About Maldives Seasonal Sensations
The Maldives Seasonal Sensations itinerary wends its way between Male and Baa atolls, cherry picking the highlight dive sites for that season. Timing is everything - dive the east side of the atolls, when sites that are at their seasonal hottest for sharks, manta and gorgeous coral reefs. Make this time of year stand out for all the right reasons. Though the visibility is often decreased, the increased plankton means it can be the best time and place in the Maldives to see manta rays and whalesharks... more than making up for the reduced visibility.
Carpe Fleet offers 4 different routes for this itinerary. Some may included domestic flights.
Route 1 North Male, Baa, Raa, Baa, Rasdhoo, North Ari, South Ari, Vaavu, South Male for 10 nights.
Route 2 travels to Baa, Raa, Baa, Radhoo, North Ari, South Ari, Vaavu and South Male for 7 or 10 nights.
Route 3 visits North Male, South Male, Vaavu, South Ari, North Ari, Rasdhoo, Baa, Raa, Baa for 7 or 10 nights.
Route 4 will sail to North Male, Baa, Rasdhoo, North Ari, South Ari, Vaavu and South Male for 7 nights.
Please see individual trips for more details.
Traditionally, this is Manta feeding season. Nowhere is this more evident than at Hanifaru bay. As the currents sweep plankton rich water into the shallow lagoons around the Maldives, manta and whalesharks follow in vast numbers to gorge on the feast. Due to it's protected status you can only snorkel at Hanifaru (local fee applies), but this normally allows you to get closer to the fast moving manta.
We cannot of course guarantee manta sightings. However, our experienced boat operators run this itinerary only in the months when mantas are most likely to be in the lagoons. If the currents are running the wrong way, and manta are not in the lagoons, there are good chances that the rays will be found on nearby reefs, which will be offered as alternative dives. The exact areas visited are entirely at the boat operator discretion based on the weather and current conditions, to ensure you get the most possible interactions with manta and whalesharks.
The currents on this itinerary can be challenging in some areas and dive depths are usually below 18 meters, therefore Carpe require you have minimum of 35 dives and are qualified to 30 meters. Emperor require divers are qualified to 30 meters but have no minimum dive requirement. All your diving is made from dhonis or zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points.
It is entirely at the boat's discretion as to which sites and atolls they visit - the aim of this trip is to take you to the seasonal highlights and as such, the boat operators will pick the most productive sites possible from these atolls, but may not necessarily dive each and every atoll. Between them, our guides have decades' of experience diving the Maldives - whatever time of year!