Blue Spirit Maldives

This is… ‘THE ULTIMATE MALDIVES EXPEDITION’… need we say more??

If you can’t decide which area of the Maldives to visit, this safari is for you! Offering almost 3 weeks of pure diving bliss… you will travel through the northern, central and southern atolls of the Maldives, crossing the Equator along the way. Covering this much distance ensures that you will experience the full range of incredible diving the region has to offer; from ever changing underwater topography to the amazing array of marine life. Dive pristine reefs covered in hard and soft corals, explore caves, overhangs, ledges and wrecks, drift through action packed channels and experience some seriously incredible encounters from the regions famous whale sharks and manta rays through to dolphins, sharks, turtles, mola mola, tropical fish by the thousand and miraculous macro critters!

Sample itinerary:

Please note: The itinerary below is an example only and is subject to change depending on local regulations, guests’ experience, flight schedules, weather & logistics and is at the Captain’s discretion.

The diving day has a typical schedule as follows:

06:30 – Tea, coffee and biscuits

07:00 – Dive 1 followed by full breakfast

11:00 – Dive 2 followed by lunch

15:00 – Dive 3 followed by homemade cakes and snacks

19:30 – Dinner

Activities:

Thriving reefs and corals, manta ray sightings, grouped atolls, drift diving, tropical beaches

Please Note:

The itinerary below is an example of the planned route and dive sites cannot be guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route is taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides. Adverse weather can affect this route which includes several overnight sailings.

This 7 day Maldives dive safari takes you to some of the highlights of the Central Atolls, including the North and South Male Atolls, Rasdhoo Atoll and more.

**PLEASE NOTE**The itinerary below is an example only and is subject to change depending on local regulations, guests’ experience, flight schedules, weather & logistics and is at the Captain’s discretion.

The diving day has a typical schedule as follows:-

• 06:30 – Tea, coffee and biscuits
• 07:00 – Dive 1 followed by full breakfast
• 11:00 – Dive 2 followed by lunch
• 15:00 – Dive 3 followed by homemade cakes and snacks
• 19:30 – Dinner

Itinerary highlights:
**PLEASE NOTE** The dive sites below are just an example of the route taken and are not guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and local seasonal knowledge and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.

Orimas Thila – North Ari – Although sharks are not usually the highlight of the northern itineraries, Orimas Thila is an exception to the rule. Here, grey reef sharks can be observed circling and wriggling whilst they are being cleaned. The best spot to view them from is down-current either on the sandy bottom or from a ledge out of sight, kneeling or using a reef hook if the current is running.

Guraidhoo Kandu – South Male Atoll – Since the eastern side of the channel is open ocean, large predatory fish can regularly be spotted here. This site is famous for sightings of sharks, schools of eagle rays and the occasional sail fish and hammerheads. The best condition to do the dive is when the current is flowing into the Atoll. The dive begins on the outer reef following the current into the atoll. Most of the pelagic species can be observed on the eastern side, where the reef drops off into the deep ocean. At the end of the dive in the channel, along the reef you can find overhangs with plenty of soft coral growth and small fish.

Kandooma Thila – South Male Atoll – Located in a channel, the reef is subject to strong currents at times. The ocean currents carry lot of nutrients to the reef, supporting an abundance of sea life. The site is well renowned for the soft coral growth, turtles, diverse fish life and invertebrates found on the reef. At the reef slope you may find sharks and eagle rays.

Rasdhoo Madivaru – Rasdhoo Madivaru Corner is located in the corner of the channel into the atoll. Madivaru has its fame amongst seasoned divers of the Maldives. It has one of the most spectacular and confusing reef formations found in Ari Atoll. Hammerhead sharks emerge in big numbers just before sunrise swimming in large groups. Dolphins, dog tooth tunas along with schools of black snapper are seen at the reef edge during the early hours. Divers get an opportunity to view white tip reef sharks, pelagics, trevallys, little tunas, jacks, ribbon eels, fish leaves tunas, napoleon wrasse and barracudas. Experience the thrilling scuba diving adventure amongst fine coral formations with highest underwater visibility.

Fish Head – North Ari – Fish Head also known as Shark Point or Mushimasmingili Thila, fits the classic definition of a Thila – a large isolated flat top reef rising sharply from the inner atoll floor at 40-50m to around 10m from the surface. It is one of the best sites for seeing populations of grey reef sharks and white tip reef sharks. Featuring a series of caves and overhangs in between where you can see thousands of blueline snappers against a backdrop of black coral bushes and large gorgonians. Marine Life: grey reef sharks, white tip sharks, eagle rays, sailfish, hammerheads, dolphins, dog-tooth tuna, snapper, napoleon wrasse, barracuda, trevally, ribbon eels, leaf fish

You must be certified to dive to a depth of 30 meters as well as be experienced and comfortable with diving in medium to strong currents. Negative entries and drift dives are to be expected. If you have Open Water certification and experience with currents, we strongly suggest you complete Advanced Open Water or Deep Diver Adventure Dive either before or during your holiday so you can maximize your diving experience on board.

For Sea Spirit trips departing from Male, the Cruise Directors meet guests in the arrivals area of MLE airport (next to the Burger King) at 10 am. Therefore we strongly recommend guests arrange their international flights for a morning arrival, or the day before and stay overnight in a hotel to catch up on sleep with the time change.

For Blue Voyager, the Cruise Directors meet guests in the arrivals area of MLE airport (next to the Burger King) at 12:30 and at 16:00 so it is best to arrange international flight arrival times accordingly (otherwise make use of overnight hotel, HIH Day Use, airport luggage storage, etc.)

Disembarkation is usually around 8:30 am (could vary a little depending on the time of the domestic flight HAQ-MLE).