Maldives Finder 2011

MALDIVES FINDER

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE OF MATATO | 2011 EDITION w w w. ma l d i ve s f i n d e r. co m

Squid Media

MAGICAL MALDIVES pristine and picture perfect Maldives, a true Natural Wonder, is the pinnacle of A-list desert island hideaways. Perfect beaches, clear warm seas and luxury aplenty... It’s no wonder the Maldives is a surreal and serene experience that one never forgets.

Crown Tours Maldives, a pioneer of modern tourism, is the ideal travel partner catering to all your whims as you take a break and seek a gateway to Paradise where the surf, the people, the islands, the water, the temperature, and even the food are all out of this world.

Fasmeeru Building 5th Flr, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, P.O. Box 2034, Male, Republic of Maldives Tel: +960 332 9889 Fax: +960 331 2832 Email: sales@crowntoursmaldives.com

WWW.CROWNTOURSMALDIVES.COM

CONTENTS MALDIVES FINDER

MATATO

By Maleeh Jamal Maldives The Epitome of Tropical Holiday Destination Majestic Maldives

By Adrian Neville

10

90

14

94

16

100 Whale and Dolphin Paradise

By Dr.Charles Anderson

Yours to Treasure

By Dr. MariyamZulfa Male’ : Then & Now A pictorial view of the capital

26

MATATO Member agencies share of tourist arrivals to Maldives. By Maleeh Jamal

38

50

34

we love doing this

By Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz & Mohamed Shafraz Naeem 122 Why

127 Dive Site Reviews

Photo Credit:

56 70

Travel Fairs 2011

78

99 > 100 - A True Story

By Nikhil Chinapa

The Sun, The Beach and The Sand

By Ahmed Hafiz

42

South of the Equator, Beyond Convention

By Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

Island with a Million Possibilities

By Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

of the Ocean

By Neville Coleman 102 Butterflies

117Book Reviews

Cruising with the Manta

By Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

Islands of Mantas

By Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler

21

33

Vision 2011

By Simon Hawkins

Harubee - Young Faces, Old Voices

By Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz

2011 Travel Trends for Maldives

By Abdulla Ghiyas (Inner Maldives Holdidays)

the Maldives

By Rob Bryning & Sam Harwood 112Discovering

“I Do” - A Maldivian Wedding

By Thomas Pickard

Safari in the Rainbow Sea

By Micheal AW

Sharks : Worth more Alive than Dead

By Thomas P.Peschak

108

30

A journey of many paths

By Mihiri Wikramanayake

84

77

62

way Island Hidea

Squid Media

I

INSIDE

MALDIVES FINDER Editors Note

Assalaamu alaikum. Peace be unto you.

Having been born Maldivian, I can understand how easy it can be to take what I’ve been blessed with for granted. Instead I want to share with you what I’ve experienced here throughout my life. I want to welcome you into my home.

There are nearly two thousand islands here in the Maldives, and each one catches the light a little differently. Each island is its own peaceful world, connected to its neighbour by the sea, separated by its individuality. The same can be said for every experience to be had here. Liveaboards, resorts for honeymoons, resorts for families, diving, snorkelling or surfing destinations – there’s so much choice and each one is unique.

Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz Editor Maldives Finder Issue 01, 2011 Published by: Squid media Pvt. Ltd. H.Maadhoo (4/FL) Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Male’ Republic of Maldives

Tel : (+960) 300 5656 (+960) 300 5757 Fax: (+960) 300 5858 Email: studio@squidmultimedia.com Web: www.squidmultimedia.com

Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators

Special Thanks to the production Team: Hawwa Shiuna Khalid Hussain Fazeel Hussain Farih Giyas Ibrahim Mariyam Shafaq Mohamed Shafraz Naeem Ahmed Riyazi Mohamed

Cover Photograph by Thomas Pickard

H.Reef View (1/FL) Dhoohimeri Magu, Male’ Republic of Maldives Tel : (+960) 334 4929 Fax: (+960) 334 4909 Email: info@matato.org Web: www.matato.org

All contents of the articles is the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors bear responsibility for the contents of the articles.

All letters to the editor should be sent to shafraz@squidmultimedia.com

PhotoPhoto CreditCredit : Lily Beach : Lily Beach ResortResort

CONTRIBU Maldives Finder is built upon the hard work and goodwill of several contributors, each one of them amazing figures in their own right. Whether they bring their expertise as key figures in their fields or have something important or interesting to say, the force of these personalities carries this entire publication through. We would like to thank our contributors and acknowledge their efforts to make Maldives Finder what it is.

Dr. Charles Anderson

Dr. Mariyam Zulfa

Since 1983, Dr. Charles Anderson has lived and worked in the Maldives. Dr. Anderson has discovered several new species of fish, and was awarded the President of Maldives Award for Service to Fisheries in 1995, the only non-Maldivian ever to receive this honor. He has been instrumental in identifying marine life in the Maldives and promoting its preservation.

Dr Mariyam Zulfa, a town-planner and a lawyer, is Maldives’ Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture. Her PhD from Curtin Business School, Perth has examined the competitiveness of small island destinationsthe Maldives and promoting its preservation.

Neville Coleman

Michael Aw

Neville Coleman is a multi-award winning photographic environmentalist who has been active since 1963. With over 160 expeditions carried out, and over 450 new aquatic species discovered, Coleman has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to conservation and the environment.

Michael Aw is the founding director of OceanNEnvironment charity as well as the editor of Ocean Geographic magazine. In 2006, he produced for the Maldives - “Dreams from the Rainbow Sea”, which was used as official gift from the Presidents Office as well as the fisherie and tourism ministries.

Marine Biologist and Researcher

Underwater Explorer and Photo Journalist

Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture

Documentary Photographer & Scientist

Adrian Neville

Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler

Adrian Neville lived in the maldives and writes the definitive guide book: “Resorts of Maldives”, now in its third edition. Having tirelessly reviewed every single resort, he is now continuously asked “which is the best for me?”

Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler is project manager and photographer of the “Manta Ecology Project”. Anne-Marie has dedicated her life to the study of Manta Rays and the “Manta Ecology project”, which began in November 2001 when Anne-Marie was a dive guide on a liveaboard safari boat which sailed across the Maldives archipelago.

Rob Bryning & Sam Harwood

Thomas Pickard

Sam Harwood and Rob Bryning are founders of Maldives Scuba Tours. When they set up the company in 1989, Rob and Sam lived in the Maldives running their first liveaboard. Since then they have become experts on diving in the Maldives and are authors and contributors to a number of books and guides.

Thomas Pickard is an Australian born photographer, who began his freelance career in 2006 during a two-year stay in the sunsoaked. In between epic surf sessions at the local surf breaks, Thomas spent his time photographing island culture, commercial fisherman and five-star resorts for magazine cliens.

Thomas Peshak

Simon Hawkins

Thomas is the chief photographer of “Save our Seas Foundation”. His photographic features have appeared in many publications most notably National Geographic Magazine, BBC Wildlife and Africa Geographic. He is a cetegory winner of the BBC Wildlife photographer of the year award and many other international awards.

Simon is currently the managing director of Maldives Media and PR Corporation, which is incharge of promoting the Maldives across the globe. He spends his day and night trying to find out new ways to promote the maldivian brand in the global market.

Nikhil Chinapa

Ahmed Hafiz

Nikhil Chinapa or VJ Nikhil is an indian radio jockey and disc jockey and is a very popular presenter on MTV India for more than a decade. Nikhil is a regular visitor to the Maldives and is an avid scuba diver.

Ahmed Hafiz pioneered photo-documentation of marine life in the Maldives with his work on Common Reef Fishes of the Maldives series. With over 20 years in the field, Hafiz has earned the Presidential Award for services to the industry. Pterygotrigla hafizi(Deep Sea Gurnard) is named after him to honour his discovery of the species.

Author

Authors

Marine Biologist and Researcher

Underwater Enthusiast

08 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Manta Ecologist and Photographer

Photographer

Managing Director of MMPRC

Fishery Biologist and Environmentalist

UTORS

MALDIVES FINDER

Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz

Mihiri Wikramanayake

Shafraz Hafiz comes from an advertising background and first fell in with the wonders of underwater exploration during his time studying in Australia. It’s hard to consider the Great Barrier Reef a mean place to start but Shafraz considers what he’s seen in Maldives far more breathtaking.

Mihiri Wikramanayake lives in Sri Lanka and has a penchant for travel, especially ‘off the beaten’ track. She also dabbles in Public Relations and multitasks as a Freelance Writer, Managing Director and impulsive traveler.

Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

Abdulla Ghiyas

Ahmed Mauroof Jameel wrote for Haveeru and Evening Weekly before moving on to read for his MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. He currently works as a copywriter in Male.

Abdulla Ghiyas is a young entrepreneur and the Deputy Managing Director of the leading and multi –awarding winning company: Inner Maldives Holidays and other csubsidiaries. He was also the honouree of Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award 2010 by Junior Chamber International Maldives.

Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

Maleeh Jamal

Shafraz Naeem is a widely travelled diving instructor, photographer and videographer.His flair for photography was recognised at the Sunny Side in Frames photography competition held by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board in 2007 where he won two prizes, including ‘Best Of Show’. his work has also been published in various international magazines.

With over a decade of experience, Maleeh is currently the Secretary General of MATATO responsible for its overall management.He served at Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) and Ministry of Tourism. During his tenure at MTPB he also oversaw the press strategy, public relations and media. Maleeh has a Masters Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Rochester Institute Technology, New York, USA.

Underwater Enthusiast

Writer

Underwater Photographer and Videographer

Freelance travel and business journalist

Deputy Managing Director (Inner Maldives Holidays)

Secretary General of MATATO

Media Contributors Mohamed Majid Photography

Ahmed Najeeb Photography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matey/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bappu_najeeb/

Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz Photography

Mohamed Shamhan Photography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/notsogoodphotography/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mshamhan/

Hussain Shiham Historical Photo Archives

Hussain Asthar Maps of Male’ & Maldives

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 09

Maldives Finder

With nearing 100 resorts classified as three, four, five, six and even seven stars in rating, the Maldives, today, boasts some of the world’s most exclusive and expensive boutique resort hotels. It is the preferred recuperation and revitalization point for rock stars, sports personalities and politicians. It is also a niche family vacation spot, with many resorts equipped with crèches and child-friendly surroundings.

For the diving, surfing and water sports fanatic, it is a marine marvel where the ratio of land to sea is a staggering 1 : 99.7. Home to over three hundred thousand Maldivians of Indo-Aryan descent speaking the unique language of Dhivehi (spoken only on these islands and the neighbouring Indian archipelago of Lakshwadeep), the origins of the Maldives are lost in time.

The earliest available references (dating back to 2 BC) come from Roman scriptures. Strategically located on the Indian Ocean, the islands served as an important stop on the trade and spice routes between North and East Africa and the Far East.

MATATO

Maldives Association for Travel Agents & Tour Operators By : Maleeh Jamal

Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO) was found in 2006 by a group of enthusiastic tour operators of Maldives.

With a mission for, “Taking the travel and tourism industry of the Maldives forward through unity, empowerment and co-operation”.

velopment of travel agents industry in Maldives. The year 2010 was a very successful year for MATATO. Its activities tremendously increased which paved way for new opportunities. One of such miles stone is its definitive guide, ‘Maldives Finder’ which you are reading now.

MATATO is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the de-

The travel agents and the public sector as a whole understand the

10 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

economics behind the travel agents industry and its importance to the Maldives economy. The beauty of MATATO is it’s continues lobbying efforts, consultative approach and its close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders. MATATO strives to develop friendship and co-operation among members and to unite for greater purpose, allowing to share synergy and market intelligence

Maldives Finder

Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz

Photo : Ahmed Najeeb Photo : Ahmed Najeeb

among members, creating a platform for new members and for those who seek to enter travel industry in educating and facilitating them, creating and advocating ethical business standards for member agencies, paving way to raise funds and aid in promoting Maldives, provide assistance and opportunities for local travel agents from various stakeholders and government authorities, providing exposure for the association and its members in the international arena, develop greater cooperation among travel agents and hoteliers, and work together in promoting the destination, to educate, promote and build more awareness for the public and show the opportunities available in the industry for the youth, to help safe guard local agents and protect the local industry by all means, address various tourism related issues and issues from its members together with relevant authorities, to promote Maldives as a travel destination and To conduct various events and activities to aid the industry.

MATATO also hopes to participate in many more travel exhibitions and organize tourism related events in the year 2011.

The history and the success of MATATO is the clear dedication of its people, its members, board and the staff.

Join MATATO to build a vibrant travel agents industry to compliment the promising future of the tourism industry in Maldives.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 11

Maldives Finder

MATATO Executive Board Members

12 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Mr.Yoosuf Riffath President

Mr.Mohamed Khaleel Vice President

Capital Travel & Tours

Reollo Travels

Mr.Mohamed Riyaz Vice President

Mr.Mohamed Maleeh Jamal Secretary General

Lets Go Maldives

Idea Management

Mr.Abdulla Suood Treasurer

Mr.Ibrahim Shareef Executive Board Member

Tropical Oceans Holidays

AAA Travels & Tours

Mr.Abdulla Ghiyaz Executive Board Member

Mr.Hathim Hassan Executive Board Member

Inner Maldives Holidays

Island Pearl Holidays

Mr.Mohamed Shahid Executive Board Member

Mr.Ibrahim Nizam Executive Board Member

Honors Holidays

The Grand Holidays

Photo : Ahmed Najeeb

80 years of life...

1 year to give birth...

Dead in seconds

SAVE THE SEA TURTLES

Maldives Finder

epitome of tropical holiday the

destination

The epitome of a tropical holiday destination, the Maldives is the ultimate picture postcard of breathtaking ecological marvels. White sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons. Palm trees swaying in the gentle monsoonal breeze. Coral reefs teeming with rainbow-coloured fish. In recent years, this Indian Ocean paradise of 1,190 tiny low-lying islands has attracted nearly three-quarters of a million avid holidaymakers annually from all corners of the global.

The Maldives made popular the one-island-one-resort concept, the appeal of which remains unrivalled in the travel and hospitality industry. From the opening of the first resort in the late 1960s, the Maldives has come a long way to attaining and successfully defending its coveted crown as the world’s numero uno tropical island destination. While retaining its Robinson Crusoe appeal as a pristine barefoot haven, brand Maldives has evolved, over time, into the perfect balance between ‘creature comforts’ and ‘back to nature’ appeal.

14 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

With nearing 100 resorts classified as three, four, five, six and even seven stars in rating, the Maldives, today, boasts some of the world’s most exclusive and expensive boutique resort hotels. It is the preferred recuperation and revitalization point for rock stars, sports personalities and politicians.

It is also a niche family vacation spot, with many resorts equipped with crèches and child-friendly surroundings.

For the diving, surfing and water sports fanatic, it is a marine marvel where the ratio of land to sea is a staggering 1 : 99.7. Home to over three hundred thousand Maldivians of Indo-Aryan descent speaking the unique language of Dhivehi (spoken only on these islands and the neighbouring Indian archipelago of Lakshwadeep), the origins of the Maldives are lost in time.

The earliest available references (dating back to 2 BC) come from Roman scriptures. Strategically located on the Indian Ocean, the islands served as an important stop on the trade and spice routes

The islanders’ culture is enshrined in its Islamic faith with strong influences of the Malays, the Africans and the Arabs. A brief period of Portuguese rule also left its mark on these islands.

For the diving, surfing and watesports fanatic, it is a marine marvel where the ratio of land to sea is a staggering 1 : 99.7.

Known today as the most affluent of South Asian countries, the Maldives’ economy is founded on tourism and fishery. Divided into twenty administrative atolls and 77 parliamentary constituencies, this Republic has been practicing constitutional governance since 1932.

A British protectorate for over a century, the country gained full independence in 1965. Today, the Maldives practices a presidential system of government.

KEY STATS

Population 309,430 Income Level Lower Middle Income Human Development Index Rank 107 GDP (million US $) 1,472 GDP per capita (US $) 5,721 Life expectancy (years) 72.3 Literacy rate (%) 98 Under-5 mortality rate 12.7 Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) 37 Population growth (%) 1.4

School enrollment, primary (% gross) 112 CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 3

Reference: www.tourism.gov.mv & www.visitmaldives.com

Photo Credit: Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraahuraa

Majestic Maldives

By : Adrian Neville

What is it about the Maldives that makes it so special? Why do visitors want to come back again and again and again? At certain times of year, some resorts will have 60 or even 70% of rooms filled with people who have previously stayed with them. That is a success rate hardly matched around the world. It’s clear there’s a magic to this place. I’ll try to tease out the ingredients of the spell.

Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz

Maldives Finder

What is it about the Maldives that makes it so special? Why do visitors want to come back again and again and again? At certain times of year, some resorts will have 60 or even 70% of rooms filled with people who have previously stayed with them.

That is a success rate hardly matched around the world. It’s clear there’s a magic to this place. I’ll try to tease out the ingredients of the spell.

I once fell chatting with a couple on a sunset dolphin cruise from Meeru.

Asking why it was they kept coming back to this resort, they said, “We went to the Caribbean last year but it wasn’t really relaxing. Someone was always trying to get you to do something, like dragging you on to the dance floor. Also, it’s mad but we always felt we should go into town and see what was going on. You know, like the clubs, the bars or shopping.

They were nothing special and we can always do that back home. So we said we’d go back to Meeru this year and we’re really happy we did.”

You can fly half way around the world and still not get away. Even the very smart hotel on a distant beach will have hawkers offering their sarongs, handicrafts and local tours just outside the boundary. And hectic roads.

In the Maldives there is nobody and nothing outside the resort except beach and water.

As Goldilocks would have it, the islands are not too distant and far apart — like in Polynesia and Micronesia yet also not big enough to have urban life — like Hawaii, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Caribbean - but just right.

With the world out of sight, the daily grind is out of mind. Your resort is full of romantic couples, just like you, thinking the same thoughts, wanting the same few things. It is private around the room, congenial around the public areas, like the pool, the bar, restaurant and dive centre.

People coming for the first time usually line up in their mind a series of things they’re going to do. With so few things on offer compared to regular hotels and resorts, they reckon they’ll have to do most of them: excursions, picnics, windsurfing, canoeing, diving, night snorkeling, tennis, beach volleyball and the gym. Within a couple of days their list seems rather less important than they thought it would be. At the end of a week, they are doing very little and they’re very content. Before two weeks is out, they have forgotten what day it is and forgotten they ever had a list.

People who have been to the Maldives before savour the prospect of doing just what comes naturally and leaving sophisticated life for their return. They know their mind will wind down, their body will relax and both will be rejuvenated.

This helps explain why guests return to the same favourite resort. They don’t expend any energy relearning things. They know what they want, Photo : Adrian Neville

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 17

Maldives Finder

Photo : Adrian Neville

they know where and when to get it and they know it will be provided.

The resorts are so small and personal it feels almost like home; they feel as if they are a part of it and, sometimes, that it’s a part of them. There is nothing as warming as a “welcome back” from Ali your old room-boy, Didi your waiter and the guys at the pool bar and dive centre. And when they put your favourite biscuits by the bedside table and decorate your bed with flowers, well...

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the rooms were made of coconut thatch, the meals were curries and bananas, there was sea-water for the shower and well-water to drink.

Those same places are now international five star resorts. Yet the essence is still the same. It is not a richer version of their life in the city that guests desire, but the gifts that only the Maldives can give, with views and comfort enhanced, with fine food and great service added.

In truth the gifts of the Maldives are few. And that’s its magic. Not only are those few things unmatched around the world but they are the very things we wish for and need to balance our stressed out lives. Anything more is a distraction. Essentially it’s a gift of serenity in a setting of simple beauty: palms, beach, lagoon, sea, horizon and sky.

18 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz

Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafi

Photo Credit : Lily Beach Resort

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 19

AD

Whale and Dolphin

Paradise By : Dr.Charles Anderson

Maldives is well known for its stunningly beautiful tropical islands and its superb diving. But it is also developing a reputation for world-class whale and dolphin watching.

Spinner Dolphin (Photo: Dr.Charles Anderson)

Maldives Finder

“Blow! Over there! BLOW!” In the excitement of the moment, Mike had got a bit carried away, but his message was clear. Just half a mile away a big blue whale had surfaced, sending a great column of spray nearly 10m up into the air. I signalled to the helmsman, who changed course to run parallel with the great beast. It blew again, just in front of us, before turning to pass back down one side of our boat giving us all spectacular views as it slipped by.

The islands of the Maldives are justly famous as a tropical holiday and diving destination. The islands really are just as beautiful as the holiday brochures promise. But whales? Well yes, there are whales, and dolphins, dolphins, dolphins!

Biggest of them all are the blue whales, growing to 25 metres long. Blues are regular visitors to the Maldives, and the excitement of seeing them in the flesh is unforgettable. Then there are Bryde’s whales, smaller cousins of the blue, but still reaching 15 metres in length. The third member of the Maldivian ‘Big Three’ is the sperm whale. ‘Yankee’ whalers sailed all the way from the United States to hunt sperm whales around the Maldives in the 1850s, and they are still found here in numbers today. This is also the species that washes up on reefs most frequently (having died of natural causes), and many resorts now house impressive sperm whale skulls.

Blue Whale (Photo: Dr.Charles Anderson) But while these great whales certainly do occur, sometimes in large numbers, sightings can be sporadic or seasonal. What makes the Maldives so special is not the occurrence of one or two large species, but the astonishing diversity of smaller species, many of which are confined to the tropics and are only rarely seen elsewhere.

Of all the species living in Maldivian waters, by far the commonest is the spinner

Pilot Whale (Photo: Dr.Charles Anderson)

22 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

dolphin. These delightful little creatures, growing little more than 1.5 metres long, are super-abundant here. There must be tens, maybe hundreds, of thousands of spinners living in and around the atolls of the Maldives. They feed at night on small fishes out in the ocean, but many like to rest inside the atolls by day. That means that they have a regular commute, swimming in through the atoll channels in the morning, and out again in the afternoon or early evening. Such punctuality, combined with

Maldives Finder

their abundance, makes spinner dolphins very easy to locate. As a result, many resorts now offer excursions out to see spinners. The best time is probably the late afternoon, when the spinners are fully awake and regularly perform the unique, high spinning leaps that give them their name.

Working as a professional marine biologist in the Maldives for many years has allowed me to travel all over the country.

It has also given me a unique opportunity to observe the country’s previously little studied whales and dolphins. So far I, and colleagues, have recorded 23 species, a full quarter of the world’s total. Apart from the species already mentioned, there are numerous pilot whales, killer whales

False Killer Whale

(Photo: Dr.Charles Anderson)

“

(yes, they really do occur here, not just in polar regions), five species of beaked whale (elusive, deep-diving animals much sought-after by keen whale-watchers), and no less than eight species of dolphins.

While such diversity is exciting, even more astonishing is the fact that all of these species can be seen within just a few miles of the islands. The Maldivian atolls rise steeply from the ocean floor, and therefore deep oceanic water lies just beyond the reef edge. In addition to this, the Maldivian atoll chain lies across the flow of the monsoon currents, causing upwellings that promote marine productivity. So perhaps it is not surprising that the Maldives acts as something of a magnet for whales and dolphins.

The country is also a safe haven. It lies at the very heart of the International Whaling Commission’s Indian Ocean Sanctuary. So no whaling is allowed anywhere in this Ocean. Within Maldivian waters themselves, the catching or killing of any dolphin or whale is prohibited by law. Perhaps more importantly, local fishermen do not harm them anyway. They specialize in fishing for oceanic tunas, which they catch with the same dolphin-safe pole-and-line technique that has been practiced here for over a thousand years. Drift nets and purse seines are banned in order to protect tuna resources for traditional fishers.

Right up until the 1970s, tuna fishing was the main source of employment and income generation. Now, of course, tourism has taken over as the major economic activity. And almost inevitably tourist development has concentrated on beach, snorkelling and diving holidays. With attention focused on islands and reefs, the whales and dolphins have been ignored - until now.

While such diversity is exciting, even more astonishing is the fact that all of these species can be seen within just a few miles of the islands.

“

Dr. Charles Anderson is a professional marine biologist who has lived and worked in the Maldives since 1983. He has a particular interest in whale and dolphins.

Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphins

(Photo: Mohamed Shafraz Naeem)

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 23

Paradise found.

An endless panorama of blue, sand soft beneath my feet, a slight breeze and the scent of the sea.

Waking up to the call of the ocean,

wandering from bed to verandah to private cove, drifting, exploring.

www.naladhu.com Visit our website to learn more about the Maldives’ most exclusive island getaway and to book your perfect, timeless Naladhu moment.

Or, call Naladhu on +960 664 1888 or email stay@naladhu.com.

Embark on a

journey

tailored to

your desires

Intimate moments for two – dining alongside a sparkling lagoon at Anantara Veli.

Building a sand castle together as a family on a stretch of white sand at Anantara Dhigu.

Savour the best of both worlds. Stay at either resort and glide seamlessly between them, exploring the dining, spa, diving and leisure options of two islands.

Choose your experience at

anantara.com Call +960 664 4100 for enquiries and reservations

Thailand • Indonesia • Maldives • United Arab Emirates

MALDIVES yours to treasure

By : Mariyam Zulfa

“

“

This year therefore the government is concentrating on implementing the mid-market policy, which means the avenues to create more three to four star beds will be created. This policy is designed to provide greater affordability and the chance to see more of what Maldives has to offer, culturally, locally and environmentally.

Photo Credit: The Rania Experience

Maldives Finder

People often ask me what vision do I have for the future of tourism in the Maldives and I always say that we must strive to achieve sustainability in every way. Environmental as well as economic sustainability must be achieved to ensure that the future is healthy for tourism in the Maldives.

Recently the government sanctioned an international company to work on a new slogan to capture all the values that we work with, in marketing the Maldives as a tourism destination. One of my favourites that was presented by the team was “Maldives: Yours to treasure”. I think this slogan captured the very ethos of engendering sustainability in everything we do. This slogan was of course very much liked by those of us in the government because it gave us the message that the environment, which is the very basis of everything we do in the Maldives – whether in the tourism industry or fishery, is something

to treasure. It evoked notions of how fragile we are in our geographical and environmental formation and in working out the ways and means of exploiting our physical assets to derive an income, we must treasure that fragility.

This slogan was not all that warmly received by the private sector. The tourism industry stakeholders made their suggestions too, and a favourite for them was “Maldives: Dreams and Memories”. I can relate to that also because Maldives as a destination does evoke the stuff of dreams. With more than a 1000 fragile islands so beautiful from the window of your sea-plane pulling at your heartstrings and bringing tears of joy to your eyes, how could it not? When I look out my sea-plane window I wonder in amazement as the 100 or so resorts pass by my very eyes. Every resort island so fragile and tiny yet with so many millions of dollars invested in each to make dreams come true for every visitor.

Photo : Mohamed Majid

Photo Credit: Anatara Dhigu 28 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Photo : Mohamed Majid

Maldives Finder

Photo : Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz

Photo Credit: Lily Beach Resort

Maldives resorts are among the finest in the world. Some islands are designed to offer the feel of a piece of Maldives in residential bungalows designed to provide inhabitants a private beach, sunset or sunrise views and a private lagoon, not to mention the island vista captured in the surrounds, added with a private plunge or spa pool. To provide all of this on one tiny island is naturally costly. Hence the luxury traveler or the high-spender is targeted to fill these rooms. I think now the number of resorts clamouring to cater to the luxury segment is too high now in the Maldives and many people wishing to travel to the Maldives are feeling that the Maldives is a place only for the wealthy.

The government is desirous to ensure that Maldives as a destination can provide an opportunity to experience what the country has to offer to as many people who would like to visit. President Nasheed is often of the view that if a Maldivian household has a spare bed-room the house-holder ought to be able to make that room available to a tourist. His

view is that when tourists live amongst local communities the experience both for the tourist and locals is rewarding.

This year therefore the government is concentrating on implementing the mid-market policy, which means the avenues to create more three to four star beds will be created. This policy is designed to provide greater affordability and the chance to see more of what Maldives has to offer, culturally, locally and environmentally. These beds will complement the existing products and shall serve to make the destination more accessible. So that dreams and memories shall be treasured by more visitors. The first of the mid-market zones “The Laamu Asseyri Project� in Laamu atoll shall be released in February and will offer the scope for two hotels, several guest-houses and associated services and facilities in the one zone. Asseyri Projects will be planned around regions with airports to ensure accessibility and affordability.

Dr Mariyam Zulfa, a town-planner and a lawyer, is Maldives’ Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture. Her PhD from Curtin Business School, Perth has examined the competitiveness of small island destinations Definitive Guide of MATATO | 29

Maldives Finder

MALE’:THEN & NOW A pictorial view of the capital

Aerial view of Male’, the capital of the Maldives.

Where Majeedi Building & State Bank of India was located, is the new building of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)

The Minaret of the Islamic Center, the largest mosque in the Maldives

View from Majeedi Magu. Large buildings surround both sides of the road now 30 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

W

View from Majeedi Magu. Large buildings surround both sides of the road now

Olympus Cinema. Oldest Cinema in the Maldives is still used for movie primiers and live shown

So much has changed in the capital throughout the years

The sight of trees have changed to tall buildings in the capital.

National Library of the Maldives

Old Photos Hussain Shiham New Photos Mohamed Shafraz Naeem Now Male’ Aerial Photo Mohamed Majid Definitive Guide of MATATO | 31

Squid Media

Maldives Finder

MATATO member agencies share of tourist arrivals to Maldives By : Maleeh Jamal

Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

MATATO is one of the dynamic tourism related associations functioning in the Maldives. The association was formed some four years ago. However, its name became synonymous with the voice of the travel agents, in the year 2010. Since, tourism industry’s inception in 1972 some form of travel agency operation was in place. Last year Maldives received a record number of visitors. We thought for the first time that we will do some analysis of our member’s performance.

Last year Maldives attracted approximately 790,000 visitors, and MATATO’s share of the arrivals stood at approximately 200,000 visitors.

Our member agencies performed a staggering 1.5 million bed nights in the Maldivian resorts. Therefore, last year MATATO member agencies share of the total tourist arrivals to Maldives was 25%.

We estimate that our member agencies will welcome 250,000 visitors to Maldives in the year 2011. It will be almost 31% of total arrivals to the Maldives. Among the MATATO’s share of the arrivals, 60% of the visitors will be attracted from European countries, while 35% of the arrivals will be contributed from Asian nations. Lion’s share of Asian markets will be from China. The letter

market is likely to have record number of arrivals in 2011 and proceeding years.

We understand Chinese market is such a potential market. Its approach has to change from price undercutting to niche marketing. The Indian honeymooners and family travel segment has room for development. The Eastern Europe is a very promising market. We need to develop strategies to further penetrate into this market. Meantime, concerted effort needs to be done to maintain our traditional markets such as Western Europe.

The aim of MATATO is to increase the share of tourist arrivals to Maldives by local travel agencies to 50% in 5 years. In order to achieve this objective MATATO is taking part in international travel exhibitions, re-launch our website www.matato. org and will be launching a definitive guide of Maldives by the name of Maldives finder in ITB Berlin, collaborating with international travel organizations, get legal protection for local travel agencies and will be working with resorts to get competitive rates for local travel agencies.

The year 2011 can be named as year of tax in Maldives. It is the year of tax because a 3.5% tax has to be paid from all the tourism related services and products.

From mid July onwards businesses in Maldives has to pay 15% as business profit tax if their profit is over MRF500, 000.

A mandatory contribution of 14% of salary has to be paid to the pension administration authority as employee pension.

With the introduction of taxes the travel agencies has questioned over the type of legal protection to protect these small and medium size home grown entrepreneurs. Our journey to get legal protection needs to continue. I am hopeful that the travel agents will adapt to these changes and will strive to perform as in the past.

In my opinion the way forward for Maldivian travel agencies is to get specialized. Travel Agents need to customize services to suit their partners. Having an online platform to sell packages is undeniable. When becoming specialists it is vital that agents measure their comparable advantage over others. For example MICE market, GLB travels and celebrities market just to name a few.

MATATO envisages a vibrant local travel agency industry will immensely benefit the Maldivian economy and the tourism industry in general. Our vision of having a vibrant travel agents industry in the Maldives is steadily becoming a reality.

06 Definitive Guide of MATATO | 33

“I do”

a maldivian wedding By : Thomas Pickard

Maldives Finder

An Irresistible Destination Thinking of walking down the ‘aisle’ on a secluded tropical beach? Like the idea of looking out over the ocean as you exchange vows, surrounded by friends as the sun sets? Want to combine a destination wedding with your honeymoon destination?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then look no further than the Maldives.

