Diving in Maldives and Full Charter  Maldives liveaboards Travel Scuba diving in Male for dive in Maldives

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Maldives Luxury Liveaboards for Scuba Diving

MV / Manthir Maldives Liveaboards Scuba Diving

Relaxing with the welcome drink served by our courteous waiter, your first impression of the boat is perhaps her signature salon furnished with upholstered sofas and chairs, music system, TV and VCR with video camera viewing facilities and camera tables---one of the largest and most comfortable salons found on any vessel of this size in existence. Two round tables each seating six guests stand on one side of the salon opening into a smaller one in the rear conveniently laid for working cameras with a lounge chair and light table. Slide projector and E-6 are at hand and ample 220 (British Standard square pin plugs) and 110 (US Standard flat plugs) volt power outlets, no transformers or adaptors needed. This is a vessel designed and equipped with underwater photographers in mind. NITROX is available.

The top deck with the shaded area furnished with deck chairs is the place for soaking in the sun or star gaze in the evening, lying down if you prefer on an adjustable padded chair. The common bar with the ice-maker is in the shade.

The day begins with the mini breakfast. The full breakfast is after the first dive which commences at 7:00AM . Snacks are served between the dives. All the meals are sit- down. The food is delicious, abundant and nourishing.

Q. What kind of dives do you offer?
A. Most of our dives are drift dives in channels or over sea mounts called thilas.

Q. What is the visibility like?
A. Visibility depends on current and sea onditions. On a typical 250 mile tour, we have 100 foot plus visibility on some dives while on other dives they range 60 - 80 foot.

Q. What is the weather like in Maldives?
A. Situated across the equator in the Indian Ocean, the climate is tropical year-round. The air temperature averages 30° Celsius (86° F). The cooling effect of the sea breezes, however, makes most days balmy and genial.

Maldives is blessed with plentiful sunshine throughout the year, the average being 7 ½ hours of sunshine a day. There are two definite seasons, characterized by the direction of the prevailing wind. The southwest season or monsoon lasts May to October. Days of fine weather is punctuated by short spells of rain and gusting winds. The northeast season or monsoon lasting December to April is dryer and the seas generally calmer. The term monsoon denoting roaring winds and rain, however, is mostly a misnomer where Maldives is concerned as the effect of monsoon experienced in India is much milder farther south in the Indian Ocean.

Q. What is the water temperature like?
A. Maldives being on the tropical zone, the water temperature ranging 28° to 29° Celsius (83° to 85° Fahrenheit)

Q. Can I bring in my own liqueur?
A. Import of liqueur, narcotics, pornography of all kinds, firearms, and idols of worship are prohibited. A large selection of alcoholic beverages is made available on our boat. If you wish to have a particular brand of drinks while on the boat, all attempts will be made to stock enough of your preferred brand provided you make the request in advance.

Q. Do I need a visa to enter Maldives?
A 30-day free tourist visa is given on arrival at the airport.

Q. What kind of clothes should I pack?
A. "Wisdom is modesty" says a bard of Maldives. This is good advice any traveler in a foreign country may well heed. Clothes that cover shoulder-to-knee, at the very least, are a custom which must be observed and respected when visiting inhabited islands. We recommend light cotton clothes. The atmosphere on board Manthiri is always relaxed and casual. You’ll spend your days in casual wear. Bring shorts or jeans, and T-shirts. Also bring a pair of sandals, hat, suntan lotion (non-oil) and sunglasses.

Q. Will someone meet me on arrival at Male’ Airport?
A. Our Airport Representative will meet and greet you on arrival at Male’ Airport and assist you with the necessary transfers. We have a Reception Desk in the walkway just outside of the Arrival Hall.

Q. Do you arrange pre and post tour hotel accommodations?
A. We arrange pre and post tour hotel accommodations in Maldives. .

