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