Where are the Maldives?

The Republic of Maldives is a small nation that lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean and is made up of over 1,900 beautiful coral reef islands of varying sizes. These islands are located south of India’s Lakshadweep Islands and about 435 miles southwest of the country of Sri Lanka. Of these islands, only about 200 are inhabited. The nation of Maldives is known for its gorgeous, crystal blue seas, reefs teeming with fish, beautiful white sand beaches that are fringed with palm trees, and its friendly local people.

Where is the Maldives capital?

The capital of the Maldives is Male (pronounced Ma-ley), which is also the commercial hub of the country. As of Jan. 2012, the only airport in the Maldives that accepted international flights was Male International Airport (MLE). This airport, which is located in the North Male Atoll on Hulhule Island, was once known as Hulhule Airport.

A second airport, Gan, which is located on the island of Gan in the Addu Atoll, has been upgraded in recent years and may soon be able to receive international flights. In 2012, the operation of this airport was taken over by Addu International Airport from the government of the Maldives.

Visiting the remote, but beautiful Maldives islands takes some effort, but is definitely worth it. Travelers can reach the nation of Maldives on one of approximately two dozen international flights that land at Male International Airport, or they can choose to fly in on a charter flight. Some visitors also take yachts to travel to the Maldives. Anyone choosing to arrive by boat, however, should be advised that any dogs onboard will not be allowed to disembark from the boat into the Maldives.

About Maldives

The Maldives, with its beautiful tranquil isolated setting, is considered by many to be the perfect location for a honeymoon or a getaway from civilization. This island nation is also very popular with scuba diving enthusiasts as the ocean waters and the reefs surrounding the Maldives are teeming with over 1,100 different species of fish.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Maldives and its 1900 atolls is by staying on a liveaboard boat that can take guests to multiple destinations and diving reefs. This is a great option for visitors who don’t like to stay in one place their entire vacation and allows you to easily travel about Maldives. It is also the best way for scuba and skin divers to enjoy the Maldives, as the captain can take them to the islands he feels will be best for exploring on a particular day, given the prevailing conditions. Liveaboard guests also have a good chance of seeing whale sharks, the magnificent gentle giants that can be found almost year round in the Maldives.

Liveaboards also offer guests all the comforts of a hotel, including air conditioning, delicious meals and comfortable living quarters. Of course, the multiple scenic views from a liveaboard can’t be beat by even the best resorts in the Maldives.

Guests staying at a resort island or planning to board a liveaboard from a location that is not close to Male may have to reach their destination by sea plane or by a speed boat service. The speed boat departure jetty is a short walk from the airport arrival terminal. Visitors who will be traveling by sea plane will need to take a short five-minute bus ride from the airport to the sea plane terminal.

Guests staying on a Liveaboard will be greeted at the airport by your tour guide and taken to the ship which usually waits just outside the airport lagoon to pick you up.

If you arrive late at night, off-days or need domestic air transport to your final destination, we will gladly book your Sea Plane transfers or Overnight stays in Male for you.

Because this nation lies near the equator, its weather is typically sunny, very warm and humid — perfect for the many water sports that visitors come here to enjoy.

The ocean’s water temperature around the Maldives typically ranges from between 27 to 30 C on average, or about 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to scuba diving, visitors to the Maldives can also enjoy surfing, kite surfing, windsurfing, sailing or fishing.

Surfing has also become very popular in the Maldives. The best surf spots are located on Male atoll’s east edge. There are two resorts in this area, Lohifushi and Club Med Kani, which offer surfing guests rides to popular surf breaks. Guests staying on a liveaboard will have an even bigger advantage, as they can arrange with the crew, who can take them to the best breaks in the Maldives.

If would like more information about Maldives travel feel free to contact us.

Have you ever thought about taking an exotic vacation?  Somewhere far away from the hotels the theater shows and the malls?  Then think about a scuba diving liveaboard journey!

