Illness and IDC practice

I have been signed off work for 2 days now and prescribed 4 medications because I have a stomach infection. :( I won't be able to dive for a few days but at least I can make a start on all the IDC theory and I still have beautiful surroundings.

I went into work this morning to help out for a few hours and we practiced doing skills. We assembled and disassembled our equipment as an instructor would, going through everything slowly and in detail as practice for our IDC. Our instructor made me laugh as he described a scuba tank like a bomb and our BCD like a balloon, not a great combination!

The other interns then went into the water to do the 24 skills circuit but I had to go back to my room and rest. I just hope I feel better soon because I can't wait to get in the water again!

First boat dive

This morning I arrived at the dive centre at 8am and swept all the floors, as presentation is paramount at the Four Seasons. I then was showed how to use the compressor to fill tanks with air and nitrox. 

As I was doing the 10am orientation dive I got my kit and the guest's kit ready and prepared the forms for them and the briefing. During the dive I did a demonstration of skills and then asked the guests to do them, I did regulator remove and replace, regulator recovery and mask clearing. Then one of the instructors lead the orientation dive around the house reef and I closed it.

Dive Details

Maximum Depth: 11m

Location: House Reef

Bottom Time: 36 min

Water Temperature: 28oc

Viz: 20m

Tank: 8L

Air on surfacing: 140 bar

Safety stop: 3 min, 5m

Marine Life: Morray eel, Wrasse, Blue-lines surgeonfish, Empress Angel fish,  Batfish, Lionfish, blue faced 

angelfish and many more.

In the afternoon I did my first boat dive here. We went to a reef wall 30 minutes away by boat and it was an incredible dive, I felt as though I was in an aquarium, I have never seen so many beautiful fish! The highlight of the dive for me was seeing a honeycomb moray eel which was just stunning!

Dive Details

Maximum Depth: 25m

Location: Reef

Bottom Time: 42 min

Water Temperature: 30oc

Viz: 30m

Tank: 12La

Air on surfacing: 60 bar

Safety stop: 3 min, 5m

Marine Life: Honeycomb moray eel, giant stingray, titan trigger fish, wrasse, Blue-lines surgeonfish, scorpion fish, lionfish and many more.

Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me on my dives, so please note that the images included are taken from Google to represent the species I saw.

First day working at Four Seasons Landaa

Today I had my first day working in the Dive Centre, I was amazed by the facilities, level of professionalism and excellent customer service the staff provide here at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru and I am extremely proud to be a part of the dive team.

After a thorough orientation of the Dive Centre and an introduction to "SeaMarc" the Marine Discovery Centre we went for our orientation dive on the house reef. The dive was absolutely incredible, I have never seen so many beautiful fish on a dive, the reef is absolutely buzzing with life!

Dive Details

Maximum Depth: 11m

Bottom Time: 36 min

Water Temperature: 28oc

Viz: 30m

Tank: 10L

Air on surfacing: 160 bar

Safety stop: None

Marine Life: Morray eel, Wrasse, Blue-lines surgeonfish, Empress Angel fish,  Batfish, Lionfish, blue faced angelfish and many more!

I can't wait to dive again tomorrow! In the afternoon we had a chance to go and look around the Four Seasons Explorer luxury yacht which was incredible! Guests can stay on it and it cruises around the islands giving them the chance to dive off it or do various other watersports!

Photos coming soon :)

Landing at Landaa

Today I had to wake up at 4:30am to get a boat back to Male airport whilst it was still dark! While I was waiting I was looking at the fish off the jetty with the security guard when suddenly we saw a black tip reef shark just swimming underneath us! It was awesome to see, I just hope that next time I see one I am in the water with it!

After arriving at Male airport I then got a bus to the sea plane terminal and got a sea plane to Landaa Giraavaru at sunrise.

Sunrise seaplane

On arrival at Landaa I got taken to my room in a golf buggy as this island is much bigger than Kuda Huraa, then I was shown around the staff areas on the island. The facilities here are amazing, there is a staff gym, sports courts, games room, beach and even cinema!

Staff beach

It is my first day of work tomorrow and I get my uniform this evening, I can't wait to start now!

Paradise found

It was my first proper day at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa today and it was amazing!

I went free diving on the house reef with 30m viz and to about 6m. I saw eagle rays, wrasse and giant angelfish, it was amazing, now i can't wait to go for a proper dive!

Free diving with Angelfish

I also went across to another island on the dive boat with the Dive Centre manager to fill up the Nitrox tanks as the resort nitrox compressor wasn't working.

Neighboring island

I am sad to leave Kuda and go to Landaa Giraavaru tomorrow which is where I am doing my IDC although I am sure I will love it there too!

Pictures from my day are below.

Coral reef conservation programme

Snorkelling selfie

It was surreal sitting on a bench underwater!

19 hours, 5,640 miles, 2 flights and a boat trip later...

...and I'm in the Maldives!

I arrived into Male airport this afternoon and then was taken by boat to the Four Seasons Hotel on Kuda Huraa.

I am staying here until Thursday, when I will then get a seaplane to Landaa Giraavaru which is where I will be working as a Divemaster in the Four Seasons Resort. All the staff have been so lovely and welcoming and very helpful, I have felt as though I'm being treated like a guest, I can definitely see why guests return here!

So far I am amazed by just how beautiful the islands are and the viz in the sea! Even in the marina it looked to be about 20m which is better than you get in perfect conditions elsewhere!

I think I'm going to LOVE it here :)

Marine Conservation

A harsh reminder that as beautiful and enjoyable as the ocean is we must protect and respect it before it is too late. 

Diving in the Maldives

So it's only 4 days now until I go to The Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru to do my IDC Internship. Below is a video from YouTube that shows what the diving there is typically like... AMAZING! I can't wait to go :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0WtylszlX8

Treasure

A thought for all you scuba enthusiasts out there....

"The world's oceans hold over 6 billion dollars worth of treasure... Still waiting to be found." -  Into the Blue

Let's go diving! 

Throwback Thursday

This time last year I was leaving the Algarve, Portugal after having spent 3 months working at a Dive Centre there whilst earning my PADI Divemaster qualification.

The average water temperature was between 13oc-16oc as it was the Atlantic Ocean and conditions were often rough with visibility ranging from 2-10m. 

On an average dive the marine life we would see includes conga eels, rays, octopus, spider crabs and sometimes morray eels. 

The most amazing life I saw on a dive was a seahorse which are really rare in that part of the ocean and an electric ray, like the one shown below:

Electric ray

Although diving in the Atlantic was often very cold and the conditions were challenging I believe it made me a better diver. Now when I go to dive in the Maldives it will be a a lot easier and more enjoyable but I will be prepared for bad conditions if they ever do arise.

Ocean Giants

For all those of you in the UK check out "Ocean Giants" on iPlayer at the moment. Fascinating documentaries about Whales, Dolphins and other marine life. Click on the link below to watch an episode :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=Ocean%20Giants