129 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

Hello  fellow Maldives dive buddies.  Looking forward to seeing old friends and to making new friends as well!

 

And we you Kent!

[WreckWench]

Just to be sure everyone sees this... please tell your friends to join you...spots are going fast!

 

 

Several Important Updates:

 

• Availability is going FAST!!! See the new opening counts below.due to people from the Cuba trip transferring over to the Maldives
• Also there was a blurb about coral bleaching in the Maldives in UnderCurrent. I have posted it below and will respond to it.
• And finally we are looking at how to do some podcasts so you an HEAR why a certain destination is good or how to counter a statement like coral bleaching, etc. I hope to be able to do this soon!

 

CORAL BLEACHING IN THE MALDIVES:

 

The Maldives, only just recovering from the mass coral die-off in 1998, is now experiencing yet another coral bleaching event. The Indian Ocean archipelago was revered for its colorful coral gardens, but The Ocean Agency says some of the country's most treasured reefs are now barely recognizable. "The bleaching was truly haunting," said Richard Vevers. "It's rare to see reefs bleach quite so spectacularly. The flesh of the corals had turned clear and we were seeing the skeletons of the animals glowing white for as far as the eye could see -- it was a beautiful, yet deeply disturbing sight."

 

 

My Thoughts:  I have traveled several years in a row to the Maldives and have NOT seen the bleaching that was reported in UnderCurrents recently. Keep in mind that the Maldives are a large quantity of islands who make up a country...much like the US is a large number of states which make up a country. So coral bleaching on one atoll (island) will not affect the diving on another island. This is one of the reasons we do a liveaboard so we can ALWAYS go to the most pristine diving available ANYWHERE in the Maldives.  If you go to the Maldives and you see one atoll it would be like going to the US and seeing one state and then thinking you had see it all. It is just not that way. Even with several trips I have not seen all of the Maldives but I have seen enough to know the parts I like and I know our members will like. In fact on the last trip we had members who were NOT enjoying the diving so we did some exploratory diving on another part of the island and the crew loved it so much they added it to the regular itinerary. There was NO current...the fish were stupid and soon EVERYONE wanted to do the 'special diving we had discovered".

 

So please trust me when I say the following.... "I would not return to a place if it were not good. I would not return multiple times to a place if it were not exceptional. And by having the entire boat we can change and adapt on the fly. If the crew takes us to spots we do not like...THEY WILL CHANGE IT QUICKLY. If the crew does not allow us to dive for at least 1 full hour...THEY WILL BE TOLD TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY. In fact if we want anything changed or adapted or modified IT WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY!!!  Other than weather and some special dietary restrictions of our guests... I have a huge amount of control over the experience you will have. So please relax knowing that I would not state my personal reputation and the club's reputation on taking you on a bad trip. We have to succeed MANY times for people to trust in us. We only have to fail once to out of business. After doing this for 13 years....we have a decent handle on how to avoid the latter!  

 

 

AVAILABLE MALDIVES SPOTS:

 

Feb 26-Mar 5 7 Day Trip:

• Lower - 4 spots
• Main - 0 but we may be able to get one spot back
• VIP - 0 but we may be able to get one or two spots back

 

Mar 5-15  10 Day Trip:

• Lower - 4 spots
• Main - 0 SOLD OUT
• VIP - 1 spot FEMALE ONLY

 

 

Keep in mind the displaced Cuba people are starting to STRONGLY look at this trip so if you have been on the fence...don't wait too long...it should start to fill out quickly now!

[ratherbedivin]

Working on booking airfare for 3/5-3/15 trip. Arrival is no problem as will be arriving late Friday for Sunday departure on the Catpe Vita. I am curious about how quickly one could expect to schedule departing flight after disembarking from the Carpe Vita ???

[Sqbagal]

We have to be off the boat by 8:30am and the airport is close. I would say you'd be safe if your flight was 11am or noonish to allow for long lines at check in. How early is the flight you are looking at?

Working on booking airfare for 3/5-3/15 trip. Arrival is no problem as will be arriving late Friday for Sunday departure on the Catpe Vita. I am curious about how quickly one could expect to schedule departing flight after disembarking from the Carpe Vita ???