Voted the World’s Most Romantic Destination at the 2010 Annual Travel Awards, the Maldives is a favoured destination for couples’ intent on exchanging vows. The Maldives blends the exotic with the practical – a mix of secluded remote island resorts, over water bungalows with unimpeded ocean views as well as sublime spa menus.

And if that was not tempting enough, then consider this: many people say ‘I do’ in the Maldives so they can combine a destination wedding with their honeymoon.

Is This Legal?

Non-Muslim weddings on resorts are not legally binding in the Maldives. The Maldives is an Islamic country and the law only recognises weddings between Muslim couples’. The good news is that this does not stop people from having their ceremony in the Maldives – it just means that you have to ensure that you register your marriage at your country’s wedding registry office before you go, or upon your return. In lieu of a marriage certificate, you will be presented with a ceremony license.

Planning, Planning, Planning To ensure you have as stress free a day as possible, look to book a resort that specifically offers a wedding planner. A good wedding planner will guide you through the planning stage, ensuring the minute details are covered well before the big day. Resorts that specialise in weddings will also have relationships with numerous vendors that you may require, such as preferred photographers and dress and flower suppliers.

Rain, Hail or Shine Nothing can ruin a wedding day faster than bad weather. The dry season from November to April is ideal. Days are clear, the winds are calm and the Maldives looks as it should – an inviting paradise surrounded in cerulean waters, with palm fronds set against cobalt blue skies. No matter when you plan on having your wedding, make sure you have your weng coordinator plan an alternative wet weather option, just in case.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 35

Maldives Finder

Get in Early 2010 was a record year for tourist arrivals in the Maldives, cementing the Maldives well deserved reputation as a red-hot destination for holiday goers. Demand for resort beds peaks between December and April as people seek to escape the cold winters of the northern hemisphere. Resorts spoken to for this article advise that couples’ looking to marry in the Maldives during the peak season should book 6-12 months in advance.

When Less is More As a destination, Maldives temperatures oscillate around 28 to 30 degrees. For the groom this means losing the dark suit. Dress smartly and opt for just a shirt, slacks and no suit jacket. For brides, go for a light sleeveless or strapless dress. Many couples’ forgo footwear, instead opting for the feeling of sand beneath the feet.

36 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

Saying I Do Your ceremony will have elements of the Maldives culture that not only make it unique, but also truly memorable. While every resort seems to have a slight variation on this, typically the bride and groom will be met at their bungalow by a number of Maldivian staff attired in traditional Maldivian clothing - bearing flags and local drums - before being escorted along the beach to the ceremony location. The ceremony site is usually adorned with hand woven arches made from coconut fronds.

A Maldivian traditional Master of Ceremony will preside over the ceremony, and once the vows are exchanged newly mar-

ried couple’s are given the opportunity to plant a coconut tree sapling on the island.

From this moment on, what you experience all comes down to what package you have booked with your resort.

You could be sailing into the sunset on a dhoni as you sip champagne together, or you could be toasting drinks with friends on the beach before cutting your wedding cake. Whatever you have chosen to do, rest assured that it will take advantage of your sublime surroundings and will be a wedding day celebration in a place most people only dream of visiting.

All Photographs by Thomas Pickard.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 37

Maldives Finder

VISION 2011 By : Simon Hawkins

The Maldives is evolving as a destination and a product for the tourism market. As a destination, we are aware of how we are perceived and the unique challenge the recent global financial crisis plays to our business. We plan to adapt by not putting “all our eggs into one basket�.

38 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Photo : Mohamed Majid

Maldives Finder

fer of upscale resorts and expanded variety of travel experiences. The ultimate goal is to position the Maldives as a destination that appeals to a more diverse segment of traveller, offering experiences and activities that draw young and independent visitors along with more traditional source markets.

The recent global financial credit crunch has been challenging for all tourism markets and destinations. From The Maldives perspective the challenge is particularly significant as it is the engine that drives the whole economy.

2010 ended with a record number a visitors with the 750,000th arriving in mid December. Despite the reputation of being a predominantly honeymoon or “once in a life time destination” The Maldives has enjoyed an enormously successful year in terms of the visitor numbers. The significant growth

The Maldives is evolving as a destination and a product for the tourism market. As a destination, we are aware of how we are perceived and the unique challenge the recent global financial crisis plays to our business. We plan to adapt by not putting “all our eggs into one basket”.

This year we will focus on enhancing the positioning of the nation’s tourism product, strengthening its image in established key source markets while broadening its appeal to wider audiences and emerging niche markets.

The Maldives aims to broaden its appeal to a wider market segment that embraces mid- to upper-tier travellers, attracting them with its extensive of-

has come from China with traditional core markets remaining relatively consistent.

In a time of recession and we know that major gateway destinations withstand the financial challenge better than unusual or “off the beaten track” destinations. However, there is not enough empirical evidence available to clarify “what people actually do” during a global financial crisis. From speaking to the various resort managers and stake holders one thing has become apparent to me.

Many see this as a good opportunity to restructure and invest and train. Discounting is a way of filling last minute voidage but also other incentives have played into the equation such as added value in the form of loyalty or point schemes, free of charge internet or meals, an extra night of accommodation

Photo : Mohamed Majid

Photo Credit: Island Hideaway

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 39

Maldives Finder

Photo : Mohamed Shamhan

etc. The point being they avoid devaluing the core product in price terms where possible. Over 88% of the resorts are luxury 4 stars and above so dramatically reposition ourselves as a discount high volume destination would be totally inappropriate.

The last 12 months has proved the Maldives tourism industry does react to the environment and has not adopted the “business as usual” wrong approach. Diversification of horizontal niche markets has been a priority such as attracting families, diving and snorkeling, island hopping or “liveaboard” and more cultural experiences to local islands and even the vibrant capital of Male with its bustling markets, museum and shops, the trendy café scene and not forgetting the local population.

The current economic climate, I am told by the resort managers and stake holders has also been a good time to streamline, re-think how things are done, reduce red tape and bureaucracy and cut free from

40 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Photo : Mohamed Majid

cumbersome procedures. This combined with the drive for new markets such as Russia, China and India has demanded quick and effective operating changes to accommodate new audiences and satisfy cultural needs efficiently. 2010 year has definitely been a year of change and adapting.

Finally, the successful formula for all resorts and the consumers is to be not only to be outstanding in terms of service, luxury and facilities but also to be energy efficient and environmentally responsible. The ever growing demand for “responsible” tourism or an “eco-friendly” experience is also apparent. I believe that The Maldives is well on the way to lead the region in this area of tourism and is in synch with how we are perceived as a country by the rest of the world. This is apparent across the whole of the industry and as in the recent example set by Kuramathi, can be done to the highest standards. They recently achieved a recognized international awards from leading German tour operator TUI for its ‘Interna-

tional Environmental Award’, “recognising its exemplary contribution to the protection and conservation of nature and biodiversity.

In conclusion, I would like to say that The Maldives is far more than just sun and sea.

This is a nation rich with a distinct culture, fascinating history, dynamic people, and of course, pristine natural beauty. The Maldives can give travellers from across the spectrum even more reasons to come and experience a truly diverse array of island experiences.

Moving forward, we see The Maldives as a vibrant, thriving destination that is embracing its heritage while continuing to transition into a 21st-century nation. We aim to unite all of the country’s unique natural, cultural and historical attributes and enliven them with fresh dynamism to position the Maldives as the must-see destination of our time for all travellers.

Squid Media

Safari in the Rainbow Sea

Text & Photography by : Michael AW

1192 islands, islets and sand cays string the twenty six atolls of the Maldives; from the air they float like emerald necklaces flung upon a cobalt blue sea. Sitting right on the trade route of the early Arab merchants, the human history of these islands dates back some 15 centuries. The Maldives archipelago comprises of uncountable submerged reefs call thila in ‘dhivehi’ the local language, stretching 760 km north to south and 120km from east to west. This natural barrier of walls beneath the sea has evoked fear among even the most seasoned of seaman since time immemorial - to be avoided a place where careless ships go to die. The islets with names such as Kuda Huraa, Maayafushi, Kurumba, Ihuru, Kanifinolhu, Nakatchafushi and Feshu are themselves exotic, magical, romantic, only limited to one’s imagination of fantasy that may become reality.

The atolls, each composed of uncountable submarine reefs and islets fringed with glistening white sand beaches. No other tropical isles or dream-like atolls rival these remarkable gems of the Indian Ocean.

Some islands are adorned with lush foliage of coconut palms and banyan trees while others are just powdery white sand islets with waving palms. Well-traveled writers describe the country as sexy, exotic and alluring; a setting for the romantic, the adventurer and the explorer…an expanse of sea, of open sky that canopies one of the richest celebrations of life beneath the seas.

For the intrepid diver, a live-aboard trip is the obvious option to explore the best dive sites of underwater Maldives. In 1996, for the Rainbow Sea project I embarked upon my first live-aboard or safari as is commonly known in this country of infinite horizon. With friends, we started our sojourn from Male across to Rashdoo, Ari Atoll then back to, Felidhoo, South and North Male atolls onboard a replica of an 18th century galleon. For the entire expedition we were blessed with mirror flat seas; we dived into a school of hammerheads, swam with two gianormous whale sharks, played with spinner dolphins, spent 3 hours with mantas, tunas… big tunas, turtles, napoleon wrasse, boisterous reef sharks, snappers, and more snappers in uncountable numbers were sighted on almost every dive. The highlight was of course, the orcas that came alongside our boat one early dawn in South Male atoll, the first recorded sighting of a pod in the Maldives. Sightings over our 11 days ex

Maldives Finder

report from many from many first timers that their trip was far short of expectation.

1 pedition were extraordinary. Our experiences were the stories divers’ dreams are made of. Since then I have been back for several more safaris on a few different boats to produce feature documentaries, videos or just a feature assignment for diving magazines. I was fortunate that all my safaris in the Maldives were productive, pleasant and memorable. However I have

2

44 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

For us folks from the Asia Pacific, we must first understand the mainstream of divers visiting the Maldives; the European rules - apart from the Red Sea, the Maldives is their escapades from the maddening crowd. Blue water, spectacular marine life and ease of diving have made the Maldives the Mecca for the European. Supported by 95 dive resorts, and just about the same number of live-aboard dive vessels there are options to suit every whim and fancy.

Much like the resort, standard on safari boats varies considerably. While the quality of diving may differs dramatically from atoll to atoll, island to island during the year, the standard and skills of the diving operations are varied suiting the type of clientele they service best.

Obviously choosing the ‘right’ live-aboard is an important issue, which may turn one’s dream holiday into a nightmare. Careful planning is essential.

Though there are now quite a few locally owned and managed the majority of safari boats have a definite European flavor, dedicated entirely to serving either the German, Italian, Swiss or French clientele. While some are relentlessly western, some offer local Maldivian curry solely for variation sake. Don’t

expect authenticity, quality varies from canned food or basic buffet to fine dining. Many boats are small; cabins are at best toilet sized cubicle but there are always generous sun decks for those who insist on returning roasted. Except for a few vessels that take effort to market to the USA and Asia, the majority are dominated by client of one nationality - though this tends to be a result of marketing, rather than coincidence. As I mentioned earlier, book into one that is not your kind and though mostly unintentional, discrimination can be obvious.

These day the safari boats ranges from cattle class converted from fishing boats, locally built cruisers, to the opulence class specially built live-aboard like that of the Four Season’s Island Explorer. Expect to pay about USD 190 for an above average class boat; pick one of any less, you be likely to find yourself sharing space with a boat of layback European taxi drivers. Remember, you will only get what you are paying for. Again I emphasize generally the concept and style of service is predominantly European, with a laid back attitude amidst a relaxed atmosphere of sun, beer and sleep and if the spirit moves, maybe one or two dives per day. If you are a die-hard diver, these are the boats to avoid. However, if serious diving is of primary concern, a diving safari through the Maldives is definitely

3 the way to go. In the past few years, the number of boats offering extended trips around the atolls has increased exponentially. Luckily there are now a few good ones dedicated to serve the serious divers. With careful planning and by asking the right questions before committing to one, you can be sure of one of a memorable safari adventure in the Maldives.

I have personally tested several boats but the MV Ark Royal, Island Explorer and MV Sea Queen are my personal favorites. Life

on board these boats are the typical cliché when talking about world class live-aboard diving; dive, eat, sleep, dive, eat, sleep… after the first dive is hot breakfast, a quick forty winks, a dive at about 11am, followed by lunch, a longer snooze, a dive at about 2.30 pm, followed by a snack and if you feel up to it, a night dive before dinner and back to bed. These vessels are neatly furnished, with the comfort of en-suites, individual control air conditioning, hot water, offering everything fine wine and palatable western cuisine to Asian delights.

These boats are also particularly “photographer friendly” by diving the wellknown sites at times when there are never any other divers around. I am also sure non-photographers appreciate not having to share the reef with “ferry” loads of divers from other boats and resorts. Rinse tanks for cameras are sensibly positioned along side an outdoor

shower. Work area and storage areas for cameras are lavish and one can choose to recharge batteries in the cabins or in the saloon. The better boats are now installed with a digital studio and some extend to offer video editing service.

One unique approach that is common to all live-aboard boats in the Maldives is that the diving is always done off a traditionally-crafted dhoni boat - which follows the main vessel like a puppy dog.

Compressors, tanks and dive gear stay on the dhoni for the entire trip. They serve strictly as a dive platform, as well as a pick up boat. This is an excellent idea and a hard act to follow elsewhere; compressor noise is not exactly music neither to ears nor lullaby for that all-important snooze between dives. Unless otherwise prearranged, most dive safaris begin and end at the airport. For those flying out in the evening, the afternoon may be

1 Small fishes are in plenty in the Maldivian reefs.

2A diver 3Large groups of Mantas are seen regularly in the maldives throughout the year.

4A curious 5 Liveaboards are the best way to enjoy Three Spotted Angelfish. watches a red snapper swim carefree.

and get access to the best dive locations in the maldives.

5

4

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 45

Maldives Finder

A safety sausage with an 8m line attached to the opening should be a mandatory accessory for all divers. Especially diving in area known for boat traffic, you should first deploy the safety sausage 5m from the surface. This will warn boaters of the presence of divers in the water, as well as attract the attention of the pick up boat. With the exception of few sites, most of the diving in the Maldives is drift dives that can be classified into:

Dives inside the atoll – these are the inner reef and submerged reefs dives. Generally they are safe and easy diving for all levels, especially when they are not in the vicinity of a channel and are dived with an incoming current. Reef fishes in unbelievable abundance are predictable at these sites and as most are territorial species, familiar faces are found in each place year after year unless otherwise exploited by selfish and bad human beings.

Dives outside the atoll - dives outside the atolls are generally done during an outgoing current, where visibility is better than inside the atoll. Typical terrain is a steep slope that goes down in steps or a wall that plunges into dark abyssal depths. These are the sites for great pelagics, hammerheads, eagle rays and whale sharks. Stick close to reef unless you wish to hitch a ride to Burma or Africa; both are a long way away.

Diving in the Channels – these are highpressure dives. The ocean flushes into the atoll and out again through these channels. Like a great plumbing system, each incoming tide brings clean, nutrient rich water while outgoing tides wash out the dirty water. Obviously the best time to dive these channels is during incoming tide when visibility is at the optimum to watch pelagics, tunas, jacks and sharks hanging out to feed at the mouth of the channels.

The best staging area to watch the show is close to the reef but away from the mouth of the channel at a 20–30m depth.

If caught in the incoming current too soon, especially in shallower depths, you will miss the show entirely but the ride is guaranteed to give the adrenaline a work out.

The currents in the Maldives defy even the most experienced oceanographer.

The theory of the ‘seven and a quarter hour’ tidal change cannot be used to predict the time for slack water and change of current direction. On one of my trip, a Maldivian divemaster predicted incoming tides for all the three channel dives within a ten hour period for the next day diving. A law professor challenged the brief. His ego was reduced to smitten the next day after the third dive. There is a story somewhere in this – listen to your divemaster, especially if he is Maldivian.

Inside the atolls, water often runs in or out

1 A large school of Blue-line Snappers. It is very common to see large schools of these in the Maldives and they are very diver friendly. camera.

2 A Honeycomb Moray Eel posing for the

3 Maldives is largely known for its crystal clear

waters and white sandy beaches.

4 Oriental Sweetlips. In

Maldives divers are able to get very close to the marine life without interrupting them. blenny seen in the Maldives. gets upclose to the camera.

