28th March 2008

We all had a good night sleep. There is somthing in favour for staying
inside well protected harbour.
We sailed for an hour before the dive and that was a strange one. The
currents where all over the place. We noticed we ae more up north the
fish live is good but the coral is not as good as in Huvadu Atoll.

Sailed on to Meemu Atol and did a dive near Kurali Island there was an
out going current but the vis was good this time cruised over a sandy
bottom with lots of garden eels sticking there heads up in the current
and disappearing as soon as we approached. Turned to get back at the
reef wall and that had a lot of fish live and variation. Tried to snap
to large box fish but they stayed out of range.

Had an hour dive everybody enjoyed it.

Sailed on to the Norh of Meemu and anchored near Mulaku Kandu and did
a late afternoon dive it was already twilight underwater and a lot of
murray eels where pocking there heads up out of there holes. The where
easy to photograph. The current was here strange also but it was a
very interesting dive.

27th March 2008

We reached Laamu Atll this early morning and did a dive on the outside
reef. Was very nice.
You can immediately see the difference. In landscape and fish live.
There was plenty of corals but nor so abundant as in Ghaafu Alif /
Gaafu Dhaal.

We did two more dives in the channels the second one was with a nice
strong current in to the Atoll and we used our reef hooks to stay in
the current. and waited for some sharks but they did not come. There
was plenty of other big fish large Barracudas Large groupers and jack
fish.
But no Sharks.

After the third dive we kept moving to Thaa Atoll because we got low
on fuel and the captain wonted to refill and that could only be done
in Thaa Atoll. We spent the night in the Habour of Thaa Guraidhoo.

26th March 2008

What a day......

We dived an other new site Hadahaa Thila. It was a marvelous place
great corals again black coral table corals and even soft corals.
Loads of fish as well and lots of anemones with the little Nemo's.

I got some real good pictures
.

25th March 2008

Today we used the diving dhoni to travel to the dive sites. The boat
needed repairs and will stay in Thinadhoo Lagoon.

First dive was not so good I jumped in the wrong spot and the current
us across the channel over damaged corals when we reached the channel
entrance the coral was good again and there where some giant
Barracudas and a very big school of small ones.

23th March 2008

Today we started sailing back to Thinadhoo, we did an early morning
dive on Kuredu kandu, north of Nilandu .

It gets a bit of a repetition but the diving is good here great coral
cover and schools of fish.

After morning dive started sailing back to Thinadhoo. Tomorrow one
guest has to fly back to Male. So we need to be back on the east side.
On the way did an new reef which was very nice. Got some good shotsof
black coral.Jumped quick on the island to walk on the beach.
Sailed on in the east direction and reached Thinadhoo in the early
afternoon.
Went to the channel and did our last dive.
Current was outgoing so vis was a bit disturbed but it was a great
dive again. lots of fish and again good corals. A large green turtle
was resting under a big carl block and swam away when he noticed us.
He was big.

Had a walk around Thinadhoo in the evening did some shopping.

23th March 2008

Today we started sailing back to Thinadhoo, we did an early morning
dive on Kuredu kandu, north of Nilandu .

It gets a bit of a repetition but the diving is good here great coral
cover and schools of fish.

After morning dive started sailing back to Thinadhoo. Tomorrow one
guest has to fly back to Male. So we need to be back on the east side.
On the way did an new reef which was very nice and jumped quick on the
island to walk on the beach.

22nd March 2008

This was along and satisfying day.

We did three good dives first one was Nilandu Chanel north with a good
current coming in and there where some sharks, grey reef and white
tip. Coral cover was great and big schools of fish. I saw 2 eagle rays
passing over.
Second dive was an easer one the current had died down a bit and a lot
of fish again a family of Napoleon and again great coral cover. After
the dive we sailed with the dive dhoni to Hadahaa for lunch we had a
look around on the resort and where served a splendid lunch in boobs
cafe. There was a big choice of food and we all eat to much. We toke
a little siesta before diving. We sailed 15 minutes to the east to a
shallow reef and did a real easy dive there no current and not to
deep. The coral cover and variation was phenomenal with a lot of small
fish this was a real nursery for a lot of fish.

We where back on the safari boat at about 17.00 hrs.

We relaxed a bit and at night time the crew had organized a Bodu Beru
group to come on the boat.
This was a nice demonstration of some locale music / culture.

21st March 2008

Today we had along day. Started early and did 3 dives today and sailed
from Kalhuhudhoo to Nilando.
The weather is fine today whole day sun shine the wind is still there
but it became much less strong. We sailed outside the atoll and one
person remarked " it is the first time I am sailing outside the atoll
and it is calmer outside than inside the atoll.

Everybody is satisfied we had good diving today with a lot of good
corals and a variation of fish.

during the sailing we had a little mishap the water intake from hte
main engine became blocked and the engine got hot but it did not have
any permanent damage and after a while the engine cooled down, we put
new water and sailed on.

