Diving Holiday Destinations

One of the top diving holiday destinations in the world is the Maldives.  This amazing archipelago of over 1100 islands is home to a wide variety of dive sites and an even wider variety of marine life.  While there is an extensive diversity of reef-dwelling fish and smaller marine creatures, the real attraction of this diving holiday destination is the larger oceanic species that can be found here, including the whale shark, manta ray, eagle ray, grey reef shark, napoleon wrasse and several other shark species.  The Maldives is one of the few diving holiday destinations where divers can enjoy whale shark encounters throughout the year.

The Maldives is a World-Class Diving Holiday Destination

Diving Holiday Destinations within the Maldives

A single trip to the Maldives is not enough time for any scuba diver to truly enjoy what this spectacular archipelago has to offer.  There are several different diving holiday destinations with this island paradise.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the finest diving holiday destinations within the Maldives.

Spotted Eagle Rays are Common at this Diving Holiday Destination

Diving Holiday Destination: Hanifaru Bay

The amazing diving holiday destination, Hanifaru Bay, is a marine protected uninhabited island located in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives Islands.  Its size is no greater than that of a football field and yet it has become one of the hottest spots on the planet for underwater photographers.  The reason for this modern day phenomenon of underwater diversity is because plankton blooms between the months of May and November – a very unusual phenomenon – attracting manta rays by the hundreds.  At any one time at this diving holiday destination, there can be up to 200 manta rays feeding off the coral reefs as well as plenty of whale sharks which do the same.  Hanifaru Bay has become one of the best diving holiday destinations in the world for people looking for manta ray encounters.

Hanifaru Bay Diving Holiday Destination is a must for Manta Ray Lovers

Diving Holiday Destination: Baa Atoll

The Baa Atoll in the Maldives is a great diving holiday destination thanks to its many varied dive sites and also the high probabilities of spotting whale sharks. Dive sites in the Baa Atoll include Manta Point, Maavaru Kandu and Muthafushi Thila.  There are many resorts whose dive centers take divers to the sites around the Baa Atoll, but the best way to enjoy this diving holiday destination is by liveaboard.

Diving Holiday Destination: Ari Atoll

The Ari Atoll is another great diving holiday destination within the Maldives, offering a range of dive sites that include Maaya Thila, Broken Rock, Kudahrah Thila and Veligandu Kandu.  There are also good chances of seeing whale sharks in the Ari Atoll.

Liveaboards are the Best Way to Explore this Diving Holiday Destination

Destination Maldives

A trip to the diving holiday destination of the Maldives is best when enjoyed from the comfort of a liveaboard diving ship. Liveaboard diving holidays in the Maldives are great because you can cover far more area on a boat than when you have to return to a resort each night.  Liveaboard diving holidays include other activities as well as scuba diving, such as fishing, snorkeling, visiting island communities, beach parties and shopping excursions.

To reserve your holiday to the Maldives now, contact Maldives Dive Travel today!

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Banana Reef, one of Maldives’ Best Dives Sites

Banana Reef Dive Site

***Book your next liveaboard holiday NOW with MaldivesDiveTravel.com — Best Price GUARANTEED!***

Type of Dive Site:  Wall / Thila (Pinnacle)
Location: North Male Atoll.
Best Time to Dive: All year sound
GPS Position: 04.15000, 73.32000
Depth Range: 5m – 30m
Coral Growth: Excellent
Features: Caves, overhangs and coral heads
Fish Life: Abundant
Experience Level: Novice

***Last Minute Deal on Dream Catcher II Liveaboard — Act now, only a few spots left!***

Diving Hints and Currents:

Banana Reef was the first dive site to ever be discovered in the Maldives and is still among the best. The best diving at this site is on the banana-shaped area in the northeastern where there are caves, gutters and overhangs filled with fish life and soft coral. Spend as much time as possible near the coral heads; if you begin the dive with your left shoulder to the reef, this is an excellent way to observe the area.

At Banana Reef, you are likely to see many fish, including Oriental Sweetlips, Giant Squirrelfish, Bannerfish and many other species that congregate in this spot. When the currents are strong, underwater turbulence can be experienced near the near the large overhang. Stay near the wall and don’t let the current push you away. A surface balloon is necessary as boat traffic can be heavy at times.

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Spend your summer holiday in the Maldives and you’ll truly have a memorable and fun-filled getaway!

If you’re still thinking about where to spend your well deserved vacation this summer, then you should highly consider booking a resort or liveaboard in Maldives. There’s probably no place more similar to paradise than Maldives, which has more than 1,200 eco-friendly islands. Only less than a fourth of these islands in Maldives are inhabited, and most of it has lush vegetation and powdery white sand you’ll certainly enjoy.

