Well, it’s back to reality for me after an amazing trip to the Maldives. I was lucky enough to experience firsthand, so much of what the Maldives is renowned for, on land and underwater; Idyllic beauty!
Despite the numerous picturesque scenes of white sands, crystal clear blue seas and palm trees that are plastered over any advertisement for the Maldives that I have seen and the many reports I had heard of its beauty, I was not fully prepared for the astounding reality of it. . . To wake up every morning on our floating home, Blue o two’s M/Y Blue ‘Honors Legacy’ and look out upon the stunning atolls and blue waters was literally mind blowing. After pinching myself, I thankfully did not wake up!
Our journey started out from Manchester to Istanbul, then on to Male where we were taken to our luxury liveaboard. My roomie/buddy and I were given a sea View Room on the middle deck with a most welcoming rain forrest shower; just what we needed after our long journey! After settling in and being treated to a lovely buffet lunch we set out on our check dive. Once again I was reminded of the ease associated with wet suit, single cylinder, liveaboard diving – Bliss!
I have come to realise that as a diver I am a lover of the ‘big stuff’ so there were some obvious highlights for me. Even so the corals, nudebranches and other ‘small stuff’ were very beautiful. Some of the colours and the sheer amount of marine life were like nothing I have seen before.
Now back to the ‘big stuff’! We had an hour long snorkelling encounter with a male adolescent (as I was advised my south African dive buddies) Whale Shark. His sheer size combined with his graceful movement through the water was awesome to see and put my manic finning (trying desperately to keep up with him) to shame!
The Manta Ray cleaning stations were so much more than I could have hoped for. They are certainly the most majestic creatures I have ever encountered but they also showed their fun loving side when playing in our exhaust bubbles . . . I am sure that I was grinning stupidly throughout the dive and caught myself giggling on several occasions.
The dive with around 10 Grey Reef and White Tip Reef sharks, circling the edge of the reef was adrenaline filled; I exited the water buzzing with excitement! Perhaps I am a bit of an adrenaline junky after all . . .
All in all this was the best weeks diving that I have had in my life, all be it short, diving career so far. I have heard people say that diving in the Maldives has changed their lives and although it may not have changed my life I do think it has changed me, albeit in some small and outwardly insignificant way. I have come home with an even greater respect for our awe inspiring oceans.
My Video Says it all !
