Deep North Cruise
Deep North Cruise is a special diving cruise from August to November during North West Monsoon, to discover Baa Atoll and its best dive sites. Most of them will be Thilas, underwater Pinnacles, well-known for beautiful coral and abundant fish life. At the outside reef it is very likely to see Manta Rays, Whale Sharks and other big visitors.
DAY ONE (1)
Upon arrival to Male „ International Airport, you will be met & greeted by our representative and then you will be transported to your chosen Safari Boat. Enjoy your welcome drink and take your time to discover your room and unpacking. Relax in the restaurant before we come together for our Safety Briefing. After chilling out and setting in we anchor outside Kurumba. No time to waste to get into the water for our Check Dive at KURUMBA HOUSE REEF or FARU CORNER to get comfortable in the waters of Maldives. While we anchor in Kurumba, you have time to explore the Boat.
DAY TWO (2)
In the early morning we get fresh at NASSIMO THILA with its scattered pinnacles going down to 30m or at OKOBE THILA which comprises three large coral heads and where you can see Eagle Rays, Jacks and Napoleon Wrasses. Our second dive is either conducted at BODU HITHI THILA where many holes and crevices surprise you with colorful Sea Slugs, Flatworms, Cleaner Shrimps and Morays or at RASFARI THILA, on the West side of North Male? Atoll. Announced as one of the many marine protected areas in the Maldives, this outer reef is famous for good drift dive with large sloping walls, dropping down to 90m. Most likely you will see Gray Reef Sharks, Silver Tip and White Tip Reef Sharks as well as Eagle Rays dancing in the current. Our last jump happens at ZIYAARAIY THILA, situated in the middle of the wide channel, running roughly east-west at about 9m depth. Watch out for Mantas. After this experience the boat crosses Kardiva Channel, the largest channel in Maldives, to move from North Male? Atoll to Baa Atoll. This cruise needs around 6hrs and we will be out of signal range for about 1hr.
DAY THREE (3)
The boat is resting at Dharavandhoo where we descend at DHONFANU THILA, our first spot to see Mantas. This oval shaped reef reaches from 7-14m with a beautiful formed swim-through at about 18m depth, ending at 25m. Follow the canyon between the main reef and a slightly standing rock with astonishing corals and marine life. During this season you find all big visitors such as Grey Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and Barracudas. Let?s venture to DHIGU THILA, often referred as Manta Point, as outgoing current provides best feeding conditions for those amazing giants. On the South side of the reef you find a wall with overhangs and caves between 15-20m. We go for DHARAVANDHOO THILA, a photographer?s highlight for stunning landscape shots of steep ledges, colorful caves, sand slopes and narrow crevices. The beauty of this Thila is its unusual features. We anchor at Dhiggiri for our night shutdown.
DAY FOUR (4)
To discover the other side of this partially 200m wide reef, we take you once more to DHARAVANDHOO THILA, to complete your discovery tour. The boat cruises North-East, to drop us off in the area of HANI FARU BAY, where we conduct the second dive at HANI FARU and the third dive at HANI THILA, both hotspots for exciting get-togethers with Whale Sharks and big groups of Mantas, which means about 100?s. As this small bay is the ultimate area for spectacular photo shots, make sure you take your camera.
DAY FIVE (5)
In the early morning hours the boat cruises to Maalhos in the East, where we anchor for the day. Today we discover two reefs, all about Manta Rays. Our dive sites are DHE? GAA THILA and DEEGUNA THILA. Watch these magnificent creatures feeding and cleaning to get rid of the unwelcomed parasites at the famous cleaner stations around the reefs. Our third stop is at DHIGALI HAA, a submerged pinnacle starting at 7m depth and smaller pinnacles at the Western edge. A famous spot for Sharks and small schools of Barracudas. But you will also experience big schools of Unicornfish, playing in the bubbles, legions of Blue-Dash Fusiliers and hunting Jacks and Trevallies. A photographer?s paradise for “arty” shots.
DAY SIX (6)
You wake up in Maamaduvari from where we head to NELIVARU GIRI for a relaxing early morning dive. This large reef with a healthy coral life, rocks and caves features especially Snapper,Tuna, Turtles and Mantas. Watch the reef carefully, as there is so much to see. We have a big time ahead at KUDADHOO CORNER, at the channel entrance to Maavihaa Kandu, the Southern tip of Baa Atoll. This area offers all the unusual range of fish life. Here you will find Napolean Wrasse, Lobster, Nurse Sharks and Turtles. After our last dive at MAAMADUVARI THILA, we take you to an uninhabited island to enjoy a typical Beach BBQ.
DAY SEVEN (7)
Today we move back to North Male? Atoll, but if you are not flying within the next 24hrs, you have the chance for a last early morning dive at OLHUGIRI KANDU, the South End of Baa Atoll. This interesting dive site with its special morphology full of life, allows a great “power glide” towards the inside of the Atoll. To enjoy the time out of the water you go for an excursion to Male? City, the capital of Maldives. See the historical sites, visit the markets or go for some shopping to complete your experience of the Maldives.
DAY EIGHT (8)
After breakfast your crew will transfer you to Male? International Airport.
The above Itinerary is just to give you an idea of the routes we follow and dive sites. The route will be discussed on your arrival. We will consider your preferences, weather and seasons to offer you an unforgettable diving experience.
