Maldives - where for club trip?

[Janos]

I've never been to the Maldives, and my club are thinking about a club trip to the Maldives next year. Probably in the late Autumn time. Only problem is where in the Madlives should we go? There will be roughly ten of us, and so we've got to cater for a whole bunch of people. It's not so much the diving I'm worried about, but the island (and sadly it has to be shore based) has got to have something for everyone.

I said I'd ask my 'internet friends' (as t'missus calls you) so don't let me down here peeps!

Laters,
Janos

[Fiona]

Janos

Everyone will have their own island preference. I went with a mixed group in 1999, although when I say mixed they were all divers as there wasn't much else to do, I went with a group from my LDS. The person who organised it got a very good deal and we couldn't complain about any aspect of the trip. We paid for a standard dive package and then added dives on daily so you did as many as you wanted to.

Now this is also the island where last year there was a group of people who complained about the standard of food etc.

Anyway we went here to Meeru. http://www.meeru.com/ When we went we all paid the same but there was 3 different types of accommodation, I was lucky to be allocated one of the beach bungalows (Land Villa on website) which were great, so those or the sort of things you might want to consider when looking for a resort. Also unless you are all couples make sure you state if you want twin rooms.

Hope you find the resort you all want and have a great time. Just had a look at the website and it looks like they have added quite a few things like sports and a spa since I was there.

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by Janos

I've never been to the Maldives, and my club are thinking about a club trip to the Maldives next year. Probably in the late Autumn time. Only problem is where in the Madlives should we go? There will be roughly ten of us, and so we've got to cater for a whole bunch of people. It's not so much the diving I'm worried about, but the island (and sadly it has to be shore based) has got to have something for everyone.

I said I'd ask my 'internet friends' (as t'missus calls you) so don't let me down here peeps!

Laters,
Janos

Hey Janos,

Having just come back from Maldives and doing some research on this very subject, and Fiona's recommendation of Meeru is spot on, can I suggest you have a look at Bandos?

It has an incredible house-reef for shore diving and there are literally hundreds of dives sites within easy (20 minutes) striking distance by dhoni (local dive boats).

The German dive base leader there (it's a Euro Divers centre) has managed to negotiate the only 'any depth of dive' ticket in the Maldives! There is a pot on the island and he has banks and J's of both Nitrox and Helium for mix divers wishing to go deep and do deco.

He also caters for both the SCR and CCR divers in that he has both Inspirations and Draeger units on-site. Those bringing their own can get their 3 and 5 litre cylinders filled too.

So a tekkie diver's dream, really.

Hope this helps mate.

[Janos]

Thanks both!

I knew you wouldn't let me down! I'll start trawling t'internet and look at both your recommendations in much detail.

Laters,
Janos