Maldives Fish

Fish of the Maldives

One of the reasons the Maldives is so popular with scuba divers from around the world is the huge variety of fish living in the Maldives. The types of fish living in these waters vary by size, shape and colour. The following are some of our favourites:

Maldives Fish: The Whale Shark

Many people overlook the fact that the Whale Shark is a fish. Many think of it as a Whale, thanks to its enormous size. But, indeed, it is a fish, like all sharks, and it is also the biggest fish in the world. The whale shark is a non-aggressive fish and for this reason, it is one of the biggest attractions of the Maldives – thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers flock here every year to swim with the enormous fishes.

Maldives Fish: The Clownfish

Famous for his starring role in the animated film “Finding Nemo”, the Clownfish is definitely one of the cutest fish in the world and in the Maldives. Found hanging around the reef this pretty orange fish puts a smile on most scuba divers’ faces.

Maldives Fish: The Lionfish

The Lionfish is one of the most visually enchanting fish in the world. Its crazy appearance makes you think it is almost wearing a fancy dress mask and he is almost begging to be touched. But, be careful, the Lionfish is actually a venomous fish sometimes known as a Dragonfish or Turkeyfish and you should be very cautious. DO NOT touch the Lionfish! The Lionfish will not attack humans, so just keep your distance and you will be fine. Touching the Lionfish can lead to severe pain, although it will not be fatal.

Maldives Fish: The Long-nosed Hawkfish

The Long-nosed Hawkfish is often a prized member of any aquarium and used to be quite difficult to find, although their populations are now very healthy again. This Maldives fish is really interesting to look at, mainly for his trumpet-shaped face and intricate orange and white markings. It almost looks like he has been wrapped in a spider’s web. You will find him cruising around the reef, hiding among the corals.

Maldives Fish: Oriental Sweetlips

One of the most common Maldives fish is the Oriental Sweetlip, a reef-dwelling creature found travelling in schools all over the archipelago. They come in variety of patterns, including stripes and spots.

Maldives Fish: Stonefish

The last of the Maldives fish featured here is a creature to be very afraid of. The stonefish is one of the most well-camouflaged animals in the whole world and also one of the most deadly. The stonefish looks exactly like a stone and lives on the ocean floor, among rocks, so is very difficult to see. While they are not aggressive animals, if you were to step on a stonefish you would probably die, as they emit a very poisonous venom that can cause serious injury and death. Be very careful were you stand!

Scuba Diving Insurance

Scuba Travel Insurance

Scuba travel insurance is a kind of insurance policy that provides financial assistance to a policy-holder if ever unforeseen events occur while scuba diving abroad. It, however, cannot be used as a substitute for private medical insurance policies. Unlike medical insurance, scuba travel insurance will only cover a holder for events that require immediate medical attention during their dive.

Most, if not all, insurance companies provide the same coverage for their scuba travel insurance plans. These include:

- emergency medical attention
- damage or loss of your scuba equipment
- damage or loss of scuba equipment you hired
- loss of diving days

Scuba Travel Insurance Policies:

There are two kinds of scuba insurance policies

Single trip policies
A single trip scuba travel insurance policy covers a policy-holder for only one return journey.

Annual multi-trip policies
Annual multi-trip policies cover a policy-holder for an entire year. This scuba travel insurance policy allows the holder to make any number of trips within the year they are insured, as long as each trip does not exceed 31 days.

Choosing between the two plans all boils down on how often you dive. If you are a beginner, and never went scuba diving, it would be cheaper for you to purchase a single trip scuba travel insurance policy. On the other hand, if you’re an avid scuba diver then it would be better to get an annual plan.

Scuba Diving Holidays

Scuba Diving Holidays in the Maldives

The phrase “scuba diving holidays” does not refer to a special non-working holiday for scuba divers. Instead, it means going on holiday to scuba dive in some of the best scuba diving destinations around the world.

