Manta Trust Expedition - Northern Atolls (Malé - Malé)
Departure
Malé
Malé (MLE)
Return
Malé
Malé Intl (MLE)
10 Nights
Approx. 30 Dives
Certified to dive to a depth of 30 meters and comfortable with diving in medium to strong currents 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.
Itinerary Highlights
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Dive pristine reefs, explore beautiful caves and overhangs covered with soft corals, colorful sponges, invertebrates and gorgonian fans, and experience thrilling shark dives in some of the best areas to see hammerheads and grey reef sharks.
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Many cleaning stations where cleaning wrasses and shrimps help to clean the skin of the larger animals such as sharks and manta rays.
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Thilas' formations bring water up from the ocean floor against their walls, feeding the sponges and soft corals creating an environment that supports a plethora of crustaceans and schools of resident fish.
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Manta rays, eagle rays and a variety of sharks including the mighty whale shark.
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The clear water, brightly illuminated by the sun's rays and the great numbers of fish provides an ideal environment both for photographers and fun divers alike.
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Night dives available during the trip.
Program Sample
This itinerary gives you 12 days on board and will travel north from Male, crossing the 80km of open ocean known as the Kaashidhoo channel, to take in some of the best dive areas of the northern atolls of Baa, Raa, Noonu, Lhaviyani and Shaviyani. There is a one-way domestic flight from Baa Atoll to Male at the end of the trip.
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 Description
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Safety Briefing, Crew Introduction, Necessary Dive Paperwork, Cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the Harbor.
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During the journey to our first dive site for a check dive, please take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the vessel and make yourself comfortable.
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Please Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseeable factors.
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This itinerary we will travel north from Male, crossing the 80km of open ocean known as the Kaashidhoo channel, to take in some of the best dive areas of the northern and central atoll
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The nutrient-rich waters in these areas make a perfect environment for manta rays to feed and there is also the possibility of shark and whale shark sightings on this fantastic underwater adventure.
Dive Sites
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Rasdhoo Madivaru Corner is located in the corner of the channel into the atoll. Madivaru is famous among 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 among fine coral formations with the highest underwater visibility.
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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 Hanifaru Bay, 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 the world's largest manta ray feeding destinations.
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Dhigala Haa is a beautiful thila in Baa Atoll is easily circumnavigated in one dive and is a favorite for shark sightings, where you can possibly see at least 6 grey reef sharks at one time. Once heavily fished, it is now a protected marine sanctuary and the fish life is prolific and varied with blue fin jacks, fusilier, blue striped and humpback snapper, batfish and schools of barracuda.
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Fish Head North Ari 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 40m to 50m to around 10m from the surface. It is one of the best sites for seeing sharks. Features a series of caves and overhangs in between where you can see thousands of blueline snapper against a backdrop of black coral bushes and large gorgonians.
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Guraidhoo Kandu - South Male Atoll 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.
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Unfortunately our trip has come to an end and we have to say goodbye, but we hope to see you again soon!
Please note: the itinerary above is an example of the planned route and dive sites cannot be guaranteed. All dive sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.