Atlantis Navatek Cruises

HONOLULU – With thousand of humpback whales arriving for Hawaii’s “winter” season, Atlantis Navatek Cruises is offering its popular Whale Watch Lunch Cruise from December 20, 2007 through April 6, 2008 aboard the pioneering Navatek I.
The relaxing two-and-a-half hour mid-day cruise carries guests along the picturesque Diamond Head and East Oahu shoreline and features an appetizing lunch buffet with the guarantee: “See a whale or sail again for free!”
“The spectacular ocean views and serenity of being at sea are reason enough to take this cruise,” said Ken Kessler, Atlantis Navatek Cruises’ General Manager. “Add in the delicious lunch and seeing these magnificent humpbacks frolic in Hawaii’s waters and it makes whale watching truly memorable.”

The revolutionary Navatek I makes whale watching even more enjoyable by providing Hawaii’s smoothest ocean cruise experience. Its unique SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) double-hulled technology lifts the passenger-carrying compartment above the ocean surface and limits wave action against the vessel.

Hailed by FORBES as “reinventing the boat,” Navatek I is the only passenger vessel of its kind in Hawaii. The innovative engineering and environmentally friendly design gives Navatek I the added advantage of comfortably carrying guests in closer than any other whale-watching vessel to the prime humpback viewing locations found off East Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The 140-foot Navatek I comfortably seats 300 guests and offers spacious upper and lower outdoor observation decks, along with two interior dining areas that are carpeted, air-conditioned and have large picture windows to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

An onboard expert naturalist helps guests search for humpbacks while providing insightful commentary about their behavior and characteristics. If the naturalist does not see a humpback during the cruise, all guests are offered a complimentary return whale watch cruise (lunch available for an additional fee).
Following are tips to enjoy whale watching:

1)    Dress appropriately. Viewing whales is best done from the viewing decks. Wear sunscreen, secure hats and belongings, and dress for breezy “on the water” conditions.

2)    Scan the horizon. Watch for blows (breaths of air), breaches (large jumps) and other active humpback whale surface behaviors.
3)    Be prepared for anything! Each day is different and brings unique sightings. Visitors may see humpback mothers with their calves, or groups of males competing for a single female.

4)    Cameras should be ready at all times to catch the whale’s unpredictable movements. You could capture a moment to remember forever!

5)    For “fluke” photos, look for the whale to “round out” or arch their back more dramatically than usual. This indicates a deeper dive is coming and a fluke photo opportunity may occur.

6)    Study the whales’ behavior to better understand what may be coming. For example, if a mother and calf swim in a constant speed and direction, they may be “rounding out” and taking a deeper dive on every third breath. This third breath may offer a “fluke shot” as they prepare to dive deeper.

7)    Look for other marine life. In addition to humpbacks, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, flying fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and many different species of sea birds are often seen.

8)    Always remember: Safety First! Navatek I provides a very stable platform that offers optimum views for whale watching. However, when the vessel turns, there may be times when it’s in the wave trough (parallel to the waves). This may cause the boat to roll a bit, making it less-than-ideal for photos.

The Whale Watch Lunch Cruise will be offered daily from 12:00 – 2:30 p.m., December 20, 2007 through April 6, 2008, and departs from Pier 6 at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The cost is $62.00 for adults, $31.00 for children (ages 2-12) and includes the lunch buffet and complimentary roundtrip ground transportation from Waikiki. Prices do not include the harbor fee and general excise tax.

For information, call (808) 973-1311 or visit www.atlantissubmarines.com.

ABOUT ATLANTIS SUBMARINES

Atlantis Submarines has nine locations worldwide including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico and Guam. In Hawaii, Atlantis operates five submarines in Kona, Lahaina, and Waikiki. The company also owns Honolulu-based Atlantis Navatek Cruises, offering sunset dinner cruises aboard the high-tech, revolutionary Navatek I, along with seasonal luncheon whale watch cruises from December to April. For more information, visit www.atlantissubmarines.com.

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