Nick
Your post brought back a few memories, as I was more or less in the same
situation, a few points:
I was lucky with the island and diving centre, perfect for our needs and
wishes: diving twice a day in water temp of about 30C, at 8.00 and 14.00 if
my memory does not fail from a dhoni, I recall seeing lots of mantas to the
point of turning back my eyes from them on one dive to watch an octopus for
a few minutes (!!) not a single shark, although as usual the dive we missed
was the one where a couple were spotted. I also remember drift dives,
although the current was not that strong, and as many fish in your eyes to
fulfil your wildest dreams!
If your idea of a holiday is to sunbathe, snorkel, relax, eat, read, dive,
enjoy quality time in the company of your girlfriend / wife and watch the
sunset every night without fail, the Maldives are for you, if your interest
are a bit more of the wild nocturnal side it is not for you, as apart from
the former there is not "much else" to do.
It rained once or twice, but feeling the rain in your face and seeing the
clouds passing by over your head at about 28C. made actually quite magical.
I paid about £1400 per person for two weeks half board with sea plane
transfer and I think the full board was about £300 to £400 more, but that is
pretty much what we spend as we are not heavy drinkers and our lunch were a
bit on the light side as the island's food at breakfast and dinner were
delicious and plentiful and there is so much you can at day!
The rooms were cleaned twice a day (!) and although we tried very hard to
look for some one who did not smile or have a kind word or gesture we could
not find it. I also remember some one complained about lack of intimacy on
the beach and I think the maximum amount of people we saw on our side of the
island without using binoculars were 12, that says you cannot please
everybody!
Below is the email I sent last year after coming back from the Maldives at
the end of October.
For my part I'll be next month on the Hurricane trying not to miss some
shark action this time.
Regards
Miguel
I just came back from two week holiday in the maldives with my girlfriend,
the resort was the royal island, baa atoll. what can i say, ten out of ten,
from the food, staff, wooden cabin with outside shower ( how much i miss
it!), the weather, the seaplane, the snorkelling, seeing baby sharks in the
jetty everyday, the magical sunsets to the diving centre. i could not thank
enough Jorg, Zaameer, Junko, and the russian ( i always forget his name,
sorry!) instructors, together with Mohamed, the aspiring divemaster, for
all the magical moments that gave us, diving with mantas, sting rays,
turtles, lion fish, scorpion fish, and thousands of fish we encountered
every single dive.
if you or anybody happens to go there i suggest not to miss nelivaru thila
where we were fortunate to see eleven mantas flying around us and of
course to say a warm welcome to all of them specially to our "master jedi"
Zameer from maria and miguel, we'll carry them and the little island in
our hearts for the rest of our lives.
the only drawback is that you get so used to see so many different type of
fish and mantas that it has spoiled our future diving holidays, what can
compare with it? ;o)
miguel
http://www.vermillionmaldives.com/resorts/royal.htm#Click
Myself and my husband are looking to go to the Maldives just after
Christmas this year but I am getting a bit confused at to where to go
as there is so much choice. I am wondering if anyone can give us any
personal recommendations in terms of how good the diving is where you
have been. I am particularly keen to go somewhere where there is a
house reef where I can snorkel and dive as I am not that experienced
and then also somewhere where there is more exciting diving off the
boats. Our only other requirement really is that it is a clean resort
with good food so I hope someone can help us decide? (Also maybe hot
water!)
Thank you,e
Victoria
Hi
Looking to go to Maldives in a couple of months with the wife. She is
certified but only just. She's a beginner. She also doesn't want to see
sharks. (She's afraid she will freak out). She does not intend to dive
every day.
I have 100+ dives and want to dive every day. Seeing mantas is my big
wish. I would love to hang around a cleaning station on a few dives.
Sharks in any size and colour a big bonus also. I want exciting diving -
not 12m sandy bottom only.
In short, we are looking for the best diving the Maldives has to offer.
Ideally we are looking for 4 star accomodation but will pay for 5 stars if
that is where the best diving is found. Also, if the best diving is found
at 3 star accomodation then we will go there.
I have only just started looking at the different atolls/ islands and
currently I am thoroughly confused. Can someone help to clear the air.
Thanks.