Maldives Summer Holiday Activities

You’ll never run out of things to do in Maldives, whether staying in a luxury resort or lodging in an elegant liveaboard vessel. This is the perfect time to escape the stresses of urban lifestyle. Go scuba diving in one of the most exotic house reefs known worldwide, with numerous Maldives dive sites to pick from. Indugle in tons of water sporting activities, guaranteed to bring out the adrenaline-junkie within you. Those who want to simply getaway from it all can always enjoy a sumptuous feast by the beach, or have a relaxing full-body massage in one of the most tranquil and aesthetically beautiful treatment rooms in the face of the earth.

There is an anwser to every desire, regarldess of individual taste or personality, during a Maldives summer holiday. The only way to describe this perfect getaway is by experiencing it yourself.

One of the greatest scuba diving experiences await you in a paradise known as the Maldives!

Find out more about where you can spend the most romantic and fun-filled vacation of your life. Click here for everything about Maldives Summer Holidays.

Theia Liveaboard Cruise Update

Theia set sail again on Monday, March 15 for another stunning cruise of the Maldives.  Weather forecasts for the week were good with an average temperature of 31C, but a few thunderstorms and light winds expected.

To book a space on a Theia dive cruise, contact Maldives Dive Travel today!

Theia Liveaboard Cruising the Maldives

Theia Diving

Divers will enjoy two or three dives each day.  So far, they have enjoyed some awesome dives, including a dive at Boduhithi Thila in the North Male Atoll, where they saw a variety of sharks and some stingrays.

Grey Reef Shark seen at Rasdhoo Madivaru

The next dive was at Rasdhoo Madivaru in the Rasdhoo Atoll, where they saw three manta rays, white tip, black tip and grey reef sharks and enjoyed excellent visibility.  Several dives were held at the Rasdhoo Madivaru since it is such a spectacular dive site, and during a morning dive at the site, the group was lucky enough to see a group of hammerhead sharks and ten mobular rays.

Theia Liveaboard Manta Ray

After the Rasdhoo Madivaru, Theia moved on to Bathala Maaga Kan Thila where divers were treated to an amazing grey reef shark show!

Theia Liveaboard

Theia is definitely one of the most spectacular boats in the Maldives today.  These photos show some of her characteristics and amenities.

Sunset from Theia's Deck

Theia, like all liveaboards in the Maldives, is accompanied by an additional dive boat, known as a dive dhoni, from where all the dives are carried out.  All equipment is stored on this boat, making the guest experience on board even more comfortable since there is no need to carry dive gear from the main ship on to a secondary boat.  The dive dhoni also carries first aid and emergency equipment in case something should go wrong during the dive.  The compressor is also kept on the dhoni, so there is never any noise from the compressor on the main boat.

Theia's Additional Dive Boat

Theia Cruise Special Offers

Theia is currently running a special introductory price of only $192 per person per night, which includes all dives and meals.  Flights to the Maldives are not included and neither is scuba gear, although this can be rented (just let the boat know in advance).  There are regular cruise departures on Theia and they usually last for 7 – 10 nights.  There are several cruises this year that are scheduled to visit renowned Hanifaru Bay, home to the manta ray “feeding frenzy”.  These cruises are scheduled for: July 19 – 26, August 2 – 9, August 9 -16, August 23 – 30 and September 6 – 13.

To book a space on a Theia dive cruise, contact Maldives Dive Travel today!

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Take advantage of this unbeatable last minute price for Dream Catcher II!

Dream Catcher II, a luxurious liveaboard possessing seven comfortable suites and an unforgettable diving experience, is offering an unbelievable last minute price.

Last Minute Price

If you’ve always wanted to go to the Maldives, this is your chance! Dream Catcher II is offering an unbeatable last minute price of just USD $225 per person per night. This price includes accommodation, all meals and snacks and all diving (two or three dives per day).

Contact us NOW to take advantage of this last minute price & reserve your space!

*Act NOW, availability is limited.

Dream Catcher II Itinerary

During this cruise, taking place from from April 26 to May 3, Dream Catcher II will cruise around the best dive spots of the Ari, North Male and South Male Atolls, renowned for theri colorful coral, clear water and abundance of marine life.

Furthermore, it is still Manta Ray season in the Maldives, so expect to be wowed by the beauty and size of these magnificent, gentle creatures. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 Manta Rays living in the Maldives, and it is not uncommon to see groups of up to 150 Manta Rays at a cleaning station at one time.

