Charlie dives the Maldives on board the Carpe Vita: Staff trip report

It was a chance to try the new route on Turkish Airlines and I was pleasantly surprised. Once on board the luxurious Carpe Vita, I was lucky enough to have a very spacious ‘standard’ cabin all to myself for the week.

Daily diving began early before breakfast and all our equipment was kept on the accompanying dhoni (tender). Our route explored the Ari and Malé Atolls. Most dives were either on a Thila (coral rising from the lagoon to 5-15 metres) or a Giri (coral heads just below the surface). Not only is the marine life abundant, there are plenty of juvenile species to be seen, including turtles and sharks.

Without doubt, the biggest surprises of the week were the two night dives. The first, at Maaya Thila, attracted marble rays, barracuda and reef sharks. I have dived thousands of times and this definitely ranked right up there. The other was pure indulgence. Sixty minutes, sharing a rock with four other divers, half a dozen lion fish and a couple of manta rays feeding under the lights from the nearby resort.

I saw more oceanic manta rays on my trip, along with a guitar fish and a couple of whale sharks. Feeding close to the surface under the midday sun, these behemoths of the deep are always a beautiful and heart-thumping sight for us all. I have to say, I greatly enjoyed my trip to the Maldives and would love to explore more, full appreciating I only saw a fraction of what hides below those idyllic waters. 

Charlie travelled to the Maldives in 2013 on board the Carpe Vita liveaboard. If you would like to find out more about his trip, contact us on 01962 302 087.