Maldives: Tropical Vision of the Indian Ocean

<body> <h1> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="81" align="right"> <tr> <td style="margin-left: 20; padding-left: 10; padding-bottom: 10;><img height=" 115" width="200"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150"> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><a href="*" csclick="BC5E84288" onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'BC5E84288'));return CSClickReturn();"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#191970"><b><img height="86" width="150" src="graphics/worldmap_maldives.jpg" border="0" alt="maldives map"></b></font></a> <p><a href="maldives_trip_report.shtml" title="Diving the Maldives"><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><b>Read a March 2002 Trip Report!</b></span></span></span></font></a></td> </tr> </table> </center> </td> </tr> </table> <a href="maldives_main.shtml"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#4169e1"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">Maldives: Tropical Vision of the Indian Ocean</span></span></span></font></a></h1> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">Lying across the Equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean awaits the pristine tropical jewel of the Maldives.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><img height="120" width="171" src="photos/maldives_islands.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="left" alt="maldives diving">The Maldives consist of 1190 islands with 26 major atolls sprinkled across an area of 500 miles north and south and 75 miles east to west at it's widest. Only 200 of the islands are inhabited and 75 of those have been developed as resorts. Guests arrive at the capital, Male, to start their live-aboard cruise.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><img height="105" width="150" src="photos/maldives_fish.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="right" alt="maldives diving">A typical cruise lasts 10 days and covers 250 miles with 4 dives a day. The vessel is usually anchored during the night so that guests can enjoy their tranquil tropical paradise, with it's views of turquoise waters and palm-studed islands.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">The diving is phenomenal, with a profusion of sea life of all kinds. Whale sharks are not uncommon as they cruise in migration from the waters of Thailand to S.W. India.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><img height="79" width="150" src="photos/maldives_whaleshark.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="right" alt="maldives diving">A recent visitor describes the underwater life: lots of healthy soft corals, gorgonia, tubastrea, and a profusion of mushroom corals everywhere. wealth of fish life of all descriptions on every dive. turtles were plentifuloften saw eagle, manta and stingrays. Eels were prolific. Drifting down the reef with Napoleon wrasse bigger than a Saint Bernard is a thrill. Large trevally jacks, mackerel, and dogtooth tuna prowled the walls.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><b><img height="85" width="150" src="photos/maldives_manthiri.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="right" alt="maldives diving">M.Y. Manthiri</b></span></span></span>  <span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">Although Europeans have long enjoyed diving in the waters of the Maldives, Americans seldom visited in the past due to the lack of a suitably comfortable vessel; one that could offer diving and accommodations up to Western standards. This has recently changed and we are happy to add M.Y. Manthiri to our diving itineraries.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><img height="104" width="150" src="photos/maldives_manthiri_int.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="left" alt="maldives diving">The Manthiri is an 85-foot long vessel with a 25-foot beam. It was built to exacting standards in 1995 for luxury live-aboard cruising. It has accommodations for 12 divers in it's 4 twin and 2 double cabins. All cabins have hot showers, hair dryers and mini bars. Feel at home relaxing in the 400 square foot salon that's furnished with sofas, and a multi-system theatre system of TV, stereos and video cameras. Enjoy being served by Manthiri's eleven person crew. A separate smaller salon is set up with a light table and tables for working on cameras. On board E-6 film processing is available. A top deck has a common bar with deck chairs to soak in the sun during the day, or gaze at the tropical skies at night.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">Diving is done from an accompanying 42 foot boat called a dhoni fitted with compressors and safety equipment. The dive gear remains on the dhoni, for greater comfort and convenience to the divers and no compressor noise at night. Both aluminum 80s and steel 95s are available.</span></span></span></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><img height="75" width="150" src="photos/maldives_madivaru7.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="right" alt="maldives diving"><b>Madivaru 7</b></span></span></span>  <span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead">A 100' luxury vessel that accomodates a maximum of 16 guests in 8 double cabins. Each cabin has a double and a single berth, and is equipped with ensuite bathrooms. It is fully air conditioned with individual cabin controls. A large sun deck as well a shaded deck are available for lounging and enjoying the specalular scenery. There is a special area for photographers and VCR/TV for video playback. The diving is carried out from 2 attached 45' diving boats.</span></span></span></font></p> <center> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#191970"><span class="bodysubhead"><span class="bold"><span class="bodysubhead"><b>Join South Pacific Island Travel for a cruise in the tropical oasis of the Maldives!</b></span></span></span></font></p> <p> <hr noshade size="1" color="#191970"> <br> <font color="#0099cc" size="4" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>South Pacific Island Travel</strong></font><br> <font color="black" size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">537 North 137th Street, Seattle, WA 98133<br> Toll Free: <strong>1-877-773-4846</strong> / WA: 206-367-0956 / Fax: 206-306-9288</font><br> <br> <a href="index.html" target="_top" title="travel to the south pacific"><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Home</font></a><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> / <a href="aboutus.shtml" target="_top" title="dive travel to Fiji, Palau, Tahiti, Indonesia, south pacific">About Us</a> / <a href="destinations.shtml" target="_top" title="dive travel to Fiji, Palau, Tahiti, Indonesia, south pacific">Destinations</a> / <a href="liveaboards.shtml" target="_top" title="liveaboards in the south pacific palau fiji thailand">Liveaboards</a> / <a href="whats_new.shtml" target="_top" title="travel to the south pacific">What's New</a> / <a href="specials.shtml" target="_top" title="south pacific island travel">Specials</a> / <a href="contactus.html" target="_top" title="south pacific island travel">Contact Us</a><br> <a href="australia.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to australia - liveaboards in australia">Australia</a> / <a href="costa_rica.html" target="_top" title="costa rica dive travel cocos live aboards">Costa Rica</a> / <a href="fiji.html" target="_top" title="fiji resorts and live aboards fiji dive travel">Fiji</a> / <a href="vanuatu.html" target="_top" title="honeymoon in vanuatu">Vanuatu</a> / <a href="galapagos.html" target="_top" title="galapagos dive travel and liveaboards">Galapagos</a> / <a href="hawaii.html" target="_top" title="vacation travel to hawaii">Hawaii</a> / <a href="maldives.html" target="_top" title="maldives dive travel">Maldives</a> / <a href="micronesia.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to micronesia">Micronesia</a> / <a href="palau.html" target="_top" title="palau dive travel micronesia palau liveaboards">Palau</a> / <a href="yap.html" target="_top" title="yap diving with mantas">Yap</a> / <a href="truk.html" target="_top" title="truk lagoon chuuk liveaboard diving">Truk Lagoon</a> / <a href="kosrae.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to kosrae">Kosrae</a> / <a href="PNG.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to papua new guinea PNG liveaboards">Papua New Guinea</a> / <a href="red_sea.html" target="_top" title="liveaboards in the red sea">Red Sea</a> / <a href="solomon_islands.html" target="_top" title="solomon islands diving liveaboards">Solomon Islands</a> / <a href="indonesia.html" target="_top" title="indonesia diving travel and liveaboards">Indonesia</a> / <a href="tahiti.html" target="_top" title="south pacific travel to tahiti, bora bora, moorea">Tahiti</a> / <a href="thailand.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to thailand">Thailand</a> / <a href="caribbean.html" target="_top" title="caribbean diving">Caribbean</a> </font><br> <br> <a href="*"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman,Georgia,Times">©2004 South Pacific Island Travel & Under Watercolours</font></a><font size="1" face="Times New Roman,Georgia,Times">. 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