Q. Do I need travel insurance?
A. It is important for you to have adequate insurance protection whilst on holiday covering Cancellation or Curtailment up to the holiday cost, Medical and Emergency Expenses, Baggage and Personal Effects, Baggage Delay, Money and airline tickets, Diving Accidents, Personal Accident, Personal Liability, Missed Departure, Legal Expenses, and Loss of Passport.

Q. Do I need to bring an electric voltage converter or plug adaptor for my laptop or camera charger?
A. Both European Standard 230VAC outlets requiring rectangular blade plug Type G and American Standard 110VAC outlets requiring flat blade plugs of Type A & B are available in cabins and salons.

Q. What type of food is served on the boat?
A. Two expert chefs on board spoil our guests with mouth-watering meals day after day. We serve three gourmet meals a day. Snacks and fresh fruits are always available. Most meals will be a combination of Western and Eastern cuisine. A selection of complimentary beverages is always on hand; from soft drinks, juices and lemonade, to beer, wine and rum drinks. Special dietary requests will be met within the confines of available means in the country.

Q. What if I get sick on board?
A. First Aid Kits and oxygen cylinders are available within easy reach. Evacuation will be made, when necessary, either to the nearest hyperbaric Chamber or to a hospital in Male’. You should have an adequate insurance cover to meet the expenses.

Q. How do I contact my family and friends while I am on board?
A. GSM cellular phones are available on board. You may rent one for a modest fee for the entire trip.

Q. Should I leave a tip to the crew?
A. Gratuities are not included in our package. You may reward the crew if you find their service worthy of a generous tip. Most of our guests leave 10 - 15% of the liveaboards cost as a tip. All collected gratuities are pooled and divided equally among the crew.

Q. What credentials do I need for diving?
A. Certification Card and log book is required as proof of your training and experience. You are required to complete and sign a standard release and waiver form prior to the commencement of diving.

Q. Do I require a wetsuit?
A. The water temperature is 28° to 29° Celsius (83° to 85° Fahrenheit) with little variation throughout the year. Therefore, a light wetsuit is necessary. We recommend a 3mm wetsuit for protection.

Q. How is diving done from Manthiri?
A. All diving is done from the accompanying 54 foot dhoni. It has a spacious 400sq ft dive deck seating 14 divers with elbow room to spare. There is a head and two hot water showers, one of them on the deck aft. Divers are wowed by our dhoni. The dhoni is fitted with two high pressure compressors each of 450 liters (16 cfm) and a membrane-type Nitrox system.

Q. Will a dive guide assist me?
A. Certainly. All our dives are guided. We have three great dive guides on board, all of them PADI qualified. Two of them are instructors and one of them an Assistant Instructor. Between them, they have more than 10,000 dives under the belt.

Q. What is the duration and maximum depth of a dive?
A. Each dive is 60 minutes long. By law, the maximum depth for recreational diving is limited to
30 meters (98 feet). We strictly abide by this rule.

Q. Is dive training available on board?
A A highly qualified and experienced dive instructor is available on board. Training for PADI Open Water Diver and Advance Open Water Diver is available on board.

Q. Is Nitrox available?
A. 32% enriched air fills are normally available to all certified Nitrox divers for an additional charge. The Nitrox offer, however, does not extend the range beyond the prescribed limits of 60 minute duration and the 30 meter depth. If you are not Nitrox certified, we can help you accomplish this on board. The course is US$150.00.

Q. Is dive gear available for rent?
A. Dive gear is available for rent: Scuba Pro Regulators, Tusa/Scuba Pro BCDs, Uwatec/Aladin Pro Dive Computers, Scuba Pro Dive Lamps, Masks, Fins, Snorkel, and Wetsuits. We recommend that you arrange rental prior to arrival.

Q. What diving equipment do I need to bring?
A. Our package includes tank (with DIN and Yoke-type valve), weights and belt only. The following dive equipment is required for each diver.