When you choose a scuba diving “liveaboard” journey, you are not just taking a scuba diving adventure.  You literally live aboard the cruiser—for days on end!  It’s the perfect vacation because it is a cross between a cruise ship luxury holiday and an outdoor adventure complete with scuba diving, snorkeling and many other activities.

You Will Have Plenty to See

What can you expect from liveaboard scuba diving?  First, never feel threatened.  In fact, it’s sometimes annoying how often the crew does safety checks, just to make sure no one is ever faced with adangerous situation.  Then, the crew takes you aboard one of the ships (there are several, and each contains its own personality and level of luxury), and then chart a course.  Along the way, you will get
to see spectacular scenery involving the best of Maldives, including the ocean, islands and marine life from above the surface of the water.

Now when it’s actually time to scuba liveaboard style, you will see unbelievable sights, like rainbow-colored coral reefs and aquatic animals.  What are some of the species of life to look forward to?  We’re talking whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse and many other smaller fish.  You will literally see schools of fish passing by your head and the colors are unimaginable.  It’s definitely something to experience!

You Will Have Plenty To Do

However, the point of scuba liveaboards adventures is that there is more to see than just underwater life.  You can also come back to the cruise and enjoy hotel-quality cabins, lots of space to move around in, social activities, cooked meals, drinks and a very friendly staff.  Comfortable home settings wait for you here, such as air-conditioned rooms and hot showers.  Imagine what it would be like to spend a night under the stars and looking into the sky from the ocean with your sweetheart!

Besides luxurious amenities you can also enjoy an island visit for dinner, volleyball and football games (the staff is always eager to play!) and even snorkeling activities if scuba diving is too deep a thought for you.  There is also plenty of fishing activity to enjoy and you can catch red snapper, barracuda, tuna, jackfish and grouper, all of which the cook will make into a fine meal immediately after your catch.

Although carrying alcoholic beverages aboard is banned, you can still enjoy drinks courtesy of a licensed and trained bartender.  Airport travel is also provided, including a trip to and from the airport.  Safety is always a top priority here, as there is no diving activities scheduled in the last 24 hours of the trip, just to make sure guests are ready to fly.

Why not come experience an exotic vacation like no other?  It’s not just an adventure, it is an adventure and a spiritual journey!

Just in… 2 incredible last minute offers on-board the MV Aquarius on a VERY unique Southern Sharks cruise.

This area is very secluded and remote.  There are only 2 resorts in the area and almost NO other boats or divers at this dive site.

This is an unspoiled area with masses of sharks and amazing hard corals, a site not to be missed!!!

January 23^rd – 30^th – Last Minute Steal!
Cruise: “Southern Sharks”
Price: USD $999 per person (includes 6% T-GST tax)
Atolls: Laamu, Huvadhoo, Formulak, Addu
Boarding Point: Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll
Disembark: Gan, Addu Atoll
Domestic Flights: Clients need to purchase additional domestic flights Male/Kadhdhoo and Gan/Male. These flights (approx. US$ 360 return) can be booked on here or we would be happy to do it for you!

February 6^th – 13^th – 7 nights for the price of 6!
Price: USD 1.177 per person inclusive 6% T-GST.
Cruise: “Southern Sharks”
Atolls: Laamu, Huvadhoo, Formulak, Addu
Boarding Point: Kaadedhdhoo, Huvadhoo
Disembark: Gan, Addu Atoll
Domestic Flights: Clients need to purchase additional domestic flights Male/ Kaadedhdhoo and Gan/Male. These flights (approx. US$ 360 return) can be booked on here or we would be happy to do it for you!

Book now before we are sold out.

Looking back after a diving week in the Maldives with the MY Theia, I had a tremendous experience and lots of great encounters.

Walking off the plane from cold Vienna and being embraced by the very hot and very humid Maldivian climate in my winter outfit was my first experience. OK, the experienced travelers bring their tropical clothes in their carry on luggage and step out of the restroom in shorts and tank tops before landing, but not me

We got picked up from the airport and headed off to start our liveaboard dive trip for the week on board the MY Theia.  The ride to the boat was about 10 minutes, and wow – what a boat!! 15 divers with more than enough space on board, cabins were king size and beautiful.  We met on deck for briefing, hanging out with the guests and crew with 2 great bunches of the world´s best bananas – I became an addict.

