Captains Blog Maldives - Day 9

Today we did a lot of traveling heading north. I did two relatively easy dives. Lots of pretty coral and anemones. Looked like the finding Nemo fishes hovering over there homes. Ended with a nite dive, where we drifted along the reef. Last nite to eat on the boat as tomorrow we arrive back in Male' (main island), dock, and eat in the town for dinner as a group. Been such a nice trip.

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Captains Blog Maldives - Day 8

Today we set a course on the hunt for sharks and manta rays. The morning saw huge Manta rays right upon us and this afternoon we hooked on to the side of the reef and watched about 7 sharks scanning the hood in the distance. Actually, they stay away and are more curious than dangerous like media portrays. They are well aware of the scuba show happening with all the divers. See pics. Can't post the awesome videos I have, but will get those out when back next week directly via email. Was a great day of diving! Saw sharks, manta rays, a whale shark again, and a few sea turtles. Got most of the wish list for fish to see done! Tomorrow I think our concentration is to search for more sharks on the reef. Good nite padres...Enjoy the pics!

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Captains Blog Maldives / Day 7

Wow, what an awesome day! Best dive day of the trip for sure. We had a great morning dive, lots of eels and colorful fish, but in the afternoon, we spent several hours looking for whale sharks outside the atoll (group of islands). We found one and all jumped off the scuba boat with only snorkel gear like we were going down like the titanic. You have to act fast! This one was about 60 feet deep, so we were limited on view. Upon boarding the boat, another was spotted right at the surface. We again hopped off, and to our surprise, he just hung around and let us swim with him. A good 20 minutes. Here's some great photos. When I get home, I will send out some videos. Truly amazing. Evening ended with an island beach dinner of shrimp and wine. Awesome day...

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Captains Blog - Maldives Day 6 / Part 2

Today was such an awesome day. Started out with 2 dives where we came upon a resting sea turtle, plenty of beautiful coral, lunch on a deserted island and an afternoon dive to an abandoned shipwreck. Ending the nite, the boat staff prepared an outside meal on the boat with a full moon over the water in the distance. Have nice pics I will gradually post over next few days along with others. I hear they are taking us to whale shark area tomorrow. Been waiting on that! Nite.

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Captains Blog - Maldives Day 6 / Part 1

Here are some underwater pics of the beautiful marine life below the sea! Sea turtle encounters are my favorite. Currently its 3:00 pm Monday afternoon. On way to another island atoll. Will post tonight exciting pics from today's lunch. Think Gilligans Island...;)

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Captains Blog - Day 5

Had a great day of diving today! All together, did 4 dives. Lots of fishes, got a great video of a sea turtle hanging about 10 foot away curious to what we were doing. Drift diving this morning, saw a few sharks and sting rays in the distance. Best dive was our nite dive. All 20 divers went to a specific site, dive master set a bait trap and within a few minutes huge stingrays and nurse sharks swarmed around us. We all had spot lights shining towards them, and they swam right up to us and around. Touched both the rays and the shark. They do this every nite at this spot, so they are a bit trained with the procedure. Awesome experience. Will post some underwater pics tomorrow. Just finishing our dinner and need to get up at 6am for the next dive. Posting a video of the dolphins. Not sure if you will be able to see it.. Good pics coming tomorrow!

Captains Blog Maldives - Day 4

Nice day of diving today. Woke up this morning at 530 am. 1st dive was a slow hook and drift dive. Water was a bit murky. Did see a giant Napoleon fish. Was about the size of a bicycle! Friendly and curious fish. 2nd dive was a larger group dive along the reef. Tons of schooling fish. Towards the end came a sting ray guiding along. Got some good pics of him. Btw, most of my water and fish pics are on another camera. I won't be able to post those for a day or so, as my technology to get them from my camera to my iPad is pending. We then had about a 4 hour break, captain cruised back North to another group of islands. After lunch and a quick nap, 3rd dive was late afternoon. Saw lobster, more schools of yellow and blue fish, and lots of pretty coral. Sill waiting on the big guys! I hear that our spots tomorrow should be more productive on that front. Had fish and beef tips for dinner here on the boat. Funny thing, they made us take off our shoes entering the boat and into a basket. No shoes for the next 10 days! All for tonight, heading to bed!

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Captains Blog Day 2

Had a nice full day of diving. 6am morning dive saw a few nurse sharks, but not the big whale sharks we are searching for. There's a better spot to see those later in trip. Lunch dive was at a reef with literally hundreds of thousands of fish. Like all of the little cichlids you see at petsmart. Must be breeding season. Afternoon dive was very challenging.. We were in a crazy current where we had to hook ourselves to the reef, floating sideways. Current was easily 50 miles an hour. Didn't see many fish, as we were holding on for dear life! Made it back, showered and soon dinner. Nite dive planned tonight. Those can be fun, but mostly shining spotlight into caves and crevices. Having a nice time!

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Morning sunrise.and dolphins

Woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise in the distance and a school of dolphins swimming by, Quite a sight. Just finished our initial first dive of about 40 dives. Just ate some breakfast back on the mother ship. Another dive in an hour.

Made it on the Boat!

Made it to Maldives. We met up with the rest of our group, 20 divers, at the airport. Water is aqua blue. Took a shuttle boat to our main vessel. After setting up in our cabins and boat debriefing, we sat down to buffet style dinner of fish and chicken. Off to bed, as first dive wake up is at 530 in morning. Internet service out in the water is almost non existent, but will try to blog every evening! Pics of sunset and some of the boat. Skip

Good bye Abu Dhabi!

At the airport now heading to Islands of Maldives! There we will board our boat and float around for 10 days scuba diving the reefs.

Few more of Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Day in Abu Dhabi

On our layover 2 days here in Abu Dhabi. Went down to the park / walkway along downtown this morning. Then over to the main marketplace. Bought a few trinkets. After traditional lunch, we went for a tour of the Grand Mosque. Like the biggest thing you have ever seen, times 10! Going to dinner and rest, as we have our journey to Maldives flight in the morning. Peace.

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Off to the Maldives!!

Heading off to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean for 2 weeks of scuba diving.  Hoping to see plenty of whale sharks and mantas!  Will be on this boat full time for 10 days floating around.  Will post updates as I can with www access.   Skip