The adventure itinerary, so called because it moves away from the more frequented route and requires a minimum spirit of adventure and the will to learn. The Atolls to the south have been opened up to tourism over the last few years and there are very few holiday villages (some are still being built). The only way to really enjoy the beauty and magic of this area is on a cruise. Dealing with Atolls much further away from the International Airport holidays of a least 2 weeks have been organised. For those who haven’t got 2 weeks, it’s possible to see these magical areas with just 1 weeks holiday, reaching and leaving the boat with a transfer by plane from the islands aviation company. These are small flying a regular route and allow you to see the magnificent coral barrier reef.

 EXTREME SOUTH: Male North-Male South-Felidu-Wattaru-Mulak-Thaa-Laamu-Suvadiva (Gaaf Alifu and Gaaf Dhaal)

(weekly or fortnight with transfer by plane)

The itinerary is so called because it moves away from the more frequented route and requires a minimum spirit of adventure and the will to learn. The Atolls to the south have been opened up to tourism over the last few years and there are very few holiday villages (some are still being built). The only way to really enjoy the beauty and magic of this area is on a cruise. Emerald coloured islands with thick vegetation of coconut palms set in a turquoise colour sea alternate with circular lagoons. Natural swimming pools of tepid and enticing waters where you can lazily spend hours being cradled by movements of the water. Fisherman live on these islands which can be a kilometre long. Sometimes the islands are so close to one another linked with a small road

that you can travel by bike or pick-up lorry. The vegetation is different to that of the rest of the Maldives. It is farmed (for personal use) with fruit trees and vegetables. There are cows which produce milk for the village.

December – April :

After the first few days dedicated to the more well-known Atolls we arrive at the less frequented part of the Maldives which is attracting a lot of attention. The islands become larger with many desert islands and the splendid reef to go snorkelling. The dives are mainly performed along the turning of the pass to the east, where the current comes from the ocean bringing a large quantity of nourishment. Many shoals of fish live here, tuna, carangidea, barracuda, and also riflemen, dentex and butterfly fish. The big hunters like sharks and the giant groupers are attracted by these fish. It’s sometimes possible to encounter the vela fish. Groups of dolphins swim and play around the dhony and the boat. You can hear their splendid singing under water. With luck they might decide to stop and play with the divers and snorkellist. The sea’s current is usually quite strong in this area and the flows in the same direction. It has carved out caves where the coral, fish and interesting and beautiful invertebrates live. Excellent for deep-sea fishing (vela fish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda and lampughe) and with ledger-line (dentex, grouper etc).

 May – November:

The first part of the itinerary is dedicated to the more well-known Atolls of the Maldives where the sea current comes from the west carrying plankton. Here all of the large filterers who have passed the winter here move west. Dives are performed along the corners of the pass or along the shallows in front of the pass where an encounter with a Mantas is practically guaranteed. The currents aren’t very strong and permit the use of mask, fins and snorkel for a fantastic swim on the surface. The ocean walls are rich in bentonica life. A multitude of little fish swim amongst the napoleon, butterfly, tropical corvine fish and turtles. The leaf fish, antennaridi, phantom pipe-fish and colourful invertebrates hide amongst the coral.

Not good for towing – good for ledger-line fishing.

 EXTREME SOUTH:

MALE – LAAMU (weekly with 1 transfer by plan)

LAAMU and SUVADIVA (weekly with 2 transfers by plane)

December – April:

These islands are bigger than those found in the Atolls near Male. There are many desert islands and a splendid reef where you can go snorkelling. Dives are performed along the turning point of the pass to the east, where the seas current comes from the ocean carrying a large quantity of nourishment. Many shoals of fish live here from tuna, carangidea, barracuda and also riflemen, dentex and butterfly fish. The big hunters like the shark and the giant grouper are attracted by these fish. It’s sometimes possible to encounter vela fish. Groups of dolphins swim and play around the dhony and the boat. You can hear their splendid singing underwater. With luck they might decide to stop and play with the divers and snorkellists. The seas current is usually quite strong in this area and flows in the same direction. It has carved out caves where the coral, fish and interesting and beautiful invertebrates live. Swimming trips with fins, mask and snorkel are enthusiastic because of the large quantity of reef fish, turtles and skates which can be encountered. The reef is very beautiful and colourful and the coral is in good condition. Excellent for deep-sea fishing (vela fish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda and lampughe) and with ledger-line fishing (dentex, grouper etc).

May – November:

Here all the large filterers who have passed Winter here move west. Dives are performed along the corners of the pass or along the shallows in front of the pass where an encounter with a mantas is practically guaranteed. The seas currents aren’t very strong and permit the use of mask, fins and snorkel for a fantastic swim on the surface. The ocean walls are rich in bentonica life. The leaf fish, antennaridi, phantom pipe-fish and colourful invertebrates hide amongst the coral.

Not good for towing – good for ledger-line fishing.

EXTREME SOUTH: Suvadiva

(weekly with 2 transfers by plane)

This itinerary is also completely off the tourist circuit and a long way from the route normally frequented. It requires a minimum of spirit of adventure and the will to learn. This is the biggest Atoll of the Maldives and has been opened up to tourism over the last few years and there are few holiday villages in working order (only a few under construction). The only way to really enjoy the beauty and magic of this area is on a cruise. Dealing with Atolls much further away from the International Airport of Male, holidays of at least 2 weeks have been organised. Over the last few years, thanks to a close collaboration with ISLAND AVIATION (Maldive airline) it has been possible to arrive in these magical areas even with 1 weeks holiday utilizing the flights provided by this company. These are small planes which follow a regular route and allow you to see from the magnificent coral barrier reef from above.

