SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES - 15TH TO 22ND AUGUST, 2019 - Lacadives

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES
      15TH TO 22ND AUGUST, 2019

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES
In August 2019, we’re headed to the Maldives to catch the post-monsoon monsoon frenzy!
The plankton-filled waters will attract large filter feeders – mantas, whale sharks – and of
course the sharks and coral gardens that make the Maldives such an exciting destination.
We’ll start in Male and cruise around the central atolls, hitting North Ari, South Male, and
the famous Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll to snorkel with the mantas! Expect choppy seas and
some current – participants must have at least a PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent
certification and 20 – 30 dives to participate.

Spots are extremely limited. Reserve yours soon!

Inquiries & bookings: info@lacadives.com | +91 9619698098 | + 91 2226400434

FORCE MAJEURE

The Company accepts no responsibility for and shall not be liable in respect of any loss or damage of
alterations, delay or changes arising from unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond its control, such
as war, or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial disputes including air traffic control disputes, terrorist
activity, political unrest, change in government regulations, natural and nuclear disaster, floods, fire and
adverse weather conditions, technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports or ports.

DIVING

The Maldives has something for everyone – from tiny jewel-colored critters to mighty
whale sharks. And, just because sensory overloads are never enough, dolphins may play in
the boat’s wake. You’ll be diving in kandus (channels), sandy bottoms with shark action,
coral atolls with hunting dogtooth tuna, swim-throughs with coral overhangs, cleaning
stations with mantas, eagle rays and perhaps larger creatures! The post monsoon season
boasts plankton-rich waters, so we are looking forward to meeting large filter feeders that
are attracted to the plankton blooms.

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

THE OPERATOR
We will be diving off the Blue O Two’s charming wooden yacht, the Sea Spirit. Deliberately
built for intimacy, this boat and its dhoni have a capacity of only 12 people – so you can
expect personal attention from the two dive guides and two Lacadives staff members who
will accompany you on this trip! Blue O Two, and its partner Master Liveaboards own and
operate liveaboards in some of the best locations on the planet, including the Red Sea, the
Galapagos and French Polynesia. You will be in good hands!

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

KEY FEATURES
·  26 meter wooden hull
·  6 en-suite air conditioned cabins
·  Nitrox membrane for those who would like to use nitrox
·  Wifi
·  Al fresco dining area

GETTING TO AND FROM THE MALDIVES
Male International Airport (MLE) is fairly straightforward from Mumbai or Bangalore on Go
Air or Spice Jet. If you’re traveling internationally, Emirates and other middle eastern
airlines fly into Male via their respective hubs.
This trip will depart from and end in Male, please see one potential itinerary below
We suggest arriving in Male on the morning or afternoon of August 15th, and departing on
the morning or afternoon of August 22.
Go Air G823 BOM – MLE (August 15, 2019). Departing 12:40 Arriving 14:55
Go Air G824 MLE – BOM (August 22, 2019) Departing 15:55 Arriving 19:20
The boat will dock in Male on the morning of August 22nd. If you have a few hours between
disembarkation and your flight out, you can spend time at either Hulhumale Island Resort or
the Airport Lounge (see pricing section below for details)

TRIP SAFETY
Travel cancellation and dive insurance (including insurance covering decompression
chamber fees) are absolutely mandatory on this trip. We recommend using DAN or Dive
Assure for dive insurance, and your preferred insurance company for travel and medical
insurance.
As All guests must have a minimum of a PADI Advanced certification (or equivalent) and
comfort with diving in currents. As some dive sites may be challenging, the trip leaders and
the crew may request some guests to sit out certain dives due to a lack of experience or
skills.

ITINERARY (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
·   7 nights, 8 days (August 15 – 22, 2019)
·   3-4 dives per day, weather permitting
·   The daily schedule will approximately be as follows:
         o Light breakfast, followed by dive 1
         o Full breakfast, relaxation, briefing, dive 2
         o Lunch, relaxation, briefing, dive 3
         o Snack, relaxation, dinner. If there’s a dive 4, the schedule will be slightly amended

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

DIVE SITES
We’ll be visiting several dive sites along our journey, but here are some of the highlights
we’re most excited about!

