MV Orion Scuba Diving Holiday Special

MV Orion has just announced a very special price on a June diving holiday in the Maldives.  This is going to be a superb scuba diving adventure which departs Male on June 23rd and cruises to the North Male, Ari and South Male Atolls of the Maldives.

Guests on this cruise will pay for 6 nights and get the 7th night free – only  USD $1,197 per person!

MV Orion Liveaboard

The MV Orion is one of the Maldives’ most luxurious scuba diving liveaboards, offering business-class accommodation to 22 guests throughout 11 cabins.  The cabins are spread over two decks, and each have a private ensuite bathroom.  There are nine standard cabins, one junior suite and one master suite, which boasts a private 2-person Jacuzzi and private balcony.

Diving around the North Male, Ari and South Male Atolls

The diving in the Maldives is world-class, and the North Male, South Male and Ari Atolls are home to some of the finest dive sites in the country. World-class dive sites in these areas include Gangehi Kandu at Ari Atoll, a great place for spotting a variety of sharks including grey reef sharks and leopard sharks.  In South Male Atoll, Kandooma Thila – known for spectacular coral formations and intense varieties of fish – is one you will not want to miss and in North Male Atoll, Kuda Haa will not disappoint.  Macro-enthusiasts will be delighted here as they discover a wealth of nudibranchs, leaf fish and flatworms amid schools of snapper, tuna and lionfish.

MV Orion Maldives Special Offer

Take advantage of this great special offer and enjoy an amazing dive safari of the Maldives this June.  The cruise departs on June 23rd for a 7-night adventure, but you will only pay for 6 nights!  All dives, including Nitrox diving, are included in the price, as well as your accommodation, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks.  The fully-stocked bar will be serving up a selection of icy cold beers, cocktails and wines, which will be charged at the end of your trip. Total price: USD $1,197 per person. To reserve your space on this fantastic holiday, contact Maldives Dive Travel today… spaces are limited and with an offer like this, they’re bound to fill up quickly!

Diving Holiday Destinations

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

Diving Holiday Destinations within the Maldives

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

Diving Holiday Destination: Hanifaru Bay

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

Diving Holiday Destination: Baa Atoll

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

Diving Holiday Destination: Ari Atoll

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

Destination Maldives

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

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

Current Special Offers on Maldives Diving Holidays

Maldives Dive Travel is currently offering a selection of great special deals, making your diving holiday more affordable than ever before.  Check out the following deals and book your 2010 scuba diving holiday in the Maldives now.

Carina – Special Marine Biology Scuba Cruise, 8-22 February, 2010

Explore the Maldivian reefs under the expert guidance of two marine biologists and PADI-Certified Dive Instructors: Mary Eichler-Bilek & Leo Bilek, Marine Biologists and PADI Instructors on board Carina from 8 to 22 February, 2010.  This cruise has a very last-minute price of just  US$ 2.660 per person.  The cruise start is confirmed, a few places are still open for booking.

Carina Marine Biology Tour Itinerary

Depending on weather conditions, this scuba diving safari is planned to leave Male on February 8, travel around the South Male, Felidhu, Ari and Rasdhoo Atolls (weather permitting) before returning to Male on February 22.  Furthermore, the route will follow the specific marine life upon which Mary Eichler-Bilek’s marine biology workshops will focus.

Special Marine Biology Themed Cruise

This scuba diving cruise is ideal for those who love the ocean and all of its inhabitants. After ten years of diving experience in the Maldives, Mary is an expert in marine biology and she enjoys passing this knowledge on to others during her popular marine biology cruises.  In-depth dive briefings and workshops will be given in English and German throughout the cruise to help participants to see the reefs and their inhabitants in a new light.

PADI-Recognised Specialty Course Available On Board

A very special feature of this cruise is the opportunity of taking the Night Naturalist Specialty Course, a programme developed by Mary herself and recognised by PADI.  This is available at an extra price and should be paid on board.

Don’t miss out on this great diving holiday, reserve your space today by contacting contact Maldives Dive Travel.

