This is a typical example of the Maldives Photography itinerary. The schedule is subject to change according to prevailing weather conditions and is only given as a example of what you would usually encounter during your holiday.

Scuba Travel run the Maldives photography about once a year so make sure you book early!

Liveaboards that offer Maldives Photography
The is a scheduled departure on board Orion

Embarkation
Orion will alternate between starting the Maldives Photography itinerary is Male.

Trip Duration
All of our Maldives Photography trips run for 7 nights with 7 nights spent on board your liveaboard.

There are normally 3 dives a day apart from on your first and last day. There is usually an opportunity for a night dive during the week. There are around 17-18 dives on an average week but this can vary depending on local weather conditions.

Arrival
If your trip departs from Male you will be met on arrival from your international flight and taken directly to the boat. This takes about 20 mins.

There will be a full welcome briefing on arrival and you can set your kit up. If you have prepaid any rental equipment this will be given to you on arrival. There is then your first dinner and you can settle in for the evening.

Depending on arrival times you may or may not dive on the arrival day.

A normal Maldives photography itinerary will dive at the following areas but the exact dive sites and order will vary week by week depending on what people enjoy, where the best sightings have been and reflect diver experience levels.

The Maldives photography itinerary will broadly follow a u>Best of the Maldives itinerary itinerary but will focus more on the sites that are best for the photographic opportunities with marine life such as manta and wide angle or macro photography.

Flexible itineraries
One of the big advantages of joining a dedicated photo itinerary is the flexibility! Our on board pros will usually opt to focus on an area for multiple dives. Depending on how the shots are going and how much divers are enjoying a site, you will have the chance to repeat dive sites - shoot the same subject in different light or go back in and try again those shots that were not quite picture perfect. You might not cover as many dive sites in a week but the chance to repeat sites means you can really hone shots you are proud of.

Seasonal changes
The Best of the Maldives really is just that and as such the itinerary changes to suit the seasonal highlights and the precise sites visited is flexible and variable. A slightly different version of the itinerary will run Oct-Dec and Jan - May. Don't worry, you will get all the sightings you want but the boat moves to the best sites for this as the local conditions change.

Arrival
On arrival you will be met by the boat at Male airport and taken by Dhoni to join your liveaboard (approx 30mins). Settle into your cabin, get your dive gear set and do the paperwork. Depending on the arrival times of all guests on board, the boat may remain in Male lagoon for this day and first night.

North Male atoll
North Male is a great place to get your toes wet at Kurumba house reef or Back Faru. After your check dive there is a chance to find your first manta at Lakan manta point. Stay low for the best sightings. Also keep your eyes out for small white tips here and eagle rays passing on the edge of the drop off.

Thila diving is especially rewarding in North Male atoll and you often find grey reef sharks. Girifushi Thila is another top site with soft corals tumbling off the pinnacles. Hunker into a calm spot and look for passing pelagics. Or just enjoy the masses of sweetlips schooling.

South Male
South Male has some excellent dive sites including Medhu Faru, the Emboodhu Express and Lhosfushi Kandu. Get ready for some fast currents on the channel dives!

Ari atoll
Ari atoll is the best place to find whalesharks and you will spend some time looking for whalesharks to snorkel with. Keep your eyes peeled and gear ready! The areas around 5 Rocks and Kudarah Thila are especially good. If you dive at Dhonkalo Thila look for more manta coming in to be cleaned. Or why not swim into the blue at Rasdhoo looking for hammerheads.

There is a lot of fantastic thila diving in Ari too - Rehi Thila, Bathalla Maga Kan Thila and Raiydhigga thila are all great dives. You can nearly always find black tips at Hafsa thila. And Maya thila has to be one of the best dives out there. During the afternoon it is a good place for macro (look for the long nose hawk fish in black coral) but at night comes alive with hunting white tips, huge marble rays and swimming morays.

Disembarkation
You will normally leave the boat after breakfast on your last day and be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home. Please do speak to the travel consultant at the time of booking to confirm the exact last day arrangements.

Alternatively, why not add an extension at one of the many beautiful resorts in the Maldives or even a second liveaboard.

If you would like to add an extension, combine this with another product or tweak the itinerary give us a call so we can discuss your dream diving holiday.

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