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From December 2003 until April 2008 we worked as diving instructors for ProDivers on the Maldivian island Vakarufalhi.

Now we are back in Switzerland and still standing up for the protection of the oceans. Among other things we launched an online shop through that various organizations which make an effort to protect and preserve the underwater world shall be supported. Thereby the fascinating world under water shall be preserved for subsequent generations as we already have known it.

For interested parties click here for the shop.

29/Apr/2008: After more than 4 years we say now good bye for good to Vakarufalhi. Yesterday morning we enjoyed the last time the beautiful underwater world and said good bye to all the fish.
We would like say thank you again to all the guests and staff who made us have a very special time here. We will always like to remember these years.

28/Apr/2008: This morning we could enjoy Broken Rock once again from its brightest side: First of all there were 10 mobula mantas passing by when we were swimming through the canyon. Then we saw the "dirty" napoleon lady which has lived on Broken Rock for a long time plus a big male napoleon - maybe her new partner? And at the end we saw the smallest scorpion fish ever with not even 5 centimeter length. What a great finish!

27/Apr/2008: Result of today's fullday excursion: Two whale sharks on the dive and eight times snorkelling with whale sharks. One time even with two whale sharks together!!

26/Apr/2008: Big traffic at Dhigurah Beru Thila. On our afternoon dive 20 stingrays were coming along like in a convoy. They turned two times in front of us and then disappeared again.

25/Apr/2008: On today's fullday trip we were snorkelling with whale sharks for six times in total. The animals were between 4-6 meters (12-18 feet) tall and have been seen always on the shallow top reef.
The other dive boat went in the morning to Noo Giri. And surprise, surprise, the pink frogfish is still at the same spot. Apart from a short break in between he is now sitting on the same sponge since more than two month.

23/Apr/2008: It is a long time ago since the last one, but this morning at Dhigurah Etere we found a seagrass ghost pipefish. The question is now: Will we find it again?!!??

20-22/Apr/2008: During the last three days we had one whale shark while snorkelling on the Outreef at Holiday Island, then again one completely unexpected on a dive in the middle of the channel at Dhigurah Etere Thila and then again several encounters on the Outreef at Dhidooh Beru Faru and Ari Beach Beru. At this two places we saw two times a whale shark on a dive and were three times snorkelling with one. With one we could even snorkel for 35 minutes, what means we could skip the jogging in the evening.

19/Apr/2008: Today we had again a special surprise - a whale shark during the safety stop at 7th Heaven. Exactly the same happened two weeks ago and also today there was a diver whose birthday it was. We are now considering if we should take this into our special offers - a whale shark guarantee on your birthday at 7th Heaven :-)
Another surprise awaited two resort divers on our house reef today. These two divers did their very first dive. There was an eagle ray family with four members which came along. We could follow them for the longest time and enjoy there elegance.

15+17/Apr/2008: The whale sharks are still here!!! On our full day trip on the15th April we could snorkel with two whale sharks and dive with one. They were between Ari Beach Beru and Dhidhoo Beru Faru. On the 17th April we could snorkel with one whale shark at Ari Beach Beru and with one at Maamigili Beru. We saw some more whale sharks from the boat but they dived down so fast that we did not have a chance to jump in and join them in the water.

12/Apr/2008: The pink frogfish we had at Noo Giri end of February / beginning March is back again. He is sitting again at the same place as before as he would never have been left the place.
At Angaga Thila we saw today three different kinds of sharks. On the top reef was a nurse shark hiding under a coral block. And around the reef were several whitetip reef sharks and a silvertip shark coming along.

10/Apr/2008: It's no surprise that we went today again to the out reef. Today we saw "only" one whale shark on the surface with which we could go snorkelling. Now everybody's wondering if the end of this fantastic whale shark season will be close or not. In some days you will find out more about it on this page.

08/Apr/2008: Again a full day trip to the out reef. Today's proud result is 3 whale sharks during the dives and 3 whale sharks on the surface for snorkelling. And apart from that a manta ray and several mobula mantas.

06/Apr/2008: Today we went again on a full day trip to the out reef. In the morning we missed several whale sharks which we saw from the boat but dived down as soon as we were ready to jump in. In the afternoon we were lucky because we could snorkel 6 times with whale sharks and see 2 whale sharks during the dive!! On top we could snorkel with a manta ray and with a sail fish and during the dives we also saw two nurse sharks and 5 mobula mantas.

05/Apr/2008: This morning we dived 7th Heaven. After a beautiful dive with good visibility and slow current with many turtles the highlight came during the safety stop: A whale shark!! This at a dive site in the channel where we normally don't see them. For Tommy it was for sure the most exciting birthday present he received!