Galileo Explorer Tour March 11-22      Jan 18, 2010

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 largest atoll in the world.  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 many dive sites just waiting to be explored.  Guests on this safari will have the opportunity to dive at many undiscovered dive sites and visit many pristine islands – some inhabited and others completely secluded.

Galileo Explorer Tour Itinerary

Depending on weather conditions, Galileo 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.

Take advantage of this amazing opportunity at the unbeatable price of only EUR 1,386 per person for 11 nights.  A few places are still available; to reserve yours, please contact Maldives Dive Travel today.

Scuba Diving Special Offers – January 2010

Maldives Dive Travel is currently offering some great last minute special offers on scuba diving holidays in the Maldives.  Take a break from the icy winter and spend a week cruising around the gorgeous atolls of the Maldives in complete style.  Enjoy two or three dives every day amid some of the finest underwater scenery in the world.

MV Orion Liveaboard Scuba Holidays

MV Orion is the newest, most luxurious liveaboard in the Maldives.  Built in 2009, this magnificent ship has all the amenities onboard to ensure a comfortable, stylish winter break in the Maldives.

Enjoy a 10-day scuba diving safari on MV Orion for USD $2,990 per person, including all scuba diving, meals and accommodation.  The cruise departs from Male on January 8.  Only a few spaces left.

MV Orion is also offering a 7-day January cruise, departing Male on January 18^th, returning on January 25^th.  This cruise costs just USD $2,093 per person, including all meals, accommodation and scuba diving.

Contact Maldives Dive Travel today to reserve your space on MV Orion this January.

Galileo Liveaboard Holiday Deals

Galileo is one of the most popular scuba diving liveaboard boats in the Maldives, offering an enticing combination of comfort and true adventure.  The boat is extremely well-equipped with navigational equipment that makes it perfect for long adventures at sea.  There are several scuba diving adventures scheduled for Galileo this January, all of which are already confirmed.  Book today, there are only a few places left on board each cruise:

14-night safari from January 4 – 18.  EUR 1,764 per person, including all meals, accommodation and scuba diving

7-night diving safari from January 18-25.  EUR 756 per person, including all meals, diving and accommodation

Galileo Gives Guests Great Diving Experience in the Maldives

The Galileo liveaboard, a true explorer-style vessel regarded as one of the most well-equipped scuba diving safari boats in the Maldives, is currently cruising around the northern part of the Ari Atoll.  There are 13 guests currently on board Galileo, from countries around the world, including Estonia, Italy, Spain, Germany and Singapore, making this a true “United Nations” style adventure.

Galileo Liveaboard Guests Enjoy Amazing Diving

Today, December 11 2009, the guests were treated to an amazing dive at the Woshimas Thila dive site where they saw seven enormous grey reef sharks.  Later on in the day, the guests enjoyed an hour-long manta ray “show” at the cleaning station Donkalho and to top off the incredible day, they dove at Hafza, where they saw not one, but three leopard sharks!

Galileo Dive Safari Itinerary

This seven-night safari on Galileo gives guest the opportunity to have incredible diving experiences like this every day of the trip.   2 or 3 dives are held each day, including one night-dive a week.  The trip also includes a beach barbecue party and many other activities on the boat including snorkeling, sunbathing, swimming and fishing.  One of the coolest experiences of a diving safari in the Maldives, besides the diving of course, is when a freshly caught tuna is served up sashimi-style as the afternoon snack!

Galileo Liveaboard Special Offers

Galileo liveaboard, the most high-tech safari ship in the Maldives, currently has some great special offers that make an amazing scuba diving holiday in the Maldives much more affordable than you had probably expected.  The following cruises all include accommodation, meals and all scuba diving.  Alcoholic drinks are charged at additional costs and you will receive a bill for them at the end of your holiday.

• January 4 – 18 2010 – 14-night Galileo Diving Safari – EUR 1,764 per person

• January 18 – 25  – 7-night Galileo Diving Safari – EUR 756 per person

• February 25 – March 4 – 7-night Galileo Diving Safari – EUR 882 per person

Note: This safari starts and ends in the Laamu Atoll (south Maldives), so you need to purchase a return flight from Male International Airport to Kaddhoo.  This will cost approximately USD 250 and is not included in the price of the safari.

