Maldives Advice

[Phil Mauer]

I've read several threads on the Maldives and found them very confusing and too much information therefore I thought I'd start a new thread to hopefully answer my questions I'm trying to find out the following:-

1. Reputable holiday company to go to the Maldives for two weeks in 09.
2. The best time of year with a good chance of seeing Manta's, sharks and hopefully whale sharks.
3.Recommendations for an Island (my wife doesnt dive)
4. Location - whether to North ari atol or South ari atoll

any other information would be apprecaited - thank you.

Phil

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

1. Reputable holiday company to go to the Maldives for two weeks in 09.

I'd go with one of the bigger companies. They're normally cheaper and once there, you're met at the airport, transported to the resort etc, but the resort staff, so it doesn't matter which company you're with. Your rep will probably be on another island and might pop in once a week.

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

2. The best time of year with a good chance of seeing Manta's, sharks and hopefully whale sharks.

In Ari Atoll, it's about Jan to April on the west side at a couple of points. You're not guaranteed though. Whale sharks are a lot more hit and miss. There's one spot in south Ari where they have most luck spotting them. It's near Sun Island.

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

3.Recommendations for an Island (my wife doesnt dive)

I'd pick a bigger one. There still won't be much for her to do though.

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

4. Location - whether to North ari atol or South ari atoll

Apart from the whale shark possibly being more likely in the south, there's not much to choose. There are good site both ends and in the middle.

Jason

[Steve Sub]

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

1. Reputable holiday company to go to the Maldives for two weeks in 09.

Maldives Scuba Diving Tours

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

2. The best time of year with a good chance of seeing Manta's, sharks and hopefully whale sharks.

November to April is the "dry" season. Big stuff should be found on the west side of the atolls.

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

3.Recommendations for an Island (my wife doesnt dive)

Can't help with that one, I've only done a liveaboard

Originally Posted by Phil Mauer

4. Location - whether to North ari atol or South ari atoll

I'd tend to go to the south west of Ari, I saw two whalesharks
and several mantas in that area!!!
HTH
Steve

[BJ]

Rangali Conrad (formerly Hilton) on South Ari Atoll.
Best placed for mantas and whalesharks in Jan/Feb/March and the island has a health spa and several top notch restaurants. Divernet | Indian Ocean | Never mind the rain...

I was last there in the wet season but it was still good for diving if not sunbathing.

[malcolm smith]

Have the mantas arrived in force yet?
We were cruising round n ari, s.ari, felidhe, s.mali, n male in Feb. this year desperately looking for them. VERY few around for our trip.

Hope you have better luck.

Cheers, Malcolm.

ps. went with Maldives Scuba Tours who were excellent.