1st dive, Check gear dive at the outer reef, almost no current but turtles, 2 murray eels and 2 white tip juvenile sharks – my best check dive so far. I like the liveaboard dive system, gear remains on the dive boat where tanks get filled during the trip, no carrying the equipment around.

2nd dive at a manta “cleaning station” where herds of small fish with beaklike snouts provide tweak out parasits-service to big fish like mantas on eastern outer reef of north male atoll. After 5 minutes close to the station 2 medium size mantas turned up out of nowhere and gave us a great show. Perfect photo op  for cameras

For the next dive at Rasdhoo, a small atoll between south & north male and ari atoll, we were late but were still able to dive which turned night dive for the 2nd half.  
The outer reef on Rasdhoo east side is a great location. Dive guide local Mikey found a camouflage colored 2´ leaf fish doddering under an overhang, don’t know how he spotted it, but we were sure glad he did. Divers from another boat took advantage also, we had our very own paparazzi

Next morning, same place but 50 m out into the blue before sunrise – the main hammer head area in the Maldives. We went down about 25-30m… waiting, looking around, down and up – at this time we had about a 50% statistical chance of no encounter.  No hammerheads today, maybe another time   Up to the dive boat and back to Theia for breakfast.  I LOVED the meal schedule – early morning dive at 7am after only coffee and crackers, after the dive a serious breakfast with all egg varieties and fruits tasting great after a good dive.

Next dive same place at the colorful reef with the great fish life and then we proceeded 2hrs to the Maayya Thila inside north Ari Atoll. A “Thila” is a kind of shallow inside atolls raging from 4-6 m.  This one is home of greys reef, white tip sharks, big murray eels, sting rays and turtles. 
 We did a night dive here as well, and it was one of best night dives ever – I tend to overlap night dives as they use to be done on good safe but boring sites – but Hussen, the ship manager convinced everybody that it´s not always like that, and he was so right. 
 Descending into a melting pot of white tips, murray eels, barracudas and sting rays hunting the thila mainly for restless fussilier schools which move over the thila top like a kind of liquid, in between an occasional stone fish (undetectable fish finding Mikey again) and sleeping turtles in overhangs on the side of the thila – a most memorable experience.

Next day 1st dive was at Makaruh thila, similar topography as Maayya thila with great coral growth on the top and in the overhangs around at 8-15m. The home of small fish like gobis, blennies and a cute sleeping baby white tip between 2 table coral storeys.
  At the up current side 2 cruising grey reef sharks, big fish seem to be mainly up current wherever you are if its a “thila” or a channel, a “kandhu” between open see and an atoll.

The next dive, Malhoss Thila, known as Blue Caves was my week´s favorite in respect of UW landscape and colors.  200m deep overhang adjusted with clear blue soft corals, schools of blue stripe snappers hang out in their blue living room.  At the top of broken out coral blocks of extreme coral growth diversity of 2 grey reefs. On the sandy bottom a bunch of white tips sleeping and swaying in the smooth current. 
3rd dive at the Thila with a swim thru chimney and zillions of glass fish forming different shapes. Who is the boss? Again a busy camera matter.

One main safari issue: whale shark. Cruising along the south side of Ari Atoll was really valuable – the crew watching from atop of the Theia for whale shark shapes and shadows near the outer reefs at some 10m depth were successful. We dropped close to the first whale shark, we had the honor of snorkeling with this 10m giant 
until my legs failed to move, a condition challenge.  
After getting picked up by the dive boat we continued to a dive site called Maamigilli Kandhu and were happy to encounter 2 whale sharks coming out of the atoll at slow speed which made it possible to follow even with dive gear. 10 memorable minutes with this gentle beast, a literally breath taking devotional dive.