• March 4 – 11 – 7-night Galileo Diving Safari – EUR 882 per person

Note: This safari starts and ends in the Laamu Atoll (south Maldives), so you need to purchase a return flight from Male International Airport to Kaddhoo.  This will cost approximately USD 250 and is not included in the price of the safari. To find out more about the Galileo Liveaboard ship and the dive safaris operated around the Maldives, visit the Galileo Liveaboard information page.

Enjoy a diving holiday in the Maldives in January!

January in the Maldives is an ideal time of the year for a diving holiday.

January ushers in the Maldivian dry season, where the average temperature is 81°f  (27°c), with an average low temperature of  77°f (25°c) and an average high temperature of 84°f (29°c). The average precipitation in the Maldives in January is 75mm.

Check the Maldives weather forecast here!

Scuba Diving in January in the Maldives

January falls during the North East Monsoon Season in the Maldives, which normally lasts from December to April. The North East Monsoon Season also symbolizes the dry season in the Maldives, with currents running from the North East to the South West.

During this season, rainy days are uncommon and the sun is always shining, making a diving holiday to the Maldives in January a perfect escape from the cold winter weather! Imagine the envy of your colleagues as they are trudging to work in the snow as you sun yourself and scuba dive in the Maldives!

During the month of January in the Maldives, the visibility is excellent on the eastern side of the atolls and the water is warm, approximately 28 degrees Celsius, or 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although the western side of the atolls offers less visibility during January in the Maldives, this is the place to dive if you are looking for Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, the two most popular marine animals in the Maldives.  Most scuba divers return home 100% satisfied with their Maldives diving holiday as soon as they spot a Manta Ray and Whale Shark!

Diving Holidays in January in the Maldives

Maldives Dive Travel, in operation for over 20 years in the Maldives, offers guests a diverse selection of liveaboards for a January diving holiday. Also, don’t forget to check out Maldives Dive Travel’s BEST PRICE GUARANTEE!

January Diving Holiday on the Black Pearl

The Black Pearl liveaboard, measuring 95 feet long and 26 feet wide, offers guests seven comfortable cabins, each with air conditioner, en-suite bathroom and one double bed plus one single bed. The Black Pearl liveaboard‘s main deck is gorgeous, made entirely out of Balau wood.

The Black Pearl liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Monday, December 28, 2009 – Monday, January 4, 2010 – Only USD$198/person per night!
• Monday, January 4, 2010 – Monday January 18, 2010  – Only USD$198/person per night!
• Monday, January 25, 2010 – Monday, February 1, 2010 – Only USD$198/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Black Pearl now!

January Diving Holiday on the Carina

The Carina liveaboard, under the professional management of long-time diving instructors Shaahina and Gert, attracts many repeat bookings from all over the world – the ultimate reward for any high-quality safari operation. Currently, Carina is the only liveaboard in the Maldives that offers ENOS-diver-location security equipment.

The Carina liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Monday, December 28, 2009 – Monday, January 4, 2010 – Only USD$172/person per night!
• Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Wednesday, January 20, 2010 – Only USD$172/person per night!
• Wednesday, January 20, 2010 – Wednesday, January 27, 2010 – Only USD$172/person per night!
• Saturday, January 30, 2010 – Saturday, February 6, 2010 – Only USD$172/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Carina now!

January Diving Holiday on the Dream Catcher II

The Dream Catcher II liveaboard, built in 2008, has everything: a great atmosphere, lots of space and outstanding scuba diving. Dream Catcher II liveaboard, available for single and group bookings, offers a great combination of luxurious accommodation and modern facilities that will make your scuba diving holiday in the Maldives a most memorable occasion.

The Dream Catcher II liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Saturday, January 30, 2010 – Saturday, February 6, 2010 – Only USD$244/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Dream Catcher II now!

January Diving Holiday on the Galileo

Certified according to the strict guidelines of German Lloyd, the Galileo liveaboard can venture further afield than the usual dive cruise routes. The owner of the Galileo liveaboard is a diving instructor, possessing 20 years diving experience in the Maldives. Choose from 423 dive spots in the on board GPS. Briefings are held in English and German.