Scuba Diving Holidays For Everyone

You don’t have to be an experienced scuba diver to go on a scuba diving holiday. A lot of travel agencies provide scuba diving holidays that allows you to enjoy the aquatic fauna while learning the basics of diving. For more experienced divers, you can spend your scuba diving holiday by going diving with whales and sharks or swimming through underwater caves or ancient ship wrecks.

Budget for a Scuba Diving Holiday

For those looking for a great scuba diving holiday, but also thinking about their budget, you might make smaller scale plans with a group of friends. Perhaps you can share accommodation or a liveboard boat. If, however, you have got more money to spend, you can also plan a fully tailor-made holiday that allows you to create your own scuba diving holiday that would appeal to your personal interest.

Scuba Diving Holidays in the Maldives

The Maldives is one of the world’s best scuba diving holiday destination and you can enjoy diving here whether you are a beginner or if you have dived many times in your life. You can enjoy diving from a dive centre at a resort, or you can book a scuba diving holiday on a liveaboard, which will allow you to see many more dive sites than if you are at a resort. The choice is yours, whatever your decision, the Maldives makes a great destination for a scuba diving holiday.

Scuba Diving Holiday Accommodations

Scuba divers sometimes stay at the finest resorts in the world, sometimes at a basic backpacker’s lodge and sometimes on a luxury liveaboard. The accommmodation really doesnt matter to a die-hard scuba diver. What matters most is the diving. However, returning to a gorgeous resort after a long day’s diving is certainly a very pleasant experience.

More Than Just Beauty

Aside from seeing the beauty of underwater life, these scuba diving holidays also help spread the awareness of conserving marine wildlife. Dive centres, schools and liveaboard ships provide all guests with visual presentations and printed material, allowing them to understand and appreciate the beauty of marine environment further once they get underwater.

Enjoy your scuba diving holiday!

Scuba Diving Videos

Scuba Diving Videos from the Maldives

The Maldives scuba diving is some of the best in the world.  While you can spend all day looking at underwater photos, there’s no better way to get a feel for scuba diving than videos.  So, we put together this selection of scuba diving videos for your information and entertainment.

Scuba Diving Video of a Sea Turtle

Most scuba divers in the world will tell you that the Sea Turtle is one of their favourite underwater creatures to see while diving. They are such peaceful creatures, it really is a joy to scuba with them. This video shows a really big sea turtle cruising around the Maldives.  There are several turtle species in the Maldives, including the Green Turtle  and the Hawksbill Turtle.

Scuba Diving Video of Dolphins

This next video shows some rare footage of dolphins taken while scuba diving in the Maldives. Dolphins are such graceful animals, it is a pleasure to scuba dive or swim in the water when they are around.

Scuba Diving Video of a Grey Reef Shark

The Grey Reef Shark is another of the most popular underwater creatures with scuba divers in the Maldives. The next video shows a Grey Reef Shark meandering among other fish at Makaru Thila dive site in the Maldives.

Scuba Diving Video of a Puffer Fish

This next video is of a large puffer fish. They are such strange creatures I thought it deserved to be included in the selection. Almost prehistoric, dont you think?

Scuba Diving Video of a Manta Ray

Another of the favourite creatures swimming around the Maldives is the Manta Ray. In fact, the Manta and the Whale Shark are the two main attractions of these waters. This video shows an amazing, majestic Manta Ray cruising around the ocean. Can you believe how awesome it is?

Scuba Diving Video of Oriental Sweetlips

Some of my favourite reef-dwelling fish are the Sweetlips, of which there are loads in the Maldives. They are just such pretty little fish. In this video, you see a large school of Harlequin Sweetlips cruising under water.

Scuba Diving Videos of a Whale Shark

This next video features the absolute favourite of the Maldives waters. This is amazing video footage of a Whale Shark - such amazing creatures! The best part for me is when he opens his mouth. While they are not aggressive, I have to say I am always worried about getting swallowed down. Can you imagine!?!

Black Pearl Photo Gallery

Photos of Black Pearl Maldives Liveaboard

A selection of photos from the Black Pearl liveaboard in the Maldives.