Over night at Nilandu.

20th March 2008

Well this day started ok, the wind was a bit down and w e dived early
morning.
I made sure we went behind the island so the sea was calm and we did
get in and out easy.
It was not a super dive but considering the weather it was good no
great corals but we had some turtles and a lot of fusilier, and other
reef fish so all in all a satisfactory dive.

The captain still did not wont to sail out because to much waves. so
we stayed in the harbour.
during the day the wind did calm down a little bit and we dived again
in the afternoon and where in the water by 15.00 hrs. slight current
from south to north. got some sharks and a stingray. After a while we
came by a beautiful block of coral full of young glass fish. That was
a good photo point. A big jack was hunting so very excited.

when back on the boat I discovered I lost my 16 mm lens and that is
really a loss. I like that lens it made good pictures because you can
come very close and still get a lot in there. I am very sad.

20th March 2008

We started early this morning I woke the crew up at 6.30 to start to
sail to the east side of the atoll to go to the channels to see some
big fish.

It started out ok but during the trip it became very rough the winds
where very strong.
The captain found an anchorage near a small Island called
Araigaththaa. And we wonted to go for a dive but the weather did not
let us, it became dark and a rain shower passed over us. It was not
long and when it passed over we decided to go for the dive.
We got on the dhoni and just as we where sailing away a second rain
shower hit us this was really a strong one. The visibility was gone we
and we stayed stationary for about 15 minutes to wait for the rain to
pass us and we toke off to the channel.

Outside the sea was a bit calmer but there was still a swell to reckon
with. We started a bit on the outside of the channel because the
current was coming in. I excepted big fish and sharks etc. That I was
told by other dive guides. but we where very unlucky there was non,
well I saw one small white tip, two big barracudas but not the groups
I was told would be there. I did take some nice pictures of a school
of glass fish.

We held on to the reef to see if maybe the sharks where a bit shy but
to no luck.

After the dive we ascended and we where in big waves again, we all got
out and went back to the safari boat.
As soon as we returned the captain wonted to go to a safe anchorage
because the weather is bad the wind is strong and there are to many
waves. so we sailed a bit more south and anchored in the harbour of
Kaduhulhudhoo.

Because of the swell we had a late lunch and afterwards we had a walk
around the island. Had a kurumba went to a local shop where we bought
some spices for cooking later back home.

Had a sandwich for diner which was very nice and sat talking.
Everybody agreed that it was the right decision to get in to a save
place at least we and the crew can get a good sleep.

Checked the weather forecast, this looks that it gets better coming
so we hope to get some diving still.
even now the wind is very strong and it feels that is picking up even
more.

Will let you know tomorrow.

Day 2

Started early in the morning on a thilla inside the Atoll for the
first dive / check dive.
Some of the dives had new wetsuits and needed 8 kg to get down and we
are a bit low on weights.

I don't like the bcd's with integrated weights. to many times the
pouch with weights falls unnoticed and we get an uncontrolled ascent.
The clips are to easy loosened even if you put them in correctly. I
still like the old fashon weight belt.....

Second dive we did on a channel but the current was out going but
very slight. The corals where really great and easy to go with and see
a lot. The table corals where really big and variation was god.

Arrived on Noah Safari Boat in Huvadu Atoll

It was a long day for me .
First I pick one pax up at 12.30 in the morning from the airport. Put
him in a hotel.
The hotel w booked for him had no room for him but they managed to
find him a room in an other Guesthouse.

So after a short night I went to pick him up to get the other pax from
there flight. They arrived and went straight on to the domestic
terminal to catch the flight to Kadedhoo in Huvadu atoll or Ghaaf
Dhaalu Atoll.

It was an uneventful flight and we arrived on time. Two crew where at
the arrival terminal to pick us up. After a short wait and collecting
our luggage we went to the sea side and boarded the diving dhoni. That
was a nice big boat and there are only six of us diving so plenty of
space for everybody.

We sailed to the Noah that was still anchored near Tinadhoo. The
supplies where coming and the laundry was collected.

At 17.00 hrs we sailed out of the lagoon to a near by small island to
stay over night.

We are al to tired from the traveling so we did not do a dive jet but
we made everything ready. We are with only 6 people so we have a room
for us own and that is great plenty of space ad privacy.
The boat has a real nice top deck that is covered with a shade with a
big table . It is blowing a bit to much so we are sitting at the table
at the back where the meals are served.
The coffee brought with us is being put to good use. There is a nice
coffee plunger in the kitchen so we can get our caffein fix on time.

We all like the boat its nice cosy. Tomorrow morning early up for the
check dive.

Preparing

I am preparing my next trip op Noah Safari Boat with my friends

It is a small boat but with friends it will be a cosy.

I will keep you updated of the tip.