These gentle giants of the sea needs to be protected for future generations to come.

The Maldives known for pristine white sand beaches and azure waters aims to protect the species that call its waters home by designating protected areas for different marine species. Most marine creatures in the Maldives are on the watch list of environmental organization as becoming an endangered species or is already on the list. The Maldives government is taking steps to make sure that these fragile and helpless sea dwellers will be protected from abusive fishermen.

Why protect the whale shark?

The Maldives government recognizes the importance of whale sharks to the delicate balance of the marine eco-system. These gentle giants of the deep eat a tons of plankton and tiny fish and squid, if they are to disappear, the balance of planktons in the ocean waters will be disturbed. The Maldives rely heavily on tourism for their income, whale sharks in particular attracts a lot of visitors to the Maldives to see these massive creatures in their natural habitat.

The Maldives government announces several protected areas for whale sharks.

Baa atoll Hanifaru, Baa atoll An’gafaru and Alif Dhaal atoll Maamigili were all announced by the Maldives government as protected areas for whale sharks. There’s not much data with regards to whale sharks, these pronouncements will give researchers an easier time in gathering important data about these marine creatures. This does not mean that tourists can’t access the protected waters anymore, the Maldives government has set up guidelines as to how to deal with encounters with whale sharks.

We must do our part in preserving the our environment for future generations to come. The Maldives is in the forefront of such action, the Maldives government and its people are making sure that whale sharks are protected from human abuse. Come to the Maldives and get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures of the deep.

Enjoy the breathtaking underwater scenery while scuba diving in the Maldives.

Scuba diving in the Maldives should be on everyone’s bucket list. A must if you are a scuba diving enthusiast. No where in the world will you find big schools of fish and coral gardens with colors only mother nature can come up with. Inspiring and spectacular is how this island paradise is described. A harmony of different marine species call the waters of the Maldives home. Scuba diving in this part of the world will simply take you to a different world where sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks all live together in perfect harmony.

Plan a scuba diving safari in the Maldives.

Most resorts in the Maldives have their own dive centers that can plan different scuba diving expeditions. There are hundreds of scuba diving spots in the Maldives that have their unique characteristics.Each spot would have different species of fish and marine mammals.You can scuba dive at a maximum of three spots a day but if you are on a liveaboard down time is less therefore more time in the water scuba diving.

There are different types of scuba diving you can enjoy in the Maldives.

Wreck scuba diving and cave scuba diving are for more experienced divers. If you are one, then the Maldives has some wreck sites that you can explore. Learn some historical tidbits are you visit sunken ships that have been there for hundreds of years. Discover exotic fish in caves, there are some fish that you don’t see out in the open, they dwell in the darkness of the caves underneath the water. Feel the excitement and the rush while scuba diving into a cave.

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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A tropical getaway to the Maldives does not have to cost an arm and a leg.

The Maldives has white sandy beaches and azure blue waters everywhere you look. Each island in the Maldives is just as beautiful as the last one. You may think that only the rich and famous can afford a vacation to the Maldives, think again. Nowadays, a trip to the Maldives has been made affordable with cheaper flights into the Maldives and resorts that offer big discounts during off peak seasons. There are also resorts in the Maldives that does not charge an arm and a leg for you to stay with them. From May to October most resorts in the Maldives would give big discounts because it’s already the monsoon season, if you don’t mind spending a little less time under the sun then these time would be perfect for you plus it doesn’t have a hefty price tag.

There are a lot of things you can do in the Maldives without having to pay, snorkeling gears are provided by most resorts in the Maldives. You can just walk a few meters from the beach and you can enjoy their house reef with coral gardens and colorful fish that give you a free performance you will never forget. Beach volleyball, sand castle making and just plain lounging on the beach are also some ways you can spend time while not having to pay a single cent.

Visit the Maldives and see for yourself why everyone it’s on everyone’s list of must see places.

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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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.

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.

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 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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Seamoth (Pegasidae)

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.

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A new kind of scuba diving that just goes with the flow.

