Maldives
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All aboard
In the Maldives , the key to great diving lies in understanding the movement of water in and out of the atolls , because fish activity picks up in current . The movement of water also dictates the presence of filter feeding giants such as the manta rays and whale sharks for which the Maldives atolls are renowned .
Maldives Aggressor III and support vessel
TRAVELSPECIAL
Manta ray cleaning station
The liveaboard
The Maldives Aggressor II offers seven and 10-night trips , with 18 dives available on the seven night option and 27 on the longer trip . You typically get three day dives , plus a night dive each evening . The vessel accommodates 22 passengers in 11 staterooms above and below deck level . As is common practice in the Maldives , diving is carried out from a support vessel which keeps the noise of the compressor away from the guests .
Do not miss
In Male Atoll , two of the classics are Lankan Beyru and Rasfari Corner . Lankan Beyru is frequented by manta rays visiting cleaning stations during the southwest monsoon . The cleaning station comprises a large coral bommie covered in anemones and thick with cleaner wrasse . You ’ re just as likely to come across whitetip reef sharks , turtles and Napoleon wrasse there . Meanwhile at Rasfari Corner you get very active cleaning stations during the northeast monsoon . The wall here is thick with hard corals and popular with green and hawksbill turtles . Over in North Ari Atoll , Maya Thila is a legendary pinnacle considered to offer the best night dive in the Maldives . Its currentfacing side is usually thick with fusiliers and snappers , and it ’ s quite normal to see big jacks , tuna and stingrays . By night , the resident white-tip reef sharks become active as they menace the reef for sleeping fish , and a shameless great barracuda has been known to use diver ’ s lights to scope out his prey .
Sweetlips on a soft coral ledge The super elegant salon
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