01-04/Apr/2008: The last couple of days we went again and again to the out reef and were each time successful finding whale sharks!! In the meantime we are so spoilt that when we have a trip with two whale shark encounters everybody talks of "only two whale sharks". If we have seen two whale sharks on one trip in the past it was a sensation. We just hope that these whale shark encounters will last a bit longer, even though we "only see two" :-)

29/Mar/2008: This morning we dived at Noo Giri and had a beautiful relaxing dive. Back on the boat we suddenly saw dolphins close-by and went there. We jumped in the water with snorkeling equipment and saw for a short time three dolphins swimming underneath us.
In the afternoon we went again on a big search for whale sharks. With big expectations we went to the out reef and saw the first two whale sharks on the surface in front of Ari Beach Beru where we went snorkelling with them. During the dive we saw again two whale sharks and 20 mobula mantas!!! Today the whale sharks were not feeding but just passing by. On the way back we saw 80 meters in front of the boat a whale tail fin coming out of the water and diving down again. Unfortunately we don't know what kind of whale it was as everything happened so fast.

28/Mar/2008: This afternoon we went again along the out reef to look for whale sharks. The first one we already saw before the dive at Ari Beach Beru. During the dive we saw again two whale sharks and were already very happy. But the best was yet to come: After the dive we could snorkel for more than 45 minutes with up to three whale sharks. They were feeding, dived down and came in an upright position with wide open mouths back to us to the surface. It was a spectacle we will never forget!!

27/Mar/2008: This morning we went early on a "Whale Shark Hunt". At Maamigili Beru we saw two manta rays on the surface and could snorkel with them. Afterwards we dived at Sun Island, where we saw again a manta ray. Then we went back along the out reef and when we reached Ari Beach Beru there was suddenly a whale shark on the surface. We all jumped in with snorkelling gear and could snorkel with the 6 meters (18 feet) long whale shark. After a while he dived down some meters but then came up again to the surface where we could see him close. After some more minutes it dived down again and we went all with big smiles back on the boat.

25/Mar/2008: This morning we dived at Dhigurah Etere Thila. We had a medium incoming current with a great visibility and many fish. After some stingrays, big napoleons and some whitetip reef sharks, there was even a whale shark passing by over our heads. This at a place where we don't expect whale sharks what made this encounter even more special.

21/Mar/2008: Today we went on a full day trip. At Manta Point we did not see any manta rays but on the way back: Over a reef inside the atoll we suddenly saw a manta ray from the boat and could go snorkelling with it for the longest time. When we left again we could see two more manta rays on the surface. We did our afternoon dive in front of Sun Island and saw an eagle ray, a nurse shark and some whitetip reef sharks. After the dive we finally found a whale shark on the surface and could go snorkelling with it. The 5 meter (15 feet) tall whale shark was at the surface and so close to us that we could look straight into its eye.

18/Mar/2008: Unfortunately the pink frogfish at Noo Giri isn't there anymore. But for that we found again a red and a black frogfish which are sitting next to each other at Dhigurah Etere.

12/Mar/2008: We had another successful Whale Shark Hunt this morning at Sun Island Beru. Just as we wanted ascent to our safety stop after 55 minutes diving time a 6 meter (18 feet) tall whale shark swam directly through the divers group.
The same day we saw something special at Thinefushi Etere Thila: Towards the end of the dive we saw for several minutes 15 black spotted sting rays together. First they were swimming in formation but then they were all over and it was just beautiful to watch them.

03/Mar/2008: Today we went again on a "Whale Shark Hunt". Before and during the dive we could not find a whale shark but after the dive there was one. We could go snorkelling with the approx. 6 meter (18 feet) big whale shark for some minutes. No matter if we see a whale shark snorkelling or diving - it's again and again a great experience!

01/Mar/2008: For a couple of days we had underneath our jetty two juvenile batfish which were always around between the boat ropes. One of them was already recognizable as a batfish but the other smaller one still looked very special and in a way unreal. Get an impression of them in our Picture Gallery 4.

27/Feb/2008: On our full day excursion today were no manta rays at Manta Point to be seen but for that an eleven headed stingray family was coming along and passed us very close. In the afternoon on the Outreef the same procedure as two weeks ago: we jumped in the water and straight dived down with a whale shark with which we were then diving for about 5 minutes.

26/Feb/2008: The dive sites in the North are full of surprises at the moment: Yesterday and toady on Noo Giri we saw a pink frogfish and today on Kahambu Thila we could see again some silvertip sharks.

25/Feb/2008: This morning we went on a whale shark hunt. We were looking on the surface between Maamigili Beru and Sun Island but could not see any whale shark. Instead we saw many dolphins. Then we dived on Holiday Island Beru and after a while we saw 8 mobula mantas passing by. But that was not yet the highlight of the dive as a 8 meter (24 feet) long whale shark swam over us after 40 minutes of the dive. We could follow him but after some minutes we had to give up as the whale shark was too fast for us to follow any longer.