The sport of scuba diving has been around, it has evolved into several types from open water to cave diving, but there is one type of scuba diving that lets you go with the flow, no kicking required. This is what we call drift scuba diving. In most open water scuba diving, you have to propel yourself using your fin. In drift scuba diving you descend into water with a known current and after obtaining neutral buoyancy you just go with the current.

Drift diving is probably the most relaxing and pleasant scuba diving experience there is because you don’t have to exert effort to get around and you don’t have to use a lot of air so you can stay submerged for a longer period of time. Many popular drift scuba diving sites have currents that run parallel to the reef, so you can just relax and watch the scenery float by. This type of scuba diving is something everyone should try, less effort more ground covered will surely make your scuba diving experience an unforgettable one.

Try this new type of scuba diving and have a relaxing dive.

You might think that scuba diving is just limited to just that, just scuba diving but there are different types of scuba diving out there that you can participate in. Here are some types of scuba diving.

Open water scuba diving is the most common type, in fact the first level of certification is called open water certification, this means that you can dive in open water in contrast to a controlled environment like a swimming pool. This is the type of scuba diving most people get into because this is for recreation only.

Wreck scuba diving is geared towards diving to explore a sunken vessel. Open water certified divers can explore just the exterior of the ship but can not enter the vessel. If you are interested in entering and exploring wrecks there is a special training that you need to undergo. Wrecks often act as man made reefs and are home to elusive and unusual marine species that you rarely see.

Cave scuba diving is an exhilarating experience for experienced scuba divers. Scuba diving in cave is unlike any experience you had before, it is similar to spelunking but with the added thrill of being underwater. Cave scuba diving is different from other types of scuba diving because here you have to follow a predefined path through narrow spaces.

Rescue scuba diving is for those you want to learn how to rescue people who are trapped underwater and need immediate medical attention. This type of scuba diving is advised for dive masters who accompany less experienced divers into open water. There are peculiar types of emergency situations that occur under water and this is not covered by your normal first aid training.

Take advantage of the low price currently available in March for the Galileo Southern Atoll Explorer Tour!

Mark your calendars – March 11 – 22! But, BOOK NOW! Limited Availability.

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

Galileo Southern Atoll Explorer Tour

Depending on weather conditions, the safari 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.

Galileo Mar 11-22 Southern Atoll Explorer Tour
Take advantage of this amazing opportunity at the unbeatable price of
only EUR 1,386 per person for 11 nights

Galileo Liveaboard

Galileo is one of the most well-equipped safari ships in the Maldives, perfect for a true expedition-style adventure.

Learn more about the Galileo, including its amenities, facilities, service, food & photos, here: Galileo Liveaboard!

What’s Included in the Galileo Scuba Diving Cruise?

- Accommodation in air-conditioned cabins with window, en-suite shower (hot water) and WC. Daily cleaning. Towels provided.
- Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Tea and coffee are available free of charge at all times plus one bottle of water per person per day.
- 27 dives
- Tanks with DIN/INT 12 lts, lead belts, extra diving boat
- Guidance by a PADI-qualified and highly experienced English-speaking dive instructor
- Use of fishing gear – local style, including hook, fishing line, weight and baits.
- Island-hopping, snorkelling service
- Picnic on an uninhabited island (depending on weather and route).
- On the last day a trip to the capital city Male will be offered
- Pick-up & drop-off at Male’ International Airport to connect with international flights on first and last day of the cruise, before noon.

Price does not include:

- International or Domestic air fares ( Male-Kaadhdhedhoo is 217 return flight)
- Airport taxes
- Dive/snorkel equipment rental
- Beverages, except those mentioned above
- Bed Tax: 8 per person per night is charged on board
- Dive and travel insurance
- Transfer supplements for arrivals/departures on days other than scheduled boat arrival/departure
- Fuel surcharge: in the event that crude oil reaches USD $100 per barrel on the international market, a EUR 6 fee will be charged per person per night
- Nitrox is available for EUR 5 per filling
- Additional dives will be charged at EUR 34 each

***All prices are subject to change without notice***

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