Best Of South(Vaavu Atoll)
DAY ONE (1)
Upon arrival at the airport you will be met & greeted by one of our representatives and will be assisted to embark to your chosen Safari Boat. Here you can enjoy your welcome drink and take your time to discover your room and unpack. Relax in the restaurant before we come together for our Safety Briefing. After chilling out and setting in we anchor outside Kurumba. Now it’s time to get into the water for our Check Dive at VELASSARU CAVES to get comfortable in the waters of Maldives. While we shut down in Velassaru, you have time to explore the Boat.
DAY TWO (2)
Our first stop… VAADHOO CAVES, located on the Northern tip of the Atoll. This pristine reef is famous for drift diving and all species of Reef Fish. Discover the multiple caves and overhangs and watch out for the bigger visitors such as White Tip Reef Sharks, Tunas and Turtles. For our second dive we head to KANDOOMA THILA, a teardrop shaped reef and considered as one of the most spectacular dive sites in South Male’ Atoll, famous for its scenery and prolific fish life. Join us for our afternoon dive either at COCOA CORNER and be witness of one of the best Shark shows around Male’ Atoll or come with us to GURAIDHOO CORNER. This reef, well known for its notorious incoming and often very strong current, reveals Grey Reef Sharks, patrolling the edge of the channel entrance and a high activity of other Pelagic.
DAY THREE (3)
Shut down in Guraidhoo we start at RANIKAN to experience the colorful abundance of tropical fish and corals. Look well enough to spot Leaf Fish and take the opportunity to see most of those shy visitors such as Torpedo Rays, Manti Shrimps and Lobsters. In the summertime there is a big chance to experience the Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. After moving South to Vaavu Atoll we take you to LHOS KUDA KANDU at the narrow channel entrance. This reef between 3-30m reveals a variety of hard corals from 25-30m. The area inside the channel is protected from stronger currents and makes an excellent location for photographers. Number 3 today is conducted at DHIGGIRI KANDU on the Northern side of the Atoll. This dive site is a deep channel with a drop-off at the outside edge of about 45m. Discover and explore the many caves and submerged cliffs.
DAY FOUR (4)
Anchored in Dhiggiri there is a lot to see today. At MEDHU KANDU we can experience White Tip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and Sting Rays and at times even Hammerhead Sharks, surrounding the sandy bottom at about 20-25m. The shallow reef at about 8m on the South side is an excellent location for photographers with abundance of Reef Fish.
The name is the “deal”. At the North corner of MIYARU (Dhivehi name for Shark) KANDU is a cave at 33m, an excellent place for Grey Reef Sharks and inside the channel for Black Tip Reef Sharks. GOLDEN WALL shows, what it says. Behind the corner of the channel entrance starts a wall, continuing further inside, carpeted with colorful soft corals, playing home for various small visitors, while you meet the bigger ones, such as Grey Reef Sharks, Napoleons and Tunas right at the channel entrance.
DAY FIVE (5)
Resting in Alimatha we jump-off at DEVANA KANDU. This protected marine area of about 250m length, divides the channel in the middle. On the outside you find caves and overhangs dropping down vertically from 30m to the depth below, with Grey Reef Sharks and Eagle Rays. At the South passage, with large coral blocks, it is not uncommon to see Angelfish, Pufferfish and Lizardfish. We go down to 28m at HATHARUVANA KANDU to encounter the big stuff. Grey Reef Sharks and White Tips as well as Eagle Rays and Tunas are very common to meet here. Moving deeper South East we head to HULHIDHOO IKANDU, the channel between two deserted islands. This reef is shaped as a terraced rice-field and you find small overhangs between 20-35m with White Tip Sharks and Sting Rays.
DAY SIX (6)
We start into a new day in Keyodhoo at the North East bend of the Atoll and we venture for 2 exciting channel dives. At KEYODHOO KANDU the Thila starts at about 3m and descends smoothly to 30m to the sandy bottom. You find a very good and healthy coral life and on the South side White Tip Reef Sharks, Sting Rays and Turtles are very common. The next one is at FUSHI KANDU with a sandbed on the corner at about 30-35m. There we discover the caves with Sharks and pretty coral and Reef Fish inside. The highlight for today… FOTTEYO, for some divers the best dive site in the Maldives, the coral growth is excellent, the fish life abundant and as a photographer’s paradise this place features caves, soft coral, Seafans, Sharks and Reef Fish. To complete our day we escape to a deserted island for a Beach BBQ.
DAY SEVEN (7)
As there is so much to discover at FOTTEYO, we will continue our excursion for all who do not fly within the next 24hrs. Around the bend near the entrance to the channel is a special place with many caves and overhangs, known as “Cherry Caves”, as they look like blooming cherry-blossoms. Just inside the channel is “Trigger Valley”, where Titan Triggerfish are numerous. After a 4hrs cruise back to North Male’ Atoll you can experience Male’, the capital of Maldives, to see the Maldivian life, go for sightseeing or do some shopping, before you return to the boat for overnight.
DAY EIGHT (8)
After breakfast your crew will transfer you to Male’ International Airport.
The above Itinerary is just to give you an idea of the routes we follow and dive sites. The route will be discussed on your arrival, we will consider your preferences, weather and seasons to offer you an unforgettable diving experience.
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