[ratherbedivin]

The flight I am looking at is wheels up @ 9:45 AM Is it possible to leave from the boat early enough to make that flight?

[WreckWench]

The flight I am looking at is wheels up @ 9:45 AM Is it possible to leave from the boat early enough to make that flight?

YES! Book it!

[WreckWench]

We have to be off the boat by 8:30am and the airport is close. I would say you'd be safe if your flight was 11am or noonish to allow for long lines at check in. How early is the flight you are looking at?

Working on booking airfare for 3/5-3/15 trip. Arrival is no problem as will be arriving late Friday for Sunday departure on the Catpe Vita. I am curious about how quickly one could expect to schedule departing flight after disembarking from the Carpe Vita ???

 

 

We can get people off the boat at ANYTIME NEEDED. The boat is aware of the few flight options available to people so we can make it work. The worst case scenario is you pay for a private taxi (inexpensive) to the ferry area and there are ferry's that go every 15 mins or so.

[WreckWench]

FROM THE BOAT....

 

DEPARTURE

The Carpe Vita Explorer arrives at its final destination port on the
afternoon of the day prior to disembarkation. An optional visit to the
city of Male is offered on the final afternoon for itineraries ending
near Male. Passengers spend the final night and have disembarkation
day breakfast on board. There will be sufficient time to catch a flight
out at any time on the day of disembarkation. The dhoni will take
you and your luggage to the airport after breakfast (or earlier if you
have an early flight). If you have a flight late in the afternoon or in
the evening, the airport hotel offers luggage storage and pool/beach/shower

use for the day for a fee. If you’ll be staying at one of the
outlying resorts after the charter, the dhoni will take you back to the
airport so you may meet your resort’s transfer boat. Please note that
international airport check-in begins 2 hours prior to departure and
ends 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time.
Note: A USD $12 departure tax is charged to every passenger
leaving the Maldives. This tax may have been included in your
airline ticket (this depends on the airline). If not, you must pay the
tax at the airport. Only US Dollars are accepted for this tax

[suntrooper]

Hi Kamala, I'm hoping to make this trip but still waiting for my schedule next year.  Hopefully a spot remains!  I wanted to let you know that I have tried to contact you outside of this forum but not successfully. Please let me know what the best way is the best to connect with you and I'll use that method. I was so pleased to win the drawing for the flashlight and I'm hoping to use it for an upcoming cold water dive here in the PNW. Thank You!!!

[ratherbedivin]

Thank you so much for info! I wanted to let you know I have tried to contact you outside of the forum via email. Not sure if you received them or not.

[Sqbagal]

Well, good news / bad news....

 

Bad news, I'm not able to make the Maldives trip

 

Good news, the MAIN Level spot is open for a female. 

 

Have fun! Hug a whaleshark for me

[dive_sail_etc]

Well, good news / bad news....

Bad news, I'm not able to make the Maldives trip

 

Oh No!! So sorry Traci

 

Good news, the MAIN Level spot is open for a female. 

 

Leave it to you to find a silver (if somewhat tarnished) lining...

 

Have fun! Hug a whaleshark for me

[little mermaid]

Traci, this is a bummer....  

[WreckWench]

Hi Kamala, I'm hoping to make this trip but still waiting for my schedule next year.  Hopefully a spot remains!  I wanted to let you know that I have tried to contact you outside of this forum but not successfully. Please let me know what the best way is the best to connect with you and I'll use that method. I was so pleased to win the drawing for the flashlight and I'm hoping to use it for an upcoming cold water dive here in the PNW. Thank You!!!

 

Great news! And use my email kamala@singledivers.com.  Send where you want it mailed and we'll get the light out to you asap!

[WreckWench]

Thank you so much for info! I wanted to let you know I have tried to contact you outside of the forum via email. Not sure if you received them or not.

 

Been buried in getting the Cuba trip refunds dealt with since the boat cancelled the trip and getting the 2017 trip locked in and open for booking.

Call me at 8645576079 if you still need my help!