The southern atolls of the Maldives

11. – 18. Februar 2018

Today is the day where we finally meet and greet the people who we shall be sailing and Diving with for the next 2 weeks.

With today being a simple and peaceful day, we give the guests a complete briefing about the boat and a small tour around.

With lunch being later eaten all the guest wanted to go for a check dive. So we created 2 groups between the Guides Ved and Gabrielle

Dive 1 – Filitheyo Outside

Filitheyo Outside – (Check Dive)

With a medium northeast incoming current, we chose to jump closer towards the faru. The visibility on the dive was around 8-10m, not very good but there seemed to be a lot of fish life from Grey Reef Sharks, White-Tip Sharks, Bat Fish and 2 Eagle Rays.  During the dive the current became a bit stronger and later it created so eddies (Washing Machine current) This was something new for the guests and something to learn from.

Later at that evening the guides did a class with the guests how to dive in the current and how to handle washing machine currents. Once the guests had completed dinner, all the Staff decided to line up as it’s the tradition on the Sheena. Before the trip we always start with an introduction of all the staff who will be taking care of the guests for the week.

Today the plan was to do 1 dive in Faafu Atoll and then sail for 2 hours towards Meemu Atoll to do 2 dives.

Dive 2 – Barracuda Kandu

Dive 3 – Western Highlight

Dive 4 – Valley Of Rays

Barracuda Kandu – (Channel Dive)

With a medium outgoing current, we chose to dive just inside the channel and later drift out towards the channel drop off. As the visibility was limited to 8m we couldn’t see much but in fish life we did see a school of barracuda and a school of jacks to.

Western Highlight – (Thila Dive)

With a medium incoming current, we chose to jump closer towards the tila near the sandy area so we could easily drift along the tila side and. This dive site in particular is very beautiful as there are lots of hard and soft coral a very healthy reef. Overall good dive…

Valley Of Ray – (Valley Dive)

With initially the current being a small outgoing current and the visibility being at 10m there was an eagle ray. But that wasn’t actually the reason to dive this divesite. That’s actually the place for manta rays.  After 10 min the current changed and soon became incoming current with the visibility clearing and becoming better. We were hoping for Mantas but there was no sign of them. So, we decided to look for other things and we saw a Honeycomb Morel Eel who was just chilling under a rock… Soon after a long wait of 30min they finally arrived those beautiful gentle creatures at the Holy Rock (Cleaning Station) … 5 mantas came and as always, they were beautiful and the day ended on good note.

Today the plan was to do 3 dives in Meemu Atoll and then later in the evening visit a local island called Diggaruh.

Dive 5 – Valley Of Ray

Dive 6 – Mantas and More

Dive 7 – White-Tip Station

Valley Of Ray – (Valley Dive)

With the current being a small outgoing current and the visibility being limited to 12m we dived again at Valley of the Ray. The dive was a good start into the day and we had Mantas for 60min.

Mantas and More – (Channel Dive)

With a small incoming current and the visibility being at 18m you would expect with the name Mantas and More, Mantas but there weren’t any Mantas but there was more! From Grey Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, Schools of Jacks, Napoleon and a beautiful Nurse Shark sleeping under an overhang. A good Dive!

White-Tip Station – (Channel Dive)

With a medium southern incoming current and the visibility around 18m, this dive was very beautiful. There were some Grey Reef Sharks, White-Tip Reef Sharks, Napeloans and 1 Eagle Ray cruising by..

The plan was to do 1 dive in Meemu Atoll and the sail for 2 Hours towards Felidhe Atoll to do 2 dives.

Dive 8 – Happy Corner

Dive 9 – The Golden Wall

Dive 10 – Fotheyo Kandu

Happy Corner – (Channel Dive)

With a medium outgoing current and the visibility being at 18m the dive was a nice drift dive towards the corner where all the action was happening. At the corner we had big Grey Reef Sharks, Napoleons, 2 Eagle Rays,  a school of Jack Fish, a school of Barracudas and 1 Marble Ray .. A good dive and a good starting the morning

The Golden Wall – (Drift Wall Dive)

With a small incoming current, we decided to jump on the corner and drift inside the channel where this wall exists. The wall is very beautiful with its soft coral growing on the wall it was a complete coral garden. On the dive we had some snappers, fusiliers and a few white tip sharks sleeping on the sandy bottom. An easy and relaxing dive …

