[Maldives] Trip Report : JAN.18 -24,2020, Male – Ari -Vaavu Trip Vol.1

[#Maldives] Trip Report : JAN.18 – 24, 2020, #Male – #Ari – #Vaavu Trip Vol.1

Day 1, the 1st dive was at Maagiri Rock in the North Male atoll. It was the perfect condition for a check dive with almost no current. Bluestriped Snappers were lined up very appropriately!? What surprised us was a black Frogfish. It took a while for us to figure out which side is its head though.  The 2nd dive was at Kuda Giri Wreck in the South Male atoll. We did observe a lot of macro and epidemic species of Indian Ocean. The 3rd dive was at Alimathaa Jetty in the Vaavu atoll. There were 4 dive boats as we arrived at the point. Still we could get to see many of the Tawny Nurse Sharks, Pink Whiprays, Giant Trevallies and Bluefin Trevallies. Especially, the Nurse Sharks’ stream was my favorite to see.

Day 2, the 1st dive of the day was at Miyaru Kandu in the Vaavu atoll. We entered from the South side, which was the opposite way from the other dive boats so that we could run into the Sharks! Hooray! The plan worked! At the channel edge, many of the Grey Reef Sharks and Whitetip Reef Sharks swam back and forth in front of us! As we looked up, there were many fat Dogtooth Tunas and Bluefin Trevallies streaming! Plus, we saw a school of Bigeye Trevallies in a distance. The 2nd and the 3rd dives were at Fotteyo, which was famous with many of healthy soft corals. Especially the ones inside of the overhangs were so beautiful in yellow. At first, Teira Batfish welcomed us in the water. Then, a couple of Spotted Eagle Rays passed above us! Besides, Grey Reef Sharks, Giant Trevallies, Dogtooth Tunas, Black Jacks and Bigeye Trevallies were seen! The water temperature was 26-31 deg.C. The water temperature was 28-29 deg.C. The visibility was 10-30 meters. To be continued…