Maldives - August

[Hammerhead]

Ladies and Gents,

I will be heading, with family in tow, to the Maldives this summer for 1 week - 10 days.

While I've been there before, it was a long time ago. Anyone out there involved in any of the Maldive operations? We are going to be island based, so no liveaboards.

I'm the only diver, but seeing as I'm footing most of the bill, we will be heading for somewhere with a dive shop (these days, I'd imagine that will be just about all of them...).

Anyway, if anyone out there has some advice or contacts, I'd be very grateful. I need to work out a budget, so indicative rates would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance!

 

[pelan-pelan]

We were happy with Prodivers on Vakarufalhi at Christmas - our second visit. But not sure there would be enough activities for non-divers. However, Prodivers run shops on a number of islands so perhaps a look at their web site would be a good idea.

 

[Hammerhead]

Thanks P-P - will do. Anyone else out there?

 

[Gussy]

Anyone?

 

[jeff99]

Hi there,

Seeing as you have "family" needs to consider, might be worth looking at Kuramathi. Large, by Maldivian standards at 1km long, it is also unusual in that it has three hotels on the island. They are - Village, Blue Lagoon and Cottage Club. The Village is the economy one, comfortable and more than adequate facilities. ( I like simple, so it was perfect for me!) I am also a member of VT, and have done a travel page for Kuramathi - there are also some album pages which are quite hard to navigate to, so I'll put a link to them below. When I went there in 04 I did not dive, but lots of info on the snorkelling and the island in general, with lots of photos. Been to the Maldives quite a few times before and once since then, so info is fairly accurate and objective. ( I like to think!)

Have also put a link to the dive operation - quite a good site with prices etc. At the time there was a marine biology station on the island - there were talks and slide shows etc. in the evenings twice a week - very interesting and informative - a nice touch I thought. ( There was an Austrian lady who was the resident biologist who took the job over from her father as I recall.)

Nice island with lots to do and see for non-divers. I Liked it and will probably return one day - cheapish as well! Have also put a link to Kuramathi so you can see their web page and contact the island if you would like!

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6bbaf/6c1/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/45073/#TL

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/450e6/#TL

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/45055/#TL

http://www.rasdhoodivers.com/index1.htm

http://www.kuramathi.com/

Wherever you go, have a great time! PM me if you need more info, I generally look at the board every couple of days or so.

Jeff

 

[Hammerhead]

Jeff,

Very informative and Kuramathi looks enticing - it's going to be a hard call, though; there are a lot of lovely places in that part of the world. Just wish they weren't all so bloody expensive though!

Cheers,

 

[jeff99]

Larry,

Strange, but true - got a price yesterday for accomm only - looooooooong story - tell you about it if you want! Kuoni did us a quote for April/May, which will be more expensive than August, for £655 per person, All Inclusive! ( That would be roughly 1100 US per person for two weeks including transfers.) This would include all drinks, afternoon tea and cakes etc. so a pretty good deal. Their phone no is, hang on, 0044 1306 743000 - ask for Angelita - very nice helpful lady! You could contact resort direct - you may get an even better price. Phone no & email should be on the site.

Can't tell you much about the dive operators as I did not dive then, but it looked as if they ran a pretty tight ship. There is also, unusually for the Maldives, a hyperbaric chamber on the island with a diving doc as well.

Only thing to watch out for is the Titan Triggers - there are lots of them! Just watch out for them and swim around them. ( They always seem to have a malevolent look in their eyes.....)

Also, there was every evening at Blue Lagoon, a stingray feeding session - not usually a fan of this sort of thing, but fantastic to watch, especially the bit where the guy sends them away at the end....to see a 2m plus stingray arm-wrestling with someone while the others queue up and wait their turn is mind blowing! Also worth mentioning is that at the other hotels you can use the facilities and the beaches - there's spa treatments, massages etc. and pools. Usefull for shoving the wife and kids into whilst you are underwater!

God, I sound like a travel agent don't I! Hard not to get enthusiastic though, talking about a place I've been and liked. May not be everyones' cup of tea, but we had a great time there.

Jeff

 

[penti]

I think the Maldives are in the rainy season in August, and diving conditions -if any diving possible- may not be good at all !!! Never been there though, but you'd better check that before you book anything !

 

[jeff99]

Hi penti,

August is in one of the monsoon periods sure, but there certainly is diving! Generally there is a bit more breeze and the vis is lower than Dec - March, but it's still 30 C every day! I've been there in late July for two weeks and we had two 1\2 hr. rain showers - the rest of the time it was sunny. It's an expensive place to go, May - November is the cheapest time - but it's a pretty unique destination! I love the place - been there 5 or 6 times - like going home when I get out of the plane and feel the heat hit me as I walk across the tarmac! Just check with the dive operator - pretty sure it won't be a problem.

Hi Larry - have pm'd you

Jeff

 

[bayswaterbabe]

You may wish to check out Meerufenfushi in the North Male Atoll. It is one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives, with plenty of facilities including a lovely swimming pool and a huge shallow lagoon for swimming/snorkelling. It even has a golf driving range, although I never saw anyone using it! The island is approx. an hour from the airport by speedboat, so there are no additional sea-plane tranfer costs to add. The dive operator is Ocean-Pro who are excellent and offer a choice of 3-4 different dive trips every morning and 2-3 in the afternoon, catering for different levels of experience. They also have a fast speedboat which can take divers to practically all the good dive-sites within North Male Atoll. Oh, and there is no additional charge for nitrox. The only disadvantage of Meeru I found was that the house reef is not accessible from shore, hence no shore dives.

I am afraid I do not know of any travel agents based in HK, but you shoud be able to find one that offers deals to Meeru. Almost all the top UK agents have good deals to Meeru for June-August. Check out these links:

http://www.meeru.com/

http://www.oceanpro-diveteam.com/english/start.html

Lily