5 Midas Blenny is a common 6 A very curious Squirrelfish 7 Napolean Wrasse is one of the

most magestic fishes here. They are known as the gentle giants of the ocean.

1 2

46 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

3 3

Maldives Finder

Like an oasis in a desert sea, pelagics often drop in to check out the local scene. Hammerheads, whalesharks, tunas and Oceanic white tips are frequent visitors. Tidal currents flushing through the channels brings a constant food source into the atolls, sustaining spectacular soft coral growth, which in turn supports a realm of reef fishes in extraordinary abundance. I call the Maldives the fishpond of the Indian Ocean. Since 1996, I have made at least one yearly pilgrimage to the Maldives and I will not hesitate a second time each year.

7 long after the tide has turned. Precise and long term data on tidal ranges, flows and patterns are non-existent in the Maldives.

Beware, the Maldives is like eating M&M; addictive, once is never enough. The myriad of life in every imaginable and unimaginable colour and form is signature of underwater Maldives rivaled nowhere in intensity. If I had to choose three words to describe the diving in Maldives, they would be “predictably great” and “abun-

dance”. Underwater Maldives is remarkably different from the surface; a metropolis of never ending reefs composed of ridges, mountains, valleys, and fjords, columns and chasms extending right out to the edge of the atolls. Outer atoll steep slopes or walls plummet steeply to oceanic mountains and the mountains themselves drop to abyssal depths of 2km and beyond. Because the Maldives sit in the middle of the Indian Ocean, great migratory currents flow through the atolls, leaving behind rich plankton to procreate.

6

5

4

Michael AW is the author of Maldives – Within the Rainbow Sea” and “24 Hours within the Rainbow Sea” www.MichaelAW.com

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 47

Squid Media

Lets Go Maldives Pvt. Ltd.

...experience the Maldives with a difference

The largest inbound tour operator in Maldives, having more than 75 resorts direct contract with allotments.

All your holiday needs Yacht Charters DMC Services Aviation Services

www.letsgomaldives.com

Maldives Finder

CRUISING WITH THE MANTA The sea is an essential part of Maldivian life and an idivisible part of the natural beauty. As a single body of beauty, the sea is best appreciated from a liveaboard boat as you slice through the water and enjoy the soothing sights and sounds, By : Ahmed Mauroof Jameel 50 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

The sea is an essential part of Maldivian life and an idivisible part of the natural beauty. As a single body of beauty, the sea is best appreciated from a liveaboard boat as you slice through the water and enjoy the soothing sights and sounds, and even the very movement. As the life sustaining environment, the sea also offers the many vivid colours of Maldivian aquatic life beneath its surface. The Manta Cruise offers you the best of both.

The Manta Cruise is chartered to you for the entire season, with a wealth of itineraries to choose from, such as the Classic Cruise, the Extended South Cruise, the 6-nights South Cruise, the North Cruise and the Extreme North Cruise, each with their own unique sights and areas to explore.

Each of the cruises can also be customised to suit what you want out of your time.

Snorkel or dive alongside manta rays or whale sharks, which are abundant in the part of the Maldives that the Manta Cruise frequents. Whale sharks, rare throughout the world, are especially abundant in these waters. The sessions are guided, which is an advantage, seeing how well the guides know the best sites around the atoll. You’ll be looked after by the crew and the Team Abyss guides, who all live aboard the boat.

Your home for the duration of your cruise, the Manta Cruise is made especially for your comfort. Your stay is expected to be a pleasant one. The large saloon is ideal for congregating with other guests and there’s no need to feel secluded from the rest of the world entirely, as the living area has TV.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 51

Maldives Finder

There are many unique advantages that the liveaboard experience can offer. It is the best means for an avid diver or a traveller to get the most out of one trip, and ends up saving you money by consolidating all your wants into the single journey.

You can change direct the liveaboard to where you want to go spontaneously, you can ask the captain and the crew to take you to a specific sort of place for a specific experience. You have greater access to a larger number of dive sites, and you’re not limited to the house reefs a resort may have to offer, instead having the option to go to the truly breathtaking sites that lie a little too far out of the way for resorts. The Manta Cruise liveaboard is an unconfined experience.

By day you can go surfing, snorkelling, or diving with the guides, or experience local life by visiting the fishing villages scattered throughout the atolls. How modern life has touched the remote islands peppering this part of the Indian Ocean is something that never ceases to amaze. Picnicking ashore an uninhabited island is also recommended. The sense of being alone on an untouched island is refreshing and curative. Island hopping is one of the most touted aspects of a liveaboard cruise for good reason.

The element of exploration is something only liveaboards can offer, and the Manta Cruise is a stellar example.

But it needn’t be just your days that are lively. Uninhabited islands and sandbanks provide the ideal setting for dinner, a party, or even a relaxing little soiree. The crew often find themselves having barbecues on such islands or islets. There’s nothing like the smell of delicious food sizzling in front of you as the night breeze cools you and the heat of the barbecue fire warms you under the open sky. And because the management and crew appreciate how satisfying it is to catch your own meals, fishing lines are available at all times, providing an ideal way to fill the time if it gets too quiet for your taste.

Experience a peace unlike any other as you skim the sparkling seas. Each island is distinct in shape and personality. Stop your journey as often as you like for a pleasant sojourn onshore, and resume whenever you’re ready. The cruise goes to your whim, and the Manta Cruise is at your disposal. You can keep your days as busy or as blissfully empty as you like, but whatever you choose to do with it, you will get treated to a different sunrise, a different sunset, and different vistas every day - each one sublime.

52 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 53

Maldives “First All Inclusive” Luxury Resort Lily Beach Resort & Spa at Huvahendhoo Telephone: 00960 6680013 | Fax: 00960 6680646 Email: sales@lilybeachmaldives.com www.lilybeachmaldives.com

Live the Island Hideaway Dream...

Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Spa Resort & Marina Haa Alifu Atoll, North Maldives Tel: +960 650 1515 | Fax: +960 650 1616 Email: reservations@island-hideaway.com www.island-hideaway.com

YOUNG FACES, OLD VOICES

By : Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz

All photos for this article by : Mohamed Shamhan

A group of young men flood the stage and take their positions. There are around twenty of them. A majority of them carry with them traditional Dhivehi goatskin drums. A flourish, a sharp tap, and a song is breathed into life. It’s sleepy at first but gains momentum like a rolling boulder.

The song grows louder, faster, and the crowd sways because they can’t help it.

The beat works itself into their blood.

Old voices on young faces sing the bodu beru songs and by the time the crescendo arrives, frenzy inducing, the crowd is ensnared completely. A few

of them leap into the space in front of the stage to express their exultation through dance. By the time their hearts slow down it’s time for the next song. This is a typical night for Harubee, Maldives’s premier bodu beru band.

Bodu beru, literally meaning ‘big drum’, is one of the oldest surviving aspects of Dhivehi culture. It is a form of song based on a beat hammered out on a goatskin drum of traditional design. The tempo almost invariably starts slow and builds up into a crescendo, which is sustained for a while before reaching an abrupt end.

Maldives Finder

Not a single member of Harubee performs full-time. They all work full-time elsewhere and come together as a band only for the passion of bodu beru. The drummers at the top (from left to right) : Naushad(Naube’) works at GMR International Airport, Shiham(Puchu’) is a policeman, Mamdhooh (Manday) is a young entrpreneur and Shinan has just recently finished school.

Though they’ve earned the right to it, Harubee shuns their status as a superband, instead choosing to celebrate their roots and the fans that make them who they are. This warmth translates into the performance as well as the energy that comes from their passion.

58 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Not a single member of Harubee performs full-time. They all work full-time elsewhere and come together as a band only for the passion of bodu beru. Harubee’s philosophy is that performing fulltime will make the music feel like a job.

Shihan (Puchu), one of the four main members of Harubee alongside Mamdhooh (Manday), Naushad (Naube), and Shamhan (Joray), explains that the four of them first came together as a band at the end of the 90’s quite circumstantially, when one of them beat a dabiya (a tin pitcher),

Maldives Finder

and the others joined in with song. They soon found themselves performing free at parties purely for the love of bodu beru.

The group officially came to be known as Harubee for their performance at the 2006 Dubai Shopping Festival. Since then, Harubee has gone onto perform at tourism expos, various major events at resorts,

and have appeared on National Geographic Channel and the BBC in addition to performing alongside major local artists at live events. Harubee’s first mainstream success came when they won the MNBC Bodu Beru Challenge 2010. Since then Harubee has been performing without respite. This is no small accomplishment, considering that all members work full time,

and the line up always depends on who can get time off work for a performance.

Harubee cannot be talked about without mentioning the cultural relevance of the group. The art of bodu beru is one of the most representative facets of Dhivehi culture. Many of the songs circulating around the bodu beru scene are so old that their Definitive Guide of MATATO | 59

Maldives Finder

origins are lost entirely. Harubee represents a revitalising, and more importantly, a rebranding of everything bodu beru stands for. As a bodu beru group of young people who charge their performances with a new energy that somehow falls runs parallel to the timelessness of the tradition, Harubee brings a progressiveness to the art that has not only been absent but hadn’t even been conceived of before. Bodu beru is cool again precisely because it’s not the way you remember it.

The band chooses to emphasise the continuity in this progression from tradition. Harubee humbly names Hamdun Hameed as the group’s major influence. As the founding members’ school principal and prolific torchbearer of bodu beru, Hamdun heavily involved the group in Ameer Ahmed School’s bodu beru activities, coming to teach the boys who would become Harubee most of what they know.

ity into recorded form. Unused to the restraint and the set structure of the studio environment, Harubee has to overcome these constraints and find the best way to pack their brand of improvisation and spontaneity into an aural experience.

First an explosion onto the scene, then establishing their place, now recording an album. What could possibly be next for this group of young men, who don’t practise, who don’t plan their show, yet still project an electrifying presence?

‘To never stop,’ says Shihan.

Harubee intends to overcome the fickle nature of seasonal trends.

They intend to make bodu beru bigger than it already is, and to push it further than it has ever gone.

Modernised or traditional, bodu beru is a live art, and Harubee is a live act. The group is currently recording an album, pushing the progression further with their new songs. A major challenge will be to translate their unique personal-

“

Not a single member of Harubee performs full-time. They all work fulltime elsewhere and come together as a band only for the passion of bodu beru.

Harubee’s philosophy is that performing full-time will make the music feel like a job.

“

60 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Squid Media

SOUTHOFTHEEQUATOR,BEYONDCONVENTION By : Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

Just as the equator divides the world into two hemispheres, the Maldives too is split into very specific experiences. Addu Atoll represents the uniqueness of southern Maldives. The people of Addu have their own dialect, their own folklore, a set of customs and mannerisms that distinguish them from the rest of the Maldives. The geography, the flora, and fauna add to what makes Addu so distinct. Even historically, Addu Atoll has undergone experiences that haven’t been shared with the rest of the Maldives. The British presence until the 1970s and a brush with World War II has left their impressions on the otherwise hidden haven of Addu.

Equator Village provides the best means to experience this uniqueness. As the first hotel resort in the south, Equator Village already sets itself apart from the the rest of the tourist experiences in Addu Atoll. To further buck trends, the resort is located on the inhabited island of Gan, a major population centre. The typical Maldivian resort represents an isolated experience; Equator Village provides you with the opportunity to experience the exact opposite. Here you can experience local Maldivian life firsthand, and one of the most unique brands at that.

As the flight dips down for the final stretch of the journey, it will illuminate the beauty of Addu Atoll, a beauty that is far from skin deep. It’s easy to fall into the southern 62 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

stride as you get to know it. By the time you reach your bungalow you will have had a glimpse of the warmth and welcoming nature of the south.

with modern amenities such as air-conditioning, hot and cold showers, and satellite TV ensure that the best comforts are lavished on you during your stay.

There are 78 bungalows in Equator Village, each with a garden courtyard decorated with foliage exclusive to the region. Wonderful flowering shrubs, a spacious sitting area outside, and a bungalow equipped

A fully furnished bar and a garden restaurant will see to your meals and refreshments. The outdoor pool is novel in providing direct access to the beach. An array of sports facilities such as squash, volley-

Maldives Finder

ball, and tennis courts in addition to many more ensure that you’re as active as you want to be, and the water sports facilities such as catamarans and windsurfing equipment ensure that you can enjoy the best of what the Maldives has to offer in her crystal blue waters.

But why skim the water when you can be in it? Snorkelling enthusiasts have a wonderful house reef just a short distance off the beach and divers have the PADI ap-

proved dive base at their disposal. This is just as well, seeing Addu Atoll boasts several as yet undocumented species of marine life and a World War II shipwreck.

The dive sites in the south are also more pristine in its beauty, as they haven›t been subjected to much exposure by the scheduled dive excursions that frequent other sites. The marine life in the south are much less used to human intrusion and are in greater abundance as a result.

Lying at an extreme end of the island so that guests can also enjoy their privacy, Equator Village is just a short bicycle ride away from the populated part of Gan, and Gan itself is linked to the major islands of Addu Atoll via the famous Addu Link Road. The road, unique in the Maldives, links the islands physically and represents the cultural continuity.

Addu Atoll is famous for its lush plant life.

Widely considered one of the most green

Equator Village can help you kick off “your shoes and dive into an experience unique to the south of the equator and beyond the conventional.

”

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 63

Maldives Finder

areas of the Maldives, Addu boasts various flowering shrubs and trees that cannot be found elsewhere in the Maldives.

The atoll is steeped in brushes with world history. While World War II touched the entire nation in many ways, Addu Atoll has felt it more directly than anywhere else in the Maldives. Gan was a Royal Air Force base until 1976, and this fact alone has made much impact on the islanders.

The HMS Loyalty, a cargo ship, was

1

torpedoed by the Japanese just off the island of Maradhoo, which was used as an armoury during the war. Gan is also host to a World War II memorial.

There are several historical sites throughout the atoll that are centuries old in addition to the British presence. Though unconfirmed history enshrouds these sites time spent on visiting these locations and listening to the lore behind them is time well spent.

A guest cycling along

the Addu Link Road. The 14-kilometre Addu Link Road causeway is the longest paved causeway in the Maldives.

2

Natural

fresh water ponds or depressions, locally known as Kulhi with dense mangrove growth protects the fragile environment of the Islands.

3

The south is known

for very unexplored, unique and rich dive sites.

1

2 64 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

3

Equator Village is equipped to be an idyllic retreat in which you can relax. But with a wonderful white sand beach nearby, and an entire atoll with its lush flora and fauna, culture and history to explore, Equator Village can help you kick off your shoes and dive into an experience unique to the south of the equator and beyond the conventional.

MaldivesWedding : I Do By : Thomas Pickard

Islands of

Mantas By : Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler

The giant manta swam over the divers’ heads and made a graceful turn to look closely at each of the divers watching it. The divers looked back and were entranced by the beauty and agility of the huge creature in front of them, it was difficult to draw their eyes away from the magical beast, and it was love at first sight! This is probably how most people will describe their first experience of seeing a manta.

All photos for this article provided by : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

Maldives Finder

Manta rays

are giant diamond shaped fish, the name manta coming from the Spanish for cloak, as the animal does appear as a dramatic dark cloak sweeping through the sea. Despite their family name of ‘devil ray’, they are completely harmless to humans and do not have biting teeth or stings. Manta rays are evolutionary cousins of sharks. They may grow to nearly 7 m (23 ft) across the wing tips but in the Maldives they are more commonly seen at a size of 3-4 m across wingtips, equivalent to the size of a medium sized family car! In common with dolphins and whales, their large size and curiosity of humans has intrigued divers and snorkellers for decades, who seek out interactions with these enigmatic, graceful creatures.

Mantas are deeply embedded in Maldivian culture and manta symbols are often used in the international advertising of resorts and dive centres. They are not actively fished as their size makes landing them very difficult and their meat is poor quality in comparison with the excellent tunas easily fished in Maldivian waters, but fishermen have been long aware of areas where mantas congregated to feed, and led pioneering scuba divers to these areas.

The divers discovered manta ‘cleaning stations’: areas of reef occupied by smaller

72 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

fish which remove dead skin and parasites from larger fish and these cleaning stations are now where most manta watching by scuba divers is made. Two world famous sites are Lankan Reef in North Male atoll and Madivaru in South Ari atoll. At the cleaning stations the mantas compete for access to the best cleaners, a little like humans wanting to get the attentions of the best hairdresser or masseur.

