Just sharing some pictures from my recent trip to the Maldives. Spent 8 nights on a nice boat, great crew, friendly service, and some pretty decent diving. Visibility wasn't very good in general - maybe 10-15m, with some sites having very good vis.
We didn't manage to see alot the first couple of days, as you practically had to bump into the rays and sharks to see them. But we got lucky and were accompanied by a pod of 100+ dolphins to the dive site. It was surreal to dive while listening to them clacking and whistling away. Unfortunately, a japanese group jumped right in on top of them, and the dolphins went away.
*disclaimer: the diver you see touching the manta is not from our group... she was from another group which had very bad diving practices. really spoiled the experience for everyone at the site. they used twin-tanks for 45 minute dives. go figure! but they had hot japanese chicks on board though! hahaha
Getting there
We flew SQ direct from Singapore which was about a 4-hour flight. Great service, pretty stewardesses! We managed to get a promo price for the tickets, which were about half the usual US$700+.
Once at the airport, the agent was there to meet and greet, and we were whisked off to the LOB which was about a 20 minute boat ride away.
The boat
We chartered MV Eagle Ray, which is comfortable for 14 pax, and pretty affordable. Food was pretty good, especially after we asked the crew if we could have whatever they were eating! No sense in eating half-baked western style meals when you get authentic flavorful local cuisine!
Rooms were twin share with either a double and twin beds with attached bathroom. Water pressure was strong and always hot! Great for a post-dive rinse before snuggling into bed for a surface interval.
Most Maldivian LOBs operate using 2 boats. The LOB, and a diving dhoni, which is a great idea. The dhoni is about 30-35 feet long, wide and spacious, and we leave our equipment and wetsuits on the dhoni the whole trip. As they charge the tanks, the dhoni goes off somewhere else so the guests are spared the noisy racket of 2 compressors running for hours. The LOB is also kept nice and dry as nobody walks around in dripping wetsuits!
The diving
Almost every dive was accompanied with currents, with some serious finning required. A reef hook is a great idea, especially when hanging at the current fronts to watch sharks hunting in the dusk. Just be watchful of where you plant it! I think I should just let the pictures do the talking!
#1
#2 A blatant copy of one of the shots I saw in Aaron Wong's website
#3 A solitary eagle ray within arm's reach
#4 A school of 30+ Mobula Rays splitting up in confusion after running into us
#5 Winging into the sun
#6 A Maldivian Sunset - taken with Magic Filter, really brings out the warmth
#7 A turtle checking me out before running into my dome port.
#8 A rain of yellow snappers
#9 A dive site I call "The Runway". Excellent vis, enjoyable drift dive in medium-strong currents
#10 Manta manta
TBC
