7 southern atolls snorkeling cruise

12 nights - 7 atolls
Male , Ari, Faafu, Dhaalu, Thaa, Meemu, Felidhoo

Arrival at Male usually in the morning. The program for this first day depends on international flight arrival times. Welcome at the airport and pick-up by your guide. Transfer to your boat (15-minute trip). Installation on board and presentation of the boat, crew and program. Lunch on board. Sailing (1 hour) and first swim in 30°C water near a sandbank. Sailing (1h30) to the south of the atoll. Anchorage and overnight in Rihiveli lagoon.

Day 2: Rihiveli Lagoon - Dhigurah Island - South Ari Atoll

This morning, we have a great chance of meeting our first dolphins and enjoying an early morning swim in their company. We then lift anchor for a change of atoll, moving away from the hotel islands to play "Robinson" in the lagoons of Ari Atoll. Ari Atoll is world-famous for its seabed, populated by numerous species including manta rays and whale sharks. We reach Dhigurah Island, after scouring the Maamigili reef for whale sharks. Back on board, books are available in the library to learn more about the varieties and species we'll encounter on our explorations. At the end of the day, we can go ashore to visit the small village of Dhigurah.

Day 3: Whale shark - Faafu atoll

After breakfast, another snorkeling trip in search of whale sharks. We then set sail for Faafu atoll. We sail to our evening anchorage in the middle of the atoll, near a deserted island close to Filitheyo.

Day 4: Dhaalu Atoll - Maaeboodhoo Island

We continue our journey, heading south to the next atoll. Still equipped with our masks and snorkels, we enjoy a snorkeling trip to admire the great expanses of coral sheltering hundreds of shimmering-colored fish for which the Maldives are famous. We sail on to Dhaalu atoll, to find shelter near the village of Maaeboodhoo, which we can visit at the end of the day.

Day 5: Thaa Atoll - Mantas

This day will be devoted to exploring the seabed, rich in fish reefs. In the afternoon, we set sail for Thaa atoll. Our objective will be to spot and observe whale sharks and manta rays. These species are common in this area. Sometimes they can even be seen at anchor, attracted by the concentration of plankton in the area.

Day 6: Madifushi Island

We spend the whole day in Thaa atoll, the most southerly of our trip. We then return to spend the night at the previous day's anchorage, which can sometimes hold other surprises...

Day 7: Meemu Atoll

The morning begins with a short sail to Meemu atoll. If snorkeling conditions are optimal, we take advantage of a stop to observe the pelagic fauna along the outer reef of the southern tip of the atoll, close to Kolhufushi. We approach the village of Muli to discover a snorkeling site close to our overnight anchorage. in the evening.

Day 8: Fenboa Island

This morning, we sail northwest towards the deserted island of Fenboa. We spend the day and night near this superb island, where we can enjoy its beautiful stretch of sand and exceptionally rich reef.

Day 9: Felidhoo Atoll

Our day is punctuated by sailing and snorkeling stops. We swim in the small atoll of Vattaru and in the heart of the unforgettable Hulidhoo reef, to the east of Felidhoo atoll. Many fishermen cast their lines in this very fishy area. Tonight, we'll anchor close to a beautiful sandbar, near Alimatha Island.

Day 10: Alimatha - Fulidhoo

After an early-morning snorkel in Alimatha's northern pass, we head for the Kudi Boli sandbar to meet the turtles that inhabit its waters. We then head up to the north of the atoll for our overnight anchorage in the lagoon of Fulidhoo village, renowned for its wooden boat building. Wood in the Maldives is imported from Malaysia, and coconut is too expensive and permeable, so it would have to be coated with shark oil, which is now a protected species in the Maldives. We set foot on land and stroll through the village. The guide will explain the customs and way of life of this island people, whose daily life is still very much linked to the sea.

Day 11: South Male' Atoll

The crossing takes around 1h30 to reach the Male South atoll. We stop off near the Vilivaru Velli sandbank, where we can observe a different kind of aquatic fauna. Here, octopus and lobster hide among the coral boulders. If we're lucky, we may also come across stingrays, triggerfish or turtles. In the late afternoon, we continue sailing towards the lagoon of Guraidhoo village.

Day 12: Guraidhoo Island - Male

We enjoy a morning of snorkeling near the Embudu reef, with its beautiful corals and magnificent species of multicolored fish. In mid-afternoon, we head for Male, the capital, for a short city tour. At 2.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, it's easy to visit on foot. We discover the mosque, the presidential palace and the bazaar, where all the Maldives' import-export transactions take place. We finish with the fish market and the fruit and vegetable market (only produced in the Maldives), which is very busy at this time of day. It's also an opportunity to sample a few specialties (dried fish, local sweets such as huvadhoo bondi, unusual exotic fruits, chillies...). In the late afternoon, we return to the boat for a final night on board.

Day 13: Departure

Then breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your return flight. If your flight is at the end of the day, we suggest you enjoy a day on the island-hotel of Embudu (or similar).

The cruise itinerary is given as an indication only and may be modified according to weather conditions, sea state and participants' arrival/departure times.

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