Dive Trip 2 2017 - Aveyla Manta Village Resort, Baa Atoll in The Maldives

Aveyla Manta Village Resort, Baa Atoll in The Maldives : September 25 – October 03 2017 7 Nights at resort; all meals; airfares; taxes; twin share village view

$2832 (non diver)

12 dives package

$3460

Optional ocean view upgrade

$ 200

We’ve travelled to The Maldives several times now – always on liveaboard dive safari boats, enjoying the big fish action, sharks, rays and baitfish schools The Maldives is famous for. Normally Maldivian resorts are prohibitively expensive, but a new resort in Baa Atoll (built 2015) in the northern atolls has caught my eye for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it is great value and way more affordable than other dive resorts. Most dive resorts charge exorbitant rates per dive and add on boat charges plus 12% T-GST – thus 75$ USD per dive seems to be pretty typical. But we will be diving from Aveyla Manta Village’s terrific 54 foot dive dhoni for under $53 AUD per dive, making this some of the most affordable and high quality diving in the region. The resort is not typical of the 5 star luxury mega-resorts in The Maldives and don’t expect all the trimmings of opulent luxury. Aveyla Manta Village is situated on Dharavandhoo, a ‘local’ island with a village and community. The resort is governed by local laws and thus no alcohol is permitted to be served at the resort. This will largely be a ‘dry’ trip – alcohol is a prohibited import into The Maldives so it cannot be taken to the resort with you – it must be declared at the airport and will be confiscated until your outbound flight. The resort staff will take us one or two evenings to nearby 5 star resorts for a drink or three if we choose (at a ‘reasonable charge’ – normally $35USD – will be around $5USD for our group) but this will largely be an alcohol-free trip. N.B. this is a small resort, considered a ‘Guest Hotel’ in some listings, with only 16 rooms. We can only secure 13 so this trip will only allow 26 places – so you will need to act quickly to secure your place. There is no pool at the resort, but a superb beach with fantastic snorkelling along the shoreline – this appears to be quite a pristine location as tourism in Baa Atoll is relatively new with an untouched environment.

It was Aveyla’s location that first attracted me. The resort is located 5-10 minutes from Hanifaru Bay, recognised as the world’s largest feeding site for Manta Rays. Between June and November each year, the prevailing currents capture large quantities of plankton in Hanifaru Bay and harmless Manta Rays and the occasional Whale Shark turn up to feast. Lots of them – often in lines feeding in conveyor belt fashion. This short video includes some incredible drone footage of the Mantas feeding in Hanifaru Bay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iiZCznfZvM . Nice footage of diving Dharavandhoo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVfXp2ijHuQ ; 40 second video of masses of Mantas, Hanifaru Bay Oct 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvluIpsrBLc ; Diving at Baa Atoll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96jhsLo8pPE To ensure your booking, please fill in the booking form on the final pages and forward to Ian Lockwood at Allways Dive expeditions. Any questions at all, contact Ian at 9510 6166 or Alan Wiggs at 9787 1613 or 0466 308 409 or awiggs@tps.vic.edu.au

^ Hanifaru Bay only 5 minutes from Dharavandhoo and Aveyla Manta Village on the right…..

Like all natural events this phenomena cannot be ‘guaranteed’ as such, but September is regarded as the best month to see the Mantas of Hanifaru Bay. They are also often seen whilst diving other locations. Hanifaru Bay itself is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and is managed with a view to sustainability and minimal impacts. But Baa Atoll is not a one-trick pony and the other dive sites in the area are equal to anything on offer in The Maldives, with around 20 incredible dive sites within 15 minutes of the resort. Challenging channel dives, chilled out drifts – diving here can take any pace. Large pelagic life and schools of colourful fish all swarm together to create an underwater landscape that will keep you coming back for more!

Baa Atoll Reef Basics: Submerged pinnacles and overhangs Depth: 8 - 32m Visibility: 10 - 30m Currents: Moderate Surface conditions: Usually calm but can be choppy in southwest monsoon Water temperature: 27 - 30°C Experience level: Beginner - Intermediate Number of dive sites: ~30 Diving season: All year round except June Distance: 80 km southwest of Kuredu Access: Maldives liveaboard tour

THE DEAL:

To ensure your booking, please fill in the booking form on the final pages and forward to Ian Lockwood at Allways Dive expeditions. Any questions at all, contact Ian at 9510 6166 or Alan Wiggs at 9787 1613 or 0466 308 409 or awiggs@tps.vic.edu.au

^Let’s play ‘count the Mantas’!

“Amazing experience!�

Reviewed 4 days ago NEWvia mobile

The only part I can possibly complain about this place, is about getting there. We had to change three flights before we got to Dharavandoo. But once we did, it was all worth it. A relatively brand new property, it's only a tad over a year old. Nice spacious rooms and baths, very comfortable indeed. Now the part that took me to a higher plane. The diving, and the dive sites themselves! And also the snorkelling with the Manta Rays! An absolutely amazing array of dive sites, full of life, and veritable cities underwater! Here, I must profusely thank Sidey and Mario for this brilliant experience! These guys run one tight operation, I tell you. They've a nice, spacious and comfortable dive boat, with a superb sun deck on top.

I can't stop thinking about the dive sites though, from Dhonfan Thila to Kakani to Dharavandoo Thila, so beautiful. And most of them come with their own caves, plenty of overhangs, and swim throughs. Each of these crevices are filled with life, seen to be believed. We even got to watch a lady Manta Ray getting herself cleaned, for over half an hour!

And right below her in a crevice in the pinnacle, were two Nurse Sharks, chilling and getting cleaned! This place reminded me of a spa of sorts!!

And then the snorkelling, one of the most amazing spectacles I've ever gotten to see. Tens and tens of Mantay Rays gorging themselves on plankton. What a sight to see, it's like a classical dance performance! Wow!! Coming back to the resort itself, hats off to the Sri Lankan chef they have. He knows his food, and he knows it really well. The Reef Fish Curry and Rice was my favourite. The only other issue here, is that there are no alternatives, if you want to step out of the resort to get a bite to eat. There is only one place at the airport, where the food is just about ok.

All in all, if you're looking for a breathtaking dive holiday, Dharavandoo is the place to be. And you won't get a better place than Aveyla to fulfil that!

Thank you guys, all of you. Hope to be seeing you sometime soon!

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g4366469-d7794053-r399815166-Aveyla_Manta_VillageDharavandhoo.html#