Next dive which took us to the house reef north west of Dhigurah delivered another manta ray encounter + a king size sting ray hunting on the top reef – seriously productive dive again. Seems rays and shark have all 5 gills. On the way back from dive site to the Theia, some of the fitter divers went snorkeling with 2 further mantas who were cruising the lagoon of Dhigurah island near the night anchorage.

Next days diving an the Kudarah Thila in the middle of Dhigurah Channel showed a stunning landscape with tremendous rich fish life. Herds of trevallies cruising around, school of blue stripes, scorpion fish dwelling in their camouflage in spite of one who probably failed primary camouflage school, so I found it without Mikey. Good models as they hardly move and they have the most characteristic profile.

Famous last dive – Ranveli corner north of Dangheti on the east side of south Ari atoll. Good visibility, school of eagle rays, trevallies, white tips and turtles. 

I forgot the Raadhigaa Thila north of Raadhigaa island – an unspoilt shallow well exposed to currents in the Mandhu channel on the middle Ari atolls west side. Its like coral bleaching never took place. Pristine hard corals on the top reef, great overhangs with swim throughs on the south side, fantastic UW-landscape.

In summary – one week was not enough, without obligations I would have booked next week. The chefs from sri lanka did a great job, the service, the….ah well, everything!!! I just don’t have anything to complain about.

Jan Bouzon
Vienna

Is 2011 the Best Manta Ray Season Maldives has Seen in Years?

Manta rays are often photographed swimming close to scuba divers

Over the past few months, we have been swamped with reports of manta ray sightings in the Maldives, with overjoyed divers and dive guides agreeing that it has been a bumper year for manta lovers. Many of our boats, such as Theia and MV Aquarius, have responded by launching special “Manta Madness” cruises, which take guests to the best Manta spots of the Maldives.

“It seems that thanks to numerous conservation efforts, the Maldives manta ray population is doing well these days. This is great news, especially considering that manta rays are an endangered species in most parts of the world.”

The recovery of the manta ray population in the Maldives appears to be evident in the dive logs of all of the liveaboard diving cruise ships we work with, as well as from anecdotal evidence we’ve received from crew members and guests over the past few months.

The abundance of mantas is also something observed by the Save Our Seas Foundation. Guy Stevens, the head of the foundation’s manta ray conservation project in the Maldives, recently commented: “The Maldives is the perfect place for these reef mantas; there is plenty of food all year round, there are few natural predators, and most importantly in today’s world of human exploitation, there has never been a significant or commercial fisheries for manta rays in the Maldives.” To read the whole interview, click here.

Best Time to See Manta Rays in the Maldives

Traditionally, the summer months offer the best chances for diving or snorkeling with manta rays in the Maldives. This is because of the higher amount of plankton in the water, which has a significant bearing on the manta ray migration in the Maldives. A manta ray diet consists mainly of plankton and the prevailing winds and currents of the hot Maldivian summer can create such a high concentration of food in certain places that a manta ray feeding frenzy ensues.

Watch this thrilling video of an underwater expedition amongst several manta rays in the Maldives

One of the most famous places where so-called manta ray cyclone feeding can occur, is the now legendary Hanifaru Bay, a dive spot made famous by a breathtaking photo reportage published by the National Geographic in 2009.

Especially in August, it is not uncommon to see more than a hundred animals gathering here during the Maldives manta ray season to make the most of the site’s unique geographical position, which sweeps huge amounts of plankton into the bay at certain times. This manta ray behavior is sometimes referred to as a “manta ray feeding aggregation”. The Maldives is known for the world’s largest aggregations of such nature.

Manta Ray Cleaning Stations Maldives

Another important element in the lives of these fascinating and absolutely harmless sea creatures are the many manta ray cleaning stations of the Maldives, which can attract several mantas at once. Seeing a troupe of imposing rays queue politely for their turn at the cleaning station is an absolutely unforgettable sight. Experienced dive guides such as ours know the locations of the most highly frequented feeding stations, where chances of diving with manta rays in the Maldives are the highest.

