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See the "real" world beneath the water's surface here in the Maldives. The most idyllic destination for your first dive because of our "friendly" marine life. Even the sharks! So whether you want to get your PADI certification or looking adventurous, challenging dives, Maldives offers the best diving holidays. MALDIVES SCUBA DIVING LIVE ABOARDS Black Pearl offers seven cabins, each with Air Condition, en-suite bathroom and one double bed plus one single bed. Passenger capacity is 14 guests. The boat size is 95 Feet long and 26 Feet wide. The main deck is made out of Balau wood, cruise speed is 11 knots. Technical Details: Construction Year: 2002, fully refurbished 2007 Length: 95 feet Width: 26 feet Cruising Speed: 11 Knots Nautical Equipment: Radio Set, GSM, GPS Water Supply: Saltwater desalination Power: 230 Volts / 60 Hertz, available 24h, 2 Generators Language spoken on Board: English Features: Recliners Onboard bar Emergency Equipment: DAN First Aid Kit, Fire extinguishers, Life Jackets, Medical Oxygen Additional Information:
Charging station is provided on the main deck, 220volts / 24h. Adapters are available, power sockets in all rooms Maximum amount of guests: 14 Crew: 9
Dinghy: 40 HP out-boarder Extra Diving Boat (Dhoni): 59 feet. Inside the atoll lagoons you often find pinnacles of rock vaulting up almost to the surface. These are known locally as 'Thilas' and are often bejewelled with sessile life forms. These formations bring water up from the ocean floor against their walls, feeding the sponges and soft corals that cling to its sides as well as creating an environment that supports a plethora of crustaceans and schools of resident fish.
Slightly removed from the reefs, you are likely to spot the pelagics that frequent the Maldives, including manta rays and eagle rays and a variety of sharks including the mighty whale shark. Wherever you look there is likely to be something of interest going on and for many it is in the shallows where the best of the action takes place. Here the clear water, brightly illuminated by the sun's rays and playing host to great numbers of fish, provides an ideal environment both for photographers and divers alike.
During the El Niño of 1998 some shallower areas of the coral reefs have been adversely affected by bleaching. However the accepted view is that while the reefs are returning to their former colourful glory, the marine life has never dwindled and indeed many believe it has increased in numbers over the past few decades.
Divers generally visit the Maldives for the life they get the opportunity to see as well as for the rapid drifts that dominate the area. The recent coral bleaching caused by the 1996 - 1998 El Nino rise in water temperature has not altered the quality of the diving here. The coral is recovering quickly and the life on the reefs is prolific and more than enough to keep you occupied on a dive. It even appears that the amount of fish life has even increased since the bleaching. Always keep an eye out into the blue, away from the reef into the thermoclines below you - you never know what action you may drift pass! All boat dives are drift dives; shore dives are also possible if you don’t want to do two boat dives a day.
Diving may be in shallow reef gardens filled with fish, or round thilas (submerged reefs) in strong currents. The channels between reefs also make good drift dives. On drifts you will need an SMB and to pay attention to your depth. There are a few wrecks to break up the reef diving, although these are dived more for the fish life found on them rather than for the wrecks themselves. All divers are required to have a computer, these are available to hire from dive Centers. You may also like to take a reef hook for the drifts. There are hyperbaric chambers are located on Bandos (North Male) and Kurumathi (Rasdhoo). There is rarely any nitrox diving available. |