Maldives Itineraries:

Pelagic Encounters

This itinerary travels further south with the purpose of seeking out the larger pelagics. More channel diving is offered to maximise your chances of 'big fish' encounters and manta cleaning stations are also visited.

QUALIFICATION NEEDED: PADI Open water or equivalent - no minimum number of logged dives required.

Sample itinerary:

**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is just an example of the route taken and the order and dive sites are not guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and local seasonal knowledge and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.

Day 1 - Check dive (N. Male), Kuda Girri Wreck (S. Male)

Day 2 - Miyaru Faru / Kandooma Thila (S. Male), Miyaru Kandu / Dhevana Kandu (Vaavu) and Golden Wall / Fotheyo (Vaavu)

Day 3 - Fotheyo /Hurahu Kandu (Vaavu), Rakeedhu / Vattaru (Vaavu) and Mulah Kandu / Gahuraa(Meemu)

Day 4 - Kudarah Thila / Broken Rock (S. Ari), Maamingili Beyru / Holiday Beyru (S. Ari) and Bodu Finolhu / Beyru Thila (S. Ari)

Day 5 - Rangali Madivaru/Madivaru Caves (S. Ari), Matchafushi Wreck / Rangali Madivaru (S. Ari) and Gaaviyamas Thila / Matchafushi Wreck (S. Ari)

Day 6 - Omadhoo Thila / Vilamendhoo Thila (S. Ari), Feydhoo Wall / Kuda Haa (N. Male) and Banana Reef/ Back Faru (N. Male)

Itinerary highlights:

Miyaru Faru: Unsurprisingly given that miyaru means shark in Dhivehi sharks feature prominently at this spot! At around 30 metres there is an overhang which can shield you from the strength of the passing current, and with an incoming current the visibility can be excellent and the parade of pelagics and local residents, impressive. You might see a number of grey reef sharks as well as barracuda, kingfish and tuna. Large groups of eagle rays and their larger cousins, the manta rays, are often seen here, filter feeding in the plankton-rich water.

Banana Reef: "Banana Reef" is a very well known dive site in the Maldives ? one of the first, best and more treacherous due to strong currents. On the eastern side, some rocks have broken away and created a perfect habitat for a surprising variety of schooling reef fish and large pelagic.

Fotteyo Kandu: Many scuba divers consider Fotteyo Kandu to be the best dive site in Maldives and it is also rated among the top 5 dive sites in the world. The mouth of the channel is exposed to the ocean and during north east monsoon when the currents are incoming, a good variety of fish species gather at the entrance to the channel. Animals commonly spotted here include Gray Reef Shark patrolling the channel mouth, Jack and Tuna in the deeper water, schools of Midnight Snappers and Red Snapper form in huge groups. The wall features caves, overhangs and swim-thoughs at different depths. These caves and overhangs are filled with colourful yellow color like soft coral, deeper caves and overhangs are filled with huge bushes of black corals.

Kandooma Thila: Shaped like a teardrop, Kandooma Thila is one of the most spectacular dives in the South Male Atoll, for scenery as well as for prolific fish life.

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