A open-mouthed manta ray approaches the camera

The manta ray cleaning stations of the Maldives are essentially rock or coral formation where manta rays stop by regularly to let cleaner wrasses pick parasites and dead skin particles off their bodies. It’s a symbiosis that is mutually beneficial – the cleaner wrasses get a steady delivery of food, while the manta rays have better chances of avoiding skin irritations and potentially dangerous infections caused by parasites.

Responsible Tourism in the Maldives – An Economic Necessity

While it seems that mantas in the Maldives are adept at taking care of themselves in terms of food and skincare, they need our help to protect their habitats from the negative impacts of human activity around them.

Their playful behavior and seeming indifference – even curiosity – for human visitors is remarkable and plays a big part in the tourism industry of the Maldives. The question is: how to balance economic development and mass tourism with the protection of the manta ray habitats of the Maldives?

The answer lies in a responsible approach to economic opportunities. Unlike commonly assumed, tourism can play a vital role in conservation efforts. The logic is simple – the manta ray population Maldives is of crucial importance to the economy and, as such, must be protected.

Stevens explains: “The more people who visit the Maldives in search of an encounter with manta rays the better; tourism really is important for the long term survival of manta rays in the Maldives and elsewhere around the world. However, tourism needs to be managed so that it is truly sustainable. As specific sites, such as Hanifaru, become overwhelmed with tourists there is a growing need for effective management to ensure that this site does not become degraded.”

Close-up shot of a manta ray in Maldives

The great challenge that lies ahead is to find a solution on how to manage sensitive manta ray feeding sites and how to enforce existing laws. The wheels of policy and bureaucracy have been notoriously slow in the Republic of the Maldives over the last decades. However, the new government’s commitment to environmental issues provides hope for responsible tour operators and scuba divers alike.

As always, Maldives Dive Travel is fully supportive of marine conservation efforts in the Maldives. We do our best to educate our staff and guests about the importance of responsible diving. It is our aim to help ensure that the magnificent marine life of the Maldives remains as breathtakingly beautiful as it is now for the next generations of scuba divers.

Want to experience the thrill of diving with manta rays in the Maldives? Our experienced booking agents and dive guides are at your service.

Contact us now to get the best deals on diving holidays in the Maldives.

About us: Maldives Dive Travel looks back on more than 15 years of excellence and our Best Price Guarantee ensures that you get the best rates available anywhere!

Among scuba divers around the world, it’s no secret that the diving in Maldives is spectacular. In fact, the diving sites in Maldives consistently rank on lists of the best dive sites in the world.  While people come to go scuba diving in the Maldives to experience all the underwater life, from the stunning coral formations and their reef-dwelling inhabitants, to the large pelagic species that roam these waters, it’s the whale shark diving in the Maldives and the abundance of manta rays that really pull in the diving masses.

Diving in the Maldives

Best Diving in the Maldives

There are literally hundreds of great scuba diving spots in Maldives, so no matter what time of year you visit, or how many times you visit, you will find a new underwater spot just waiting to be explored.  If you were to ask for just a few of the best diving sites in Maldives, anyone would have to mention Lion’s Head in the North Male Atoll for its gorgeous coral and the opportunities for grey reef shark diving in the Maldives that can be had here.  Similarly, they would have to mention Kuda Haa, also on the North Male Atoll where some of the best diving in Maldives is found in terms of smaller species: here you will find lionfish, moray eels and eagle rays.  If its manta ray diving in Maldives that you’re interested in, you’ll find that among the top diving sites in the Maldives is Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll.  Definitely, diving with manta rays in Maldives is one of the biggest attractions for divers to the country and there’s no place on earth that allows divers to encounter so many manta rays on one visit.

While you’re here, you should also try to do some shark diving in Maldives, and don’t worry, the shark species in the Maldives are all typically harmless.  Diving with whale sharks in Maldives is one of the great attractions of this diving destination and it is one of the only places in the world where you can enjoy whale shark diving in the Maldives all year round.  Whale sharks are incredibly gentle creatures and because most whale shark encounters are enjoyed while snorkeling, it means you don’t even have to be a qualified scuba diver to experience one of these amazing animals.  You can also expect to see grey reef sharks, white tip sharks and zebra sharks while scuba diving at any of the good diving sites in Maldives.

