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Dive Review of Ocean Devine in
Maldives/Several islands and reefs

Ocean Devine: "Luxury diving at its best.", Apr, 2017,

by Steve Clayman, ON, CA (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 9791.

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 N/A
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The Maldives has been one of my bucket list destinations. I opted to treat myself to a luxury liveaboard and I wasn't disappointed. David and Gaelle Mesnard are the owners and live on the boat with their beautiful young daughter. In fact, David built the boat (there is a video of him doing that). The owners are active in the day-to-day operations of the trip and they overlook nothing. They are highly respected by the crew, and it shows.
The air-conditioned cabins were very comfortable and clean and came with a full-sized washroom (head). I was fortunate in that there wasn't a full compliment of divers, so I had a cabin to myself. During breakfast, the cabins were cleaned and the beds made.
Food was plentiful and delicious. Before the evening meal, the chef would come to the community table and describe the offerings that evening. A paid bar is available. The service was efficient and the food was always served with a smile. David and Gaelle joined us at meals and were always approachable. There were a number of repeat guests which speaks highly of the quality experience. The public areas of the boat were very comfortable. The crew was always available, friendly and helpful. Everything on the boat worked. There had to be a very high level of preventive maintenance to keep the boat working in first class condition. WiFi was available as well as a charging station.
The diving was excellent overall. The dive masters were knowledgeable about the various sites. They knew when the large animals would appear and that's where we went. At a site we visited we were told to sit on the sand, and it seemed that on command literally dozens and dozens of white tipped sharks came out, going back and forth in from of us for at least 20 minutes before they decided to leave. At another site we were treated to a similar experience, but this time it was manta rays by the dozen. When the manta rays became comfortable with our presence, they began swimming overhead. We were told they like the feeling of the bubbles on their undersides. Once they had enough, the manta rays were gone. We were also treated to large schools of different species of fish (too numerous to mention). The reefs were healthy. The entire ecosystem was a pleasure to be in.
Some sites were silty due to the strong currents in the area. The current was so strong at times, we were relegated to the neutral part of the reef. The dive masters were always there to assist anyone. The tender followed us. No one floated away. We always made it back onboard.
David (the owner) is an experienced freediver and anyone who was interested could learn freediving techniques.
One caveat had to do with a whale shark sighting. The word went out and numerous boats converged in the area. It seemed as if hundreds of divers (with snorkels) jumped into the water at the same time. The surface became all churned up. I'm sure the whale shark couldn't wait to get out of there. I was on the surface and never did see the whale shark. I returned to the Ocean Devine when I felt the propeller backwash of a nearby tour boat. Too many boats in too close proximity to too many people in the water made for a potentially dangerous situation.
Overall I throughly enjoyed myself. The other divers were a congenial group. They hailed from several countries. I would return.




Websites Ocean Devine   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Canada, U.S., Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Greece, Caribbean, Maldives
Closest Airport Malé Getting There From Toronto to Frankfurt then on to Malé. Return was from Malé through Hong Kong back to Toronto. All long flights with long layovers, but to be expected to such a far destination.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 70-80°F / 21-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Restricted to maximum 100 ft. Although divers were buddied up, we dove as a group.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments The boat is very spacious allowing the UWP's ample space to tend to their equipment.
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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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