Maldives

Best of the Maldives

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This little Midnight Snapper seemed to take an interest in what I was doing...

Turtle gently cruising overhead...

Anemonefish...

Fusiliers - these guys always seemed to pass at speed, not least because they occupy an unenviable place in the food chain...

 

Large-eye Bream...

Moorish Idol...

Giant Clam...

Queen Wrasse...

 

Clive & David scan the table corals...

The number and variety of Butterflyfish and Angelfish on the reefs was incredible.

A Double-saddle Butterflyfish...

A shoal of Gold-spot Emperors...

Snorkel 1 - South Ari Atoll

We headed from North Ari to South Ari Atoll in the hope of seeing a Whale Shark in the main channel. After a period of intense spotting, we eventually saw that another boat had spotted one and dropped its snorkelers in the water.

We headed across and leapt in - it was all a little undignified with plenty of fins in faces and general splashing about as people jockeyed for position.

I was very fortunate to get into a position twice where the magnificent creature changed direction and swam towards me. The first time I just watched in awe, looking into its giant mouth, the second time I did manage to take a few shots...

 

One of the dive guides escorts the fish to help ensure no one gets too close...

Beautiful...

Rosie takes a shot...

This photo looked so good on the 3 inch screen on the rear of the camera, but as is so often the case, it wasn't very crisp in full screen. Still it was a massive privilege to have seen it...

 


 

Beautiful markings...

Heading off into the blue...

Dive 12 - Maamighli Out - South Ari Atoll

As soon as the snorkel was over we quickly donned our dive gear and got in. Another really good dive with some excellent reef fish.

A Nurse Shark resting deep under an overhang...

Parrotfish with its impressive teeth...

Snorkel 2 - South Ari Atoll

No sooner had we got out, than another Whale Shark was spotted, we quickly dumped the dive gear and in some cases (Gary) dived in head first in our snorkel gear.

This time there were far fewer of us and the Shark was already in deeper water, but it did give a chance to admire its size and grace...

When we surfaced, the swell was up and the weather was not the Maldives weather the brochures portray...

Dive 13 - Five Rocks - South Ari Atoll

For me this dive was a little bit 'after the Lord Mayor's Parade' compared to the fantastic dives/snorkels we'd already done that day. Even so it was fun to swim around the large rocky outcrops and seeing Morays and a Napoleonfish.

About to enter one of the narrow channels between the rocks - not wanting to be the idiot that knocks off a Gorgonian Fan....

Despite lots of opportunities and some great sightings, I never got the Oriental Sweetlips shot I really wanted. Frustrating as they're so photogenic...

Next stop - Dive Day 5

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