While the Maldives is definitely not known as a wreck diving destination, there are a couple of opportunities for wreck diving in Maldives that will satisfy the urges for an interesting wreck dive.  The most famous is the Maldive Victory Wreck, an advanced dive that explores a ship that sank in 1981 and is now a favourite spot for sea turtles, barracudas and fusiliers.

Cost of Scuba Diving in Maldives

One of the most crucial pieces of knowledge about diving holidays in Maldives is the price of diving in Maldives which can vary dramatically.  From a resort dive shop, the diving rate in Maldives is around USD $50 per dive.  On top of this, you also have to pay for boat trips and if you’re visiting distant dive sites, the diving costs in the Maldives can get quite expensive. The most affordable diving in Maldives is definitely the liveaboard scuba diving holiday.  You will be surprised at how reasonable liveaboard scuba diving prices in the Maldives are: a week-long cruise on a safari ship which includes two or three dives per day will typically cost about USD$180 to USD $220 per person per night.  As well as the cost of diving in Maldives, this also includes all meals and accommodation whilst on the boat along with a few excursions, so it’s really quite a good deal.  To find the best scuba diving cost in Maldives, you should keep your eyes open for last minute deals and special offers on liveaboard diving holidays which usually give you reduced diving prices in the Maldives.  If you have never dived before, you’ll also need to factor in the diving price in Maldives of taking your PADI Open Water qualification.  It is sometimes possible to take this from a liveaboard (but make sure you check before) and most resort dive centres also offer this and other PADI courses.  Finally, you need to remember that as well as scuba diving in Maldives costs, you will also need to bring your own equipment or rent it from the liveaboard or resort dive shop.  All boats and dive centres offer equipment rental, but again, it’s best to reserve it in advance.  Overall, scuba diving in the Maldives prices are comparable with scuba diving prices around the world and if you look carefully, it is possible to book cheap scuba diving holidays in Maldives.

Diving Boats in the Maldives

Undoubtedly the best way to enjoy scuba diving in Maldives is by taking a diving safari in Maldives.  These cruises are held on board liveaboard safari ships and typically, they are all inclusive diving holidays in Maldives that include all scuba diving, meals and transfers to and from the airport, as well as the occasional excursion from the boat.  Liveaboards scuba diving in Maldives is really great fun and is perfect for couples, families, groups of friends and even single divers.  If you arrive in the Maldives completely alone, you will definitely leave with many more friends.

Grey Reef Shark seen at Rasdhoo Madivaru

When to go Diving in the Maldives

Scuba diving holidays in Maldives are possible year round, although there are seasons: the Northeast Monsoon season (November to April) and the Southwest Monsoon season (May to October).  Most people will tell you that the best diving season in the Maldives is the Northeast Monsoon season as this is when the weather is drier, visibility is better and the ocean is calmer.  Officially, this is when the “peak” diving season is and as such the price of scuba diving in the Maldives is a little higher at this time and generally, you will find the very best conditions for diving in the Maldives in January and December. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a holiday diving Maldives in July, because there are still many diving cruises in Maldives, it’s just that they will visit different dive sites.  In fact, the summer months of July and August are the best months for seeing the manta rays in Hanifaru and while you might have the occasional rainfall or thunderstorm; these typically clear after a short time, revealing clear sunny skies.  So, don’t think it’s not possible to go to the Maldives diving in August, because it is, just be prepared to visit different areas: the best diving site in Maldives in January will be different from where is the best diving in the Maldives in August.

Diving Accidents in Maldives

The Maldives is one of the safest scuba diving destinations in the world and the number scuba diving accidents in Maldives are very small.   Safety procedures are rigorous and are in place at all resorts and onboard all liveaboard dive ships.  Nevertheless, you should always carry out the standard safety procedures as taught in your PADI training for both you and your dive buddy.