Orimas Thila, North Ari Atoll: Although sharks are not usually the highlight of the northern
itineraries, Orimas Thila is an exception to the rule. Here, grey reef sharks can be observed
circling and wriggling whilst they are being cleaned. The best spot to view them from is
down-current either on the sandy bottom or from a ledge out of sight, kneeling or using a
reef hook if the current is running.

Miyari Faru, North Male Atoll: ‘Miyaru’ means ‘shark’ in Dhivehi - sharks feature
prominently at this North Male spot! At around 30 metres there is an overhang which can
shield you from the strength of the passing current, and with an incoming current the
visibility can be excellent and the parade of pelagic fish and local residents, impressive. You
might see a number of grey reef sharks as well as barracuda, kingfish and tuna. Large groups
of eagle rays and their larger cousins, the manta rays, are often seen here filter feeding in
the plankton-rich water.

Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll: Yes. That place – a UNESCO World Heritage site where hundreds
of mantas converge in an area the size of a football field to create one of the largest feeding
frenzies on earth. There may be 200 mantas at one time, and perhaps even whale sharks!
Since January 2012, SCUBA diving has been halted in Hanifaru Bay, however snorkeling is
still permitted for $20 per person

Dhigala Thila, Baa Atoll: This beautiful thila in Baa Atoll is easily circumnavigated in one
dive and is a favourite for shark sightings; often big numbers of grey reef sharks together.
Once heavily fished, it is now a protected marine sanctuary and the fish life is prolific and
varied with blue fin jacks, fusilier, blue striped and humpback snapper, batfish and schools of
barracuda.

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

PRICING AND INCLUSIONS

STANDARD CABIN
  o Per person price: USD 2,375 (approximately INR 160,000)
       Accommodation in standard cabin, twin sharing: USD 1,999 (approx. INR
       136,000)
       Full set of equipment, including dive computer: USD 350 (approx. INR 24,000) –
       contact us for individual equipment prices.
       Green Tax of USD 6 per person
       Hanifaru Bay snorkeling fee of USD 20

Please contact us if you would like a room to yourself, the surcharge for this is 80%
on the accommodation

Expect the full cost of this trip to be approximately USD 2,700, or about INR
180,000, once you include flights

INCLUSIONS
  7 nights accommodation, meals and snacks
  Tea, coffee, fruit juice, soft drinks
  17 - 22 dives (3-4 dives per day, including 1 night dive)
  Full set of equipment, including a dive computer
  Transfers between airport and Sea Spiriton days of embarkation and
  disembarkation

ADDITIONS/EXTRAS
   Nitrox: USD 105 (for the week)
   Reef hook rental: USD 21 (for the week)
   Alcohol and merchandise
   International flights: approximately USD300 (INR 20,000), round trip from India
   Visa fees, if required (Indian nationals can receive a visa on arrival for up to 90
   days’ stay; please make sure your passport has at least 6 months’ validity)
   Crew tips
   Insurance (we require diving insurance, health and travel insurance for this trip).
   DAN insurance is also a good option for annual insurance
   Airport lounge/additional hotels not listed above
       Airport lounge fee can be booked in advance: USD 30 for the first three hours, and
       USD 8 for each additional hour after that.
       Hulhumale Island Resort starts at USD 80, and has free shuttles to the airport
       every 10 – 15 minutes. Day use packages can be arranged on arrival at the
       reception

SCUBA DIVING IN THE MALDIVES

PAYMENT METHODS AND TIMELINES
  Payment methods and details will be shared at the time of booking
  Payment timelines and policies are as follows:
   On confirming booking:
         40% of trip cost due as a non-refundable deposit to Blue O Two upon
         confirmation of booking
         60% due 60 days before the trip (June 1, 2019)

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you would like to cancel your trip, please contact us at the earliest
      61 days or more before departure: 40% of price is forfeited
      60 – 0 days before departure: 100% of trip price is forfeited
Please see full set of terms and conditions here

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
  The currency in the Maldives is USD. Larger hotels and shops accept Visa and
  Mastercard, and may levy a credit card fee
      Cash is accepted on board – USD, GBP, EUR and AUD
  Although on the Maldives is generally warm, it might get cool or windy during the
  evenings. Bring a light jacket or sweater!
  There is free wifi on board when the boat is “in range”. However, if you need
  consistent internet, you may consider purchasing a SIM card at the airport.