Dream Catcher II Ammenities and Accomodation

Built in 2008, Dream Catcher II is an eleganlty designed, immensley comfortable liveaboard ship.   The 102-foot yacht comprises accommodation for up to 17  guests throughout 7 luxurious cabins.  All guest rooms are air-conditioned, have private en-suite bathrooms and sea-facing windows, making sure that all guests can appreciate the stunning beauty of the Maldivian landscape at all times.

In the living area on the ship, guests can enjoy use of state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment as well as Nintendo Wii and a wireless internet connection.

Dream Catcher II Standard Cabin

Dream Catcher II Lower Deck

Dream Catcher II Social Area

Lunch on the Dream Catcher II

Dream Catcher II Saloon

Dream Catcher II

Dream Catcher II Activities

It goes without saying that the primary activity on the boat is scuba diving.  Guests enjoy two or three dives a day plus one night dive each week.  While the marine life varies with the season and the weather, common sightings include whale sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, hammerheads and a plethora of smaller, reef-dwelling creatures.  Aside from diving, guests also enjoy snorkeling, fishing, visits to remote, uninhabited islands, cultural visits to local communities and a shopping excursion in the capital of the Maldives, Male.

This last minute offer will sell out fast, so book now and take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy luxury cruising in the Maldives at an unbeatable price!

Rear View of Whale Shark in the Maldives

Colorful, lively Maldivian reef

Beautiful Lion Fish in the Maldives

*All prices subject to change without notice.

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Maldives Ban the Fishing of Sharks

The Maldives will make its territorial waters into a shark sanctuary, a government official said Tuesday, lending momentum to efforts to protect the fish at a United Nations endangered species conference that begins this week.

“We’ve decided to go ahead with a shark fishing ban,” Ibrahim Didi, the fisheries and agriculture minister of the Maldives, said by telephone from Male, the capital. “Beginning July 1 there will be a total ban on exports.”

Grey Reef Sharks

Maldives, a Top Scuba Diving Destinations, Bans Shark Fishing

Maldives becomes the second nation to announce blanket protection for its sharks. Palau, a tiny Micronesian state, in September announced a ban on shark fishing. Like the Maldives, Palau is regarded as one of the world’s top scuba-diving destinations.

The Maldives exclusive economic zone covers about 90,000 square kilometers, or 35,000 square miles, roughly equivalent to the land area of Portugal.

In one sense, the bans represent pure economic logic. Researchers from James Cook University in Australia last year estimated that a single gray reef shark was worth $3,300 a year to the Maldivian tourism industry, compared with the one-time value of $32 that a fisherman would get from the same shark. They found a similar dynamic with regard to sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.

Check out more Maldives shark videos now!

But the bigger issue is a rapid decline in global shark stocks that has alarmed scientists. Up to 30 percent of shark species is  threatened with extinction, said Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation at the Pew Environment Group. “If we don’t leave enough in the water, they won’t recover.”

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

White Tip Shark

On Saturday, member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora begin meeting in Doha, Qatar, where they will consider giving protected status to eight species of sharks, including the scalloped hammerhead and oceanic whitetip, which inhabit Maldivian waters. The measures call for restrictions, but not a ban, on international trade.

In the United States, the Shark Conservation Act, which would sharply curtail the practice of “finning” — cutting off sharks’ fins and throwing the rest of the animal back into the sea — has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting approval in the Senate.

Mr. Rand said more than 70 million of the fish were killed each year just to support the sharkfin trade. The vast majority of those are sold in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, where they are used in sharkfin soup. Fins can fetch as much as $120 per kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, in Hong Kong.

“Sharks don’t have the ability to rebound,” he said. “They grow slowly and they’re late to mature.”

Some sharks do not reach maturity until they are more than 10 years old and even then have only a few pups, so the stock cannot reproduce rapidly enough to make up for overfishing.

Nurse Shark

Value of Sharks to the Maldives is in Tourism and Diving

The value of sharks to the Maldives “is clearly in tourism and diving,” Mr. Rand said. “Any diver will tell you that you get a rush of exhilaration when you see a shark, but you’re not scared. O.K., maybe sometimes you’re scared.”

Mr. Didi, the Maldivian fisheries minister, said his government began planning for a ban last year, but objections from fishermen delayed the decision. Now, he said, “they understand that it isn’t a sustainable fishery.”

The government will provide the fishermen with financial support and retraining, Mr. Didi said.

Shark meat is not a part of the traditional Maldivian diet, he said, and all of the fish were being caught for their fins, which were exported. But the value of the trade had shrunk by more than 80 percent over the last 12 years, to just $230,000, as the sharks became scarcer.

