News
Carpe Diem Maldives voted sixth in the Top 10 Dive Liveaboards in the World
Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt. Ltd. fleet is recognized as one of the best dive liveaboards in the world by readers of DIVE Magazine UK for the second year running.
Surrounded 99% by crystal clear water, The Maldives is considered to be one of the leading dive destinations, recognized by the numerous travel accolades around the world. At this year’s DEMA dive travel fair in the USA, Dive Magazine announced the Top 10 Dive Liveaboards in the World 2018. All three liveaboard vessels in the Carpe Diem Cruises fleet were shortlisted in the final 25, with the first boat, Carpe Diem, being placed highest in 6th place. The awards are endorsed by readers and general public voting, and as the only Maldives liveaboard operator to receive the accolade for two consecutive years, Carpe Diem Cruises has become known as the ‘must-go-to’ dive safari operator for any novice or serious diver planning on visiting the Maldives.
Award-Winning Luxury Diving
Since 2008, Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt. Ltd. has been growing to create dive and surf experiences with the mission of experiencing the excitement and anticipation of the Maldivian waters. From the first boat, Carpe Diem, the fleet has grown to become a collection of three luxury liveaboard dive and surf cruises, serviced by three teams of passionately dedicated crew. Carpe Diem Cruises are the only liveaboard operator in the Maldives to offer diving adventures with all-Maldivian Dive Masters.
“When we began our dive safaris with the Carpe Diem vessel in 2008, this sector of tourism was still quite young and undeveloped in this destination. I am delighted that our boats have been acknowledged with this global award for two consecutive years, giving recognition also to the local boat building industry. Carpe Diem, Carpe Vita and Carpe Novo were all designed and built at our shipyard on Innamaadhoo in Raa Atoll, with the specific intention of catering to the growing diving and surfing tourism sectors,” says Amir Mansoor, Managing Director of Carpe Diem Maldives.
Diving with Top Class Service
The company name is Latin for “Seize the day” and for Carpe Diem Cruises it is with the intention of experiencing the thrill and natural beauty of diving underwater in one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations. Year round, the Maldives has an abundance of dive sites with one inspiring dive encounter after another.
For travellers who are on a mission to live life to the full, seek the exceptional, thrive in the new, and in equal measure, enjoy the comforts of a little luxury while you discover everything this Indian Ocean destination has to offer, then Carpe Diem Cruises offers this in abundance.
With the native knowledge of Carpe Diem Cruises local dive masters and guides, guests immerse themselves in beautiful shoals of butterflyfish and oriental sweetlips, drift into the deep blue with white tips, hammerheads, manta rays and whalesharks, ride the currents along coral-filled overhangs with eagle rays, napoleon wrasse and blue marlin, or spot an octopus amidst the rocks.
Agnes van Linden, Assistant Managing Director of Carpe Diem Maldives has overseen and developed Carpe Diem Cruises over the last 10 years. “From the very beginning, we believed great scuba diving, wave surfing and tailor made trips needn’t cost a fortune and should always be respectful of our natural environment. The friendly service and expertise of our crew is a key reason why our guests return time and again for another adventure-filled cruise. With the rise of surfing tourism to The Maldives, in 2019 we have added four dedicated surf safari weeks catering to this growing interest from independent travellers. In those weeks, the guide will also be an experienced Maldivian surfer who knows the breaks and shares his local knowledge.”
Each of the three vessels has 10-12 cabins, cater for a 20-22 guests, who can also enjoy the time onboard snorkelling, paddle boarding or simply relaxing on the top deck when not diving. Each cruise is a PADI certified dive centre and offers diving courses from novice to advanced and specialty skills. Offering year-round cruises, the itineraries cover central atolls, routes to the south and crossing the equator, as well as to the north where lesser known dives sites offer unique encounters with the underwater world.
To experience the paradise of the Maldives with adventure, excitement and fun onboard Carpe Diem Cruises, visit www.carpediemmaldives.com.
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
-
News3 months agoHone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News3 months agoCapturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months agoCreature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs2 months agoMurex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months agoDiver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear Reviews3 months agoGear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months agoSave the Manatee Club launches brand new webcams at Silver Springs State Park, Florida
-
Gear Reviews2 weeks agoGEAR REVIEW – Revolutionising Diving Comfort: The Sharkskin T2 Chillproof Suit