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Our Liveaboard Itineraries are
kept flexible to seek out the best diving according to prevailing
weather and migration patterns. We have summarized the highlights
of the itineraries we offer below. If you would like more information
you can also check out the diving
information page.
MALDIVES
NORTHERN REEFS & FAR NORTHERN REEFS
The boats that operate this route
are Monsoon and Nautilus 1
The Northern Reefs of the Maldives
are relatively undocumented by dive books/guides, which offer
divers the chance to get away from crowded dive sites and experience
relatively untouched reefs. The Itinerary departs from the popular
resort of Kuredu Island and will include dives in some or all
of the Lhaviyani Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll and the newly opened
Noonu Atoll. The Itineraries are kept flexible to seek the best
diving according to prevailing weather conditions and season.
Lhaviyani Atoll has few thilas
(a coral reef usually a few metres below the surface) but some
excellent channel dives with plenty of fish around the entrances.
'Fushifaru Kandu' is the main attraction, and in the right conditions
produces encounters with grey reef sharks, barracuda, and eagle
rays. Another famous dive is the 'Kuredu Express' , this site
gives divers the opportunity to see just about everything the
Maldives has to offer. From schools of trevally, black snapper,
and sometimes eagle rays and grey reefs sharks to leaf fish and
moray eels , there is something for everybody here.
Baa Atoll is rapidly gaining
recognition as a new dive spot for enthusiasts keen to escape
the crowds of the more popular dive sites in the Maldives. One
of these reasons is the number of whalesharks and manta rays
that visit the area between may and july. With a number of established
dive sites offering healthy coral and plentiful marine life Baa
Atoll has a mix of Thila and Kandu's to dive.
Raa Atoll has no resorts (at
the time of writing) and is only generally dived by those on
a liveabord. A huge Atoll with a mixture of thilas and kandu's
gives the diver a chance to seek new and undiscovered sites.
With only a handful of "stock" dives in this atoll
, when in this area it is often the case of jumping in at a new
GPS location and seeing what happens. This can produce some amazing
results and often surprise even the most experienced divers.
Noonu Atoll only recently opened
to tourism still has a wealth of dive sites to discover. With
most of the diving in Noonu Atoll conducted on Thilas diving
in this area offers some beautiful topography with caves and
overhangs. 'Trick Thila' is one of the first officially documented
sites and has been producing some great grey reef shark dives
to date. Another frequently visited site on this Atoll is 'Xmas
Rock' , home to large schools of snapper and barracuda this christmas
tree shaped thila is a fantastic atmospheric dive.
MALDIVES DISCOVERY
AND EXPEDITION
The Boats that operate these
routes are Monsoon, Nautilus 2 or Nautilus 1
The Maldives Discovery (generally
7 nights) and Maldives Expedition (generally 14 nights) Itineraries
depart from Male and cruise some of the most popular and renowned
dive sites in the Maldives. The Discovery Itinerary will usually
include dives on North and South Male Atolls plus Felidhoo or
North Ari Atoll. The Expedition Itinerary offers the diver the
chance to spend more time on the North and South Male Atoll,
and will usually include North and South Ari Atoll along with
Felidhoo Atoll. The Itineraries are kept flexible to seek the
best diving according to prevailing weather conditions and season.
Highlights on North Male Atoll
include 'Lion's Head' , a 500 metre deep channel ideal for viewing
territorial grey reef sharks that patrol the area. 'Manta Point'
in the Himmafushi region with a world-wide reputation for being
one of the most consistent sites for attracting manta ray. Surrounded
by deep water, the atoll produces excellent visibility and with
in-going currents encounters with large pelagic's are frequent.
South Male Atoll is home to many
popular dive sites and has a range of caves and drop-offs to
dive. One of the most exciting channel (kandu) dives is the 'Embudhoo
Express', named because of the exhilarating 2km long drift dive
when conditions are right. As with most sites in the Maldives
, currents at the channel mouth attract a range of pelagic's
, eagle rays and napoleon fish.
Diving in North Ari Atoll is
characterized by its large amount os thilas (a coral reef usually
a few metres below the surface). One such dive site is 'Ukulhas
Thila' which is a chain of underwater reefs popping up from the
30m bottom. There are 3 coral rocks along the reef top that are
cleaning stations for manta rays , seen here between December
and April. 'Fish Head' further south in Ari Atoll has a great
reputation for the presence of a large school of grey reef sharks
and a wide variety of marine life. It is a great place for photographers
to get a shot of these graceful predators.
South Ari Atoll is also host
to many excellent thilas, both within the atoll and in the channels.
Ariyadu Kandu on the southern outer reef has become famous for
the regular all-year-round sightings of whale sharks. Whilst
'Madivaru' , during the North East Monsoon produces great manta
ray encounters whilst they feed on the plankton-rich waters.
With strong currents in this area , it is recommended for experienced
divers only.
Felidhoo is much less developed
than the other touristic Atolls. Most of the diving is conducted
in the channels as the thila as are not as prominent. During
the North East Monsoon the current hitting the eastern side of
the Atoll produces exhilarating , clear water diving ideal for
seeing shark and pelagic fish. 'Devana Kandu' is one of the most
documented dive sites in Felidhoo. Sightings of grey reef sharks
, eagle rays and pelagic's are common around the entrance to
the channel. |
