Anyone been to the Maldives recently.

[jules59]

I went to Meeru (..fenfushi) in Dec 2004. Disappointingly, the corals were very bleached at alot of the dive sites around this island.
I'm thinking of going again March/April 2007 with a group of friends. Can anyone recommend island resorts with more intact corals. We would like to see mantas as well.
Regards
Jules

[sharkhunter]

Try Vilamendhoo.....
.......pure adrenaline rush diving, second to none!!

If you are after action packed "real unguided diving" in HUGE currents with lot's of BIG stuff then start planning a trip to Vilamedhoo, because this is the place for you. For those that want some serious diving, German dive operators Werna Lau (http://www.wernerlau.com/maldives/index_uk.htm)are second to none and offer over 40 excellent dive sites and to my pleasant suprise the coral is very good on many sites and even rivals those Red Sea reefs.

Here are some of the pictures I took:
http://www.creativestudio.net/doxa_pictures/underwater_01.jpg

PS: Very nice island and the foods good. Diving isn't cheap, but if like me, you want unguided "real" diving (yes unguided I said, none of than "guided round a musem like children" which a lot of operaters do, no names mentioned) then I guess you have to pay for it. The currents can be huge, but that's what brings the big stuff in, so you'll need to be fit,
experienced diver, good in the water and a strong swimmer. ;)

Viz can be down to 10m if the currents running strong, as you can see from these pictures.

Werna Lau are excellent, my kind of dive operator, everything runs like clockwork (that's what I love about the Germans)

You'll see sharks on most dives, manta during the season (we saw them just off the island not far from the dive jetty), whale shark have been spotted all year round, and several groups saw them when we were there, unfortunatly we didn't...but hey, there is always next time. ;)

Here are some pictures of the island.

[Tony F]

Awesome photos :)

[sharkhunter]

Awesome photos :)

Thanks :)

If you want to see more underwater pictures visit my personal gallery [click here (http://www.gregbottle.co.uk/index.htm)]

[pugwash]

I recommend vilamendhoo as a resort and the area around this island has some very good sites.

We have been on three islands over the years and this island is far the best for facilities for non-divers.

My wife and I have been on this island several times but have visited the vilamendhoo thila many times via a liveaboard - excellent diving.

I wasn't too impressed with one or two werner lau staff but overall, their operation is very good.

Our problems were in particular with a Japanese dive master, who appeared to be too full of herself in trying to get my wife to use a certain amount of lead which was clearly not enough. A german guy who we had a disagreement with on another issue, later apolgised when he found that he was wrong.

However, would I go there again - yes.:D

[jules59]

I recommend vilamendhoo as a resort and the area around this island has some very good sites.

We have been on three islands over the years and this island is far the best for facilities for non-divers.

My wife and I have been on this island several times but have visited the vilamendhoo thila many times via a liveaboard - excellent diving.

I wasn't too impressed with one or two werner lau staff but overall, their operation is very good.

Our problems were in particular with a Japanese dive master, who appeared to be too full of herself in trying to get my wife to use a certain amount of lead which was clearly not enough. A german guy who we had a disagreement with on another issue, later apolgised when he found that he was wrong.

However, would I go there again - yes.:D

Pugwash
Does this island have pool ? It appears not from the brochure.
Its an essential for the non-divers in my group, I'm afraid.
Jules

[slimsl]

Pugwash
Does this island have pool ? It appears not from the brochure.
Its an essential for the non-divers in my group, I'm afraid.
Jules
jules59 u want me to chk abt pool