Fotheyo Kandu – (Channel Dive)

With a small southeast incoming current and the visibility being at 20m.This dive is very beautiful with its big overhangs where there were we found some long-nose hawk fishes in the Georgian coral waiting to be noticed. As we kept continuing there were some Big Grey Reef Sharks and 2 Eagle rays arriving in the scene.. But the highlight was the arrival of the giant Whale Shark – truly a beauty. This big boy was swimming on the top of the reef and later descended into the deeper blue. WHAT A DIVE!!!! WOW WOW WOW. A beautiful end to another perfect day on the Sheena.

The plan was to do 4 dives today all in Felidhe Atoll.

Dive 11 – Fotheyo Kandu

Dive 12 – Fushi Kandu

Dive 13 – Alimata Utaru Kandu

Dive 14 – Alimata House Reef

Fotheyo Kandu (Early Morning Hammerhead Shark Dive)

The plan was to dive the first dive of the day with hammer head shark. That’s why we startet with an early, early morning dive. We descended near the corner and went to a depth of 30m maximum while swimming in the blue. You really don’t have any orientation but when suddenly something comes out of nowhere your eyes will spot it instantly. During the dive 4 Scalloped Hammerhead Shark came out of nowhere and went back into the blue. After that we came back towards the channel drop and continued to see some Grey Reef Sharks.  A perfect start to an early morning dive..

Fushi Kandu – (Channel Dive)

With a small to medium incoming current and the visibility being limited to 15 m this dive had a lot to provide, for example some Grey Reef Sharks, White-Tip Reef Sharks, some turtles, napoleons and some Big Eye Jacks.

Alimatha Utaru Kandu – (Channel Dive)

With a medium incoming current and the visibility being at 20m the dive site was very beautiful as there were lots of Grey Reef Sharks in all sizes from babies to adults. As this dive site is a very popular one, there were a few more boats and some divers. At the end of the dive while the guests were coming up on the boat there was a Whale Shark that decided to check out the divers before disappearing into the blue.

Alimatha House Reef (Night Dive)

With a small incoming current and the visibility being at around 20m. The plan was to descend down to 12m make a circle and wait in one place where there would be around a 100 Nurse Sharks coming around and getting attracted to the light and coming extremely close to the divers. A good end on a good note.

The plan was to do 2 dives in Felidhe Atoll and 1 dive in Meemu Atoll.

Dive 15 – Bodu Miyaru Kandu

Dive 16 – Rakedoo Corner

Dive 17 – Divers Paradise

Bodu Miyaru Kandu – (Channel Dive)

With a small to medium incoming current and the visibility being at 20m. the dive had lots of Grey Reef Sharks from babies to adults. The dive was a very relaxing dive and had lots to see. A good dive in the morning.

Rakedoo Corner – (Corner Dive)

With a small outgoing current and the visibility being at 15m. We decided to jump inside the channel and drift towards the corner where there was some Grey Reef Sharks, a school of Big Eye Jacks, some Napoleon and lots of reef fish. Over all a good dive.

Divers Paradise – (Channel Dive)

With a very strong incoming current and the visibility being at 15m. the dive was nice as there were lots of Grey Reef Sharks and lots of fish. But due to the current being strong and it creating a washing machine current at around 15m this was something new for the divers and a new experience for them.

The plan was to do 1 dive in Meemu Atoll and 1 dive in Faafu Atoll

Dive 18 – Happy Corner

Dive 19 – Filitheyo Thila

Happy Corner – (Channel Dive)

With a small southeast incoming current and the visibility being at 18m. the dive was very nice and relaxing as there were lots of Grey Reef Sharks. White-Tip Sharks, Napoleons, big schools of Jack Fish. Unfortunately, the current just changed when we arrived at the corner and became outgoing. But even though the dive was good!

Filitheyo Thila – (Thila Dive)

With a medium southeast incoming current and the visibility being limited to 10m. the dive was still good and a memorable dive as we had some White-Tip Sharks, a turtle and lots of reef fish.

Finally, another great tour comes to an end, a beautiful and another memorable trip for the guests and the guides …

Until the next trip.

Sayonara

Ved Menon (Sheena Guide)