bang-for-buck resort in maldives.

Hi all,

We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan
2004.I was taking a look at the various island resorts,have read
through many posts on newsgroups,but need some help.Basically, i aint
Bill Gates,but want to give her a honeymoon which she would love,AND
let me njoy my dive!Since shes not a diver,I am looking for a
reasonable resort which has some charm in its architecture..like
thatched villas on stilts/beach etc.I was looking towards Koomandu,
Veligaandu,VAKARUFALHI and the Taj Coral Reef. Could anyone post
his/her experiences on these resorts...how expensive,hows the
diving/in house reef?, all-inclusive?.

Thanks for all your help!
Vik.

Vik wrote

> We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan 2004.

I gotta love your subject. I suspect you'll get a bang or so, but I'm
pretty sure it'll cost you more than a buck. It certainly did on my
honeymoons, all three of them.

> Since shes not a diver . . .

My condolences. Wifes one and two weren't divers either.

Lee

On 13 Aug 2003 12:53:39 -0700, vshevde@hotmail.com (Vik) wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan
>2004.I was taking a look at the various island resorts,have read
>through many posts on newsgroups,but need some help.Basically, i aint
>Bill Gates,but want to give her a honeymoon which she would love,AND
>let me njoy my dive!Since shes not a diver,I am looking for a
>reasonable resort which has some charm in its architecture..like
>thatched villas on stilts/beach etc.I was looking towards Koomandu,
>Veligaandu,VAKARUFALHI and the Taj Coral Reef. Could anyone post
>his/her experiences on these resorts...how expensive,hows the
>diving/in house reef?, all-inclusive?.
>
>Thanks for all your help!
>Vik.

Vakarufahli is fine.

Check out www.prodivers.com

Pete S. (I'm on the news page....)

"Vik" <vshevde@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2095b514.0308131153.3d76ebff@posting.google.c om...
> Hi all,
>
> We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan
> 2004.I was taking a look at the various island resorts,have read
> through many posts on newsgroups,but need some help.Basically, i aint
> Bill Gates,but want to give her a honeymoon which she would love,AND
> let me njoy my dive!Since shes not a diver,I am looking for a
> reasonable resort which has some charm in its architecture..like
> thatched villas on stilts/beach etc.I was looking towards Koomandu,
> Veligaandu,VAKARUFALHI and the Taj Coral Reef. Could anyone post
> his/her experiences on these resorts...how expensive,hows the
> diving/in house reef?, all-inclusive?.
>
> Thanks for all your help!
> Vik.

Hi Vik,
We are going to Meerufenfushi an island in the Maldives for xmas and
new year(2 weeks) and the diving is superb,my wife doesn't dive although I
have taught her to snorkel and the reefs are fab for that. The Island has a
great website with loads of info.
Take a look at www.meeru.com
cheers Neil

We (my wife and me) have some problems with the divingi center of
VAKARUFALHI last year.
They are not very professional with the safety of the diver.
We find ourself lost becouse the dive master didn't wait nor look for us:
We are beginner and we tell him.
The resort is quite good. But if i can suggest you i prefer resort in atoll
less visited. Ari is the most crowded one. I have never been there but i
think Koomandu or Veligaandu are more quiet.
Sorry for my english.
Guido


"Vik" <vshevde@hotmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:2095b514.0308131153.3d76ebff@posting.google.c om...
> Hi all,
>
> We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan
> 2004.I was taking a look at the various island resorts,have read
> through many posts on newsgroups,but need some help.Basically, i aint
> Bill Gates,but want to give her a honeymoon which she would love,AND
> let me njoy my dive!Since shes not a diver,I am looking for a
> reasonable resort which has some charm in its architecture..like
> thatched villas on stilts/beach etc.I was looking towards Koomandu,
> Veligaandu,VAKARUFALHI and the Taj Coral Reef. Could anyone post
> his/her experiences on these resorts...how expensive,hows the
> diving/in house reef?, all-inclusive?.
>
> Thanks for all your help!
> Vik.

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 16:04:39 +0000, Moby wrote:

> The resort is quite good. But if i can suggest you i prefer resort in atoll
> less visited. Ari is the most crowded one. I have never been there but i
> think Koomandu or Veligaandu are more quiet.