The Galileo liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Monday, Jan 04, 2010 – Monday, Jan 11, 2010 – Only EUR€126/person per night!
• Monday, Jan 11, 2010 – Monday, Jan 18, 2010 – Only EUR€126/person per night!
• Monday, Jan 18, 2010 – Monday, Jan 25, 2010 – Only EUR€108/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Galileo now!

January Diving Holiday on the Island Safari 2 Royal

Island Safari 2 Royal liveaboard was launched in 2007 and boasts 8 deluxe rooms and 2 suites, offering up to 20 guests plenty of space and comfort for an unforgettable diving holiday! All cruise dates on offer at Maldives Dive Travel are guaranteed to take place – in other words: there is no minimum booking requirement!

The Island Safari 2 Royal liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Saturday, Jan 09, 2010 – Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 – Only USD$250/person per night!
• Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 – Saturday, Jan 23, 2010 – Only USD$250/person per night!
• Saturday, Jan 23, 2010 – Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 – Only USD$250/person per night!
• Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 – Saturday, Feb 06, 2010 – Only USD$250/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Island Safari 2 Royal now!

January Diving Holiday on the MV Orion

The MV Orion is a brand new, luxurious super cruiser eager to chaperone guests to some of the Maldives most alluring dive sites. When on board the MV Orion, guests can enjoy a library, bar, jacuzzi and top of the line massage services.

The MV Orion offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Friday, January 8, 2010 – Monday, January 18, 2010 – Only USD$299/person per night!
• Monday, January 18, 2010 – Monday, January 25, 2010 – Only USD$299/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the MV Orion now!

January Diving Holiday on the Nautilus One

Measuring 30 metres in length, the Nautilus One liveaboard is much more than just a safari boat. Built entirely from timber in the traditional Maldives shipbuilding style, the Nautilus One liveaboard is a true piece of art!

The Nautilus One liveaboard offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Tuesday, January 5, 2010 – Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Only USD$201/person per night!
• Tuesday, January 26, 2010 – Monday, February 1, 2010 – Only USD$201/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Nautilus One now!

January Diving Holiday on the Nautilus Two

The Nautilus Two, measuring 43 metres in length, was built entirely out of wood, following the traditional Maldivian methods, which are not only visually appealing but have stood the test of time. The Nautilus Two features lots of room, beautiful construction, and the most modern equipment.

The Nautilus Two offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Monday, January 18, 2010 – Only USD$220/person per night!
• Monday, January 25, 2010 – Monday, February 1, 2010 – Only USD$220/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Nautilus Two now!

January Diving Holiday on the Stingray

MS Stingray is constructed from wood, combining traditional Maldivian methods and modern enginerring.  The 9 comfortable cabins aboard the MS Stingray (4 with double and 5 with twin beds) are equipped with air conditioning and en-suite hot-water showers. All cabins are equipped with outside portholes.

The MS Stingray offers the following diving holidays in Janaury:

• Monday, January 4, 2010 – Monday January 11, 2010 - Only USD$210/person per night!
• Monday, January 11, 2010 – Monday January 18, 2010 – Only USD$210/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Stingray now!

January Diving Holiday on the Theia

Theia is a stylish 104-foot cruising yacht built in 2009 that offers all the amenities you would expect from a high-class Maldivian liveaboard, as well as the comfort and luxury of a private yacht. There are 8 cabins on Theia, providing accommodation for up to 18 guests. The Theia liveaboard provides scuba diving holidays each month, for either seven or ten nights, during which time guests have the opportunity to travel around the atolls of the Maldives, visiting some of the finest dive sites in the world.

The Theia offers the following diving holidays in January:

• Monday, January 4, 2010 – Monday January 11, 2010 – Only USD$275/person per night!
• Monday, January 11, 2010 – Monday January 18, 2010 – Only USD$262/person per night!
• Monday, January 18, 2010 – Monday January 25, 2010 – Only USD$234/person per night!
• Monday, January 25, 2010 – Monday February 1, 2010 – Only USD$234/person per night!

Book your Maldives diving holiday in January on the Theia now!

Maldives Diving Holidays

Diving holidays are a great opportunity for couples or families to get away to an exotic destination and have a great underwater experience, while at the same time learning something new about a country’s culture and making great new friends.

