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Dive Review of Carpe Diem in
Maldives

Carpe Diem: "Amazing Maldives Liveaboard", Oct, 2014,

by Richard W Crain, WA, US ( 1 report). Report 7864.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was a terrific trip. The Maldives are more spread out than they appear on a map. Probably travelled 200 miles. A liveaboard is the only way to dive here. The Carpe Diem was well organized. Met at the airport and taken to the boat. Initial briefing complete and clear. Daily routine clear and written on a white board for all to see. Living accommodations fine: AC, in room bathroom and shower, not too cramped, cleaned daily. Food was good: mix of local and continental and more than enough for all. Beer was cold. Service on the boat was excellent. Friendly, courteous, helpful, well oiled team. The boat has basically the same team over the last 6 years. 14 staff including dive team for 20 divers (we had one non-diver). 3 dive guides. Each dive was briefed with a drawing of the dive site on a white board. Options based on current were defined. Max depth, time, route, separation procedures, etc. Rental equipment was in good shape. Everyone dived with a computer. The dhoni (dive boat) was spacious and well organized. Didn't feel like a crowd. Gear stored out of the way and fresh hot showers at the back of the boat. Camera tank and wet suit tank. 3 dives a day (4 one day - night manta dive). 3 night dives, 3 wrecks, 3 drift dives - 2 of which were with OMG current - 6-8 KPH. Even so the drift dives were well planned, and while exciting, didn't feel dangerous. Much of the diving is deep. Ave max depth, except the check dive and two night dives, was 26M. Max depth 30M. And the fish! More gray and white tip reef sharks than you could count, mantas 2-3 at a time, other rays, turtles, and huge schools of snapper, fusiliers, trevallies, trigger fish, etc. One night dive we sat and watched dozens of nurse sharks and rays feeding. Close enough to touch. The only thing we didn't see, that are sometimes present, was a whale shark. Paid my ransom to PADI and got my Advance OW and Nitrox certificates on the trip. Divers were from all over: Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and me the lone American. It's a long haul from the US (I came from India), but well worth it. I'll definitely go back. Seize the Dive with the Carpe Diem!
Websites Carpe Diem   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Puget Sound, Hawaii, US Gulf Coast, Andaman Islands, India
Closest Airport Male Getting There Flew from Hyderabad, India. 2 quick flights.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 27-28°C / 81-82°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 5-25 M / 16-82 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Kept in groups. Depth set ahead. Dive time set ahead.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Fresh water tank on the dhoni. Table with towels and power outlets on the main boat.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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