Quote:
|
Originally Posted by scubamax
hi ya Island_sands,
appreciate your response. Our trip is on one of the vessels thr.. but we have not decided on the dive sites..we are probably going to depend on the local DMs recommendation and hopefully still manage to see those gentle giants among other thgs..
perhaps you can recommend us some dive sites..
i have some concerns abt the water supply and dive accident medical support (should that arise)
thanks
|
hi Max
i would say that there are very few operational liveaboards in maldives that are unsafe. The Maldivian divemasters are quite experienced and a lot of liveaboards also employ foreign boat managers to accompany them. Bandos Island has a full-on recompression chamber and hospital (it's up and running, i just called to check), it is run by German doctors and is very professional.
100ft/30m is the max by government regulation. Strong suggestion to all divers is not to be heroic as it's a long way to Bandos from some locations (maybe 3 hours by boat) and obviously you cannot be airlifted. Dehydration is the main cause of DCS cases here in Maldives and also people who have panicked in currents and have "shot to the top".
Water supply - tons! its desalinated and all the boats have their own desalinators. The boats supply plenty of bottled water for drinking purposes. Alcohol is also served on all boats, but not in male' or local islands.
Male' (the capital) is almost fully operational again as are food supplies. The Maldives government was determined that the tourist industry was not to be affected where possible.
Liveaboard is the way to go... 60% of the resorts are damaged here. however to get the best out of Maldives you'll do best with a safari boat.
If you are not doing Sultans of the Seas boats (they only do Huvadhoo Atoll right now), then you will probably be doing the Male-South Male-South Ari Atoll (whalesharks) - North Ari Atoll (Rasdhoo for hammerheads) route.
Dive sites (from my own experience):
Ari Atoll
Maaya Thila (excellent night dive as you can see feeding white tips)
Fish Head
Kudarah Thila (coral, 1000s of fish)
Broken Rock (strong current, loads of coral and a great canyon)
Manta Point (Rangali)
Bathala Maaga Kan Thila (grey reefs, eagle rays)
Maniyamas Thila
Moofushi Kandu
Gangehi
Rasdhoo Atoll (North Ari Atoll) for the hammerhead point.
South Male
Embudhoo Express
Guraidhoo Corner/South (grey reefs)
Boli Rock
Kandooma Thila
North Male
Voshimas Thila (must!!)
Kuda Faru (ingoing current only.. must!)
Kuda Thila (soft coral, beaut)
Rasfari (silver tips)
Maldives Victory Wreck (must!)
if you are going to Huvadhoo Atoll...ooohhhh don't let me start... it's just great.
You can also PM me for more information.
The weather is great right now, hasn't rained for about three weeks, its calm,no clouds... and it's plankton season on west side of atolls so loads of fish and rays.
enjoy your trip! Maldives is great.
