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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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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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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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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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.

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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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A Maldives Whale Submarine is an alternative way of exploring the diverse and colorful underwater life of this tropical paradise. This state of the art technology is designed and engineered by German professionals, capable of carrying a total of 50 passengers.

If you want to explore the fascinating marine beauty of Maldives without getting wet or going scuba diving, then a Whale Submarine is definitely the way to go. This high-tech vessel in Maldives features a fully air-conditioned cabin, and has normal atmospheric pressure which allows humans to breath normally.

Maldives Whale Submarine Features

Aside from offering sheer comfort during the entire underwater tour, the Maldives Whale Submarine also provides complete safety features. This includes a reserve supply of resources such as oxygen, water, and food to support all passengers in crew for up to 100 hours.

Maldives Whale Submarine Design and Engineering

Designed with the strict standards of the American Bureau of Shipping, the Maldives Whale Submarine started construction in Germany during the early 90s. It is capable of going up to 120 feet underwater. Currently, the Maldives Whale Submarine is the largest in the world capable of deep diving.

Maldives Whale Submarine Schedule

The Maldives Whale Submarine opens at nine in the morning up to eight in the evening. It conducts dives every 90 minutes.

Opportunities for fun and excitement are endless in Maldives. For more information, 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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