Maldives Locations

Hi,
I am planning to go to the Maldives in August/September this year, and
have narrowed the search down to:

Lohifushi
Kuredu
Meerufenfushi
Lily Beach

Does anybody have any good/bad feedback on the resorts/diving and any
comparisons between them?

In terms of diving I am looking for a location that can offer a good
chance of seeing "big fish" (especially mantas and whale sharks) to
someone of my ability (newly qualified - 12 dives). Also, the general
quality of the diving and dive centre is of course important.

For the resort, I just want a relaxing location (not crowded, or too
"urban")with "good enough" service. Also, good snorkelling from the
beach, and weak currents would be a bonus.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Jim

On 19 Jun 2004 14:05:10 -0700, scuba_jim_2000@hotmail.com
(Scuba_Jim_2000) wrote:

>Kuredu

Has most of what you want but a piss poor reputation.....

>Lily Beach

Crap.

Go to Vakarufahli. You can see Lily Beach from there so you'll dive
the same dive sites, and it's a nicer resort.

Pete S.

In article <8ec1bee1.0406191305.351ca1f0@posting.google.com >,
Scuba_Jim_2000 <scuba_jim_2000@hotmail.com> writes

>Hi,
>I am planning to go to the Maldives in August/September this year, and
>have narrowed the search down to:
>
>Lohifushi
>Kuredu
>Meerufenfushi
>Lily Beach
>
>Does anybody have any good/bad feedback on the resorts/diving and any
>comparisons between them?
>
>In terms of diving I am looking for a location that can offer a good
>chance of seeing "big fish" (especially mantas and whale sharks) to
>someone of my ability (newly qualified - 12 dives). Also, the general
>quality of the diving and dive centre is of course important.
>
>For the resort, I just want a relaxing location (not crowded, or too
>"urban")with "good enough" service. Also, good snorkelling from the
>beach, and weak currents would be a bonus.
>
>Any help would be most appreciated.

I know it's not on your shortlist, but I thought I'd say anyway that I
just got back from a great time in Kuramathi (after finding a reasonably
cheap last minute deal).

http://www.kuramathi.com.mv/

Every dive had plenty of sharks, mainly black / white tip reef sharks,
but there were also leopard sharks, a whale shark (that I missed), and,
of course, the hammerheads (I saw 10 on the dive, including a group of 6
together. They came to within a few metres of us - but I got lucky, some
trips to the site saw none).

http://www.sportextreme.com/phdidi1017/

The guys at the dive school were extremely friendly and they took all
the work out of it - including taking all your kit to the boat and
setting it up for you before you'd even got on board.

There were a few big rays in the channel, but I was told the best time
of year for rays is February.

I took some photos, but haven't edited any of them yet (and it was my
first attempt with a digital camera, so they need it).

One thin I would certainly recommend is an all inclusive deal, unless
you don't drink much. You really are a captive audience on an island in
the Maldives. You can upgrade to all inclusive on most islands when you
arrive, if you haven't booked the holiday as that already.
--
David Mahon

<Pete S.> wrote in message news:40d4b455.46865437@news.clara.net...
> On 19 Jun 2004 14:05:10 -0700, scuba_jim_2000@hotmail.com
> (Scuba_Jim_2000) wrote:
>
> >Kuredu
>
> Has most of what you want but a piss poor reputation.....
>
> >Lily Beach
>
> Crap.
>
> Go to Vakarufahli. You can see Lily Beach from there so you'll dive
> the same dive sites, and it's a nicer resort.
>
> Pete S.

I agree with Pete go to Vakarufalhi...fantastic place I have been twice and
I am returning Feb 2005, Another really good place I have been to is
Veligandu. Pictures of Vakarufalhi, veligandu, Komandoo and Velavaru can be
found here www.fisches.com
Happy holidays
Gary

On Sat, 19 Jun 2004 14:05:10 -0700, Scuba_Jim_2000 wrote:

> Does anybody have any good/bad feedback on the resorts/diving and any
> comparisons between them?

