Level 2 Diving in the Maldives on the Black Manta

The program kicks off with a bang, with three dives scheduled for this first day. Wake-up call is early, so grab a coffee or tea to get your day going. Snacks are also available, so you don't have to head out diving on an empty stomach! Shortly after, the bell rings: it's time for the briefing for the refresher dive. This will take place at one of the sites in North Male, teeming with colorful fish! Calm conditions, sheltered site: the goal is to get back into the swing of things and be at your best all week. Upon your return from diving, a hearty breakfast awaits. Don't miss the chance to try mass houni, a Maldivian specialty and delicacy made with tuna and freshly grated coconut. Meanwhile, the boat will make the crossing westward to Ari Atoll. This long, narrow atoll is home to world-renowned dive sites. You'll visit two dive sites today: one mid-morning and one in the afternoon, after lunch. Don't forget to rest between dives and meals. Dive, eat, sleep: the dream rhythm of a liveaboard diver! In the evening, admire the sunset behind the coconut palms of the surrounding islands... before joining the communal table for a shared dinner, where you can exchange your first impressions!

These three days are dedicated to exploring Ari Atoll. One of the largest in the Maldives, stretching 89km from north to south, this atoll is a diver's paradise. You'll weave between its 82 islands to discover everything diving in the Maldives has to offer. From dives on thilas (underwater mountains rising almost to the surface, their slopes teeming with life) to those in the famous khandus (the passes, breaks in the coral fringe of the atoll that are drift dives), each dive is unique and teeming with abundant marine life. From schools of silver batfish to peaceful turtles, from vibrant soft coral formations to schools of grey reef sharks... not forgetting the ballet of manta rays at the cleaning stations: you'll return from each dive with stars in your eyes and memories to last a lifetime! You'll also have the opportunity to visit Maamigili on one of these days. This region in the far south of Ari Atoll is world-renowned for its daily whale shark sightings. They come close to the surface here, and you might even have the chance to swim with them using fins, mask, and snorkel. At least one scuba dive will be organized in the area: the luckiest among you might even encounter one of these placid giants, tank on its back. An unforgettable moment in a diver's life! The evenings will also be filled with joy and wonder.

After a final dive in East Ari, it's time to leave this atoll, which you will have explored thoroughly. Your destination? Vaavu Atoll, famous among other things for its shark passes. The Miyaru Kandhu dive site is renowned for the schools of grey reef sharks that gather there, taking advantage of the pass's current to oxygenate effortlessly. The word "miyaru" actually means "shark" in Maldivian, and "khandu"... "pass." Enough said! In the evening, you'll dive for an unforgettable night dive. We don't want to give too much away; nothing is more extraordinary than discovering it for yourself, but prepare yourself for a unique and magical spectacle (and no, it's not manta rays!). Dinner, served after the night dive, will be the perfect opportunity to share your wonder with your fellow divers! After this emotionally charged day, it will be time to go to sleep: tomorrow, the boat sets sail again towards the north...

In the morning, you wake up on Vaavu Atoll, where you'll dive another pass for a final farewell to the grey reef sharks... unless they surprise you by still being there during your second dive in South Male Atoll. The boat travels between the two atolls while you have breakfast. Depending on the current conditions, the dive in South Male will take place in one of its passes or around a thila covered in corals and multicolored fish. Then, the Théia will head to North Male Atoll before the afternoon dive. This usually takes place at Fish Factory, a site completely different from those visited so far. There are few (if any) corals, but schools of stingrays, moray eel colonies (sometimes five in the same hole!), and a whole host of strange and colorful marine life await you. The boat will return to Hulhumale Marina at the end of the day. Last evening and dinner on board, it's time to take stock of the week. But one thing is for sure: even if you saw everything you hoped to see this week, the Maldives leave you wanting more!

Soon it will be time to return home... After breakfast, you'll need to vacate your cabin. You'll have time for one last selfie on the boat, to soak in this magical setting a little longer, and to exchange contact information with the other divers so you can share photos, videos, and memories of this unforgettable week later. We'll arrange your transfers to the airport, from where you'll fly out, your head full of memories... What to pack in your suitcase? The recipe for mass houni, some beautiful Maldivian pareos, and the memory of all the smiles and moments shared this week! You'll already be wanting to come back soon!