Maldives Central Atolls 20 - 30 April 2025
Sharks, Mantas & Rainbow Reef – Best of the Maldives, An Ocean Geographic Beyond the Ordinary Expedition with Micheal AW
from $US 3688 per person ( OG members price)
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Beneath the Indian Ocean is a long huge ridge, inundated by numerous far-reaching fractures. The ridge divides into two long arms east of Madagascar. One arm snakes around Africa and links up with the Atlantic Ridge while the other arm extends to the south of Australia and eventually links up with the East Pacific rise. Between East Africa and Western Australia, the midpoint of the Indian Ocean is the atolls of the Maldives. Lying at the tips of a great-submerged mountain range that stretches from Lakshadweep Island to the Chagos islands, great migratory currents swish through the atolls, leaving behind rich plankton.
Like an oasis in the Sahara, pelagic congregate at the atolls to feed and to procreate. Hammerheads, whale sharks, tunas and orcas are frequent visitors. Tidal currents flushing through the channels bring a constant food source into the atolls, sustaining spectacular coral growth, which in turn supports a realm of reef fishes in extraordinary abundance. The fish diversity of the Maldives is documented to be over a thousand species in 100 families.
The reefs of Maldives are among nature’s underwater wonders where reef fishes thrive in astonishing abundance, in density unrivalled anywhere in the world. Without the threat of spear guns, dynamite, and cyanide, reef fishes swim blithesomely among divers and snorkelers. Making pictures underwater in the Maldives is akin to shooting in the world’s largest aquarium teeming with fish life; many species are predictably found in enormous numbers. Not only is the profusion of fish life amazing, but also the predictability of seeing the same fishes at the same site within soft corals in rainbow colours is the trademark of underwater Maldives. The Maldives is the fishpond of the Indian Ocean.
Our beyond-the-ordinary expedition to the Maldives in 2025 is focused on visiting some of the best sites visited by Michael AW during his Rainbow Sea production. We will cover seven of the central atolls diving the signature sites for whale sharks, mantas and the best soft coral sites of the world – yes, they are found in the Maldives. This special expedition is open only to active and current Ocean Geographic members.
Publisher director, Michael AW, author of two books and two broadcast documentaries about the Maldives has specially designed the itinerary of this expedition to show you the best of the nation of atolls.
OG publisher/director, Michael AW, author of two books and two broadcast documentaries about the Maldives, has specially designed the itinerary of this expedition to show you the finest of the atolls.
The Expedition platform is the Duke of York, a state-of-the-art expedition liveaboard vessel. Exquisitely designed and furnished, the Duke of York offers a boutique-style liveaboard diving experience. Palatial en-suite cabins are equipped with LCD TVs, and the spacious lounge is set up with wi-fi Internet, generous space for camera work, presentations and fine dining experiences.
Diving support is on spacious dedicated dhohi; three dives per day and nitrox are included.
Cost: USD $3888*
plus GST, park, port, and service fees - $280
Green and bed tax $48
*OG current member price/ non-members add USD 200.
* OG Expedition t-shirt package and shark photography advice.
* Wifi – free for OG Premiere members / $25 for non-members
For the upper deck cabin add USD 185 pp twin share.
Domestic flights: Male – Huvadhoo and Favulmulah to Male - $350 * subject to airline change
We suggest arriving in Male on 2 March to connect a domestic flight to Huvadhoo
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