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Dutch Dive at Karakter #79406
12/24/2015 10:41 AM
12/24/2015 10:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
Long Island, New York
CaribJoe Offline OP
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CaribJoe  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
Long Island, New York
Given new ownership this past year, does anyone know if Karakter will still have its traditional Dutch Dive party on New Year's Day? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

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Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79407
12/24/2015 11:50 AM
12/24/2015 11:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,399
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
El Zafiro just posted on their Facebook page that the New Years Dive will be held there.

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79408
12/24/2015 12:29 PM
12/24/2015 12:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
Long Island, New York
CaribJoe Offline OP
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CaribJoe  Offline OP
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Posts: 139
Long Island, New York
I understand that El Zafiro has limited parking, and the nearby area is normally crowded with patrons of Sunset Bar.
Can't imagine the congestion on that day. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79409
12/24/2015 12:37 PM
12/24/2015 12:37 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,547
Spain and SXM
Sungoddess Offline
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Sungoddess  Offline
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Posts: 2,547
Spain and SXM
yes definitely at Zafiro

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79410
12/24/2015 12:54 PM
12/24/2015 12:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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The congestion from Sunset is on the WAY to there, and normally clears up once you get past Sunset, but probably not on that day. There are four ships in on that day. For parking and the traffic in general in that area, it will be an absolute nightmare, if anywhere near as many people show up, as normally show up at Karakter.


Carol Hill
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: Carol_Hill] #79411
12/24/2015 01:24 PM
12/24/2015 01:24 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,399
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
It has always seemed to me that El Zafiro has more parking than Karakter, but it's still not much.

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: GaKaye] #79412
12/24/2015 03:27 PM
12/24/2015 03:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,580
M
MotownTim Offline
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MotownTim  Offline
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There is a big open lot near El Zafiro. I wonder if they can use that or maybe it's for rental cars. I wouldn't get too excited about the parking. They'll work it out.

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: MotownTim] #79413
12/24/2015 06:40 PM
12/24/2015 06:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,486
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Not sure where you're talking about. There are no open lots in that area. There is a parking area for two rental car places, yes.

The parking and the traffic in that area, if they get as many people as have come to Karakter, will be a disaster.


Carol Hill
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: GaKaye] #79414
12/24/2015 06:42 PM
12/24/2015 06:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Uhmn, NO. You may have found parking easier at El Zafiro because historically there has been no one there. Karakter, on the other hand, is always packed. Karakter has probably four times as much parking as El Zafiro..


Carol Hill
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: Carol_Hill] #79415
12/24/2015 06:51 PM
12/24/2015 06:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
RI Bob C Offline
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RI Bob C  Offline
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North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Karacter has a parking area with bus service during peak times. If I recall it is after you pass Bada Bing although it may be the next corner. They post a sign on a surfboard when it is in use.
In any event, there is a lot more parking than El Zafiro.

Last edited by Bob_Dot; 12/24/2015 06:53 PM.
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: RI Bob C] #79416
12/26/2015 02:23 AM
12/26/2015 02:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 538
Southern Oregon on the Rogue R...
pamj Offline
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pamj  Offline
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Southern Oregon on the Rogue R...
It appeared to me there was more parking space at Zafiro when we were there in Oct-Nov. Perhaps it was for another place close by, but a larger area had opened up.


PamJ
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: pamj] #79417
12/26/2015 03:43 AM
12/26/2015 03:43 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,580
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MotownTim Offline
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That's the area I was wondering about.

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: MotownTim] #79418
12/26/2015 09:21 AM
12/26/2015 09:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,585
Eric_Hill Offline

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Eric_Hill  Offline

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Posts: 11,585
Ok, know the area you are talking about. That is not part of their property. There was some sort of contruction and like an office being built there is June. So that is something else and not related.


Eric Hill
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Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: Eric_Hill] #79419
12/26/2015 10:11 AM
12/26/2015 10:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
...actually I think that place is condos being built. Definitely not part of El Zafiro.


Carol Hill
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: Carol_Hill] #79420
12/26/2015 07:55 PM
12/26/2015 07:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 74
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Nowhatched Offline
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Nowhatched  Offline
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Posts: 74
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
I've been to the dive several times and walked from Royal Palm or the parking lot near the Dunes Casino. If you walk past the police station along the road there is a vacant lot that gives you access to the beach. The big dive is around 2pm island time, so maybe 2:30. It's a bit of a hike but if your drinking all those Brite Beers it's a good way to work off the calories.
I'm just sorry we're going to miss it this year. We can't get away until the middle of January but this event is sooooo fun it's worth the effort. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79421
12/26/2015 10:01 PM
12/26/2015 10:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 357
SeaStar Offline
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SeaStar  Offline
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Posts: 357
What is a Dutch Dive?

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: SeaStar] #79422
12/27/2015 12:01 AM
12/27/2015 12:01 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
Quote
SeaStar said:
What is a Dutch Dive?


I believe the true origin is something akin to what we would call a Polar Bear Plunge. Seems silly in the warm Caribbean. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: BeachKitten] #79423
12/27/2015 02:02 PM
12/27/2015 02:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,399
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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But why not? It's really just an excuse to party!

Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: CaribJoe] #79424
12/28/2015 10:46 AM
12/28/2015 10:46 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Well, interesting, according to the Daily Herald today, Karakter is still going to have their party on New Year's Day! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Pretty funny, one page of the DH is the ad for Karakter and the next page is an ad for El Zafiro, saying the Dive has "moved" to El Zafiro. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />


Carol Hill
Re: Dutch Dive at Karakter [Re: GaKaye] #79425
12/28/2015 11:57 AM
12/28/2015 11:57 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
Quote
GaKaye said:
But why not? It's really just an excuse to party!


Apparently, ... as I have found no link to altruism by either location hosting the Dive.

In the Netherlands, as in the U.S. with the Polar Plunge, there is a charitable or fundraising aspect...not merely drunken debauchery and a way to promote the establishment.


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink

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