Maldives in December // Addu to Male (South) // ...or Cocos | Galapagos?

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bibeldyboo

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Location
New York, NY
# of dives
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Hi All,

Almost ready to book a 10 night, 11 day on Princess Rami (any feedback on this liveabord?) from Addu to Male. I was originally booked to go to Raja Ampat, but with Indonesia not opening, thought this was a fun alternative. I've never been to the Maldives, and it looks quite beautiful. I know nothing beats Indonesia / Coral Triange, but I'm sure this is a heck of a lot more interesting than the Carribean.

A few questions:
  • I could instead do Cocos Island or Galapagos, would it be a mistake to miss those?
    • I love warm water diving and reef systems, which is why I thought Maldives might be better...also it's much cheaper
    • But...Cocos Island and Galapagos have quite the reputation...
  • For a first time Maldives diver, is it a mistake to do a deep south itinerary?
    • I tend to prefer places a bit more "off-the-grid" as they typically are more pristine
    • But I'd be missing out on many of the "best of Maldives" atollls
  • How do we feel about December? Is it a decent time for the Maldives? Seems like it's past whale shark season and could be quite windy / rainy, but unfortunately December is when I have my time off
  • Anyone ever take Princess Rami liveaboard?
Thank you so much!
Mike
 
Yes, it [Maldives] is a lot more diverse than the Caribbean. As a rule of thumb for every fish spieces in the Carribean, you’ll find three in the Red Sea, four in the central Indian Ocean and five in the golden triangle.
Cocos and Galapagos something completely different, no coral reefs and actually not that diverse (compared to gt) but high voltage with the potential of a lot of big fish. Galapagos has two currents meeting and cold water spieces mingling with warm water spieces!
Maldives purely tropical, very fishy and quite a lot of big guys in the shape of rays and sharks of various spieces. Reefs inmo not as beatiful as in the indo pacific or the Red Sea, but there are some gems.
So if you get a good deal, I think the Maldives can be a good alternative to do.
December can be windy as it the shoulder to the high season. Strong currents. But normally a good month. Each year a little different. January-march calmer.
And you can find whale sharks in south Ari.
 
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Reactions: Dan
Haven't been to the Maldives or Cocos Island; have been to the Galapagos.

Humboldt Explorer Jan 13-20, 2020 - Humboldt Explorer Jan 13-20, 2020
My Research Notes from Planning Galapagos Trip

The Galapagos is a very different experience from what you describe loving, but there's beauty in diversity.

For more on the Maldives, look for a recent trip report in the Maldives section, like this one:
Trip Report Carpe Vita Real Time Review: March 7-18, 2021 Trip to Maldives Deep South
or
The Best of Maldives, 20-28 March, 2021
 
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Reactions: Dan
Thank you! Palau is definitely top on my list, I've always wanted to go, but their PCR testing scheme seems fairly complicated, and the flights don't work out with having to get in on a Sunday.

I'm still letting this swirl around, but Galapagos is a close second after Maldives. Interesting that the trip reports looks like the deep south was maybe a bit more of a miss than the "best of" trip.
 
I like the Maldives Deep South trip that I did back in March.




 
Hi All,

Almost ready to book a 10 night, 11 day on Princess Rami (any feedback on this liveabord?) from Addu to Male. I was originally booked to go to Raja Ampat, but with Indonesia not opening, thought this was a fun alternative. I've never been to the Maldives, and it looks quite beautiful. I know nothing beats Indonesia / Coral Triange, but I'm sure this is a heck of a lot more interesting than the Carribean.

A few questions:
  • I could instead do Cocos Island or Galapagos, would it be a mistake to miss those?
    • I love warm water diving and reef systems, which is why I thought Maldives might be better...also it's much cheaper
    • But...Cocos Island and Galapagos have quite the reputation...
  • For a first time Maldives diver, is it a mistake to do a deep south itinerary?
    • I tend to prefer places a bit more "off-the-grid" as they typically are more pristine
    • But I'd be missing out on many of the "best of Maldives" atollls
  • How do we feel about December? Is it a decent time for the Maldives? Seems like it's past whale shark season and could be quite windy / rainy, but unfortunately December is when I have my time off
  • Anyone ever take Princess Rami liveaboard?
Thank you so much!
Mike
You may consider Malpelo too. I just came back from Malpelo a couple months ago with @scubadada

Trip Report - The Magic of Malpelo, July 9-18, 2021 on the Ferox


 

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