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.

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Theia Currently Cruising the Maldives

The newly-launched liveaboard, Theia, is currently cruising the Maldives, having set off  on Wednesday, February 24 with 9 scuba divers.  The orientation dive was held at Maagiri Thila, and a second dive on the first day was held at Boduhithi Thila.

Boduhithi Thila Dive Site Map

Manta Rays Spotted at Rasfari North

After the dive at Boduhithi Thila, Theia cruised on to Rasfari North, where guests were able to snorkel with some manta rays.  This had been a great day’s diving and everyone was excited for more exciting dives throughout the rest of the week.

Rasdhoo Atoll: Day 2 of Theia Cruise

The second day of the Theia dive trip began at Rasdhoo Madivaru in the Rasdhoo Atoll, a dive site known for hammerhead sharks, manta rays, reef sharks and other large species.  The Rasdhoo Madivaru dive started early in the morning, just before 6.00 a.m., which is the best time of the day to see the hammerhead sharks.

Rasdhoo Madivaru Dive Site

Maaya Thila Dive Site

After a successful morning hammerhead dive at Rasdhoo Thila, the guests took another short dive at Bathala Maaga Kan Thila and later two dives at Maaya Thila.  Maaya Thila is one of the most popular dive spots in the Maldives, famed for grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and turtles.  The site is also regarded as the best night diving spot in the whole archipelago.  Divers on Theia were lucky enough to do an afternoon and a night dive here at Maaya Thila, making for an unusual four dives in one day!!!  That’s what you can achieve when you wake up early!  Reports of both Maaya Thila dives were excellent, including reef sharks, turtles, stingrays, moray eels (swimming freely in the night dive)

Theia Liveaboard

Theia Liveaboard continues to cruise the Maldives for the next few days.  Check back here for more diving reports and updates.  After she returns from this cruise, the next cruise sets off on March 3.  There are many more cruise dates confirmed for this brand new luxury diving liveaboard.

To book a space on Theia, please contact us today!

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The Nassimo Thila in Maldives is a dive site located at the North Male Atoll where you’ll find lots of caves and overhangs, as well as abundant marine life. It is a well-known place for diving in Maldives.

Generally recommended for more experienced divers, the Nassimo Thila has a depth range of 9 to 30 meters, and is good for Maldives all year round diving.

Maldives Nassimo Thila Diving Tips

One should take extra precautions when diving in the Nassimo Thila as this is a dive site in Maldives with strong current conditions. The visibility is quite good and there are lots of opportunities for underwater photography.

A surface balloon is recommended in the Maldives Nassimo Thila because of the nearby boat traffic coming from the nearby resort island. This is a very interesting dive due to its randomly scattered pinnacles. Most divers spend much of their time in these pinnacles.

The Nassimo Thila dive site is also a Marine Protected Area in Maldives.

Sea Creatures in the Maldives Nassimo Thila Dive Site

There are a lot of rare fish species in the Maldives Nassimo Thila, making it an instant attraction for marine and scuba enthusiasts. This oval shaped Thila features a good variety of colorful and soft corals, plus abundant life of pelagic creatures such as Jacks, Giant Trevallies, and Dogtooth Tuna.

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

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Despite the recent economic crisis, the Maldives tourist industry is going strong!

The Maldives President’s Office has reported that 67,478 tourists arrived in the Maldives during January 2010, making it the country’s strongest January in five years.

***Check out Maldives Dive Travel’s BEST PRICE GUARANTEE for unforgettable liveaboard diving holidays!***

Moosa Zameer, Head of Planning and Statistics for the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, said that January 2o1o was “the best [January] we have ever had.”

Tourists Arrive in the Maldives on Cruise Ships

Sim Mohamed from the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), added that many of these tourists are “surface arrivals,” such as passengers on a cruise ship who arrive for a day or two.

Sim Mohamed noted that a number of services have begun bringing tourists regularly from India and Sri Lanka.

Under normal circumstances, most tourists coming to the Maldives are at “the high end of the market – those who have the disposable income to go wherever they want to go,” he says.

Airlines and Resorts Have Cut Rates

However, in light of the recent economic crisis, many resorts and airlines have reduced their rates significantly, he explained, with some resorts cutting their rates up to 30-50 percent. More airlines opening their routes to the Maldives also means more competitive air fares. Get more information about flights to the Maldives here, like flights from Germany to the Maldives!

Because resorts are operating at lower rates, “there isn’t a significant rise in financial activity in Malé or even in other islands,” Sim said, but “it’s still a win for the government since they get bed rent.”

Zameer believes that the rise in tourist arrivals is not only accredited to cheaper rates at resorts, but to all the “work in promotions carried out after the [economic] crisis at the end of 2008.” He believes both the private sector and the ministry have put a lot of work into promoting the Maldives as a tourist destination, even for those who are more budget conscious.

