Are whale sharks endangered species? The population figures of whale sharks are unknown, but since they are victims of commercial fishing whale shark are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) www.iucn.org. In the Maldives, there are several active projects to save whale shark in the Maldives, the most important being the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org). To protect the species from becoming endangered, it is considered a protected species and commercial fishing is illegal, as is the trade of whale shark meat in the market. How can I learn more about whale sharks in the Maldives vacations?
Vacations in Maldives are increasing in popularity, due to the amazing conditions and activities the Maldives has to offer. There are countless resources you can utilise to your advantage when planning your Maldives vacation package; Our website www.maldivesdivetravel.com has plenty of information, tips and tricks for your Maldives vacation. Feel free to check out our pages on Maldives marine life, liveaboard maldives cruises, scuba diving information, Maldives weather and many more! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch! We look forward to hearing from you!
The manta ray survival status is not known because so little research has been done about them, but it is known that the numbers in Japan, the Philippines and Mexico where they have been hunted severely are extremely low and they are rarely seen by scuba divers on a manta ray dive.
The life of the manta ray in maldives vacations cheap is a very peaceful affair, and their hunting style is no exception.
As filter feeders, all the manta ray has to do is simply glide through the water, allowing food – mainly plankton, fish larvae and tiny fish – to enter his grill and filter out through his gills.
Amazing Last Minute Diving Holidays Deal on Black Pearl Maldives: 35% off upcoming ‘Dive with the Big Five Cruise’
From 31 January to 7 February 2011 guests enjoy a whopping 35-percent discount on standard rates on Black Pearl, a recently built ship known for its hand-crafted wooden design and friendly, experienced staff. Since one of the boat’s two charming owners is always on the ship and leads the dives, you can rely on excellent service above and below water.
Great Last Minute Diving Holiday Special January 31 – February 7 2011
Whale shark, manta ray, grey reef shark, stingray and turtle – those are the Maldivian Big Five, as we like to call them. On the ‘Dive with the Big Five Cruise’ you can make the most of the great visibility at this time of the year. ‘Big Five’ is a term normally associated with African game safaris, but it’s just as fitting for the giants of the Indian Ocean, which are frequently spotted in the Maldives.
The winter months are show time for these fascinating creatures, offering high chances of coming across all five of them during a week’s safari.
From just US$132 per day, you can now embark on a journey of a lifetime aboard the beautiful Black Pearl.
Special rate: US$ 924 + 3,5% Government Service Tax per person, no further dues on board. Full board, 17 dives (1 night dive) and a whole host of other services are included in the price.
Accommodation: spacious air-conditioned rooms (double or twin), en-suite bathroom and shower.
If you are a really diving in maldives keen scuba diver, you might even have your own scuba diving websites, in which case you might think about joining scuba diving affiliate programs so you can make money from sending your diving traffic around the web. Make sure you take lots of Maldives diving photos, as these scuba diving holidays are by far the best way to get people interested in diving holidays in Maldives.
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Stay informed about our cheap all inclusive Maldives diving packages and last minute deals!
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Every diver dreams about this moment: Whale Shark appearance during a dive!!! This happens one hour ago during a 10 nights liveaboard dive trip with Theia, one of the best liveaboard dive boats in Maldives. The boat is at present in Ari Atoll, coming from North Male via Rhasdhoo Atoll with a bunch of excellent dives on the way. See yourself:
Whale Shark appearance today outside Kudadhoo Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Monday 6th Dec 2010:
2nd dive: Under extreme condition ( heavy rain and rough) maldives diving liveaboard Theia reports Whale Shark appearance outside Kudadhoo Island!!!! + Mobula + Manta Ray + Eagle Ray and Sting Ray during the dive, yeeepeeeee!
1st dive: Thinfushi Ethere Thila – is a stunning thila between 8 to 25 meters featuring caves with sea fans and soft corals. Fish life is abundant and coral growth is excellent. The thila has one of the most spectacular display of sea fans to be found anywhere in the atoll. Along the walls of and inside the caves are large, healt…hy sea fans – an indication of the strength of the current flowing in and out of this channel.
Seafan Thinfushi Ethere Thila, Ari Atoll, Maldives
Sunday Dec 5th 2010:
3th dive: Kuda Thila 2nd dive : Kudhi Maa Wreck 1st dive: Dhigaa Thila repeated
Saturday Dec 4th 2010:
3rd dive at Dhigaa Thila 2nd dive: Makaru Thila - Poor visibility but more than 15 Gray Reef Sharks and loads of White Tip Sharks.
Grey Reef Sharks at Makaru Thila. Ari Atoll, Maldives
1st dive: Miyaru Ga Thila - White tip Sharks, Octopus and Barracuda
Friday Dec 3th 2010: 100% dedicated to shark dive 4th dive at Maaya Thila (night) 3rd dive at Maaya Thila
2nd dive at Bathalaa Maaga Kan Thila: Poor visibility but lots of Gray Reef sharks
1st dive: Early morning Hammer Head dive at Rasdhoo Madivaru - no Hammerheads this morning…
Going diving in the Maldives is one of those experiences in life that stays with you long after you’ve left the country’s pristine islands, swaying palm trees and crystal-clear waters behind. One of the top destination of choice for divers from all over the world, this tiny Indian-Ocean Republic is made up of more than a thousand tropical islands crowning an intricate network of coral reefs, which spreads over some 900,000 square kilometers. Just beneath the water’s surface lie some of the planet’s best dive sites; home to an incredible variety of marine species. With stable politics, white sandy beaches, a balmy climate and friendly people the country’s overwater charms are also second to none.