On a typical day 10-20 diving boats from nearby resorts or safari boats will visit these sites. Despite the diving pressure, the same mantas still visit the sites year after year. There are at least 50 known manta cleaning stations located throughout the Maldives, in every atoll. As resort expansion continues into the far north and south, new sites are discovered, and will be discovered for many years to come.

Maldives Finder

There are other sites where mantas can be observed whilst snorkelling, including Hanifaru in Baa atoll, Sandune, near Guraidhoo island in South Male atoll and Rasfari in North Male atoll. Mantas are particularly attracted to feed on zooplankton consisting of small shrimps. They can be seen swimming up and down, or somersaulting with their mouths wide open using their head (or cephalic) fins to siphon huge amounts of water containing the tiny shrimps into their mouths. Snorkellers need only stay on the surface near the food source and the giant rays will swim past and underneath them as they continue with their feeding.

The movements, behaviour and ecology are being researched as part of a long term project by the Manta Ecology Project² (MEP) to understand more about their lives. Long term observations of mantas at the various cleaning stations have provided several insights into their behaviour. Mantas may be individually identified by the ovals and

spots markings on their undersides (ventral surface) which are unique and do not change over a period of at least 10 years.

Mantas with particularly distinctive markings can easily be recognised by divemasters and pointed out to tourist divers. ‘Butterfly’ manta is easily distinguished by the butterfly shaped markings pattern and is regularly seen at Lankan Reef and Boduhithi thila. We know she is a large, ‘alpha’ female who displaces smaller mantas when she arrives at a cleaning station and is at least 20 years old. She was seen pregnant in 2005 and 2007 and likely gave birth in October or November of those years but has not been seen pregnant since despite regular reports of her attendance at the cleaning stations. This accumulated knowledge on the life of ‘Butterfly’ came from reports from divemasters and tourist divers who dived with her and photographed her. Another divers’ favourite is ‘Bubbles’ manta, named after her fascination of bathing in the exhaled bubbles of divers. Apparently, Definitive Guide of MATATO | 73

she has integrated this Jacuzzi effect of bubble massage into her cleaning routine as it probably dislodges dead skin. Many other mantas appear to enjoy bubble baths, so this appears to be a new behaviour, learned from interactions with divers at the cleaning stations. Divers or snorkellers should never attempt to touch or ride mantas as bacteria in our skin (or gloves) may easily give the manta a skin infection.

The Maldives is, without doubt, the best place in the world to observe manta rays. They may be seen yearround, at different locations typically on the leeside of monsoon winds so that from May to November they will be seen at eastern sites and from December to April at western sites. East and west located resort dive centres know the locations of the various seasonal manta points and make, at minimum, weekly dive excursion to visit the sites. Most liveaboards include scuba diving at least one manta location as most scuba-diving visitors expect to see mantas. Many resort lagoons have jetty lights which attract feeding juvenile mantas at night so that resort guests do not even need to get wet to enjoy the beauty of the balletic feeding dance of the manta. The Maldives are indeed, the islands of the mantas.

“

The Maldives is, without doubt, the best place in the world to observe manta rays

“

Manta tourism is of importance to the Maldives economy. During 200608, 143,000 dives and over 14,000 snorkels were performed annually and this was estimated to be worth about US$ 8.1 million per year in direct revenue1. Estimates up to $200 million revenue should be considered when hotel accommodation, F&B and transportation is taken into account.

1. Anderson RC, Adam MS, Kitchen-Wheeler A-M, Stevens G. Extent and economic value of manta ray watching in the Maldives. Tourism in Marine Environments. 2010;7(1).

Author Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler is the the Project Manager for the Manta Ecology Project, supporting Manta Research. Also her husband Matt Kitchen is the project videographer and film maker. (www.mantaresearch.com) Support the “Manta Ecology Project” on Facebook.

74 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Embark on a journey of discoveries & explorations.

Immerse into provoking issues that inform, inspire and invigorate.

Join the Ocean Geographic Society to support the education of the younger generation and promote greater awareness of the beauty of our oceans. Ocean Geographic Society is in alliance with OceanNEnvironment, Seacology, the Ocean Artists Society, and Sharks Alliance where the primary focus is preservation of our ocean.

Sign Up to be part of our Global Community to enjoy and contribute to preservation.

ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP Free to Join – simply log in at www.OGSociety.org

• Access to Ocean Geographic - ‘O’ Edition free • $50 Discount Vouchers for OG Alliance Resorts & Live-aboards • Updates and invitation to Ocean Geographic Expeditions ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP WITH E-EDITION

• Ocean Geographic – Access to complete E-edition • $50 Discount Vouchers for OG Alliance Resorts & Live-aboards • Updates and invitation to Ocean Geographic Expeditions CLASSIC MEMBERSHIP

• • • •

Ocean Geographic – hard copies by air mail $100 Discount Vouchers for OG Alliance Resorts & Live-aboards 50% discount to all Ocean Geographic organised events News Updates and prioritized invitation to Ocean Geographic Expeditions with 5% discount

CHARTER & PREMIERE MEMBERSHIP

Ocean Geographic – hard copies by air mail Ocean Geographic – advanced access to complete E-edition $200 Discount Vouchers for OG Alliance Resorts & Live-aboards Free entry to all Ocean Geographic organised events News Updates and prioritized invitation to Ocean Geographic Expeditions with 10% discount • The ‘O’ Insignia – sterling silver with orange enamel – first time members only • Voting privileges • Residents of Australia A$80, Singapore and Malaysia S$80: International: USD 108

• • • • •

JOIN NOW!

Online at Fax coupon to Mail coupon to

www.OGSociety.org 61 2 9686 8438 OG Membership, PO Box 2138, Carlingford Court, NSW 2118, Australia

YOUR DETAILS NAME: THIS IS A GIFT MEMBERSHIP FOR: ADDRESS

POST CODE

COUNTRY EMAIL:

CONTACT NO:

DATE OF BIRTH: CREDIT CARD TYPE: EXPIRY DATE:

AMEX

VISA

MASTERCARD

NO: 3/4 DIGIT SECURITY NO:

TICK ONE:

ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP with E-Edition – A$20 per annum CLASSIC MEMBERSHIP Residents of Australia A$50, Singapore and Malaysia S$50: International: USD 68 pa PREMIER MEMBERSHIP Residents of Australia A$80, Singapore and Malaysia S$80: International: USD 108 pa

TRAVEL FAIRS 2011 Maldives Tourism Promotion Board

JAN

2S2at

BOOT

FEB

BIT

1Th7u

MAR

09d We

12 AM at Messe Dusseldorf GmbH, D-40001 Dusseldorf, Germany The world’s largest yacht and watersports trade fair, which will be welcoming yachting and watersports enthusiasts from all over the world to explore its exhibition halls from 22 to 30 January 2011.

12 AM at Expo cts via G. Govone, 66 - 20155 Milan, Italy The International Tourism Exchange is the most important marketplace in Italy for tourism and one of the most leading event in the world.

ITB

12 AM at Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22, D-14055 Berlin, Germany ITB Berlin – a benefit for everybody. As a driving force in the travel industry, ITB Berlin gives important impulses to a continuously growing market. Exhibitor sales of about 6 billion Euro and an exhibitor satisfaction rate of 92 percent.

MAR

1W6ed

JAN

MITT

12 AM at Krasnaya Presnya Exhibition Complex, ZAO Expocentre, Moscow, Russia

0M2on

ATM

SEP

TOP RESA

2Tu0e

SEP

3F0ri

NOV

0M7on

NOV

2Su7n

12 AM at Messe Dusseldorf GmbH, D-40001 Dusseldorf, Germany The world’s largest yacht and watersports trade fair, which will be welcoming yachting and watersports enthusiasts from all over the world to explore its exhibition halls from 22 to 30 January 2011.

12 AM at Paris Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, 75015 Paris, France IFTM Top Resa is France’s B2B international tourism exhibition. The industry’s leading event for networking, doing business, innovating and keeping abreast of market developments, the exhibition offers a 360° panorama of the travel industry, covering all sectors: leisure, business and events. Exhibit at IFTM Top Resa

JATA World Travel Fair

12 AM at Tokyo International Exhibition Center, 3-21-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan JATA World Travel Fair is both a trade fair featuring a dedicated day for exhibitors to meet one-on-one with the Japanese travel trade and a consumer travel show where destinations and suppliers can showcase their travel offerings and appeal directly to potential Japanese travelers.

WTM

10 AM at ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London Docklands, E16 1XL, United Kingdom Staged annually in London, World Travel Market - the premier global event for the travel industry - is a vibrant must attend four-day business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals

CITM

12 AM at Kunming International Convention & Exhibition Center , China CITM – The largest professional travel show in Asia. A get-gather for the world tourism circles

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 77

Island with a million possibilities By : Ahmed Mauroof Jameel

Maldives Finder

One island, one yacht, one million possibilities. This is the mantra of the Rania Experience, and there can be no finer way to put it into words. ‘Rania’ is derived from the Dhivehi word ‘rani’, which means ‘queen’.

This is appropriate because you dictate the terms of your holiday, giving the term ‘holidaymaker’ a new meaning. The Rania Experience is something the guest creates with the many, many options that are provided.

Make no mistake - the Rania Experience isn’t a resort hotel. Your holiday need not fill a preconceived mould.

The island is nothing short of a private getaway, somewhere to lose yourself, yet at the same time it is something

for your stay, for your Rania Experience.

The first thing the Rania Experience delivers to you is the island, an emerald burst of coconut palms atop the purest white sand, set into an expansive turquoise lagoon. The only people on the island will be you and your guests. Private butlers await your every whim. They will arrange everything you could possibly want, including meals and activities.

The island is yours to explore, and is best experienced barefoot. After a few days among the tranquility of the tropical foliage, and the peace offered by the natural aspects of the island, it’s not unusual to feel a connection with the very soil by the end of your stay. However, the Rania Experience is not restricted to being a nature retreat. There’s no need for minimalism.

With custom furnishings, premium bath-

With an outdoor whirlpool jacuzzi, two double bedrooms, two twin cabins - all decked out luxuriously, you and your guests couldn’t find a more comfortable way to cruise. How many shades of blue are there? Find out as The Rania takes you under clear skies and through sparkling water.

Far from being constrained to looking and sitting back, there’s much to do aboard The Rania. Go up close; the PADI dive instructor can take you snorkelling or diving. Go big game fishing, or fish the way the locals do it, on a dhoni (a local boat make) at sunrise or sunset, line in hand.

With the experienced captain and crew at your service, you can go anywhere you like in the atoll. You can visit nearby islands and experience the local culture firsthand, try your hand at bartering with the local artisans, or just explore. You’re not even limited to the yacht. With a speed boat, and a dhoni, the local craft, you are truly the master of your own holiday.

But don’t let these suggestions restrict you. A team of internationally acclaimed chefs versed in the fineries of the best cuisine in the world are available at all times to provide you exactly the meal you want. There are spa therapists offering Ayurvedic or Thai treatments. There’s gorgeous scenery, various leisure facilities, a yacht, an atoll, and the culmination of a 2,000 year old culture at your fingertips.

The only limitations are in the guest’s mind.

The Rania Experience is whatever you want it to be. Whatever you want to plan will be arranged. Create the holiday you’ve always dreamed of, or indulge in the thrill of improvising at whim – either way, be prepared to make your best memories during the Rania Experience. There are, after all, a million different possibilities.

that can be shaped into whatever holiday you desire. Along with the yacht and various watersports facilities available whenever you want, your needs will be seen to throughout your stay by a team of attentive staff who will treat you as if you’re the only holidaymaker there for a reason: because you are.

This is the centre of the Rania Experience. Only you and your guests inhabit the island for the duration of your stay.

The idyllic holiday destination, unreal in its beauty, is a slice of paradise - but most importantly, it’s your slice of paradise. The perfect white sand, the many hues of blue that colour the lagoon, the tangy salt breeze, and a million leisure and relaxation possibilities belong to you

80 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

room comforts, and high-end entertainment tech such as a home theatre system, you can get the best of both worlds.

The island is your kingdom, the room your palace, and they are the first means of how you make your experience. Arrayed throughout the island are a spa, an entertainment lounge, various sports facilities, and pavilions to watch the sunrise and sunset.

The Rania Experience doesn’t limit you to the island. The Maldives presents you unparalleled beauty not just in the form of the islands but in the seas as well. The Rania, a Majesty 86 Gulf Craft luxury cruiser, will carry you where you want so that you may experience it the best way: firsthand.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 81

Squid Media

Maldives Finder

99>100, TRUE STORY By : Nikhil Chinappa

84 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

95 dives complete.

That was in January 2010.

I knew that the next time I went diving, I’d hit 100 dives and though they’re a far cry from my buddy Shaff (who has well over 3,000 dives logged), I wanted the 100th dive to be special.

So I considered diving in a 3 piece suit, diving naked and diving with great whites. Much thought and time was spent as to how and where I’d do my 100th dive.

Ok, That’s not entirely true as most of my time was spent partying, dj-ing and drinking lots of beer across various nightclubs in India. However when conversation amongst friends wandered around to diving – I did wonder where dive #100 was going to be. The pieces of the puzzle finally fell together when I got a call from the Maldives.

I’d more-or-less decided that it had to be the Maldives. I’d done most of my diving here and I wasn’t particularly gung-ho on a stunt dive or dive where I was going to be bitten by a shark , an eel or a Napoleon Wrasse looking for a banana. I wanted great visibility, warm water and a fun bunch of friends around me when I went diving.

My buddy Shaff had been pestering me for a while to accompany him to a spot that was teeming with Manta. I’d never found the time to make it happen, but the wheels of fate were in motion.

Shortly after these exhortations from Shaff I read a piece in the National Geographic that had an article on Manta in the Maldives – in one particular area. It had been documented as a place where mantas and whale sharks gathered between the months of July and September to feed on plankton that had been drawn up from the deep ocean and then funneled into a particular bay by the prevailing monsoon ocean currents.

It was a place called Hanifaru Bay. It’s a tiny dive spot, ostensibly in the middle of nowhere, but in reality quite well known in Baa Atoll in the Maldives. The dive site has over the past few years, become quite well known across the world and the Maldivian government has now designated it a protected Marine Reserve.

We got to Baa Atoll on the Atoll Cruiser live-aboard along with 12 other divers – mostly from India. The journey from Male had taken us a day, during which check dives had been completed and a juvenile humpback whale had been sighted.

Rather rare in the Maldives apparently, but then so are a bunch of Indian divers on a live-aboard!

The dive site at Hanifaru bay looked like – well, like nothing really. It looked shallow and had a reef ridge running on the outside, with a channel beyond. Islands were all at a distance and to the first timer, it looked like the dive guides had either lost the location, or had just run out

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 85

Maldives Finder

of ideas. Underwater, the visibility was poor (hello plankton!) and there were a few coral blocks. Maximum depth – a grand 12 meters.

The first dive was largely uneventful. We wandered around, lost; sat by a coral block for 15 minutes and saw one passing manta.

Some of us in a group tried wandering across to some other coral blocks and spotted, well not much. Hanifaru bay was certainly not living up to it’s reputation, nor was it anything like what I’d seen in videos on youtube.

Now I won’t lie to you – my 100th dive was actually quite ordinary. We saw some Manta on that dive and may have even seen a turtle and some of the Maldives brilliantly coloured reef fish. The odd lionfish was also observed, as were schools of scuba-diving tourists with the obligatory cameras in hand.

My 99th dive however, was the kicker.

It was a dive that I for one, won’t forget in a hurry because it was the first time I saw a whale shark. It was also the first time that I saw over 50 mantas on a single dive – and they looked like clouds of dive-bombers descending from the surface towards us.

Now I never usually carry a camera underwater, preferring to instead drift along and watch the world go by. I don’t particularly like being stuck behind a lens for my entire dive, desperately trying to capture pictures to post on Facebook or to boast to my friends with. It works well for me as my regular dive buddy Shaff is an avid underwater cameraman and has a brilliant camera to boot – I just “borrow” his pictures and video to make my albums and my dive video edits!

However on this dive, a gave me his spare camera, to picture mode and asked take pictures “if anything popped up”… and pop up

friend set it me to special it did.

We entered the water over a shallow sand bank and descended to the bottom – which was about 5 meters. We

“

I grabbed the camera and desperately began the 3-step process to switch from picture to video mode. It took me a few seconds and by the time I got it ready, the whale shark was almost at touching distance. I swung the camera up and stabbed at the record button and managed to shoot the best whale shark shot of the entire dive trip! Her snout went right by the camera and the entire animal swam slowly past me at a distance of just a few feet.

