The briefing board displayed a 0650 briefing time but overnight, a discussion centring around GPS serviceability, air conditioning engineers and significantly an 0500 weigh anchor signalled to the more experience Maldivian travellers that all was not well.  On arrival in the main saloon it became obvious that an 0630 first dive would not be on the cards as the expanse of the Indian Ocean opened up on the bow and we all realised the we were again tracking North!

At 0830 we arrived at Kulhudhuffushi a location we had left about 24 hrs before.  But the dive dhoni skipper spotted a manta on our way to the planned site, in true tradition of this expedition a change to the plan was made and first wave of divers put in the general vicinity of the manta sighting.

 On entry a Hawksbill turtle was sighted and most pairs descended to depth. The eagle eyed John ‘lucky’ Parris spotted the manta so he and Pete H stayed at 6m. After 10 mins they descended to 22m and returned to 6m area spotted to discover the manta was still in the same spot. The remaining dive time was spent playing with the manta, resulting in John getting excellent video footage. 

The other dive pairs on both the first and second wave were disappointed not to sight the Manta. The site however, was very popular due to the quality of the marine life and coral with an interesting shelf spotted by Paul. Overall, a fantastic dive site and to quote Pete H ‘greatest dive ever!’.

 Returning to the Safari the team were met by Mike who reported that the air conditioning workers had succeeded in virtually flooding the saloon from above.  Cabin carpets and floorboards where being put back down and there was a great deal of banging indicating that the GPS engineers had started work!  Despite being briefed on our 1330 hrs next departure time the dhoni crew decided that 1325 hrs was a good time to refuel and so our planned departure was again delayed by avoidable routine maintenance activity. 

 The second dive was on what we subsequently called ‘soft coral wall’.  Having been spotted by Paul from the first dive we returned to a similar area as the first dive.  On dropping to 25m many of us were greeted by a turtle.  Following the advice of Paul we kept our depth along a sandy bottom for 10 mins.  The wall was sheer and covered in soft and amazingly colourful coral, more like strolling past a garden in bloom.  The reef contained a labyrinth of caves, but unfortunately there were no sharks lurking in their hidden depths.  Marine highlights also included Sting Rays and an octopus trying to hide in its hole.   

Soft Coral Wall

Riyaz on the Diary