Liveaboard Diving Holidays in the Maldives

The Maldives is one of the best destinations in the world for a diving holiday, thanks to its many amazing scuba diving sites, incredible dive resorts and fascinating culture.  If you want to make the most of your diving holiday in the Maldives, you should really think about spending your diving holiday on a liveaboard scuba diving boat.  By spending your diving holiday on a liveaboard scuba diving boat, scuba divers have the opportunity to visit many more dive sites than they would if they were to stay at a single resort in the Maldives.  Also, since the liveaboard is cruising around the Maldives throughout the diving holiday, there are many more opportunities to visit isolated Maldivian islands and interact with the local cultures.

Are Diving Holidays Expensive?

Many people think scuba diving holidays are really expensive and to a certain extent, they are.  It’s really the initial expense of learning to dive and purchasing your scuba diving equipment that is the expensive part.  It also depends on what kind of facility you will be diving from.   A diving holiday in the Maldives, for example, can be very expensive if you are staying at a resort and diving each day with the resort’s dive shop.  In that case, you will be paying around USD $40 per dive.  So, if you take 17 dives in a week, you would be paying $340 for a week’s diving, as well as your resort costs, food, air fare and other expenses.  If you decide to take your diving holiday on a liveaboard in the Maldives, you will be getting a much better deal.  Generally, prices are around $120 – $300 per night, which include all diving (usually 17 dives per week), all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and land-based excursions.  You have to pay your air fare on top of this fee, but you can usually find a good deal on air fare to the Maldives.

Adventurer 2 Hope to Find Whale Shark

While the Black Pearl is on its 2nd day of the liveaboard trip, the Adventurer 2 is out on its whale shark search.

The liveaboard moved from Raidhigaa lagoon and came near Rangali Madivaru Manta Point, and the first jump into the water was at 7:30. To our surprise we saw a total of 6 mantas at the cleaning station before beginning the hunt for whale sharks.

Whale Sharks Spotted

After getting back to the boat we took off all our gear except dive fins, mask and snorkel and we took off to find our whale sharks. By 11:00 we spotted 2 whale sharks and spent about half an hour snorkeling with them.

The second submersion was at Maamigili Reef, and everyone was hoping that we would come across a whale shark, but instead of a seeing a giant fish, we were met by a few, tiny, ghost pipe fish.

Exploring a Sunken Ship

The last jump for the day was scheduled for Machafushi Wreck (Kudi Maa Wreck). At 15:30 we get in the water and are met with a mild current, and good visibility. Due to excellent conditions we had the chance to explore the whole wreck. The dive began near the reef from Machafushi and we navigated to the wreck.

Once at the wreck we started exploring under the keel where nurse sharks commonly rest. No luck with nurse shark, but we continued swimming thorough the openings on either side to explore inside the cargo hold of the wreck. We then headed up to the deck area and to end the dive returned back to the reef.

The Adventurer 2′s final anchorage for the night is at Dhangethi lagoon and after anchoring all went off to the local island for an evening island excursion.

Farewell to the Guests

Our early morning dive ended yesterday without seeing hammerheads but few divers mentioned seeing hammerheads, but very far away. After that dive we started to cruise back to Hulhumale’ and at 16:00 all went off to Male’ visit.

All guests returned back to Black Pearl at 18:00, and after dinner everyone enjoyed a great farewell party on board and we had a great time talking about the week of diving.

The departure flight was at 17:00 but all the clients checked out from the liveaboard this morning 08:30 and went off to airport. After leaving their luggage’s everyone went about their way and agreed to meet at the airport for check in.

Out with the Old, In with the New

As for the new guests for this week, we have 4 from UK, 6 Austrians and 1 Dutch. All passengers arrived by 14:00 and the orientation dive began after lunch. We took the divers to Banana Reef. The conditions were mild current, and average visibility, so we had a great check dive, and were able to see couple of giant turtles, lots of napoleon wrasse and many other fish. Our final anchorage is south Male’ atoll Embudhu finolhu lagoon and Embudhu Express will be our first channel dive tomorrow morning.