EcoPro Mariana · Maldives · 14 nights
This liveaboard itinerary explores the vibrant atolls of Gaafu Alifu, Fuvahmulah, and Addu in the Maldives, offering a diverse array of diving experiences. Guests can anticipate encountering rich marine life, from pelagic species like tiger sharks and whale sharks to mantas and various macro creatures. The journey navigates through channels, reefs, and cleaning stations, promising exhilarating drift dives and opportunities to explore colorful coral gardens and historical wrecks. This route is particularly recommended for advanced divers comfortable with currents and deeper dive profiles.
The crew will welcome guests from the airport to the ship. Following a brief orientation and cabin setup, passengers can settle in and prepare their equipment. The rest of the day is dedicated to familiarizing themselves with the vessel and getting ready for the exciting dives ahead.
Today's diving focuses on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, an area known for its dynamic channel dives. Sites like Villingili Kandu offer exhilarating drifts through channels between islands, where strong currents attract larger pelagic species. Divers can explore impressive coral gardens and reef formations, keeping an eye out for diverse marine life in this vibrant underwater landscape.
Dive sites: Villingili Kandu, Kondey Coral Garden
Continuing exploration within the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, divers will experience a mix of reef and channel dives. The area is known for its spectacular reef formations, often featuring abundant soft corals and a variety of colorful reef fish. Strong currents within the channels make for thrilling drift dives, providing excellent opportunities to spot larger marine predators and schooling fish.
Dive sites: Villingili Kandu, Kondey Coral Garden
The dive itinerary proceeds through Gaafu Alifu Atoll, where the underwater terrain offers varied experiences. Expect to encounter diverse marine life, from small reef creatures to larger inhabitants often found in the channels. The area's healthy reef systems are filled with hard and soft corals, providing shelter and sustenance for a wide range of species.
Dive sites: Villingili Kandu, Kondey Coral Garden
Today's dives in Gaafu Alifu Atoll are tailored for advanced divers, often involving deeper profiles and strong currents. These conditions are ideal for encountering pelagic species that thrive in the open ocean and along channel edges. The use of a reef hook is recommended to maintain position and observe the vibrant ecosystems without damaging the corals.
Dive sites: Villingili Kandu, Kondey Coral Garden
Concluding the exploration of Gaafu Alifu Atoll, divers will have more opportunities to discover its magnificent reefs and channels. These sites are renowned for their abundant marine life and vivid coral formations. The area consistently presents exciting drift dives, with potential sightings of various pelagic species and schooling fish.
Dive sites: Villingili Kandu, Kondey Coral Garden
Today marks the arrival at Fuvahmulah, an isolated island celebrated for its consistent tiger shark encounters. Dives here are often conducted in the harbor entry, where a local dive center facilitates sightings. The unique drop-off environment often attracts numerous tiger sharks, making for an unforgettable experience with these majestic creatures.
Dive sites: Tiger Zoo, South Plateau Fuvahmulah, North Plateau Fuvahmulah
Diving continues around Fuvahmulah, a location famous for its strong currents and abundant pelagic marine life. Divers can expect thrilling blue water encounters, with opportunities to see various shark species like tiger sharks, hammerheads, and whale sharks. The dynamic environment around the island's plateaus is ideal for observing large marine animals.
Dive sites: Tiger Zoo, South Plateau Fuvahmulah, North Plateau Fuvahmulah
Beyond the thrilling shark dives, Fuvahmulah offers impressive coral formations and a chance for macro exploration. While known for its pelagics, the vibrant reefs around the island also host a variety of smaller marine creatures. Divers can explore the beautiful and intact coral life, appreciating the biodiversity of this unique Maldivian atoll.
Dive sites: Tiger Zoo, South Plateau Fuvahmulah, North Plateau Fuvahmulah
Continuing the Fuvahmulah experience, today's dives aim to showcase the incredible diversity of shark species present here. Beyond tiger sharks, it's possible to encounter other pelagics in the blue. The currents surrounding the island contribute to rich nutrient upwellings, supporting a thriving ecosystem that attracts various large marine animals.
Dive sites: Tiger Zoo, South Plateau Fuvahmulah, North Plateau Fuvahmulah
Travel to Addu Atoll, where the focus shifts to exhilarating encounters with reef manta rays. Addu Manta Point is a renowned cleaning station where these majestic creatures gather, especially in the mornings. Divers can observe mantas being cleaned by smaller fish, a captivating natural spectacle that defines this dive site.
Dive sites: Addu Manta Point
Today's dives in Addu Atoll combine a historical wreck with vibrant reef exploration. The British Loyalty Wreck, a WWII oil tanker torpedoed in 1944, lies in shallow waters, now heavily encrusted with soft corals. The wreck teems with marine life, including ghost pipefish, turtles, and trevally. Nearby Outer Reefs offer beautiful and intact coral life, with chances to spot oceanic manta rays and other pelagics in the open water.
Dive sites: British Loyalty Wreck, Outer Reef
Continuing the exploration of Addu Atoll, where the waters often reveal majestic oceanic manta rays. The Outer Reefs are characterized by their pristine coral health and abundant fish life. Visibility is typically excellent, offering clear views of the diverse ecosystem, from small reef dwellers to larger pelagic species that frequent the area.
Dive sites: Addu Manta Point, British Loyalty Wreck, Outer Reef
Enjoy the final dives in Addu Atoll, soaking in the last moments of its incredible underwater world. The area consistently delivers diverse experiences, from encounters with manta rays to exploring vibrant coral ecosystems. Take this opportunity to reflect on the week's adventures, capturing memories of the Maldives' rich marine biodiversity.
Dive sites: Addu Manta Point, British Loyalty Wreck, Outer Reef
This is the final day of the trip. Guests will enjoy a last breakfast on board before packing their belongings and preparing for disembarkation. Transfers will be arranged according to individual flight schedules, ensuring a smooth departure from Koodoo.
No departures scheduled for this route right now.