 

Adventurer 2 Photos

Maldives Liveaboard Adventurer 2 – A Photo Gallery

A selection of photos from the Adventurer 2 Liveaboard in the Maldives.

Maldives Triggerfish

Maldives Triggerfish

Triggerfish are some of the most popular fish to be spotted around coral reefs around the world. The Maldives are no exception.

Triggerfish Appearance

The triggerfish can become quite a large fish, sometimes up to 3 feet in length. They travel in groups, and are characterised by their green scales covered in spots or stripes. They are an attractive fish, usually very popular with snorkelers and scuba divers. They have a fairly flat body and two dorsal spines which they can lock, giving them their name “trigger” fish. They use this ability as a defense mechanism against their predators.

Triggerfish Activity and Behaviour

The triggerfish is a generally solitary fish, swimming around the reef feeding on small invertebrates that live around the coral reef. During their breeding season, the triggerfish hides their eggs in a hole and can become quite aggressive in order to protect their eggs. Their have been cases of a triggerfish attacking scuba divers and snorkelers and because some of them have big teeth, these attacks can draw blood, although are unlikely to result in any serious injury.

Triggerfish Species

There are several different kinds of triggerfish, all of which are different in appearance. Species present in the Maldives include the Titan Triggerfish, the Clown Triggerfish and the Picasso Triggerfish. The Picasso Triggerfish is probably the most spectacular of the varieties, thanks to his stunning black, white and yellow markings.

Where to find Triggerfish in the Maldives

While Triggerfish are very commonly spotted in the Maldives, there are several dive sites where encounters are more common than others. These include: The Fihalhohi Reef, Meeru Island and Ari Atoll.

Scuba Diving Cat

World’s First Scuba Diving Cat takes to the Water!

The first recorded cat in the history of the universe has donned a scuba diving tank and scuba gear and taken the plunge in Redding, California. Calico the Cat’s owner, Gene Alba, who previously modified scuba gear so his dog, Mutley could delve under the water, recently created a cat scuba outfit, which allows Calico to breathe underwater.

Do Cats like Scuba Diving?

Since most cats hate water and especially swimming in water, you would think that they wouldn’t be very keen on scuba diving. Well, it seems that Calico actually likes scuba diving! That’s right, he dons his gear and goes down, seemingly relaxed, and stays underwater for about one hour. Unbelievable you might think. But, look, there’s a video to prove it!

Of Scuba Diving Cats and Dogs

Calico is not the only four-legged friend in the world to enjoy the underwater world. Reports of scuba diving dogs, horses and cats have been recorded. Of course, it’s more likely that a dog or horse would enjoy this aquatic sport, since they are generally more fond of water, but they still require the help of their two-legged friends to get kitted up and take the plunge.

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Taking your cat scuba diving

We can’t recommend that all scuba divers out there take their cats and dogs on their next diving holiday. Indeed, you should be very careful before submerging your kitty in the deep blue and most definitely ask the advice of your veterinarian, who will likely think you are crackers. But it sure is an interesting idea, don’t you think?

What is your favourite Maldives Dive Site?

Scuba Dive Maldives Poll:  What is your favourite dive site in the Maldives?

 

British Airways to Offer Direct Flights from London to Maldives

British Airways to Offer Direct Flights from London to Maldives

Finally, the day has arrived! Beginning in October, British Airways will begin to offer direct flights from London to the Maldivian capital, Malé.

Richard Tams, British Airways’ head of UK & Ireland sales, said: “These new routes will be great assets to the BA network and a real winner with customers. They are both perfect holiday destinations, known for their great beaches and fantastic diving. We’re particularly pleased to be serving a completely new destination, the Maldives, and returning to Sharm el Sheikh. We expect both routes to perform well.”

The new flights come into operation on October 25, 2009, but can be booked through www.ba.com.

Fares for flights to Male begin at £629 return, including taxes, fees and charges.

So, if you have yet to discover the majestic Maldives, which offers visitors unforgetable holidays and scuba diving experiences, book your flight on British Airways! Richard Tam’s famous airline has just made getting to know the Maldives that much easier for those living in the UK.

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