My dive holiday had been made… but there was more to come. As we swam towards the now familiar coral block, the mantas appeared. Clouds and clouds of them with flowing cephalic fins guiding plankton rich water into their gaping mouths. Most were at the surface and could be observed by

It was also the first time that I saw over 50 mantas on a single dive – and they looked like clouds of dive-bombers descending from the surface towards us.

“

86 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

started to swim towards deeper water, where we hoped the mantas would appear sooner or later. As I swam slowly towards deeper water and the sand bank started to fall away beneath me, I casually turned to glance over my left shoulder... And appearing out of the plankton haze – not more than 20 feet away was the biggest whale shark I had ever seen in any video!

Maldives Finder

snorkelers, while divers desperately tried to maintain their buoyancy at 3-4 meters to be in the middle of the feeding rush.

Incredibly, as mantas rushed over, around and under you, they were acutely aware of the divers and where other mantas were. I never once saw any collisions or felt like I was in danger of being knocked over by one of the giants. We swam with them, did clumsy loops as they passed over our heads and watched as they chased their own tale in acrobatic loop-de-loops when they hit a particularly rich plankton spot in the water.

After a while I drifted down to the bottom and lay down beside the coral block to observe a single manta allowing itself to be cleaned by the army of cleaner fish.

The next 20 minutes were pure nirvana.

this one manta ended 20 mins later with over 20 divers lying on the sand around the coral block behind me. It was magical. The rest of the dive was occupied by watching more manta (the guides estimated there were over 400 in the bay that day) and the whale shark as it made more runs past us.

So dive #99 was better that #100. But is any dive in the Maldives ever a waste? I’d say no- the visibility, the company and just being underwater in warm water more than makes up for anything that you may not see… or for that matter, is nicer than anything you do see.

It’s been 4 months since I dived at Hanifaru and with visions of that lone manta drifting lazily over my head, I can’t wait to get back to the Maldives again!

This lone manta was almost in performance mode. It swam ultra-slowly and often a few feet over me as I lay on the sand and rolled over on my back to watch it swim overhead.

It was like having my living room fly over my head; it was that huge (or looked like it underwater). On one occasion, it opened it’s mouth to the cleaners as it flew over my head and I swear - it felt like I could just reach my hand up and pull myself into it’s gaping mouth – it was THAT close.

What started off with just me watching

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 87

Squid Media

Maldives Finder

a journey of many paths By : Mihiri Wikramanayake

Situated in the stunning archipelago of the Maldives islands are three breathtakingly beautiful island resort hotels – the Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo, and the Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa.

The word Chaaya, meaning “Reflection”, is the brand name that was chosen to represent the position of the John Keells Hotels chain. Chaaya encompasses the surrounding environment and culture intrinsic to each of the hotels and is packaged to provide a total experience to the novelty-seeking tourist, while maintaining a consistent high standard of service across all hotels within the Chaaya chain. With a chain of hotels in Sri Lanka, three spectacular Chaaya experiences are available in the Maldives Islands.

Chaaya Dhonveli Hakuraahuraa

CHAAYA ISLAND DHONVELI The Chaaya Island Dhonveli is situated in the Kaafu Atoll or the North Malé Atoll, where tourism began in the Maldives in 1972. With just nine inhabited Atolls of the 107 islands, the Kaafu Atoll is dotted with dive sites, many of them well known in the diving community around the world.

This amazing resort features 24 superior rooms, 40 beach bungalows, 36 water bungalows, 24 over-water suites and four vista suites. No matter which one you choose, the experience will be memorable.

The main Garden restaurant and the ‘Rehendhi’ a-la carte restaurant serves the most delectable array of international gastronomical delights while the Sunset Bar offers you a superb selection of beverages and aperitifs.

Take time off from the feasting and the luxury and pamper yourself at the Chavana spa which will leave you feeling rested and completely relaxed.

As the day dawns it is time to walk out of your room and step into the cerulean sea.

The underwater delights will leave you mesmerized as the fascinating reef formations and coral gardens put on a scintil-

90 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

lating show of colour. Dhonveli is famous for Pasta Point, known as one of the best surf areas where water sports lovers can indulge in diving, surfing, snorkeling and even kayaking.

As the sun sets, the evening’s entertainment begins with the resort’s live band and an in-house disco lets you dance the night away.

Maldives Finder

CHAAYA REEF ELLAIDHOO The Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo is blessed with spectacular sunsets that take your breath away. Located 42 km away from Male, the capital of Maldives, and this fabulous resort is just 25 minutes by seaplane or 85 minutes by speedboat. Ellaidhoo Island is a safe distance away from the busy world with a total land area of 55,625 square

If you prefer open skies, you will enjoy diving into the azure seas or even trying out some outdoor sports such as Tennis and even Beach Volley Ball. The gymnasium offers exhilarating workout sessions, managed by professional instructors, for health conscious guests on holiday.

meters. Just 300 meters long and 280 meters wide, this private paradise is located on the eastern fringes of North Ari Atoll. The Ari Atoll, the largest of 22 natural atolls that make up the Maldives Islands, is located in the western side of the Maldives.

The Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo is blessed with spectacular sunsets that take your breath away. Located 42 km away from Male, the capital of Maldives, and this fabulous resort is just 25 minutes by seaplane or 85 minutes by speedboat. Ellaidhoo Island is a safe distance away from the busy world with a total land area of 55,625 square meters. Just 300 meters long and 280 meters wide, this private paradise is located on the eastern fringes of North Ari Atoll. The Ari Atoll, the largest of 22 natural atolls that make up the Maldives Islands, is located in the western side of the Maldives.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 91

Maldives Finder

CHAAYA LAGOON HAKURAAHURAA Situated in six acres of sandy white beaches is the Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa resort. Another wonder of the Maldivian Resort chain, this Chaaya choice is a sun worshipper’s paradise. The Hakura Huraa resort is located in the smallest of the 26 atolls and is perfectly placed in the middle of the pristine underwater coral gardens. Meanwhile, the bungalows are built on pure white sand, fringed with swaying palm trees making this a honeymooner’s paradise. The Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa comprises 70 water bungalows, set in knee deep crystal waters of the lagoon. Another 10 beach bungalows are strategically placed to give visitors the ultimate privacy.

Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa offers visitors an amazing international choice of scrumptious cuisine and many dining options at the Main restaurant and the Coffee Shop. As the day ends, and the night sky is lit up by millions of stars, the entertainment begins as you wind down your day.

While there are many leisure and recreation facilities on this tiny island, the ‘Sanctuary Spa’ takes pride of place. With expert therapists offering over twenty

92 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

different beauty treatments and therapies designed to pamper guests, the spa is one of the most popular spots on the island.

There are five pleasure-packed ‘Experience Packages’ that make Chaaya holidays absolutely amazing. Each package unravels unexpected delights and adventures leaving visitors coming back for more.

These Maldivian Resorts are a part of the John Keells Hotels chain, a member of JKH, and is Sri Lanka’s largest hotel operator with a portfolio of two city hotels in Colombo and 11 resort hotels situated in prime locations in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Chaaya Resorts and Hotels is the result of a re branding and repositioning strategy of the John Keells Hotels portfolio. Having understood the rapidly changing world of tourism, Chaaya Resorts and Hotels has moved away from simply marketing a property to providing visitors a varied range of experiences made possible through the rich and diverse array of environs surrounding the properties.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Inner Maldives Holidays | G. Bucha Hiya Koimala Higun | Male’ | Maldives Tel: 960 300 6886 | Fax: 960 333 0884 | eMail: info@innermaldives.com www.twitter.com/innermaldives | www.innermaldives.com

Sharks WORTH MORE ALIVE THAN DEAD By : Thomas P.Peschak

Sharks are one of Mother Nature’s great evolutionary success stories. Their blueprint is so near perfect that it has remained almost unchanged for at least one hundred million years.

Sharks are one of Mother Nature’s great evolutionary success stories. Their blueprint is so near perfect that it has remained almost unchanged for at least one hundred million years. Today more than 440 species of shark roam the world’s seas, inhabiting every realm from the shallowest coral reefs to the deep ocean trenches.

Sharks are the lions and tigers of the sea; they throne on the apex of the marine food chain and are crucial for maintaining a healthy balance of life in the ocean.

Sharks are the glue that holds many of our planet’s marine ecosystems together and their removal by fishing ripples throughout the ecosystem. We have only just begun to learn of the nature of such effects, but one study has revealed that healthy shark populations are vital for healthy coral reefs.

Tourism is essential to the Maldivian economy, and the island’s beaches and coral reefs account for 28 % of the nations GDP. In recent years the Maldives have witnessed the arrival of more and more specialized tourists, whose biggest desire is to encounter a shark underwater. The Maldives is home to more than 30 shark species and it has been estimated that a single gray reef shark is worth $3,300 a year to the Maldivian tourism industry, compared with the one-time value of $32 that a fisherman would get from the same shark dead.

Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

Maldives Finder

Juvenile Blacktip Reef Sharks (Photo: Ibrahim Iujaz Hafiz)

still alive and the rest of the body is wastefully dumped at sea. The proclamation of the Maldives shark sanctuary, if coupled with stringent marine law enforcement, will ensure that these waters are spared the ravages of the shark fin trade and ensure that both Maldivians and visiting tourists alike can experience a healthy and vibrant ocean.

For many years the Maldives has been a vocal leader in combatting global climate change and in 2010, the nation exhibited equally boldness and commitment to marine conservation. In March the Maldives declared its entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 90,000 square kilometers (35,000-square miles) of the Indian Ocean, as a shark sanctuary free from all shark fishing.

One of the greatest challenges in marine conservation today is to instill in people a sense of wonder in the ocean that will foster responsi-

bility towards its inhabitants, especially sharks. Scuba diving or snorkeling with these graceful predators in the Maldives shark sanctuary can become an important first step for people to become more marine conservation minded. As the Senegalese philosopher Baba Dioum said ‘In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.’

Whitetip Reef Shark (Photo: Mohamed Shafraz Naeem)

The long-term success of a marine reserve depends largely on support of the neighboring fishing communities and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has pledged to assist shark fishermen to find alternative and more sustainable ways to make a living. An inspirational example where former shark hunters have turned shark conservationist has already been witnessed in Baa Atoll, where fishermen who used to hunt whale sharks and manta rays in the old days, now make a much better living from taking tourists to see these magnificent animals.

For shark populations to thrive and fulfill their important role of maintaining balance in the ocean, more people will need care about and value sharks. Unfortunately a fear of sharks still permeates all levels of society, from young to old and from rich to poor. Statistically, the risk from sharks is tiny – in 2008, with the world population soaring to 6.7 billion people, there were only 58 shark bites, of which just four were fatal. In comparison, 253 000 people died from drowning and 791 were reported to have been killed by their toasters. Sharks in fact have much more to fear from people. Everyday vast fishing fleets comb the worlds’ oceans, leaving frighteningly few places on our planet were sharks are not being overexploited.

Scientists estimate that up to 73 million are killed every year around the world and as a result 50 species are now listed as vulnerable or in danger of extinction. Sharks are primarily caught for their fins, a sought after commodity for use in shark fin soup.

Fins can fetch more than 500 US$ per kg and are often sliced off while the shark is

96 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.”

Grey Reef Shark (Photo: Mohamed Shafraz Naeem)

Squid Media

Maldives Finder

2011 TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MALDIVES

by Abdulla Ghiyas (Inner Maldives Holidays)

Another year, another roller coaster of threats and opportunities and I sit here today after two weeks of piling through dozens of websites and newsletters on what the Travel Gurus and Pundits predict & forecast as travel trends for 2011.

It would always be easy knowing the answers or so-called secrets before the rumbling begins and that’s how my mission began.

Many would agree that in 2010 the key trend was more trips but shorter length of stay and careful spending. Our friends at various online last minute travel portals saw unprecedented growth varying from 100-300%. All-inclusive has been redefined and even luxury products been proactively associated as all-inclusive products.

100 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

In Maldives we saw 20.7% growth in total tourist arrivals versus 2009 with figures at 791,917 tourists while 2009 was 655,852. Thanks to our friends mainly in China for this increase as today for the first time in our tourism history China is the largest source market for Maldives with figures at 118,961 and about 100% growth from previous year.

In 2011, we anticipate opening of at least more than five new properties thereby increasing our bed capacity. Adding to this will be the Governments vision of mid- market guest houses that will also be creating its direction in a new greater market for Maldives.

Said this, we see an emergence of a local carrier mainly to service traffic from China and as far as Chinese market is concerned this is just the beginning and

2011 sure to see further record breaking arrivals from this market and region.

There is undoubtedly a lot of excitement in terms of growth from Asian market but not forgetting that 2010 saw a little growth in terms of economy in Europe and given these economies are headed towards recovery. Pundits predict that most optimistic for 2011 are Russians, Austrian, Swedes and Belgians, while Germans and British are the least confident among major outbound markets.

And emergence of South American market cannot be ignored either as many predicts that future could be from this region. And given air travel is been depended on growth from low cost carriers bridging and is a fast growing trend.

The immense growth in Sri Lanka would

Maldives Finder

surely have positive affects on Maldives as multi-centre holidays is certainly a top trend to consider.

‘Indian outbound market ready to take off in 2011’ has been the headlines in many blogs and reports. And we saw charters to Gan late last year and 2011 will surely see low cost carriers from India and region help boost tourists at more affordable options from these markets.

Finally, technology is said to play a more vital role in 2011 with more distribution channels with affordable technology

readily available in the market. And Social media has prompted the emergence of a new breed of confident, empowered and savvy travellers, thus this might be something to watch out more.

Inner Maldives Holidays as a company is geared towards this direction and is always trying to innovate and lead. Inner Maldives Holidays is the first local company to win “Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency” at World Travel Awards in 2007 and 2009. And the company has been featured in New York Times as “one of the nation’s biggest tour com-

panies” (04/01/2005) and is also highly recommended by Lonely Planet - which is the bestselling guidebook and digital media publisher for travel in the world.

In conclusion, we could end of the day have all the secrets or answers but we don’t know how to use them when and where, we would still be in the same place. Trends in my opinion are set by our customers and if we pay bit more attention to them and listen more carefully to them we would learn more from them than any report or pundits/ gurus review.

For more information or ground handling services & wholesale rates, contact info@innermaldives.com or visit www.innermaldives.com Photo : Ahmed Najeeb Definitive Guide of MATATO | 101

Butterflies of the Ocean By : Neville Colaman

Generally known as the “Butterflies of the Sea�, Nudibranchs are Molluscs (Shells) that have adapted to lives without the protection of shelly, external skeletons and, as such, these delicate soft-bodied creatures appear vulnerable and defenceless.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Olive Tambja Tambja olivaria is not recognized as common in the Maldives. It grows to around 80 mm and known to feed on Ascidians (Sea Squirts). Like all Nudibranchs,there is a certain amount of variation in colour pattern between individuals.

Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

The Black-rayed Phyllidia Phyllidia picta has a grey-blue body with bright orange tubercles surrounded by a black reticulated back with rays that reach to the mantle edge. Its range extends from the Maldives to Thailand and across the Indo-Pacific to the Fiji Islands.

Photo : Neville Coleman

Maldives Finder

During their 200 million years of evolution Nudibranchs have developed an amazing number of survival systems. Chemical and biological weapons, swimming escape responses, aggressive displays, mimicry, warning colouration, patterns, ornamentation, camouflage and secondary armaments are used by this very successful group.

What is even more incredible is that all these adaptations evolved without any application to the function of sight. Nudibranchs have no eyes in some cases, only light receptors, so that they have no perception that they may be pink and their food sponge is also pink. Everything relies on chemoreception and evolutionary adaptation.

Restricted to the Indian Ocean, the Triton Chromodoris Chromodoris tritos occurs from the Seychelles to the Maldives, Thailand and Christmas Island.

Photo : Neville Coleman

This beautiful Opisthobranch, the Black & Gold Cyerce Cyerce nigricans is known from South Africa to the east coast of Australia. It feeds on the sap from Green Algae and as it crawls, the cerata flap backwards and forwards.

Photo : Neville Coleman

One of the most variably coloured Nudibranchs, the Magnificent Ceratosoma Ceratosoma magnifica is found from the Red Sea to New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

Photo : Neville Coleman

Deceptive camouflage defence While the majority of the more well known Nudibranchs are brightly coloured and patterned and have noxious defensive chemistry obtained from their prey, some of the less colourful and obscure species rely on their camouflage, mimicking the colour, shape and/ or texture of their prey; such as sponges.

