2/9-2/20 Back to the Maldives

Thursday, February 09, 2017
Mahibadhoo, Maldives
We love traveling the world and seeing new places so, unfortunately, we hardly ever go to the same place twice. The Maldives is one exception. It's such a beautiful place that we couldn't resist when our Canadian friends (we met them on a river cruise from Prauge to Budapest a couple of years ago) asked us to join them. Last time here we stayed on a live aboard for 7 days, so this time we are trying something different. We are staying at the Liberty Guest House on the island of Mahibadhoo, a small inhabited island about 2 hours away by boat from Male, the capital.

Backing up a little, there are some interesting facts that you may already know about the Maldives . It's a group of 1,000+ islands covering over 35,000 sq miles, making it the most dispersed nation in the world. It is also the lowest nation in the world averaging just 4 feet above sea level, which has endangered the country, due to rising sea levels. Also endangered are its extensive coral reefs as they are very sensitive to changing ocean temperatures. We noticed a huge difference in the color of the coral gardens between now and our first visit. Apparently because the ocean reached an all time high of 87.8° in 2016, 95% of the coral has died. I usually don't get into facts and figures, but these are things worth noting. However, it's still a small slice of paradise and we are excited to enjoy it again!

Our 10 days on the island are simple. Breakfast in the morning, go out on the dive boat for a couple hours, back for lunch, back out on the dive boat and then return for dinner. This is the perfect place if you're try to cut back on your drinking. Because it is predominately Muslim, there isn't a drop to be found . I scour the beach every morning with the hopes of a half full Captain Morgan rum bottle floating by... no luck. There are also signs posted everywhere saying no bikinis allowed. Now that's my kind of beach! I have my dark sunglasses on, but not having much luck on that end either. All the women are fully clothed or wearing burkas... I must have interpreted the sign wrong? I see Roxanne approaching. "What are you doing this far down the beach?", she asks. "Trying to find the prettiest seashell for you", I respond.

And even though the coral isn't as beautiful as before, there is still plenty to be seen. We log a total of 30 dives/snorkels and see everything - huge schools of brightly colored fish, dolphins, turtles, sharks, moray eels and gracefully huge Manta rays. Unfortunately, our first dive was 130 feet and my trusty underwater camera that is rated for 30 feet.... leaked. It's been OK before, but failed this time.

The lazy days just fly by and it was great getting caught up with our Canadian friends. Before we know it it's time to pack up and head to Dubai in the UAE, just a 4 hour flight away.  

Comments

Ali
2017-03-26

Loving the blog posts, as always. Another place you can see trees full of bats is American Samoa. That was the first place I had seen them like that.

2025-02-06

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