Find Out More about Diving in Maldives

Once you have decided you would like to go diving in the Maldives, there is plenty of research you can do online.  There are many scuba diving websites and many Maldives-related websites, all of which have information about scuba diving tours in Maldives, stories and news about diving holidays in the Maldives, resources about where you can rent diving equipment in Maldives and up-to-date offers with special diving prices in Maldives.

You will most likely spend days and days looking at the millions of scuba diving pictures in the Maldives that you can find online and when you’re ready to get really excited about your trip, check out the many diving in Maldives videos.

Please contact us to book your Maldives diving holidays.

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.

Safari Details

Ship: Black Pearl

Cruise dates: 31 January – 7 February 2011

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.

Click to see all details for this last minute package.

Hanifaru Bay is located in the Baa Atoll Hanifaru in the Maldives.  For several years now, Hanifaru Bay Maldives has become known as one of the prime dive spots in the world. diving Hanifaru Bay is so special because of the abundance of Hanifaru Bay manta rays.  The manta rays are attracted to Hanifaru Maldives because this area is home to incredible amounts of plankton.  The Hanifaru mantas, which are filter feeders that thrive on plankton, come to Hanifaru to feast on the zooplankton.  What makes Hanifaru diving even more special is that when the Maldives mantas Hanifaru Bay gather to eat the plankton, there can often be more than 200 manta rays, and they gather in a frenzy of feeding action, swirling around in the water and gobbling up the delicious plankton.

See our Maldives 2011 Summer Specials for Hanifaru Dive Trips

Manta Ray Feeding Frenzy at Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives

When learning about Hanifaru Bay Malediven, the first thing to know is where is Hanifaru Bay.  A quick look at a Hanifaru map will show you that Hanifaru Maldive is located in the Maldives, which are in the Indian Ocean, close to India.  More specifically, Hanifaru Bay, Maldives is located in the northern area of the Maldives and the best way to visit Maldives Hanifaru is by liveaboard Hanifaru Bay.  The Hanifaru Atoll is located quite a distance away from some of the more popular atolls in the Maldives, so diving Hanifaru can be difficult if you’re not staying in the hotels near Hanifaru Bay. While it is possible to stay at one of the luxurious Hanifaru resorts like Hanifaru Royal Island, or perhaps at one of the cheap hotels near Hanifaru Bay, by going on a Hanifaru liveaboard, you will cruise around the Hanifaru Bay Baa Atoll, visiting nearby dive sites and sleeping on the liveaboard Hanifaru.  This way, you will be close to Hanifaru tauchen when you are ready to dive Hanifaru, and if you have to wait for the right conditions, you will be close to Hanifaru thila.  On another note, there really are not that many resorts near Hanifaru Bay for you to choose from apart from the Royal Island Hanifaru, so if you’re interested in spending time in a resorts near Hanifaru, you’d be better off choosing a resort somewhere else in the Maldives and making a two-centre holiday that would include a liveaboard to Hanifaru plus a few nights in a deluxe resort, allowing you to experience the two best parts of this amazing country.

Hanifaru Bay Liveaboard Cruises

There are many different Hanifaru liveaboards to choose from, all of which offer onboard accommodation and dive trips to Hanifaru Baa Atoll on a separate dive boat, known as a dhoni.  You can choose the perfect Maldives liveaboard Hanifaru for your Hanifaru Bay diving trip based on your budget and your personal taste. MS Stingray Hanifaru is a great option for a Hanifaru cruise if you’re looking for a more economical Hanifaru diving trip.  You can expect to pay around $180-$200 per person per night on a Hanifaru bucht like the MS Stingray, which includes all meals and Hanifaru tauchsafari diving.  It does not include the price of the flights to the Maldives.  Holidays in Hanifaru island Maldives need to be a bit longer than some Maldives diving trips because Hanifaru reef is quite a distance from the city of Male.  When researching what dive boats go to Hanifaru Bay, you will also find trips on Hanifaru Theia, Black Pearl + Hanifaru  and Hanifaru MV Orion, both of which are more upmarket Hanifaru Maldives liveaboard.  These Hanifaru Bay safari ships are more akin to super cruisers that you might see sailing the Caribbean or the French Riviera and offer a level of luxury for your Hanifaru accommodation that will make your Hanifaru Bay Maldives diving trip a real holiday to remember.