104 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Food Sources Nudibranchs feed on Sponges, Sea Mosses, Algae, Sea Fans, Soft Corals, Stony Corals, Hydroids, Acoel Flatworms and Sea Squirts. They feed on the eggs ribbons of other Nudibranchs and even on each other. One species has specialized to feed on the fins of burrowing Gobies.

Maldives Finder

Breathing Many species breathe through external gills that are situated at the rear of the back. Others can absorb oxygen directly through their skin, or by way of lobed cerata along the back.

Reproduction Most Nudibranchs are fully functional hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female sex organs. The reproductive genital openings are on the right side of the body, generally in the area of the neck.

To line up their genital papillae they need to manoeuvre into a “head to tail” position. On making contact each penis enters into the female duct and each pumps in sperm. Eggs resemble circular ribbons attached to the substrate by one edge.

A very characteristic species Glenie’s Chromodoris Chromodoris glenei is known from the Maldives, Seychelles, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. This nudibranch waves its mantle edge up and down as it crawls.

Photo : Neville Coleman

A very well distributed species with a wide range, the Sinuate Ceratosoma Ceratosoma sinuatum occurs from the Red Sea, across the Indo-Pacific to Vanuatu.

Photo : Neville Coleman

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 105

Maldives Finder

Easily identified, the Rose Phyllidiella Phyllidiella rosans has a black body with pink ridges. It feeds on sponges and is common to the Maldives and Reunion in the western Indian Ocean.

Photo : Neville Coleman

Gardiner’s Ageries Aegires gardineri is a firm bodied species that feeds on calcareous sponges. Its colour ranges from bright yellow with a few dark smudges, to dark black overlay. Known across the Indo-Pacific.

Photo : Neville Coleman

Maldivian Nudibranchs Situated almost in the centre of the Indian Ocean, the islands of the Maldives are spread across a huge area, and apart from Fish, Stony Corals, Molluscs and Algae, many reefs have not been comprehensively surveyed for their Marine Flora and Fauna. However, it is well-known that there are hundreds of species of Nudibranchs living on the Maldivian reefs and some kinds have only been recorded from the Maldives.

There is no doubt that as more and more underwater photographers and underwater naturalists venture further and further afield, and as more and more Dive Resorts begin to realise that discovering, photographing and keeping records of the creatures around their Dive Sites that they can use this important data to attract more and more Divers to their resorts. Then these records can be added to the overall Opisthobranch knowledge of the Maldives.

The multi-award winning photographic environmentalist is the author of Nudibranch Encyclopedia Support the “Neville Coleman Marine Life Identification eGuide� on Facebook.

106 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

A resident of the Indian Ocean, the Marid Hypselodoris Hypselodoris maridadilus does not appear to be commonly observed in the deeper waters around the Maldives. These two were found in only 2 metres of water on a sponge in a Sea Grass meadow.

Photo : Neville Coleman

the

Sun the Beach & the Sand By : Ahmed Hafiz

A country of more sea than land, where the men are sons of the sea and daughters of the waves.

An appropriate definition of Maldives and its inhabitants. Its people depending on tourism and fisheries for their livelihood thus depending on their natural surroundings‌the marine life and the marine habitat.

A country of more sea than land, where the men are sons of the sea and the women, daughters of the waves. An appropriate definition of Maldives and its inhabitants.

Its people depending on marine fisheries and tourism for their livelihood and thus reliant on their natural surroundings … marine life and the marine environment.

Tourism in the Maldives is based on an image. An image of palm-fringed

coral islands and clear blue waters … an unspoilt paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the busy world.

uct. Therefore the environment needs to be preserved to provide visitors with the experience they are yearning for.

Sun, sand and sea form the frame of this unspoilt paradise. And such is the natural beauty of the Maldives that it is relatively easy to ensure that visitors do experience this ‘paradise’. But any shortfall in deliveries of the elements of this frame will surely reduce the appeal of the prod-

Today it is important that we, the stakeholders, find ways of reducing possible threats to these elements and maintaining a healthy natural environment, in order to achieve our goals and sustain them for the future.

Photo : Mohamed Shamhan

Maldives Finder

One of the environmental issues that need to be considered and taken care of is beach erosion. This is one of the concerns of the tourist resort operators. If neglected, the beaches may continue to erode which is bad news for resort operators and for the economy of the country as a whole.

In order to overcome the effects of beach erosion, continuous monitoring of beaches is essential. Each island and beach is controlled by slightly different factors and behaves in slightly different ways. To begin to understand the processes causing beach erosion, and to be able to attend to these issues effectively there is a need to obtain background information.

At the most basic level, it is important to know whether a particular sand movement is usual or unusual. In order to understand this it is necessary to monitor beach lives.

The tourism sector in general, and resort operators in particular, should pave the way to establish monitoring programs in order to understand the changing shore lives of islands. They should plan a vital role in managing their shore lives by mapping its beach movements in each monsoon.

In other words, the monsoons’ effects on the movement of sand within the lagoon and around the shores of the coral islands need to be monitored on a regular basis.

110 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

As a start, it would also be useful to have regular photographic records of beach movements from the beach itself and from the air. This exercise will prove useful and will guide future actions that would help to manage and sustain our lovely beaches from being washed away by the breaking waves.

quantities of sand. The quantity of sand needed to nourish an eroded beach depends on the area eroded. It is believed that roughly 5m3 of the sand will be required for every meter of shoreline eroded. However continuous monitoring of the changes that take place at the beach is vital for a successful program.

In Maldives both inhabited islands and uninhabited islands show signs of beach erosion. Many of these islands go through natural cycles of beach erosion and development associated with the monsoons and occasional storm events.

Therefore it is very important to recognize natural movements, and act only to minimize excessive beach erosion. Such mitigation should be taken with proper knowledge and research observations. It is certainly important not to over-react to beach erosion by building groynes or seawalls, but to find ways to accommodate the natural movement of sand.

In cases where this method does not work positively, the prevailing condition may not be right and the method and the sand used need to reviewed.

Even if does work, it should not be turned into a land creating exercise.

There are virtuous ways in which beaches can be protected from erosion. Amongst them the best way is beach nourishment. This is moving sand from a ‘safer spot’ to eroded areas.

Before initiating any beach nourishment programs, careful planning and designing of the project is necessary. The ways and means of transporting sand to the eroded shores should be carefully handled.

Make sure they come from a ‘safe spot’.

Sand can be transported wet through pipes using pumps or in dry forms in bags. Pumping wet sand is the most effective way for transporting large

Since the basic shape of a shoreline is controlled by relatively strong forces, adding more sand than required will require more and more effort to sustain a new shoreline. If continued, this may end up with the construction of high-cost breakwaters or sea walls to maintain the sand, probably with little real success.

The best type of sand for beach nourishment is that which has the same structure and composition as the eroded beach

Photo Credit: Island Hideaway

Maldives Finder

Photo Credit:

Chaaya Dhonv eli Hakuraahur aa

Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

sand. However, it is not always safe to use sand from elsewhere on the beach as this may worsen the problem. So it is always better to tap sand from areas where there is no interaction with the island or shore under nourishment.

Sand as far away as possible from the eroded area of the beach could be transported. The more sand that is required, the further away should it be sourced. This is to avoid any slipping of the sand

from the already eroded beach.

Tourism in the Maldives experiences a close and harmonious association with the natural environment. Maldives, renowned as one of the top tourist destinations for divers, snorkellers and sunbathers, need to continue serving as an environmentally friendly destination, since the islands and the associated reefs are very sensitive to environment misuse.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 111

Maldives Finder

“

it has been a great privilege for us to have been associated with this beautiful country and the growth of its tourism.

“

Discovering

the Maldives

By : Rob Bryning & Sam Harwood

In the comparatively short time since tourism began here, the Maldives has rapidly gained recognition as one of the top diving destinations in the world. Yet even now, only a tiny part of the nation has been explored by divers; thousands of kilometers of reefs have still to yield up their long-garnered secrets.

112 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

In the comparatively short time since tourism began here, the Maldives has rapidly gained recognition as one of the top diving destinations in the world.

Yet even now, only a tiny part of the nation has been explored by divers; thousands of kilometers of reefs have still to yield up their long-garnered secrets.

Twenty two years ago we first visited the Maldives islands, staying on the very simple but beautiful island of Karumba. Even diving the house reef was an amazing experience, with a huge variety of fish, from the small and colourful to the large and impressive. The number of fish was mesmerizing. Visiting the surrounding reefs and now famous dive sites such as Lankan Manta Point, Occaboli Thilla and

Banana Reef that lie only a few miles away, was an expedition in itself. In those days, the only way of reaching these sites was to use the small, open-decked fishing boats. The local crew, without any means of navigation, took us across a seemingly endless expanse of blue atoll. I remember it so well, jumping in and descending in the clear blue warm water towards a massive coral head and being surrounded by giant manta rays, circling what I subsequently discovered was a cleaning station.

Stunned and excited by the experience, we felt compelled to return to the Maldives and explore all the atolls. Following our passion and instinct, in 1989 we established our first liveaboard dive boat and Maldives Scuba Tours was born. In our

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 113

Maldives Finder

quest to understand diving in the Maldives and the different seasons, we started a comprehensive log of all the dives we made and the fish life we encountered.

We visited islands and talked to the local fishermen and other dive operators from what was then a handful of resort islands; in addition, we ourselves dived and snorkelled hundreds of reefs and thillas, thereby building up our knowledge of the Maldives.

It amazing to think that some 65 million years ago the islands of the Maldives were part of a huge volcanic mountain range.

When the volcanoes ceased to be active, under their own massive weight they submerged, sinking at a rate slow enough that coral formations could grow on their rims. Their coral growth eventually became the fringing reefs of the atolls. Flying over the Maldives is a breathtaking experience – the atolls sparkle like jewels in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

114 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

As the ocean currents ebb and flow around the myriad of reefs and channels, they offer a perfect breeding ground for thousands of different marine organisms. This rich environment provides a platform for spectacular hard and soft coral growth, shelter for the hundreds of colourful reef fish and a source of food for the predators such as sharks, tunas, barracudas, jack fish and many, many, more.

With twelve hundred islands, fringed in white coral sand, marine turtles are a common sight in Maldivian waters and during the lunar cycle can be seen nesting and laying their eggs in the sands.

For Sam and I, diving this amazing archipelago has been an incredible privilege and experience. We have explored all four corners and this has only been possible because we have been boat-based. The twenty six atolls offer such variety and concentration of marine life, it is only by boat that they can really be appreciated. Imagine snorkeling and diving with the

whalesharks of Maamigili in southern Ari Atoll, the only known cleaning stations for whalesharks in the world, then cruising to the beautiful remote Felidhoo Atoll and diving the impressive shark pass of Miyaru Kandu then in the afternoon diving the coral caves of Fotteyo Kandu – this can only be achieved from a liveaboard.

Maldives Finder

Today, the liveaboard industry is a well-established and increasingly sophisticated part of Maldivian tourism. Coupled with the thousands of visitors to the resort islands, environmental pressures on the reef continue to increase but it is essential that the marine life is protected and that visitors treat it with respect.

Today Maldives Scuba Tours now operates two liveaboards, Sea Sprit and Sea Queen, offering a variety of itineraries from the far north to the far south. In addition, we work closely with the resorts to provide combination or island based holidays. As one of the pioneers of the liveaboard dive industry in the Maldives, it has been a great privilege for us to have been associated with this beautiful country and the growth of its tourism.

All Images for this article provided by : Rob Bryning

Rob Bryning & Sam Harwood have co-authored several books about Maldives including “Maldives (Globetrotters Travel Guide)”, “Dive the Maldives: Complete guide to diving and snorkeling”, Dive Maldives, The Maldives, & Dive Sites of the Maldives.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 115

Squid Media

Maldives Finder

Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

Book

Reviews Brought to you by

DIVEGEAR Definitive Guide of MATATO | 117

Maldives Finder

APPREVIEW

Neville Coleman’s Marine Life Identification eGuide Neville Coleman, the authority on Asia and th Indo-Pacific region’s aquatic life, brings you his very own iPhone app, an electronic field guide. As a man who discovered over 450 species for science, expectations for the guide are high. Naturally, they’re met.

Coleman brings to your palm over 1700 species, ken down and colour coded for easy comprehension 16 major life groups. Each of these species has its detailed page, and can even be compared side by with each other. You even get to keep your own

brointo own side log.

The intuitive interface streamlines navigation, the photography is breathtaking, and the information is extensive. The app essentially places 1700 species of marine life at your fingertips.

The eGuide features 1700 species with over 2000 stunning colour visual identification images Includes 16 major Marine Life Groups from Algae to Marine Mammals Each Phylum with its Classes has a natural history page with Features; Lifestyle; Reproduction; Associations and Identifications.

Colour coded Main Menu allows instant access to the different groups Species within each group arranged in alphabetical order Each image represented by a caption which includes Family Genus, species and Common name, Habitat, Size, Location Distribution and Remarks Quick Search function based on Genus species and Common name search. A simple and intuitive interface that puts all the information at your fingertips.

Compatibe With : iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later Support “Neville Coleman Marine Life Identification eGuide” on FB

118 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

My List - Log Function with Species, Location, Date and Notes enables the diver to use this for daily Dive records, Fauna surveys, species notes, natural history observations and in conjunction with Neville Coleman’s Project AWARE Underwater Naturalist Courses.

Maldives Finder

BOOKREVIEW Reef Fishes of the Maldives

Author : Dr. Charles Anderson Publisher : Manta Marine Maldives

Reef Fishes of the Maldives is both an encyclopaedia and a love letter to the defining aspect of Maldives’s natural beauty, its reefs. Author Dr. Anderson obviously loves what he has seen here, and he has collaborated with some of the biggest authorities on the Maldivian seas to craft a definitive work.

Fabulous book, excellent value More than 500 color photographs Essential reading for any visitor to the Maldives interested in the diverse sea life to be seen snorkelling and scuba diving Most reliable information from the most authoritative source on the fishes of the maldives.

The intimate knowledge of the reefs shines through in the content. Broken down into 64 categories, the reef fishes of the Maldives are arranged in a display of some of the warmest underwater photography. The details are meticulous; information on average size, an idea of general behaviour, biology, rarity, and habitat are provided in addition to anecdotes both historical and personal.

The text is bite-sized and easy to digest, making for an easy read. The uniformity of the structure and layout make the book ideal for carrying around to consult on the fly, while the integrity of the content ensures the volume’s status as reference material.

Ultimately Reef Fishes’s dual nature as both reference material and coffee table book make it easy to recommend. The text is informative and insightful, while the photos are taken with a familiarity, making one aware of the living, breathing nature of the world below the surface of Maldivian seas.

Dr. Charles Anderson

Marine Biologist and Researcher Since 1983, Dr. Charles Anderson has lived and worked in the Maldives. Dr. Anderson has discovered several new species of fish, and was awarded the President of Maldives Award for Service to Fisheries in 1995, the only non-Maldivian ever to receive this honor. He has been instrumental in identifying marine life in the Maldives and promoting its preservation.

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 119

Maldives Finder

BOOKREVIEW ...Butterflyfishes & Angelfishes of the Maldives.

A Maldivian Guide To

Author : Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz & Mohamed Shafraz Naeem Publisher : Squid Media A Maldivian Guide to Butterflyfishes & Angelfishes is a compendium of underwater photography featuring, as the title states, exclusively butterflyfish and angelfish. Already having seen publication as an interactive CD, the guide makes its debut in print in 5 languages.

Refreshingly minimalistic, the book opts to make no pretenses about its visual nature, and is a visual dictionary of the species of butterflyfish and angelfish recorded in the Maldives so far. With a wonderfully simple layout that makes for easy perusal, gorgeous photography of each of fish from multiple angles, the book serves as the ultimate and definitive handbook for every species of butterflyfish and angelfish ever recorded in the Maldives.

Most species covered in any of the books High quality images Pictures of Eibl’s Angelfish, extremely rare Angelfish in the Maldives to be profiled for the first time pictures taken in the Maldives.

BOOKREVIEW

5 languages available in one book (English, German, Russian,French & Italian)

Maldives, Colors of the Ocean. A Pictorial Almanac Author : Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz & Mohamed Shafraz Naeem Publisher : Squid Media Maldives, Colours of the Ocean is a pictorial journey through the waters of the Maldives. The book is page after page of stunning & vivid underwater photography.

