Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Sub Aqua DiveCenter in
Maldives/Conrad Rangali Resort

Sub Aqua DiveCenter, Mar, 2011,

by Steve Giles, CA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5973.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The Conrad Rangali Resort is not a dive resort per se, but a very upscale resort hotel for those willing to travel the distance. Our trip via Malaysia Airlines involved four flights to arrive at the destination: LAX to Taipei; Taipei to Kuala Lampur; Kaula Lampur to Male; and Male to Rangali (by seaplane). Total travel time (including layovers) = 48 hours.
The resort is beautiful and immaculately maintained. All rooms consist of villas, some located on the beach; others located over the water. All afford a great degree of privacy. Probably most convenient for divers are the beach villas numbered from 201-206. We were in number 203 which was located directly across from the dive center and close to the swimming pool, workout room, child care center, shops, several restaurants, and the snorkeling lagoon. There are a total of eight restaurants available to resort guests, all of which can be described in two words: "excellent" and "EXPENSIVE". The Conrad Rangali boasts one of only two underwater restaurants in the world: the Ithaa Restaurant, which is truly unique.
Something unusual about this resort: you don't need shoes! Other than the shoes/sandals that you wear while traveling, you will not need a pair of shoes while on the island. Thong sandals are furnished in the rooms and you will find that in most cases, shoes are an impediment to getting around. Even the exclusive Ithaa Restaurant requires that your footwear be removed at the door.

The dive operation is extremely well run. Nitrox is available to those so certified at no additional charge. The dive boats are spacious with a fully covered deck plus a sundeck. We are not U/W photographers, but there seemed to be adequate acommodation for photographers and their equipment: water buckets furnished for cameras and a platform available for loading film, etc. Lots to see underwater in the Maldives: whale sharks, manta rays, white tip, black tip and silver tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, nurse sharks, stingrays, a variety of moray eels, grouper, tuna, jacks, schools of reef fish, lion fish, stone fish, octopus, etc.
The people who run the dive center, the dive masters (Danny, Agnus, Jimmy, Julia, Mohammad, and Elder), and boat crew are very accommodating. On one occasion, we were late in signing up for a dive trip, the boat was full, and we were offered an early morning (unscheduled) trip to the same location.
Highlight of the trip, for us, was the sighting of two whale sharks: one while snorkling; and a second while diving.
Currents can be substantial in the Maldives, yet we had only one dive (out of 16) where it was an issue. Water temperatures ran 90-degrees at the surface; underwater the temperature varied between 84-88-degrees, depending on depth and location.
The Maldives Conrad Rangali is definately NOT for the diver on a budget; but if you are willing to pay the price and go the distance, it is truly the trip of a lifetime!
Websites Sub Aqua DiveCenter   [same]

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Thailand, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Hawaii, Palau, Fiji, St. Lucia, Bonaire, B.V.I., Roatan, Guanaha, Loreto, Cozumel, Mulije, Playa Del Carmen, Belize, Channel Islands
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 84-90°F / 29-32°C Wetsuit Thickness 1
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions A dive guide is assigned for every four divers. All dives are timed at 60 minutes max. Those with "Open Water" certifications are limited to 20 meters (60 ft.) / those with "Advanced" certifications are allowed to dive to 30 meters (100 FT.) All divers must have/use a computer.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 206 dive reviews of Maldives and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that like to scuba dive. Looking for an island getaway? We specialize in planning scuba diving adventures to the Maldives.

Want to assemble your own collection of Maldives reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.09 seconds