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.

Social Bookmarking

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.

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.

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!

Social Bookmarking

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.

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.

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!***

Social Bookmarking

What makes these dive schools in Maldives so great is the flexibility and range of learning. Most dive centers here have multilingual instructors specially for non-English speakers.

Aside from providing the latest and quality equipment, Maldives dive schools also offer a variety of courses, from beginner lessons and diving shipwrecks, to achieving instructor certification.

Maldives Resort Dive Schools

Almost every single resort in Maldives has a dive school or center where you can discover the wonderful world of scuba diving or enhance your knowledge of the sport. Resorts in Maldives are a great place to learn scuba diving because the instructors are highly experienced and professional.

Meeru Island Resort Maldives Dive School

The Ocean-Pro Dive Center in Meeru Island Resort is one of the most popular dive schools in Maldives. This resort has modern diving equipment as well as arguably one of the best dive teams in the country that will guide you in exploring the underwater paradise in Maldives.

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.

Social Bookmarking

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.