crustaceans purchased fresh from nearby boats.   

To see a video of a lobster fishing trip in Prince Edward Island click here

Places to stay & holidays from the UK

The tallest lighthouse – Elevate your holiday plans and stay in the Island’s tallest light house. West Point Lighthouse was Canada’s first active lighthouse inn and still guides ships past the west coast. All rooms have a walk-out deck overlooking a stunning beach.

Stay in Victorian Splendour – Victorian Inn, Dalvay-by-the-Sea offers a real escape.  It’s a National Historic Site and the rooms have no TV’s, telephones or radios, leaving just the sounds of the ocean to lull you to sleep.

Flights: Canadian Affair (020 7616 9933 / www.canadianaffair.com) offers return Economy Class flights from London Gatwick to Halifax from £458 per person including taxes, the drive to Prince Edward Island is a leisurely three hours.

Holiday Package: Canadian Affair (020 7616 9933 / www.canadianaffair.com) offers a 14 night Atlantic Canada Adventure fly-drive holiday from £1,229 per person with accommodation in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.  Based on two people sharing on a room only basis.  It includes return Economy Class flights from London Gatwick to Halifax and car hire for the duration of the trip.

Holiday Package: Prestige Holidays (www.prestigeholidays.co.uk/canada , 01502 567 222) is offering its 13 night Maritime Magic tour from £1795 per person in September. The package includes: Air Canada flights (economy class) London Heathrow / Halifax / Heathrow,13 nights accommodation in standard hotels, a four hour whale watching excursion and the rental of mid size vehicle – pick up / drop off Halifax Airport including unlimited mileage, LDW, all taxes and airport fees and up to $1M liability cover. Clients also receive a full self drive kit with itinerary, maps, sightseeing information etc. Please note: the cost of the ferry to Prince Edward Island is not included and cannot be pre-booked, the estimated charge for a car and two passengers is $68.

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For media enquiries, images or to arrange a media visit to Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada, contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC Public Relations and Marketing: Telephone: 01825 76 36 36 Email – tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com

Editor’s Notes:

The Atlantic Canada region is coastal Canada on our doorstep.  Just five hours away from the UK, the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have all the perfect elements for an interesting and inspiring escape.  Each province has its own character but all are renowned for their outstanding natural beauty, stunning coastline, friendly people, incredible seafood, UNESCO World Heritage sites and National Parks. This region really is Canada’s best-kept secret.

To discover more about Atlantic Canada visit www.AtlanticCanadaHoliday.ca. or take a tour.

16th June 2010

A Wreck Trek Passport Program highlighting the Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail now awaits certified divers visiting the Florida Keys.

Divers can explore the destination’s most appealing feature, a string of sunken vessels and artificial reefs, and be awarded for logging back-to-back wreck dives or dives on subsequent visits through to 1 January 2012.

Divers who take up the challenge and reserve dive trips with participating dive shops, will receive an Official Florida Keys Wreck Trek logbook. The dive passport highlights nine shipwrecks from Key Largo to Key West including Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch Sr., Cayman Salvager, Joe’s Tug and Vandenberg, the Shipwreck Trail’s southernmost addition.

After one wreck dive in each district of the Keys is carried out, divers will receive a personalised collage of Keys wrecks photographs suitable for framing. Upon completing all nine wreck dives, qualifying divers are entered into a drawing for one of several grand prizes, including dive equipment and ‘dive-and-stay’ packages.

It is recommended that only certified and experienced divers take part in this challenge. Each wreck varies in skill level, and divers are encouraged to contact participating dive operators for information about the wrecks.

Local dive shops may ask divers to present a logbook or dive computer to be reviewed for air management skills and depth profiles from previous dives. Refresher courses are offered, and the Shipwreck Trail offers a unique opportunity for advanced and wreck diving certification classes.

For more information about the Wreck Trek Passport Program, visit www.fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek.
For full Keys travel information, visit www.fla-keys.com.

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FOR MEDIA INFORMATION ONLY:
Contact: Lisa Cooper / Kate Burgess-Craddy
lisa.cooper@kbc-pr.com / kate.burgess@kbc-pr.com 

+44 (0)1825 763636
www.fla-keys.com/media

14 June 2010