 December – April:

There are more and bigger islands than those in the Atolls near Male. There are many desert islands and a splendid reef to go snorkelling. Dives are mainly performed along the turning of the pass to the east where the sea currents come the ocean carrying a large quantity of nourishment. Many shoals of fish live here from tuna, carangidea, barracuda but also riflemen, dentex and butterfly fish.

The big hunters like the shark and giant groupers are attracted by these fish. It’s sometimes possible to encounter vela fish. Groups of dolphins swim and play around the dhony and the boat. You can hear their splendid singing underwater. With luck they might decide to stop and play with the divers and snorkellists. The seas currents are usually quite strong in this area and flow in the same direction, and here they have carved out caves where coral, fish, interesting and beautiful invertebrates live. Swimming trips with fins, mask and snorkel are enthusiastic because of the large quantity of reef fish, turtles, and skates can be encountered. The reef is very beautiful and colourful and the coral is in good condition.

Excellent for deep-sea fishing (vela fish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda and lampughe) and with ledger-line (dentex, grouper etc.)

 May – November:

Here all the filterers who have passed Winter here move west. Dives are performed along the corners of the pass or along the shallows in front of the pass where an encounter with a Mantas is practically guaranteed. The seas currents aren’t very strong and permit the use of mask, fins and snorkel for a fantastic swim on the surface. The ocean walls are rich in bentonica life. A multitude of little fish swim amongst napoleon, butterfly, tropical corvine fish, and turtles. The leaf fish, antennaridi, phantom pipe-fish and colourful invertebrates hide amongst the coral.

Not good for towing – good for ledger-line fishing.

 EXTREME NORTH: North Male – Ari-Rasdhoo-Baa-Lhavyiani-Noonu-Shavyiani-Haa Dhaal-Haa Alifu

(fortnightly with transfer by plan)

This itinerary leaves the most remarkable and famous area of the Maldives and reaches unknown and unexplored areas. The environment in the northern Atolls is very different to that we are used to. The islands become bigger, the reef becomes deeper and it has a conformation which slopes softly down towards the ocean. There are many desert islands and beautiful sandbanks. A splendid reef for snorkelling. A holiday village has recently been opened and another is under construction. There are many fishing villages far from the tourist areas and they have maintained their local cultures.

December – April:

Dives in the first part of the itinerary are performed along the shallows and the internal reef, and are characterized by many colours. Many coral fish, moray eels, turtles, skates, leaf fish and lots of invertebrates such as sea-slugs and prawns live here. At Rasdoo it’s possible to encounter the Hammer Shark. At dawn the Hammer Shark can be seen moving towards the reef to feed - also in large groups. Moving north-east we encounter the Lhavyiani Atoll, a small diamond shape atoll with beautiful oceanic passes on both sides. In this period dives are performed along the turning of the pass towards the east guaranteeing the extraordinary encounter with groups of grey sharks, white tip reef sharks, sea-eagles, skates and trigoni, great napoleon, big tuna, carangidea and barracuda. And, if that isn’t enough, then the upward swim will be performed along the reef or colourful shallows full of caves and ravines where numerous coral fish and invertebrates live. Snorkelling along this reef is just as exciting and full of enthusiastic encounters. At Noona, some diving points offering rarities. The little pinochle so full of corals, micro-organisms and fish that it has been called a “Christmas Tree”, an ocean wall where a very rare species of pink coral grows which can only be found in a few parts of the world. The most northern Atolls are very interesting from a landscape view offering the oldest reefs with less coral, but able to offer enthusiastic encounters. Small invertebrates such as the rare sea-slug or the moray tape eel, the phantom pipe-fish or the leaf fish can be seen regularly. To conclude 2 beautiful wrecks vary a little the trip with diving and snorkelling in the discovery of fish and coral. 

Excellent for deep-sea fishing (vela fish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda and lampughe), and with ledger-line fishing (dentex, grouper etc).

 May – November:

The cruise starts at North Male to encounter the numerous giant Mantas. These creatures move west where in this period the water is limpid because of the seas currents coming from the ocean. It’s the ideal season to encounter Hammer Sharks at Rasdhoo. You need to dive at dawn when the sun is low and the plankton emit a night-time bioluminescence making the sea look like an enormous starry sky. When the outline of the Hammer Shark appears amongst all of this, the emotions felt are so strong that they will never be forgotten. At Baa dives are performed along the internal colourful shallows rich in colourful corals and barrier reef fish. following onto Lhavyiani, a small diamond shape atoll with beautiful ocean passes on both sides. In this season dives are performed along the pass to the west where there are numerous grey sharks, sea-eagles and shoals of pelagic fish. The wreck in the shipyard offers a pleasant variation. The wreck is partly above the water and offers shelter to many creatures. It is home to napoleon, platax, dentex, tropical corvine and moray eels. But sometimes, even other rare creatures move lazily amongst the metal wreck surprising the divers, such as the giant grouper and little sea-slugs. At Noonu, some diving points offer rarities. The little pinochle so full of corals, micro-organisms and fish that it has been called a “Christmas Tree”. The ocean wall where a very rare species of pink coral grows which is only found in a few parts of the world. This is currently being studied for its genetics and presence here. At Gaafaru it’s possible to dive down to the antique Seagull wreck which was one of the first sailing ships with sails and motor. Good for ledger-line fishing.