Ken Kurtis
Contributor
I’m in the middle of North Ari Atoll with a cell signal. Ain’t technology wunnerful????
GREETINGS FROM THE MALDIVES – In case you don’t know, the Maldives are a series of atolls located just south of India. We are 12 time zones away from Los Angeles which means we are quite literally halfway around the world.
FABULOUS TRIP SO FAR – We’re having a blast. The best word to describe the diving is . . . FISHY. The Maldives probably has more fish on any given dive site than anywhere else you might go. Now, in fairness, some of this is due to the presumably MILLIONS of Red-Toothed Triggerfish and MILLIONS of Anthias that populate every dive site we’ve visited so far. It’s like there was a population explosion since we were last here in 2016. These fish can be so numerous that you’ll be trying to shoot (photo or video) something else and they’re in the way. But very healthy reefs and that’s always good to see.
WEATHER HAS BEEN SO-SO – We had a smattering of very light rain but also very little sunshine. The days aren’t gray like it’s going to rain, but simply high cloud cover that blocks the sun. But at least we don’t have to worry about getting sunburned.
MANTHIRI CREW IS FABULOUS – Under the direction of chief guide and longtime friend Moosa Hassan and second-in-command Ali Maahir, we are being well-taken care of. Moosa and Ali guide every dive (the boat only takes 12 people) so we’re seeing cool stuff. Ali plants himself at the base of the boarding ladder at the end of the dive and when you step on the alder . . . whoosh-whoosh . . . he takes your fins off quickly and you get back on the dhoni. The crew on the dhoni (dive tender) washes our gear after every dive. And they even wash everyone’s bathing suit between every dive. The food is fabulous. (I’m nervous about stepping on a scale when I get home.) If you want to be well-guided and well taken care of, Manthiri is a great choice.
WANNA SEE SOME PICTURES? – I’ve been posting “Daily Top 10 Pix” on my SmugMug page each day and if you’d like to take a peek at what we’ve been seeing, here’s the link: https://kenkurtis.smugmug.com/DIVE-TRIP-PHOTOS-ALL/2019-DIVE-TRIPS/MALDIVES-2019-DAILY-TOP-10-PIX. Choose any day and you’ll get a collage of that day’s highlights. You can click on any individual pix for a full-screen version. Day 1 was video only, speaking of which . . .
WANNA SEE SOME VIDEOS? – I’ve been shooting with my new GoPro 7 (more on that in the November newsletter) and have posted three videos so far, including our fabulous and amazing encounter with 50 (or more) feeding manta rays. Here are the links:
Dive 1 at Okobe Thila – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbx2PGhF8lw
Feeding Mantas at Raa Atoll – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDReV2lSlI
Friday Morning at Anemone City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UT3S3pPKiY
We return to L.A. on Friday but still have two full days plus a half day of diving ahead of us. Check us out through the Reef Seekers Facebook page or SmugMug. That’ll do it for now. Have a great week and let’s go diving – even if it’s only vicariously – soon!!!
- Ken
GREETINGS FROM THE MALDIVES – In case you don’t know, the Maldives are a series of atolls located just south of India. We are 12 time zones away from Los Angeles which means we are quite literally halfway around the world.
FABULOUS TRIP SO FAR – We’re having a blast. The best word to describe the diving is . . . FISHY. The Maldives probably has more fish on any given dive site than anywhere else you might go. Now, in fairness, some of this is due to the presumably MILLIONS of Red-Toothed Triggerfish and MILLIONS of Anthias that populate every dive site we’ve visited so far. It’s like there was a population explosion since we were last here in 2016. These fish can be so numerous that you’ll be trying to shoot (photo or video) something else and they’re in the way. But very healthy reefs and that’s always good to see.
WEATHER HAS BEEN SO-SO – We had a smattering of very light rain but also very little sunshine. The days aren’t gray like it’s going to rain, but simply high cloud cover that blocks the sun. But at least we don’t have to worry about getting sunburned.
MANTHIRI CREW IS FABULOUS – Under the direction of chief guide and longtime friend Moosa Hassan and second-in-command Ali Maahir, we are being well-taken care of. Moosa and Ali guide every dive (the boat only takes 12 people) so we’re seeing cool stuff. Ali plants himself at the base of the boarding ladder at the end of the dive and when you step on the alder . . . whoosh-whoosh . . . he takes your fins off quickly and you get back on the dhoni. The crew on the dhoni (dive tender) washes our gear after every dive. And they even wash everyone’s bathing suit between every dive. The food is fabulous. (I’m nervous about stepping on a scale when I get home.) If you want to be well-guided and well taken care of, Manthiri is a great choice.
WANNA SEE SOME PICTURES? – I’ve been posting “Daily Top 10 Pix” on my SmugMug page each day and if you’d like to take a peek at what we’ve been seeing, here’s the link: https://kenkurtis.smugmug.com/DIVE-TRIP-PHOTOS-ALL/2019-DIVE-TRIPS/MALDIVES-2019-DAILY-TOP-10-PIX. Choose any day and you’ll get a collage of that day’s highlights. You can click on any individual pix for a full-screen version. Day 1 was video only, speaking of which . . .
WANNA SEE SOME VIDEOS? – I’ve been shooting with my new GoPro 7 (more on that in the November newsletter) and have posted three videos so far, including our fabulous and amazing encounter with 50 (or more) feeding manta rays. Here are the links:
Dive 1 at Okobe Thila – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbx2PGhF8lw
Feeding Mantas at Raa Atoll – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDReV2lSlI
Friday Morning at Anemone City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UT3S3pPKiY
We return to L.A. on Friday but still have two full days plus a half day of diving ahead of us. Check us out through the Reef Seekers Facebook page or SmugMug. That’ll do it for now. Have a great week and let’s go diving – even if it’s only vicariously – soon!!!
- Ken
