Cruise Maldives: The Manta Cruise

This new Scuba-People mission takes you for nine nights to the atolls of North Male, South Male, Ari, Felidhu, Vattaru and Meemu. A complete itinerary that allows you to measure the wonderful underwater potential of the Maldives, this cruise offers you the opportunity to discover, among others, the wreck of the Victory (North Malé), the Foteo drop off, the mantas of Dhonkalo Thila, the Rasdhu's hammers, Maya Thila's gray sharks, or the whale shark south of Ari Atoll. The choice is vast and in general, the team will try to make you actively participate in the development of the itinerary, taking into account your desires in terms of aquatic encounters.

Launched in 2006, the Manta Cruise **** is a comfortable boat 33 meters long by 9 meters wide with modern lines. Equipped with a 365 HP engine, its cruising speed is 9 to 12 knots. It accommodates 18 passengers in 9 cabins, including 2 suites (more spacious, on the upper deck with four-poster king size double beds). The other cabins are equipped with single beds side by side (4 of them offer the possibility of joining the 2 single beds to make a double bed), all equipped with a private bathroom and toilet, hot water, individual air conditioning. Fully air-conditioned, the Manta Cruise **** is equipped with 2 generators 24 hours a day, 24 watermakers, a large living room with TV and dining room, a large aft deck with dining tables, 2 sundecks with deckchairs and space in the shade.

At the front, an outdoor lounge for relaxation. Support boat: a diving dhoni fully equipped with two compressors, GPS, telephone, medical oxygen and storage for individual equipment. Nitrox dives on demand and optional.
As for the cuisine, we give pride of place to Maldivian cuisine, but also to Sri Lankan specialties: you will therefore also be disoriented on the plate, even if some European dishes will find their place.

Drifting dives in the passes to meet pelagic fish, descents along vertiginous drop offs, quiet flight over thilas covered with corals, exploration of wrecks, diving in the Maldives is all about diversity. And it is of course the cruise that allows you to make the most of it. There are 7 species of sharks (gray, leopard, black tip, white tip, hammerhead, guitar, whale), 4 species of rays (stingray, manta, leopard, eagle), 450 varieties of hard and soft corals, and more 1200 species of fish, shellfish and invertebrates.

Depending on the program, the trips, the time spent looking for animals, we do one or two dives in the morning, and the same in the afternoon. But we rarely reach 4 dives, it is better to count on two or three (the cruise is sold on a basis of 19 dives + 1 free). We usually do one or two night dives. Attention, Maldivian law requires, the dives are limited to 30 meters. In return, depending on the organization of the day, you can go for walks of more than an hour: and you will appreciate not having a guide who harasses you to go up. The dives are done in groups, usually accompanied by the guide.

Cynthia and Loïc did not join Team ABYSS by chance. For them, it is “a dream come true”. Because the Swiss agency's commitment to the environment was close to their hearts, they did not hesitate when Christophe Paul, the boss, contacted them in 2009 to join the team. “We both knew ABYSS's reputation and commitment and dreamed of being able to serve this 'different' company,” they explain. We particularly wanted to join ABYSS for its values ​​but also for the freedom of action and the confidence that Christophe places in us, in particular no mileage limit, which allows us to go where we want and to adapt to the needs of the cruise in progress.

Both divers for a long time, Cynthia and Loïc have taken the plunge and decided to make their passion a job in 2006. Cynthia comes from the marketing world where she held the position of product manager, responsible for the development of new products, communication, advertising, event organization for various multinational companies based in France. .
As for Loïc, he started with applied arts and a training in photography before moving towards corporate management for a large Swiss group. He then specialized in the field of executive training in companies and spent his last years in Switzerland in charge of training (development and teaching) in the human resources department of an institution specializing in assistance to people .

Cynthia, to be fully in line with her desire to protect the Maldivian environment, was at the origin of the Abyss ID program: a visual census of whale sharks and manta rays observed during cruises. The data is then transmitted to biologists, including Guy Stevens (manta specialist in the Maldives - director of www.mantatrust.org and director of the Maldivian Manta Ray Project). They make it possible to identify new individuals and to study the behavior and movements of this unprotected species. Without any obligation, on-board divers who wish to participate in “Abyss ID” are welcome. Their observations and photos will be valuable information and will strengthen the effectiveness of this program. Finally, the implementation of this program does not modify our itineraries in any way, the census being carried out according to the meetings. Presentations of these species are also offered on board.

