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The Ultimate Guide to Safe Snorkeling in the Maldives

Many water sports that you can try out while holidaying at one of the Maldives luxury resorts are quite safe. However, snorkelling (the one that seems so easy) is the sport that poses some minor threats for you.

Snorkel with an Expert

Shallow depths can often lull you into a false sense of safety. If you haven’t been snorkelling much, it would be best if you can tag along with a snorkelling expert. Calm waters may hide strong currents and these guides will help you avoid them.

Avoid Touching Marine Life

Well, you would certainly be mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the life beneath the waves while snorkelling during a holiday spent at a property such as Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi. But, make sure that you avoid touching these creatures as you never know what kinds of threats they may pose.

Use Well-Fitting Equipment

Make sure your snorkelling mask fits well. If it leaks or is too tight you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your snorkelling adventure.

Avoid Coral/ Rock Cuts

It is often advised that you shouldn’t step on corals as it would damage them and would be damaging to you in return. Make sure that you wear reef shoes and a thick wet suit in case you accidentally happen to step on or brush past them.

SCUBA Diving in the Maldives

On land , the Maldives is everything; the perfect island paradise. It is all that and much more, underwater, with spectacular marine life and colourful coral structures. As such it has become a must-visit location for snorkelling and

Tchami, Maldives (32684393662), CC BY-SA 2.0

SCUBA diving enthusiasts.
Coral structures are abundant in the Maldives and a conscious effort is being made by hotels and resorts situated on the islands to preserve the corals and provide them with a rich habitat to thrive in.

Diving in the Maldives
Maldives diving is mostly done from liveaboards with the current acting as the anchor that drives you forward. It makes one great ride as the currents ebb and flow through the atolls and bring you in close quarters to all the wide varieties of fish. Diving facilities are often provided by resorts like Kandolhu Maldives.

Features of the Sites
There are two features at dive sites that scuba divers will encounter, and they are the pinnacles and current swept channels. If you are exploring the channels you will come across caves and caverns and are lush in soft coral.

The pinnacles are often found in atoll lagoons and shoot straight up almost breaking the surface. They are home to sessile life forms that act as a great base for sponges and soft corals. This, in turn, makes it the perfect habitat for crustaceans and schools of fish.
Swimming out from the reefs will bring you in close quarters of the pelagics which include eagle rays, manta rays and a great many species of shark.

The Legend of Lover’s Leap in Trincomalee

Have you heard of Lover’s Leap, located in the east coast city of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka? There’s quite a fascinating legend to go along with this well-known attraction!

Where it Can be Found

Lover’s Leap in Trincomalee (not to be mistaken for the one in Nuwara Eliya!) can be found tucked away by the edge of Swami Rock, within easy reach of centrally located resorts Trincomalee has to offer. The most prominent attraction here is the Koneswaram Hindu Temple, located around 20 minutes from Trinco Blu by Cinnamon.

The Name’s Origin

The most popular legend associated with Lover’s Leap dates back to the 17th century; it is said a woman named Francina van Reed had her heart broken when a Dutch officer broke off their engagement and returned to Holland. As she watched the ship carrying her bellowed sail away, Francina van Reed, overcome with sorrow, threw herself off the rock to the ocean below.

Taking It All In

While today a fence prevents lovers from flinging themselves off the cliff, it does make for an interesting sight especially when you know the story behind the name. You can find a pillar here which records the date of the tragedy of Francina van Reed. Depending on when you visit you may even spot blue whales in the ocean beyond.

Temple Visit

Make sure to explore the Koneswaram Temple when here; dedicated to Lord Shiva, this magnificent sacred site features golden statues and imagery of various Hindi deities worth seeing.

Trick or Treating in Maldives

The diversity and density of underwater fauna in Maldives have made this beautiful island paradise one of the most popular destinations for divers. Read on to know some of its best dive sites.

Image by Summitandbeach, Discover Scuba Diving — St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Fotteyo Kandu

The Fotteyo Kandu at the Vaavu Atoll is a very popular dive site that you should definitely visit. Don’t scratch this off your list. The site has plenty of colourful coral and fish, your eyes need to behold with all its natural beauty. The place includes caves, overhangs, and swim-throughs that is laced with soft yellow corals.

Kandooma Thila

Kandooma Thila is another famous dive site that you should not miss. It is home to some of the artistic scenes and an interesting marine life. Around the pinnacle, you can see for yourself some soft corals layering the walls which are often visited by the big-eyed trevally and the red bass fish. Those who are residing at one of the many luxury Maldives resorts the likes of Heritance Aarah, can plan a memorable dive excursion to witness the magnificent underwater world in Kandooma Thila.

Broken Rock

Broken Rock at the South Ari Atoll is a unique place which has been naturally crafted by a canyon that separated the reef into two sections. What to look for? Large fan corals, Napoleon wrasse, turtles, eels, scorpion fish and so on. There are more to witness!

Kudarah Thila

This fascinating dive site is a protected area and it is home to small reef filled with plenty of soft corals and marine life. Make sure to take with you a dive light to explore the large overhang and the arch making the place quite unique and marvellous.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Adventurous Hanifaru Bay in Maldives

Hanifaru is an island in Maldives that is home turquoise blue waters and a bay with pristine white sand beaches. The reef teems with marine life and it is one of the few popular dive destinations where you get to see the magnificent Manta rays.

The Bay

Measuring not more than a football field, The Hanifaru Island is located in the Baa Atoll in the archipelago of Maldives. The island is home to a pristine white sand beach and a bay of turquoise blue waters that teems with marine life which makes it a popular dive and snorkelling destination.

The Manta Ray

MantaRay | Image Credit - Agsftw, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikimedia Commons — MantaRay | Image Credit – Agsftw, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikimedia Commons

The Hanifaru Bay is a breeding ground for the enigmatic Manta rays; a magnificent creature that gracefully swims across the oceans. Manta rays are a type of rays which belong to Manta genus and are known for its gigantic size measuring over 7 meters in width and weighing over a whopping 1350 kilograms.

What can you do in the bay?

Being a popular dive site in Maldives one of the exciting things you could do here is feeding the rays and other feeble sea creatures in the bay. This is one of the most sought over activities that tourists love doing. If you are lucky you can even see mantas do barrel rolls which is a spectacle to watch and will certainly be an experience worth your while

Best time to visit the bay

The right time to visit the bay is between May to November as this is the time period when there will be a concentrated plankton population in the bay which invites in these beautiful creatures for a feeding frenzy.

Places to Stay and diving Excursions

As the island of Hanifaru and the area surrounding the island is a protected reserve there aren’t any accommodation options in the island but you can find many resorts in the islands located close proximity to the Hanifaru islands the likes of Dhigali Maldives, you can book a diving excursion form almost any resort in Maldives but it is recommended that you plan your stay at a hotel near Hanifaru Bay in order to reduce the time and money spent on travel and for your convenience.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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