In other words, choosing the Maldives as a diving destination is a no-brainer. But choosing between land-based or liveaboard diving can leave even the most seasoned scuba diver confused. Here is our guide to what makes liveaboard diving in the Maldives a firm favorite of the international dive community.
Mobility
First things first: because they are mobile, liveaboards offer a level of freedom and ease that is unmatched by other kinds of diving in the Maldives. Imagine arriving at Male International Airport and, instead of facing a long transfer to a far-flung island, being personally welcomed and swiftly taken to your boat, which is already anchoring nearby. Then, imagine spending your days being chauffeured between the best dive sites in the Maldives, enjoying top notch onboard service and cuisine, visiting local islands and watching the exotic scenery pass by as you relax on deck.
Variety
Because of their unique geography, the Maldives are blessed with innumerable world-class dive sites, many of which are yet to be discovered. In terms of offering easy access to as many of the best diving sites in the Maldives as possible, liveaboard cruises are simply unbeatable: no long transfers, no bumpy speed boat rides. Whichever direction your route takes, at the end of the trip your logbook is sure to feature plenty of stunning, and in some cases legendary, dive sites.
Big Fish
One of the main reasons the Maldives are so popular with divers is their abundance of large marine animals. After all, whale sharks, manta rays and various kinds of reef sharks are among the common fish of the Maldives. Encountering one of these giants of the ocean is a riveting experience, not unlike seeing an elephant or a lion in the wild, which is why liveaboard cruises also often referred to as “safaris”.
Adventure
Overall, boat holidays in the Maldives offer an irresistible sense of adventure. As the boat makes its way through the atolls, it often stops off at local fishing villages, anchors near uninhabited islands and crosses channels between atolls. Scuba diving cruises allow you to discover several atolls, meet locals and discover authentic Maldivian culture in a relaxed way. Not to forget that, on many liveaboards in the Maldives, you can spend your time between dives doing other exciting water sports such as water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, fishing and canoeing.
Friendly Atmosphere
Whether you are a single traveler, on your honeymoon or coming with a bunch of friends, liveaboard cruises offer a wonderfully relaxed, flexible and social way to enjoy the best diving in the Maldives. Comfortable communal spaces offer plenty of opportunities to make friends and swap diving experiences over dinner, while the spacious layout of our ships allows you to find your favorite spot to read a book or watch the sunset.
Affordability
With the wide spread of luxury hotels and high-end services, the cost of scuba diving in the Maldives can be prohibitive. Though luxury liveaboards offer a superb level of services and facilities, prices are well below those of an island holiday. Also, package prices for cheap diving holidays in the Maldives tend to include numerous extras such as airport transfers, dive transfers, meals plus snacks and select beverages, island visits, sports activities and so on.
Conquering an Uninhabited Island
Most safari boat excursions in the Maldives include free visits to uninhabited islands and, if the weather allows it, dinner is served on the beach. Having an island (almost) all to yourself is an unforgettable experience: once you land on the island and venture away from the shore, you might well come across a variety of exotic birds, flowers and butterflies. On a few islands, you can even find remains of old settlements and temples.
No Heavy Lifting, No Mosquitoes
As mentioned at the beginning, diving from a liveaboard in the Maldives is easy. During the trip, there is no need to carry back and forth diving equipment, because all diving equipment is stowed directly on the “Dive Dhoni”, a refitted traditional Maldivian fishing boat, which acts as a floating dive base and accompanies the mother ship. Another great aspect of liveaboard diving in the Maldives is that, because there is usually a refreshing breeze and the ships anchor at a certain distance from the nearest island, you don’t need to worry about mosquito bites.
Sleeping Under the Stars
For many, no diving safari in the Maldives is complete without spending at least one night on deck. The stars over this part of the world are simply breathtaking and it is not unusual to see several shooting stars before being gently rocked to sleep by the waves.
No Shoes, No News
This famous holiday mantra is often heard on dive safari boats in the Maldives. If you want to completely switch off and get away from it all, there is no better place for it than a Maldivian liveaboard.
Theia – one of the most comfortable scuba diving liveaboard maldives
Maldives Dive Travel reports about this cruise day by day. Until now we have report from 3 diving days while the ship is set to sail direction Rasdhoo Atoll – maybe Hammerhead Sharks are waiting in Madivaaru….
Theia started for a 10 night scuba diving safari this Monday afternoon with ten international scuba divers on board, mainly from UK and Danmark, spending their maldives diving holidays on board Theia.
The orientation dive was done at Back Faru, a long outer reef – it`s a nice drift dive with a gentle current.
The 2nd dive was Nassimo Thila, The water in the ocean is warm – 29° Celsius ( about 84° F) – and fish life is just amazing.
3th dive was Lankan Manta Point with only two Manta Rays this time.