The Maldives’ shark-fishing ban could also give impetus to a thorny discussion in London over an initiative to create the world’s largest marine reserve in British territorial waters around the Chagos islands, the Indian Ocean archipelago where the Diego Garcia military base is located.

The Maldives has become particularly sensitive to environmental issues amid concern over global warming. In October, ministers donned scuba gear for the first cabinet meeting ever held underwater, to publicize the country’s vulnerability to rising seas. The highest natural point in the Maldives is just 2.4 meters, or less than eight feet, above sea level.

Zebra Shark

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Ambassador of Germany, Jens Ploetner, Pays Courtesy Call on Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed

Ambassador of Germany to the Maldives, Mr. Jens Ploetner, has paid a courtesy call on President Mohamed Nasheed. The meeting was held this afternoon at the President’s Office.

Meeting between German Ambassador Ploetner and Maldives’ President Nasheed

In the meeting, President Nasheed and Ambassador Ploetner discussed the friendly relationship between the two countries and ways to strengthen the current relationship between the Maldives and Germany. Mr. Ploetner gave additional details on the President’s upcoming official visit to Germany.

The President was joined at the meeting by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, Special Envoy to the President Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Political Advisor to the President Hassan Afeef.

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Ambassador of Germany, Jens Ploetner, Pays Courtesy Call on Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed

Ambassador of Germany to the Maldives, Mr. Jens Ploetner, has paid a courtesy call on President Mohamed Nasheed. The meeting was held this afternoon at the President’s Office.

Meeting between German Ambassador Ploetner and Maldives’ President Nasheed

In the meeting, President Nasheed and Ambassador Ploetner discussed the friendly relationship between the two countries and ways to strengthen the current relationship between the Maldives and Germany. Mr. Ploetner gave additional details on the President’s upcoming official visit to Germany.

The President was joined at the meeting by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, Special Envoy to the President Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Political Advisor to the President Hassan Afeef.

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The Okobe Thila in Maldives is one of the most uniquely shaped thilas in the North Male Atoll. It is comprised of three large coral heads wherein divers can zigzag from one head to another. This Maldives dive site is considered one of the best places to dive in the Male Atoll due to its extremely diverse and colorful marine life.

Okobe Thila Maldives Dive Site Features

Aside from featuring lots of caves and overhangs, the Okobe Thila in Maldives is also a famous dive spot for sighting families of the Napoleon Wrasse. About 15 meters deep you can see manta rays being attracted by the coral gardens.

Some of the other sea creatures to be seen in this Maldives dive site include Oriental Sweetlips, Tuna, Jacks, Barracudas, and Bannerfish. The top of the reef sees many anemones with their inhabitant Clownfish.

Okobe Thila Maldives Diving Tips

The Okobe Thila in Maldives is usually recommended for more experienced divers due to its strong currents. You will need a dive balloon and a safety spot in this Maldives dive site.

As you zigzag from one coral head to another, do keep track of your bottom time as you wouldn’t want to have oxygen problems in this advanced dive site.

There are lots of reasons why divers love the Okobe Thila in Maldives despite the challenges you may face here. Its abundance in underwater life and good visibility definitely compensates for its dive difficulty.

For more information on dive sites in Maldives, click here.

A holiday in Maldives will definitely give you an unforgettable experience. The spectacular ocean views, exotic underwater life, and white sand beaches are only some of the unique traits of tourist destinations in Maldives.

If you’re thinking that Maldives holidays are only for the exceptionally rich and famous, then you’re wrong. There are a fair number of packages and promos for those who want to enjoy the Maldives on a tight budget.

Maldives Budget Resorts

Resorts in Maldives can be categorized into three price categories. There are the top-of-the-line hotels which are overwhelmingly expensive, medium priced resorts, and budget accommodations. Opting to stay in a budget resort does not necessarily translate into cheap, as one can enjoy the same activities that top-of-the-line resorts in Maldives has to offer.

One of the many Maldives budget resorts is the Dhiggiri Tourist Resort. Here you can indulge in limitless water fun and sand excitement. Accommodations are equipped with modern amenities you would enjoy in more expensive hotels such as spacious living and bath areas, as well as air-conditioning, and private safe boxes.

Budget Tips for Maldives Holidays

It would be wise to plan your Maldives holiday in advance if you want to spend less. Before you go splurging those hard-earned dollars, decide first on what activities you want to do and what amenities you’ll need.

You can also choose to go on non-peak holiday seasons so you can enjoy special packages and deals in Maldives.

For more information on Maldives holidays, click here.