Note, Christophe Paul, the boss of ABYSS, will present the Abyss ID program at the Salon de la Plongée, on Sunday December 15 from 15 p.m. to 16 p.m. at the Harbor Island area. The conference will be illustrated by a slide show.

It is also one of the particularities of this cruise, trying to reduce as much as possible the impact of divers on their environment. “Having lived in different resorts in the Maldives, explain Loïc and Cynthia, we have been able to measure the incredible impact of the presence of tourism on the environment. We then made some simple calculations, 20 divers drinking 3 bottles of water every day for 10 days of cruising, 600 bottles of water will be incinerated in the open air because here the PET is not recycled. By offering a single bottle (replaced without discussion when the passenger naturally requests it) filled at the mineral water fountain by the divers, we were able with a single gesture to divide by 30 the amount of plastic used on board. Regarding aluminum cans, also not recycled in the Maldives, ABYSS Geneva has sent us an aluminum press and offer passengers who wish to bring with them a few aluminum cans that can be recycled in Switzerland or France. . Last season, 95% of the aluminum consumed by divers was taken away by our divers whom we thank in passing. We do the same for electric batteries and other small objects easy to transport but so harmful to this magnificent Maldivian environment. "

Every season, every month, every week, every hour of the day is unique to the Maldives. “A successful cruise,” explain our hosts, “often begins with a good understanding of these natural phenomena that perpetually modify the ocean and for this, you have to study them, observe them, take note of them, adapt to them and remember to '' explain to divers what is going on under their feet. We must also take the trouble to create unique itineraries for each cruise, taking into account the levels and desires of the divers. And we should not forget the essential, a little luck! This is also the pleasure of an unexpected underwater encounter, a special underwater atmosphere, an emotion shared with other divers… ”

"We are trying to have a" passive "underwater approach to the environment. We take care to provide our divers with some tips including the behavior of fish and the behavior of fish facing divers so that everyone can observe the Maldivian magic as it is in all its splendor. We also want to give divers who want some diving techniques specific to the Maldives, local currents, so that everyone can evolve under water at will with ease, comfort and pleasure. We know that diving is not an environmentally friendly sport. Our wish is therefore to minimize our impact and our efforts seem to resonate with our passengers: each one of them wishes one day to be able to show what he saw in the Maldives to his grandchildren as he has himself observed years before. "

Required level of diving: 2 or PADI Advanced Open Water level
Minimum of participants: 8 divers - Maximum of participants for the stay: 18 divers.
Number of dives required: 50 minimum dives. Experience in drift dives highly recommended, dives in the Maldives are sometimes difficult due to strong ocean currents.
Required documents: Diving certification, logbook and repatriation insurance certificate. A certificate of no contraindication to scuba diving will be required on site.
Blocks: 12 liters aluminum - INT (bracket) and DIN single-outlet taps. 14 liters aluminum for hire (EUR 20 per week and EUR 30 for 2 weeks - subject to availability - prior reservation).
Compulsory equipment: Computer, diving parachute, lighting
Recommended equipment: combination 5mm
Nearest caisson: Bandos, Kuramathi

Time difference: + 4h in winter / + 3h in summer.
Formalities: Valid passport. No compulsory vaccine.

From April 14 to 25 -> 10 days, 9 nights and 19 dives: EUR 2880.-

Included: Paris / Malé / Paris flights, airport taxes (Eur 220.- subject), reception at Malé airport and transfers, nights on board in double cabin with bathroom and private toilets, full board , mineral water, dhoni guide for diving and English speaking ABYSS guide, diving package, 12L bottles, belt, sink, tourist taxes.

Not included: Cancellation insurance (compulsory), individual diving equipment, excess baggage fees, drinks (excluding mineral water), tips and personal expenses. To be requested when registering and subject to availability: 14L bottle (€ 20 per week and € 30 two weeks depending on availability), Nitrox (€ 6 per 12L bottle and € 8 per 14L bottle.

Additional dive: EUR 20.-
The supplement for cabins Suites aboard the Manta Cruise (4 maximum seats) is EUR 14.- per person per night.

Abyss : 22 733 00 08 in Geneva - Switzerland
FUN & FLY : 05 67 31 16 12
H20 TRAVEL : 02 41 24 69 00
KEY LARGO : 01 45 54 47 47