Shift in the Tourism Market in the Maldives

Traditionally, the key markets for tourism in Maldives have been the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Russia, China and Switzerland, according to MATI. But this trend has already seen a change this year.

Zameer says there has been a “shift in the market,” as European seasonal tourist numbers are dropping and the Chinese and Indian markets are emerging. Kuwaitis have also helped the market “enormously,” he says.

Zameer believes people are starting to realise this is the right time to travel, and they can “go to the destination they have been waiting to go to.”

Sim agrees “there has been a big rise in tourists coming from India. There is also a very sharp rise in Chinese arrivals after Chinese New Year, and there will be another one towards Easter, mostly Italians.”

He added that MATI is “feeling good vibes” from the market, especially from Germany and the UK.

***Check out Maldives Dive Travel’s BEST PRICE GUARANTEE for unforgettable liveaboard diving holidays!***

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Seamoth (Pegasidae)

Most scuba divers that visit the Maldives are anxious to observe large pelagic species, such as manta rays, whale sharks, napoleon wrasse and reef sharks. However, the vast array of smaller Maldivian fish provide an unending amount of eye candy for underwater explorers.

Seamoth, or Pegasidae

The seamoth, or Pegasidae, is a small Indo-Pacific family that includes 2 genera and 5 species, of which one has been spotted in the Maldives.

The seamoth is an easily overlooked (yet funky-looking) species. Seamoths are often missed by divers since their exterior is camouflaged by the sandy ocean floor. Adults tend to bury themselves in the sand during the day, making it even more difficult to apperciate this odd-looking underwater species.

Seamoths can be easily spotted during the spawing period, when the female is pregnant and males, after having changed their colors, are courting their female counterparts (which generally occurs at dusk).

Slender Seamoth, or Pegasis volitans

The Slender Seamoth, or Pegasis volitans, can be found in the Maldives, due in large part to its long pelagic stage.

Additional Information About The Seamoth

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 – 5; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 19 – 22. Color in life variable; body usually light to dark brown, with dorsal and lateral area darker than ventral surface. Pectoral fins hyaline, distal margin white and spotted. Pelvic fin spine and 1st ray forming an elongate, tentacular structure. 3 pairs of dorsolateral body plates; 4 pairs of ventrolateral body plates; tail rings 8 (rarely 9), mobile. A pair of deep pits posterior to orbit. Suborbital shelf concave, eye visible in ventral view. Ventral ridges of rostrum greatly expanded than dorsal ridges, each with laterally directed denticles. Anal papilla absent.

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Surfing in Maldives is one of the most exciting and adrenaline boosting activities you can do in this one-of-a-kind tropical paradise. When planning a holiday with the interest of experiencing the best swells and biggest waves in Maldives, it would be best to book a resort or liveaboard during the peak surfing season, which falls on the months of June to October.

Surfing via liveaboard is probably the most convenient and easiest way to experience the breath-taking surf spots in Maldives. These luxury vessels were originally designed for scuba diving holidays, but with the rise in popularity of surfing culture in Maldives, some liveaboards have now presented another option for travelers who want to indulge in such activities.

Liveaboard Surf Tours Maldives

Liveaboard surf tours in Maldives are specially made for wave enthusiasts visiting this paradise country. This type of holiday is guaranteed to give you the best surfing holiday you’ll ever have without compromising the comfort and luxury of a five-star hotel. If you really want to catch perfect waves without anyone to disturb your ride, Maldives surf tours via liveaboard is the immaculate choice.

Surf cruises have become commonplace in Maldives due to the rising popularity of the sport in the country. A liveaboard holiday bundled with surf opportunities will definitely entice the wave enthusiast vacationing in Maldives any given day.

For more information about surfing in Maldives via liveaboard cruise, click here.

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Scuba diving in the spectacular waters of Maldives will only get better if you’re on a liveaboard. These first class vessels are specially designed to endure the toughest dive conditions without compromising luxury. Such an example is the MV Orion liveaboard in Maldives.

The MV Orion is one of the most luxurious cruises in Maldives. This astonishing ship boasts 11 spacious and comfortable guest accommodations, 2 of which are presidential suites. With a ton of activities to indulge in, and an overwhelmingly friendly staff to attend to your every need, nothing could possibly go wrong in your Maldives holiday aboard the MV Orion.

MV Orion Maldives Accommodations

The 11 guest rooms in the MV Orion Liveaboard in Maldives feature all the amenities you would expect out of a high-end Western hotel. Hot-cold ensuite shower rooms, soft linens, and daily towel service are only some of the luxuries of a business class suite in the Maldives‘ MV Orion. The most expensive accommodation type in this liveaboard boasts a private jacuzzi for two, genuinely perfect for honeymooners in Maldives.