The photos are arranged cleverly from the smallest creature to the largest, ending with the gentle wonder that is the whale shark. Colours of the Ocean juggles the sense of beauty and scale wonderfully, giving the browser a sense of one’s place in nature.

Smart design makes for easy perusal, and the dazzling range of colours that flow throughout Colours of the Ocean makes it the ideal gift or coffee table book.

Vivid Colors & Breathtaking imagery Excellent gift book.

Captions for each image Currently available in English only.

120 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Maldives Finder

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 06

WHYWELOVE DOINGTHIS By : Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz & Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

“

“

it’s not just enough for us to love the natural beauty of our home, we want everyone out there to love it too

Maldives Finder

If you’ve been leafing through the contents of this magazine, you’ll have seen a running theme threading itself through the various articles. It’s in the words. It’s in the design. It’s in the layout, the flow of words and images. It’s transparent; we don’t want to hide it and we can’t help ourselves. We love doing what we do. Through videography, photography, and marketing, we get to share with you what we see.

We’re Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz and Mohamed Shafraz Naeem of the Squid Media team, and Maldives Finder is part of a larger body of our work, another stone in a great monument we’re building to celebrate the beauty of the Maldives. We love doing what we do because we love what we’ve seen here in the Maldives.

We want you to love it too. And we want to bring it to you in as many forms as possible, until everyone has found the best way for them to share this experience. This is what brings Squid Media together as a team, and this is what serves as the driving force for our endeavours.

Finding each other like-minded, it was natural for the two of us to gravitate towards each other and the rest of the Squid Media team. We all want to bring what we’ve seen to the rest of the world. We noted that there is a distinct lack of Maldivian perspective in promotional material, and the desire to change this is one of the things that drives us.

The body of work we’ve managed to create as Squid Media is impres-

sive. Having worked with clients such as the American Red Cross, Trance 2, Travel XP, MTV, and doing underwater shoots for Bollywood, we’ve built a very noteworthy porfolio in addition to gaining marvellous experience.

But the international clientele only forms part of our experience, and comprise only part of the vision. Social responsibility is also a major part of the agenda, and to that end the middle of 2011 will see two books in print, co-authored by the two of us. Butterfly Fishes and Angel Fishes of the Maldives, previously released as an interactive CD will be published in 5 languages, and will contain the largest collection of photographs of these two species of fish in the Maldives. Maldives, Colours of the Ocean, a highly representative work, will be a coffee table photo book featuring some of the most vivid underwater imagery there is to find.

And really, that’s what our passion is about. We want to show the beauty of Maldives through local eyes. We want to help you experience the joy we feel each time we get to appreciate the natural beauty of our home.

Far too few people do, both in the Maldives and in the rest of the world.

t

hoto shoo

ady for a p

Gettign re Shafraz N.

video Shafraz H. taking some underwater for for a resort

It’s everyone’s dream to make a living doing what they love. But it’s just not enough for us to love it. We want everyone out there to love it too. We’ll always find new ways to bring the experience to you, and give you the means to make the sort of wonderful memories we have.

ni of a Us aboard the dive dho w. cre e div safari with the

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 123

Maldives Finder

Shafraz Hafiz comes from an advertising background and first fell in with the wonders of underwater exploration during his time studying in Australia. It’s hard to consider the Great Barrier Reef a mean place to start but Shafraz considers what he’s seen in Maldives far more breathtaking. He considers the work that he does as part of a larger continuity, citing as his biggest inspiration his father Ahmed Hafiz and the latter’s work with Dr. Charles Anderson on the book Reef Fishes of the Maldives along with his various invaluable contributions to the Maldivian ecology and environment.

Shafraz Naeem is a widely travelled diving instructor, who started out in the National Security Service from 1994 to 2003, and subsequently went on to manage the diving schools at both Bandos and Ranveli island resorts before returning to the Maldives National Defense Force in 2009. It was during the time he spent at the dive schools that Shafraz Naeem began to work freelance as an underwater photographer. His photos have won both first and second place in the Sunny Side in Frames photography competition held by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board in 2007. He now works alongside the Squid Media team.

er does Bad weath am Squid te

e

not limit th

r

oot fo during a sh Shafraz N. el n V Chan Travel XP T

Shafraz N. recieving the award for “Best in the Show” at the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board, Sunny side in frames photo exhibition.

All geared

next shoot up and ready for the

COMING OUT IN MAY 2011

124 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

Shafraz H. w ith the Napol ean wrasse at Fish Head

om

ww

w. sc

ubascuba

.c

Maldives Scuba Tours are recognised as the leading experts in providing bespoke liveaboard and resort diving holidays throughout the Maldives archipelago. With over 21 years experience as operators of the finest liveaboards MV Sea Queen & MV Sea Spirit, we are privileged to enjoy a 60% discerning repeat customer base.

For more information call our international reservation line on +44 (0)128 4 748010 or email sales@scubascuba.com

Maldives Finder

Red Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) Photo : Mohamed Shafraz Naeem

Dive site

Reviews

Brought to you by

DIVEGEAR Definitive Guide of MATATO | 127

Maldives Finder

BANANA REEF

DIVESITEREVIEW

1

2

Pocked with caves, rising into shelves and the sweeping overhangs, Banana Reef is as much a geographical wonder as it is an ecological one. The scenery alone makes the site worth visiting but the show is stolen by the magnificence of the predators

such as the sharks, barracudas, trevallies and black snappers, and the great variety of other species that populate the bright coral landscape, such as bannerfish, fusiliers, soldierfish, moray eels and groupers.

3

4 128 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

5

11Maldivian 1Maldivian Maldivian Anemone Anemone Anemone Fish Fish, Fish these these these are are are 22Soft spectacular 2 spectacular Corals are only endemic only found found to inthe the in the Maldives Maldives Maldives soft found soft coral coral in3abundance Greenback 3 Greenback 3sea Green sea turtle turtle seahaving turtle having a henjoying meal a meal 4 Oiental 4 aOiental good Sweetlips cleanup Sweetlips are 4 Oriental are founf founf Sweetlips are found in sailfish schools wandering wandering in groups in groups 5wandering Yellowback 5 Yellowback sailfish 5 are Blue stripe areand found large are founf founf in large insnappers large numbers numbers and arein are very very numbers and are very diver friendly visitor visitor friendly friendly

Maldives Finder

DIVESITEREVIEW

MANTAPOINT-LANKAN

1

1 Blue stripe snappers are found in large numbers and are very diver friendly 2 Hawksbill sea turtle getting up close 3 & 4 Mantas are seen in large numbers here. They are seen hovering over the cleaning station waiting for their turn to be cleaned.

Part of the Lankanfinolhu reef, which is home to one of the richest underwater ecologies in the Maldives, Manta Point is named for the manta rays which frequent the site. The plentiful blue-streak cleaner wrasse provide the draw for the

mantas with their symbiotic relationship while the mantas’ distant cousins, the white-tip reef sharks, also share the area.

2

3

4

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 129

Maldives Finder

MALDIVESVICTORY

DIVESITEREVIEW

1

2

What the sea claims it keeps. The Maldives Victory was wrecked in 1981 with no fatalities. Submerged upright until it rested right at the sandy bottom by Hulhule reef, the freighter is now home most notably to large schools of trevally. Strong

currents make for a taxing dive, though once on deck, one can explore the site unhindered. The wreck itself is easily navigated and makes for exciting exploration.

3

4

130 | Definitive Guide of MATATO

5

1 Threadfin Butterflyfish is one of the most common butterflyfishes in the Maldives. 2 Collared Butterflyfish 3 The propellar of the Maldives Victory 4 Colorful corals are seen inside the wheel house of the ship 5 A diver exploring the ship from the top.

Maldives Finder

NASSIMO TH

DIVESITEREVIEW

1

1 Rich soft coral growth 2 A moray eel amongs the colorful soft corals 3 Schooling bannerfish are seen in large numbers wandering around the slope and the top of the reef 4 Blue-face Angelfish is one of the most colorful fishes in the maldivian waters.

Populated by snappers, bass, barracuda, scorpion fish and nurse sharks among its other residents, Nassimo Thila is often considered the best thila (‘shallow’) North Male Atoll has to offer. Nassimo Thila is a breathtaking underwater landscape punc-

2

tuated by vividly coloured coral growth rising into spectacular pinnacles and curving back down as rock faces or overhangs where the current has sculpted the area.

3

4

Definitive Guide of MATATO | 131

MATATO PREFERRED MEMBERS Since 2006, MATATO remains the only travel & tour operators association representing the interests of tour operators in Maldives.

Membership of MATATO offers the very best opportunities to meet your key contacts in the same place at the right time. With a sronger and wider membership than ever, there has never been a better time to maximise business opportunities and join MATATO.

0-9

100 Percent Maldives Pvt. Ltd H. Bodukunnaaruge, 3rd Floor, Janavaree Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives www.100percentmaldives.com info@100percentmaldives.com Tel: (960) 330 1515 / Fax: (960) 333 1877

A

Ace Travel Maldives Pvt. Ltd. H. Faalandhoshuge Aage, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.acetravelsmaldives.com suranga@acetravelsmaldives.com Tel: (960) 334 3510 / Fax: (960) 334 3511

AAA Travels S.T.O Trade Center, 20188, Orchid Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.aaa-resortsmaldives.com, trvlntrs@aaa.com Tel: (960) 332 4933, (960) 333 7126 / Fax: (960) 333 7126

Absolute Maldives C/O Absolute Hideaways Pvt.Ltd ,39, Orchid Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.universalresorts.com reservations@absolutemaldives.com Tel: (960) 333 2237 / Fax: (960) 332 3595

Agsana Resort & Spa Maldives Velavaru Angsana Velavaru, South Nilandhe Atoll(Dhaalu Atoll), Republic of Maldives. www.agsana.com manas.sinha@banyantree.com Tel: (960) 676 7101, (960) 676 7199 Fax: (960) 676 0029

Atoll Discovery Pvt. Ltd G. Roazaree View, 2nd floor, Husnuheenaa Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.atolldiscovery.com info@atolldiscovery.com.mv Tel: (960) 334 0800 / Fax: (960) 332 0597 Crown Tours Maldives Pvt. Ltd. Fasmeeru Building, 5th Floor, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.crowntoursmaldives.com sales@crowntoursmaldives.com Tel: (960) 332 9889 / Fax: (960) 331 2832

B

Best Choice Maldives G.Swan Lake, 3rd Floor, Dharumavantha Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.bestchoicemaldives.com admin@bestchoicemaldives.com Tel: (960) 333 5775, (960) 332 6141 / Fax: (960) 331 7997

C

Capital Travel & Tours Pvt. Ltd. M.Banff, 4th Floor, Majeedhee Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.capitaltravel.net capital@dhivehinet.net.mv Tel: (960) 331 5089 / Fax: (960) 332 0336

E

e-two-travel / e-two-reisen tour operator / travel agency Rohrackerweg 17, D-73529 Schwäbisch Gmünd www.e-two-reisen.de info@e-two.de Tel: +49 (0)7171 8709800 / +49 (0)7171 949325 Fax: +49 (0)7171 949326

F

FlyBy Maldives Pvt. Ltd. M. Meedhufaru, Orchid Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.flybytravels.com info@flybytravels.com Tel: (960) 300 5500 / Fax: (960) 300 6600

I

Inner Maldives Holidays Pvt. Ltd. G. Bucha Hiya, Koimala Hingun, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.innermaldives.com info@innermaldives.com Tel: (960) 300 6886 / Fax: (960) 333 0884

Island Voyages Ma. Rangiri, 03rd floor, Rahdhebai magu, Republic of Maldives. www.islandvoyages.com sales@islandvoyages.com Tel: (960) 300 8110 / Fax: (960) 330 0812

L

Leisure Maldives Pvt. Ltd. STO Aifaanu Building, 6th Floor, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.leisure.com.mv shamoon@leisure.com.mv Tel: (960) 331 4037 / Fax: (960) 331 4038

Mega Global Air Services (Maldives) Pvt.Ltd H. Sakeena Manzil, Room 5B, Male’, Republic of Maldives www.mgcharter.com info@megair.net Tel: (960) 300 6670 / Fax: (960) 300 6671

P

Panaroma Conorama comcare Pvt.Ltd M. Bangufadige irumathybai, Majeedheemagu, Male’, Republic.of.Maldives www.fi-es.com ikram.hassan@fi-es.com Tel: (960) 332 9232 / Fax: (960) 331 0719

Island Pearl Pvt. Ltd. Champa Building, 6th floor, Orchid Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.islandpearl.com.mv travel@islandpearl.com.mv Tel: (960) 332 5994 / Fax: (960) 331 7840 Lets Go Maldives M. Boadu, (Lets go tower) 1st Floor, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.letsgomaldives.com info@letsgomaldives.com Tel: (960) 334 7755 / Fax: (960) 330 7755

M

Paradise Holidays and Tours Co.Ltd Rm tol, empress plaza it-ip chatham raod south tsim sha tsuz kowloon honk kong www.paradiseholidayhk.com alan@paradiseholidayhk.com Tel: 852 25213633 / Fax: 852 28823234

Paradise Holidays Pvt. Ltd. Star Building 3/9 , 1st Floor, Fareedhee Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives www.parahol.com info@parahol.com Tel: (960) 331 2090 / Fax: (960) 331 2087

Prop Pvt. Ltd. M.A. Picnic, 2nd floor, Majeedhee Magu, Male’ Republic. of.Maldives www.loonahotel.com prop.construction@hotmail.com Tel: (960) 334 2790 / Fax: (960) 331 6796

R

Reollo Pvt. Ltd. H.Beach Tower, 3rd floor, Male’ Republic of Maldives. www.reollo.travel reservations@reollo.com Tel: (960) 334 6004 / Fax: (960) 333 2751

Resort Life Maldives Pvt. Ltd. Ma.Daisy Villa, Anona Goalhi, Male’ Republic of Maldives. www.resortlifemaldives.com direct@dhivehinet.net.mv Tel: (960) 334 5767 / Fax: (960) 334 5766

Robinson Club Maldives H. Maaram, 5th Floor, Ameer Ahmed Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.robinson-maldives.com executive-secretary.general@robinson.de Tel: (960) 300 9094 / Fax: (960) 300 9093

S

Splendid Asia Pvt. Ltd. G. Kasthoorige, 2nd Floor, Alikilegefaanu Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.splendidasia.com naseer@splendidasia.com Tel: (960) 331 2460 / Fax: (960) 331 8945

Shades of Maldives M. C.H.P-4, 05th Floor, Orchid Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives, www.shadesofmaldives.com info@shadesofmaldives.com Tel: (960) 330 4007 / Fax: (960) 330 4006

Sun Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd. H. Maley-thila, Meheli Goalhi, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.sunholidays.com sales@suntravels.com.mv Tel: (960) 332 5977 / Fax: (960) 331 8273

The Grand Holidays Ma. Raahaa, 3rd Floor, Koaru Kendi Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.thegrandholidays.com admin@thegrandholidays.com Tel: (960) 334 0970 / Fax: (960) 3340971

Tropical Ocean Holidays H. Megma, 5th Floor, Sikka Goalhi, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.tropicaloceanholidays.com sales@tropicaloceanholidays.com Tel: (960) 300 8811 / Fax: (960) 300 8822

Sunny Maldives Pvt. Ltd. H. Holly Wood, 3rd floor, Kaani Goalhi, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.sunnymaldives.com sales@sunnymaldives.com Tel: (960) 333 8527 / Fax: (960) 333 8528

V

Villa Travel & Tours Pvt. Ltd. H. Siffa, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.villatravels.com ali@villatravels.com Tel: (960) 333 0088 / Fax: (960) 333 2777

T

Vista Company & Travel Services Pvt. Ltd. M. Ronville, 3rd Floor, Fareedhee Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.vistmaldives.com vista@dhivehinet.net.mv Tel: (960) 332 0952 / Fax: (960) 331 8035

W

World Link Travels Pvt. Ltd. Ma.Light Corner #1, 8th floor, Kenery Magu, Male’, Republic of Maldives. www.worldlinktravel.com.mv worldlink@dhivehinet.net.mv Tel: (960) 331 6516 / Fax: (960) 331 6518

Speed - Price - Trust sales@sevenholidays.com

AD SevenHolidays.com

for full, independent reviews of all the resorts

Squid Media