News
Maldives in Macro (Watch Video)
Our second week in the Maldives was spent in relative luxury on the beautiful island of Helengeli – home to the Oblu by Atmosphere resort. The resort is just a 50 minute transfer from Male, found at the top of the North Male Atoll. Because we had been so spoilt by the incredible encounters with large pelagics on blue Voyager, we opted to spend the week at a much slower pace when it came to the diving here.
Our enigmatic, affable and all round nice-guy guide Sergio offered us some amazing trips to see Manta, Sharks and a number of day trips to see cool ‘big’ stuff; when in reality all we really wanted to do was get our macro lens out and spend a few dives scouring a small area looking for tiny critters.
As luck would have it, our new Catalonian friend (he clearly stated on numerous occasions he is from Barcelona – not Spain) is a talented photographer and loves nothing better than diving with his impressive Sagadive macro lens. We were spoilt rotten again! Sergio happily spent every dive pointing out critters that were literally impossible to see with the naked eye. How he even knew where to look was beyond me!
We had everything from Ornate Ghost Pipefish and Frogfish, to Costaciella (Shaun the Sheep Nudi) and the mind blowing ‘Psychedelic Batwing Nudi’. Now these Nudibranch are just crazy tiny – we’d seen pictures before from some of the pros out there, but never in our lives did we imagine them to be so, well… small!!
You’d literally have better luck trying to video a flapping wing on the back of a fly!
The concentration and steady hand that was required was mentally draining, but I came home from that trip with a new appreciation for just how hard trying to capture any kind of video is, when there is a stiff current and your subject is smaller than a grain of sand!
We can’t recommend the resort highly enough but at the top of my list of plaudits is the Maldives in general. An amazing trip where we saw the biggest fish in the world, to one of the smallest critters you can find in any ocean. To say we are in love with the Maldives is an understatement and we absolutely can NOT wait to return!!
Next week: Moray Madness…
For more from Richard and Hayley visit www.blackmantaphotography.com.
Stahlsac dive bags and travel luggage are built for our community of divers, surfers, kayakers and outdoor explorers who need bags that are constructed with durability, toughness, and 
the highest quality the industry has ever seen. We were founded by one man determined to build better watersports and dive bags, and today, that mission is carried on by many. Adventure doesn’t just present itself; it requires discovery. When we design dive bags, we make sure they are tough enough for you to explore in all conditions—warm and cold, wet and dry—to the nearest and farthest reaches of the earth. And for those times you want to push the boundaries of adventure, Stahlsac dive bags make sure you can truly GO ANYWHERE.
Abyss Duffels
Made to be your partner-in-crime on every adventure, Stahlsac’s Abyss Duffels protects your gear from Mother Nature’s worst. Tough and 100% waterproof with double-TPU nylon material that shrugs off daily wear-and-tear, and RF-welded seams further boost the bag’s potential for lifelong exploring. Get Wet. Get Lost. Go Anywhere with Abyss.
- A weatherproof duffel for trips, travel, and adventure
- Ultra-durable double-TPU nylon protects your gear
- Material repels water and keeps your equipment dry
- RF-welded seams are flush, tough, and waterproof
- Removable straps transform duffel into backpack
- Zippered internal stow compartments carry essentials
- External zippered flap is easy to open and close
- Welded external handles make transporting a breeze
Panama Mesh Backpack
The most copied design in scuba diving, the Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack is the “original” design and features two high-density foam padded shoulder straps, extra durable polyester mesh, duffel bag handles and our unique zippered dry pocket inside that combines with a wet pocket outside. The bottom’s built from reinforced 18-gauge PVC nylon to combat the wear and tear of your active coastal lifestyle, and, as a bonus in every bag, we supply a 12″ x 12″ mesh drawstring satchel for extra stowing utility. Pack up your beach kit and go.
- Density foam padded shoulder straps
- Outside wet/dry pockets
- 2 Carry handles
- Tough, snag-resistant polyester mesh
- Reinforced PVC bottom
For more information about Stahlsac bags, visit www.stahlsac.com/dive-bags.
Sea & Sea is the home of Stahlsac and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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