24/Feb/2008: Today we were on a full day trip to Panettone Reef and Haba Thila. Panettone Reef was beautiful as always with its overhangs full of soft corals. On Haba Thila we were lucky to see 3 grey reef sharks and could watch them throughout the whole dive. They were cruising around the reef and on the top and came very close to us.

20/Feb/2008: Today we were very lucky at Kahambu Thila as we could see two silvertip sharks, which we rarely encounter here.

14/Feb/2008: On our full day trip at Manta Point we already saw during our descent the first manta ray gliding along the reef. A couple of minutes later we enjoyed up to three manta rays at one of the cleaner stations for some minutes. In the afternoon at Sun Island Beru almost the same happenend. Directly when we jumped in the water we could descent with a whale shark and dive with this 8 meter (24 feet) colossus for more than five minutes. About 30 minutes later there was even a second whale shark coming along the reef. After the dive we discovered another whale shark at the surface and were also snorkeling with him for some minutes.
And not to forget it was Valentine's Day today what we also realized under water. At Manta Point we had 7 whitetip reef sharks and two of them tried to bite the pectoral fin of a female for mating. And on the out reef we saw two big green turtles at the surface and one of them had its head much higher out of the water than the other one :-)

13/Feb/2008: On our morning dive in the channel at Dhigurah Etere Thila we saw an approx. 10 meter (30 feet) tall whale shark. You c an image that we were completely amazed.

10/Feb/2008: This morning on the check dive at our House Reef we have seen one of the very rare ornate eagle rays. It passed by about 3 meter underneath us and then disappeared straight away into the blue.

01/Feb/2008: Shark Day!! This morning at Maamigili Beru we saw four different kinds of sharks. At the beginning of the dive was a leopard shark together with some white tip reef sharks sleeping in the sand. A bit later a 5 meter (15 feet) tall whale shark came along the reef and last but not least was a guitar shark (guitar ray) on the top reef on his way.
Also today's full day trip was a big success. In the morning we saw one manta ray at Manta Point swimming along the cleaning stations. In the afternoon we discovered two whale sharks on the surface and could go snorkelling with them. The first one was on the top reef and we could look down on him, whereas the second one came up to the surface and we had to swim out of his way! Then we prepared ourselves for diving and there was again a 3 meter (9 feet) long whale shark on the surface. So we all jumped in and dived down with him. After some meters under water there came a second 6 meters (15 feet) long whale shark along and we had to decide which one we should follow :-)

29/Jan/2008: Again whale sharks! On the fullday excursion at Manta Point were 6 manta rays for a short time on the cleaning stations. In the afternoon at Maamigili Beru Outreef were even 2 whale sharks on the dive and afterwards two whale sharks while snorkelling to see.

27/Jan/2008: On our morning dive at Holiday Island Beru we saw an approx. 7 meter (21 feet) tall whale shark and could dive with him for about 3 minutes. After the dive we discovered two times a whale shark at the surface and with each of them we were snorkelling for a couple of minutes.
Also the other two morning boats were very lucky. At Ali Thila came two dolphins and two grey reef sharks along and at Noo Giri was since a long time a leopard shark to see.

24/Jan/2008: When you read today's news then don't think we have copied it by error from 23 January 2008! Again we went on a full day trip today and again we could see a whale shark at Maamigili Beru at almost the same spot. The only difference today was that we didn't not see the 50 mobula manta rays but two of the really big manta rays instead.

23/Jan/2008: On our full day trip we were very lucky. At Maamigili Beru we saw during our descent a 3 meter (9 feet) long whale shark deep below us and could see it for approx. 2 minutes. After half an hour there was another spectacle: A group of around 50 mobula manta rays was swimming in formation close to us.

22/Jan/2008: Early morning we left for a 2 tank dive at Manta Point and were lucky on both dives. On the first dive we saw several manta rays in the blue and on the reef and on the second dive some in the blue water.

17/Jan/2008: Today we went to Manta Point, where we planned two dives. The first dive was already very good as we could see up to five manta rays together swimming in the blue. But the second one was even better: For a quarter of an hour two to three manta rays were directly above us on a cleaning station. They came that close that we even had to make ourselves very small! This encounter was especially great as we were the only divers there and did not have to "share" the manta rays with other groups :-)

16/Jan/2008: On our morning dive we went to Dhidooh Beru Faru. While we putting on our wetsuits, the captain saw a whale shark on the surface. Half dressed we jumped with snorkelling gear in the water and could see for a short time this gentle giant, before he dived down into the deep.

14/Jan/2008: This time our snorkelers on the house reef were very lucky as they could see a guitar shark (guitar ray). Beside turtles and whitetip reef sharks this big animal was swimming over the top reef and was a big surprise for those snorkelers.

01/Jan/2008: There are months you don't see any of them at all and suddenly they are almost everywhere. This morning some divers did their first dive of the new year and could enjoy an encounter with a guitar shark (guitar ray) on our house reef.

News of the previous years

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

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News of the previous years 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

News of the previous years

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007