I've got trip reports for 6 different resorts on my website. Kuredu is one
of them. I wouldn't go back.

> For the resort, I just want a relaxing location (not crowded, or too
> "urban")with "good enough" service. Also, good snorkelling from the
> beach, and weak currents would be a bonus.

There is no such thing as an "urban" Maldives resort. They're all based on
small islands where there is just the resort on the island.

I'd also echo other people's comments about going all-inclusive. A bottle
of water will cost about US$3.50, and the water from the tap isn't
drinkable. Once in the resort, you're a captive market.

You're also not going to get weak currents. Obviously it depends on the
time of day and the tides, but at times the current screams along in most
places.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports
to Aruba, Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:54:44 +0100, Jason
<jason.news.nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>
>You're also not going to get weak currents. Obviously it depends on the
>time of day and the tides, but at times the current screams along in most
>places.
>

Hmmm, "current screams".



Now let me think................



Yup, good description.

I've been on dive sites where the current has taken SMB's sideways
till you run out of line, and when I was OC, I did a dive called
Pannetone, where the bubbles went down with the current. We renamed it
"the washing machine" Sometimes you can "hear" the current going past,
and all the hoses vibrate in the current..... The camera strobe arms
straighten out in the flow....

But with big currents come big animals.

And if her indoors can dive there it can't be too difficult. Just
learn to fly and plan which coral block to stop behind.

Correct weighting and bouyancy skills are paramount.

But don't be put off, the dive centre will (should) not put you on
dive sites that are beyond you.

Go to Vakarufahli and enjoy it.

Pete S.

> Yup, good description.
>
> I've been on dive sites where the current has taken SMB's sideways
> till you run out of line, and when I was OC, I did a dive called
> Pannetone, where the bubbles went down with the current. We renamed it
> "the washing machine" Sometimes you can "hear" the current going past,
> and all the hoses vibrate in the current..... The camera strobe arms
> straighten out in the flow....

> Pete S.

One of my favorate dives is the Inverlane, a block ship
sunk at Scapa Flow. When the tide turns you can stick
your head out of the protection of the wreck and the force
of the water starts to dismantle you and your kit. If you time
it right you can pop out of one hole go along the wreck and
drop back in further along. I've been in tidal flows that are
so strong the force of the water forces in your purge button
and free flows the reg.
taz.

"taz" <taz24taz24@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote ...

> One of my favorate dives is the Inverlane, a block ship
> sunk at Scapa Flow. When the tide turns you can stick
> your head out of the protection of the wreck and the force
> of the water starts to dismantle you and your kit.

Yup, I'll second that It's only shallow but a GREAT dive, I remember
sending "up" the blob, it went horizontal, and having one hell of a wild
ride following the damn thing

Keith L

"Danny" <idatae@scubadiving.com> wrote in message
news:jIoBc.17754$NK4.3120444@stones.force9.net...
> I'm going to Reethi Beach in the Baa Atoll for my honeymoon next August -
> does anyone have any feedback?

Don't do it or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. I suggest you
stick to the diving.

Cliff.

Went to Komandoo last year, Kuredu's 'sister' island. I couldn't have
been more happy with it (unfortunately the viz was down to about 8
metres, so a little disappointing, but the dives were very good). 40
Nordic pine beach huts, 1 bar, 1 restaurant, no TV's, board games,
conversation, no light pollution, just the lapping sound of the ocean.
Bliss. If you're interested: www.komandoo.com


--
wilbo

Cheers,

Wilbo.
(nothing to do with 'shared interests' before anyone asks..)
'wilbosb' at hotmail - which is registered as a dot com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via DeeperBlue.net - Your Online Resource for the UnderWater World.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
wilbo's Profile: http://forums.deeperblue.net/member....nfo&userid=187
View this thread on DeeperBlue.net: http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...threadid=51249



----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---