REQUIRED BASIC DIVE EQUIPMENT
• Regulator with alternate air source
• Dive Computer (just a dive watch is not considered a dive computer)
• Buoyancy Compensation Device (BCD)
• Mask/Fins/Snorkel
• Wetsuit
• One primary and one backup light

MANDATORY SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- Dive Alert
- Inflatable Safety Sausage (provided free of charge).
- Mini Strobe

Q. How can I pay for my expenses and purchases on board?
On board Manthiri, VISA and MASTER cards are accepted.

Q. Will I see mantas and whale sharks?
A. Mantas are sighted year-round in cleaning stations. Sometimes they are sighted in great swirling schools day after day. The best time for schooling mantas is June to October.
Whale sharks are sighted on 70% of our tours throughout the year.

Q. Do you have DVD and VCR on board?
A. We have a DVD and VCR monitor with US and European formats. We have a collection of movies on board. Feel free to bring your favorites.

Q. What can you offer for my non-diver spouse or companion?
A. Snorkeling and island visits depending on the schedule of the boat.

Relaxing with the welcome drink served by our courteous waiter, your first impression of the boat is perhaps her signature salon furnished with upholstered sofas and chairs, music system, TV and VCR with video camera viewing facilities and camera tables---one of the largest and most comfortable salons found on any vessel of this size in existence. Two round tables each seating six guests stand on one side of the salon opening into a smaller one in the rear conveniently laid for working cameras with a lounge chair and light table. Slide projector and E-6 are at hand and ample 220 (British Standard square pin plugs) and 110 (US Standard flat plugs) volt power outlets, no transformers or adaptors needed. This is a vessel designed and equipped with underwater photographers in mind. NITROX is available.

The top deck with the shaded area furnished with deck chairs is the place for soaking in the sun or star gaze in the evening, lying down if you prefer on an adjustable padded chair. The common bar with the ice-maker is in the shade.

The day begins with the mini breakfast. The full breakfast is after the first dive which commences at 7:00AM . Snacks are served between the dives. All the meals are sit- down. The food is delicious, abundant and nourishing.

 

Price includes: • Accommodation aboard on twin or double sharing. • Meals and snacks, tea/coffee/juice, bottled drinking water, wine at dinner. • Three to four dives daily with tank and weights. • Services of a PADI qualified and highly experienced English speaking dive master. • Pickup and drop-off at Male’ Airport on scheduled departure and return dates.

IMPORTANT The minimum qualification for diving is PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent. Those arrive without qualification, the training needed can be completed on board in six days for a fee of US$500. QUALIFIED DIVERS MUST POSSESS THEIR CERTIFICATION CARD FOR DIVING ON MANTNHRI. PAYMENT:   Individuals: • A deposit of US$750 per person, non-refundable, is required . • Balance is due 60 days prior to departure.

Our tours generally begin and end in the International Airport on Hulhule' Island barely ten minutes across the channel from Male', the capital. Each tour covers two or three atolls or more depending on the duration. The cruising is done during the daylight hours, passing by palm-fringed islands set over sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. Normally the vessel is calmly anchored by sunset, sometimes near an uninhabited island or a deserted sand bank, sometimes near an inhabited island, affording our guests an opportunity to savour the local arts, crafts and singing and dancing called boduberu .
Our tours generally begin and end in the International Airport on Hulhule' Island barely ten minutes across the channel from Male', the capital. Each tour covers two or three atolls or more depending on the duration. The cruising is done during the daylight hours, passing by palm-fringed islands set over sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. Normally the vessel is calmly anchored by sunset, sometimes near an uninhabited island or a deserted sand bank, sometimes near an inhabited island, affording our guests an opportunity to savour the local arts, crafts and singing and dancing called boduberu .

Barbeque dinner on a deserted island under a starlit sky with the lullaby of waves lapping the soft sandy beach is an enchanting experience.

Diving is done from an accompanying 54 foot dive boat with a big dive deck comfortably seating 14 divers and conveniently laid out with tank racks, hot water showers, head, a