Trip Report Carpe Vita Real Time Review: March 7-18, 2021 Trip to Maldives Deep South
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kommisarrex
Contributor
I'm on the Blue Force One right now on an almost identical route. In fact, you were parked next to us last night. Our diving has been similar to yours.
Frankly, I think this route was oversold as far as potential for pelagic sightings. Lots of fun current, but not a ton of fish action and not very good viz. Finally hit upon a nice size group of gray reef sharks cruising a wall this morning, but otherwise been pretty meh. I certainly wouldn't come here from the US vs going to Socorro or Cocos or Galapagos if you want sharks. If you want mantas or whale sharks, save yourself the cost of the domestic ticket and do the central atolls instead. If you want pretty coral and reef fish and great viz, go the Egypt. I will say it's been nice having very few other divers on the sites, though.
Frankly, I think this route was oversold as far as potential for pelagic sightings. Lots of fun current, but not a ton of fish action and not very good viz. Finally hit upon a nice size group of gray reef sharks cruising a wall this morning, but otherwise been pretty meh. I certainly wouldn't come here from the US vs going to Socorro or Cocos or Galapagos if you want sharks. If you want mantas or whale sharks, save yourself the cost of the domestic ticket and do the central atolls instead. If you want pretty coral and reef fish and great viz, go the Egypt. I will say it's been nice having very few other divers on the sites, though.
OP
Dan
Contributor
Day 4
Dive 10 at Vilingili Kandu, NE of Huvadhoo Atoll, near the Kooddoo / Maamendhoo airport, where Maldivian airlines made 1st stop on the way to Gan. This is another reefhook kind of dive. This time the current was mild, visibility is fantastic (> 100 ft / 30 m). We saw a wall of Reef Sharks some of them within 10 ft (3 m) away from us. What a dive!
Bottom depth was 108 ft (33 m) with 56 minutes of dive time.
Dive 10 at Vilingili Kandu, NE of Huvadhoo Atoll, near the Kooddoo / Maamendhoo airport, where Maldivian airlines made 1st stop on the way to Gan. This is another reefhook kind of dive. This time the current was mild, visibility is fantastic (> 100 ft / 30 m). We saw a wall of Reef Sharks some of them within 10 ft (3 m) away from us. What a dive!
Bottom depth was 108 ft (33 m) with 56 minutes of dive time.
OP
Dan
Contributor
Hi neighbor!
I agree with your assessment on seeing Shark in Socorro / Cocos / Galápagos is better than in Maldives, especially for those of us living in American continents. We even see Oceanic Mantas, that are not seen in Maldives. However, seeing Tiger Sharks in Fuvahmulah yesterday was a nice treat.
If you are from USA and want to see much prettier & colorful corals, you might as well go to the ultimate destination, i.e., Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
I'll try to answer a couple of yrou questions since Dan is busy diving, and I'm familiar with the location
3 dives a day is the norm for all liveaboards I've ever dive on. Most have a couple of night dives scheduled throughout the week.
After each dive the crew need to fill all cylinders which obv takes time, plus most guests want to chill and relax as well. The longer SI allows plenty of headroom and ensures that you're getting 1 hr dives in. Quality over quantity
Redsea, Indonesia, Maldives etc Reef hooks are common on dives that are particularly current focused. - Get to a ridge, hook on and watch the action.
I've previously warned Dan that his coiled wire hook was a poor choice, since unlike a traditional 4mm cord the wire has no give and fatigues. With a cord you can see its wear.
There is a skill to using a reef hook in that once you've go a nice firm engagement point you're supposed to set your buoyancy thus you're just above the reef not thrashing about and kicking it. If you can't' manage to be stable in the flow then a pointer stick can help.
Some of us use extensions. Mine is a 10m line I can clip on when I'm stable and then slowly let out so that I'm above the ridge in the blue which can allow better interactions, but is not without some risk and not a technique for novice hook users
3 dives a day is the norm for all liveaboards I've ever dive on. Most have a couple of night dives scheduled throughout the week.
After each dive the crew need to fill all cylinders which obv takes time, plus most guests want to chill and relax as well. The longer SI allows plenty of headroom and ensures that you're getting 1 hr dives in. Quality over quantity
Redsea, Indonesia, Maldives etc Reef hooks are common on dives that are particularly current focused. - Get to a ridge, hook on and watch the action.
I've previously warned Dan that his coiled wire hook was a poor choice, since unlike a traditional 4mm cord the wire has no give and fatigues. With a cord you can see its wear.
There is a skill to using a reef hook in that once you've go a nice firm engagement point you're supposed to set your buoyancy thus you're just above the reef not thrashing about and kicking it. If you can't' manage to be stable in the flow then a pointer stick can help.
Some of us use extensions. Mine is a 10m line I can clip on when I'm stable and then slowly let out so that I'm above the ridge in the blue which can allow better interactions, but is not without some risk and not a technique for novice hook users
OP
Dan
Contributor
You did. I just had to learn the hard way. Hehehe. DM replaced the coiled wire with a rope now.
OP
Dan
Contributor
Dive 11, a repeat of Dive 10, since we liked the dive site & voted to repeat it.
Bottom depth was 107 ft (33 m) with 54 minutes of dive time.
Then rain came. Captain decided to move northwards after lunch to avoid traveling in bad weather at night later. Dive 3 was cancelled.
After 9 hour sailing, we arrived at Mundoo, NE of Laamu atoll.
Bottom depth was 107 ft (33 m) with 54 minutes of dive time.
Then rain came. Captain decided to move northwards after lunch to avoid traveling in bad weather at night later. Dive 3 was cancelled.
After 9 hour sailing, we arrived at Mundoo, NE of Laamu atoll.
OP
Dan
Contributor
Just learned over dinner time today that 4 of the divers from Denmark are all COVID-19 survivors. They had it a month ago.
As for my situation, I had a Moderna 1st shot on February 28. My 2nd shot is scheduled on April 1.
As for my situation, I had a Moderna 1st shot on February 28. My 2nd shot is scheduled on April 1.
I was on this itinerary on this boat in January and we saw mantas, eagle rays, lots of sharks, Napoleon wrasse. The diving was great with lots of schooling fish and variety. There were also a lot of divers on the boat that are into macro and they also were very pleased. We had 3 whale sharks come to feed at the back of the boat one night. Just the luck of the draw I guess.
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