See our Maldives 2011 Summer Specials for Hanifaru Dive Trips

The most commonly asked question about Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atol Maldives is when is the best time to visit Hanifaru rah to be in with the best chances of diving in Hanifaru with manta ray Maldives Hanifaru and whale sharks Hanifaru. Manta ray Hanifaru and whale sharks manta Hanifaru Bay are attracted to the malidiven Hanifaru Bay because of the large amounts of plankton that appear in Hanifaru Bay tauchen at certain times of the year.   The Hanifaru reef Maldives is best visited in the months of July and August each year, when the Hanifaru plankton bloom is most prolific.  Still, a visit on any July or August day to Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives does not guarantee that you will see the amazing feeding frenzy.  That is why we recommend visiting on a Hanifaru Bay liveaboard, so if conditions are not perfect, you can go and enjoy a nearby Hanifaru dive and then return to Hanifaru Island when conditions are improved.  Many people also want to know how long feeding frenzy last Hanifaru, and the answer is that it can vary dramatically, typically the Hanifaru manta ray congregation lasts for around an hour or until the mantas Hanifaru have eaten all the plankton.

Theia offers Dive Safaris to Hanifaru Bay

See our Maldives 2011 Summer Specials for Hanifaru Dive Trips

There is a good variety of Hanifaru dive sites to choose from, so while you are waiting to enjoy the real “feeding frenzy”, you can still be exploring the opportunities to dive Hanifaru Maldives.  Very close to where is Hanifaru Maldives, you will find a cleaning station popular with the Hanifaru Maldives manta rays and whale sharks, where you can often see up to 5 manta rays having their gills cleaned out by smaller fish.

Once you have decided to go on Hanifaru holidays, you will not look back.  Travelling to Hanifaru Maldives, for many will be the highlight of a life of diving.  Nowhere else on earth can you find as many manta rays as you will find in the Baa Atol, Hanifaru, and because of a recent move to protect Hanifaru manta rays in the Hanifaru malediven area, it is hoped that diving in Hanifaru Bay will remain one of the most amazing Hanifaru Maldives diving spectacles in the world for many years to come.  So, in short, if you have the opportunity to go to Hanifaru, you should not pass it up!

When looking to reserve your Maldives holidays Hanifaru Bay, you will find a wealth of information on the internet.  Maldives Dive Travel Hanifaru offer a wide selection of Hanifaru Bay trips, including a choice of Hanifaru discovery safaris that typically depart in July and August of each year, which is the Hanifaru best season in terms of diving with manta rays and whale sharks.  On the website, you will find plenty of Hanifaru photos, Hanifaru Maldives map, information about Baa Atoll diving in Hanifaru Bay and about the cost to go to Hanifaru Bay.  Also on the website, you can reserve a maledivy diving Hanifaru adventure on one of many liveaboards in Hanifaru protected marine area and if you’re looking for up-to-date information about Hanifaru Bay – Maldives, you can check out the regularly updated Maldives diving blog Hanifaru.  There are also plenty of resources on Facebook, including a Hanifaru Maldives dive travel Facebook page and a Hanifaru facebook Theia liveaboard page, which allow you to connect directly with other divers and share your personal experiences with other interested travelers as well as finding out about exclusive offers on Hanifaru trips and holidays in Hanifaru Maldives.

See our Maldives 2011 Summer Specials for Hanifaru Dive Trips

If you would like to book a dive safari to the Maldives please check out our diving liveaboards or contact us.

Take a virtual tour of the upper and top deck as well as the dive boat of luxury liveaboard Theia in the Maldives.