There are probably more resorts in North Male than Ari Atoll and it's a
lot smaller. I've not been to the southern part of Ari, but have been to
the north and central parts several times. On my last trip the only time
we saw another dive boat at the same site as us was at Maaya Tilla. Every
other dive we had the reef completely to ourselves. Not what I would call
crowded.

Jason

--
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Maldivian trip reports including Kuredu,
Fesdu, Meedhupparu, Summer Island Village and Velidhu

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 16:04:39 GMT, "Moby" <guidovi@virgilio.it> wrote:

>We (my wife and me) have some problems with the divingi center of
>VAKARUFALHI last year.
>They are not very professional with the safety of the diver.

Could I disagree with this one. They are quite concerned about this
kind of thing. Could I suggest that you speak (E-Mail) to Marc Zalberg
or Petra Hellman at Vakarufahli, in your own language if it is easier,
detailing the problems, and resolve the difficulties. If not for you,
then the next person. And let us know what they say.

>We find ourself lost becouse the dive master didn't wait nor look for us:
>We are beginner and we tell him.

Who was the guide on the boat? Marc? Petra? Peter? Danni?

>The resort is quite good. But if i can suggest you i prefer resort in atoll
>less visited. Ari is the most crowded one. I have never been there but i
>think Koomandu or Veligaandu are more quiet.

Yes, dive sites are busy at times, but normally only one dhoni per
dive site.

Komandhoo don't do breathers. They are operated out of, and obtain
Nitrox from Kuredu. And that name (Kuredu aka Devils Island) should
strike fear into the heart of many seasoned travellers......

Vakarufahli have their own membrane system for Nitrox, and can, by
request, supply O2 and sorb for breathers.

But Tom and Barbara in Komandhoo are still good base leaders. I know
them from Kuredu, and Barbara taught Janet (her indoors) to dive.

Pete S.

"Moby" <guidovi@virgilio.it> wrote in message
news:rqO_a.85239$cl3.2584803@news2.tin.it...
> We (my wife and me) have some problems with the divingi center of
> VAKARUFALHI last year.
> They are not very professional with the safety of the diver.
> We find ourself lost becouse the dive master didn't wait nor look for us:
> We are beginner and we tell him.
> The resort is quite good. But if i can suggest you i prefer resort in
atoll
> less visited. Ari is the most crowded one. I have never been there but i
> think Koomandu or Veligaandu are more quiet.
> Sorry for my english.
> Guido

Your English is a lot better than my Italian. Don't be sorry. Your message
was understandable.

Lee

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 09:04:04 +0100, "Gary" <gary@fisches.com> wrote:

>another smallish island. If you want a busy island try Kuredu, have not been
>but have been told its busy always something going on, It might be better
>for you Wife.

Kuredu.

Just say NO. Don't do it. Don't go there.

Jason will be along later to confirm the above.

Pete S.

"Vik" <vshevde@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2095b514.0308131153.3d76ebff@posting.google.c om...
> Hi all,
>
> We are looking to going to the maldives for our honeymoon in Jan
> 2004.I was taking a look at the various island resorts,have read
> through many posts on newsgroups,but need some help.Basically, i aint
> Bill Gates,but want to give her a honeymoon which she would love,AND
> let me njoy my dive!Since shes not a diver,I am looking for a
> reasonable resort which has some charm in its architecture..like
> thatched villas on stilts/beach etc.I was looking towards Koomandu,
> Veligaandu,VAKARUFALHI and the Taj Coral Reef. Could anyone post
> his/her experiences on these resorts...how expensive,hows the
> diving/in house reef?, all-inclusive?.
>
> Thanks for all your help!
> Vik.

Vik
I have been to both Vakaru and Komandoo twice...I think this says a lot
both Islands are superb although Vakaru is better in my view. We found the
Prodivers staff better at Vakaru than Komandoo but all were professional or
the Staff that were there when we were. There is not much to say about
either island, The islands are nice and green rooms are nice etc, komandoo
is AI, not a much to do if you do not dive. we intend to return both in the
next few years.
Another island we liked and are returning to in March 04 is Veligandu,
another smallish island. If you want a busy island try Kuredu, have not been
but have been told its busy always something going on, It might be better
for you Wife.
I have some pictures of Komandoo, Vakaru and Veligandu on my web
www.fisches.com
Happy Diving
Gary