MV Orion Maldives Scuba Diving

The MV Orion is equipped with a separate dhoni that will serve as your diving facility in exploring the Maldives‘ underwater wonders. Dive itineraries that are guaranteed to make your scuba diving experience memorable visit 2 to 4 dive sites in a single day at average. In this way, you’ll have more opportunities to discover more underwater locations and sight exotic marine species.

Book a liveaboard holiday in the Maldives now! Find out more about the Best Price Guarantee!

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Take advantage of the low price currently available in March for the Galileo Southern Atoll Explorer Tour!

Mark your calendars – March 11 – 22! But, BOOK NOW! Limited Availability.

This once-in-a-lifetime, 11-night safari begins with a 50-minute flight from Male to Kaadhdhedhoo in the Huvadhoo Atoll (also called Suvadiva Atoll), the world’s largest atoll.  This is a particularly untouched part of the Maldives with only a handful of exclusive resorts operating here and very few dive boats exploring the area, meaning that there are numerous dive sites just waiting to be explored.  Guests on this safari will have the opportunity to dive at many undiscovered dive sites and visit an array of pristine islands – some inhabited and others completely secluded.

Galileo Southern Atoll Explorer Tour

Depending on weather conditions, the safari will travel around several of the southernmost atolls of the Maldives, ending at Huvadhoo airport in Kaadhdhedhoo, from where a flight will return to Male.  This is the perfect scuba safari for divers looking to explore the unknown treasures of the Indian Ocean.

Galileo Mar 11-22 Southern Atoll Explorer Tour
Take advantage of this amazing opportunity at the unbeatable price of
only EUR 1,386 per person for 11 nights

Galileo Liveaboard

Galileo is one of the most well-equipped safari ships in the Maldives, perfect for a true expedition-style adventure.

Learn more about the Galileo, including its amenities, facilities, service, food & photos, here: Galileo Liveaboard!

What’s Included in the Galileo Scuba Diving Cruise?

- Accommodation in air-conditioned cabins with window, en-suite shower (hot water) and WC. Daily cleaning. Towels provided.
- Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Tea and coffee are available free of charge at all times plus one bottle of water per person per day.
- 27 dives
- Tanks with DIN/INT 12 lts, lead belts, extra diving boat
- Guidance by a PADI-qualified and highly experienced English-speaking dive instructor
- Use of fishing gear – local style, including hook, fishing line, weight and baits.
- Island-hopping, snorkelling service
- Picnic on an uninhabited island (depending on weather and route).
- On the last day a trip to the capital city Male will be offered
- Pick-up & drop-off at Male’ International Airport to connect with international flights on first and last day of the cruise, before noon.

Price does not include:

- International or Domestic air fares ( Male-Kaadhdhedhoo is 217 return flight)
- Airport taxes
- Dive/snorkel equipment rental
- Beverages, except those mentioned above
- Bed Tax: 8 per person per night is charged on board
- Dive and travel insurance
- Transfer supplements for arrivals/departures on days other than scheduled boat arrival/departure
- Fuel surcharge: in the event that crude oil reaches USD $100 per barrel on the international market, a EUR 6 fee will be charged per person per night
- Nitrox is available for EUR 5 per filling
- Additional dives will be charged at EUR 34 each

***All prices are subject to change without notice***

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Maldives Veligandu Island Resort is a first-class holiday destination sitting in the middle of the majestic Indian Ocean. A short 15-minute seaplane ride from the Male International Airport will take you to this secluded island paradise that is surrounded with lush vegetation, azure lagoons, and flawless white sand beach. The Veligandu Island Resort in Maldives is a place where you can sincerely escape  the stresses of everyday urban life.

Located at the North Ari Atoll in Maldives, the Veligandu Island Resort offers its guests a ton of activities to indulge in. A nearby house reef is host to tons of exotic and colorful marine creatures will surely entice scuba divers vacationing in Maldives. There are other water sports for the adrenaline junkie, such as parasailing, water skiing, and surfing during specific months. If you’re just looking to relax and unwind, one can simply enjoy the spectacular panorama of the ocean and sip on a sumptuous cocktail by the beach in Maldives Veligandu Island Resort.

Maldives Veligandu Island Resort Accommodations

All guest accommodations at the Maldives Veligandu Island Resort boasts exceptional grandeur and spacious comfort. These luxurious villas are divided into 3 types, jacuzzi water villas, water villas, and jacuzzi beach villas. Every luxurious guest space in the Maldives Veligandu Island Resort features modern amenities such as an overwhelming 36 inch LCD television, DVD player, broadband internet, spacious shower rooms, and private lounge areas.

Want to know more about this luxurious holiday package in Maldives? Click here for more information on the best scuba diving and resort experience in Maldives!

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