31/Dec/2004: We
also can see here everyday these horrible pictures on tv from the seaquake and
what happened to the affected countries. Every time we see these pictures we
are very grateful that Vakarufalhi was not hit by the tidal wave and we are
all fine. In thoughts with all the victims nevertheless we wish you a happy
new year and hope to see you soon on Vakarufalhi again!!
26/Dec/2004: Seaquake: Luckily Vakarufalhi
has not been affected by the sea surges. The island and we are all fine. Best
regards and thank you for your concern.
17/Dec/2004: Once again a big surprise at Angaga
Thila. For about one minute we could watch in the blue water a juvenile silvertip
reef shark (approx. 1,2 meter / 4 feet). Again and again he came very close
to us before he turned away each time.
15/Dec/2004: Today at Maamigili Beru we had
unfortunately no whale sharks during our dive…..but right after the dive
during snorkeling!!! After we have been a couple of minutes on the boat again
we spotted two of this elegant giants at the surface and we were able to snorkel
with them for more than 40 minutes. They were always just about 1 meter (3 feet)
underneath us and were not disturbed by us at all. Unforgettable!!
04/Dec/2004: With wonderful weather and a calm
sea we started our trip to Manta Point (Hukuru Elhi Faru.) Will there be any
manta rays? Has the manta ray season already started yet? These questions have
been discussed on the boat during our trip to Manta Point. After diving for
20 minutes the first manta ray came out of the Blue and disappeared again after
some seconds. Well, one manta ray at least. Short after that first encounter
a second manta ray appeared and stayed over 10 minutes very close to us. Then
again 2 manta rays shortly before we started our ascent. Extremely happy we
met at the surface and could see again several manta rays on the surface. That
gave us the chance to snorkel for the longest time with 12 (!!!) manta rays!!!
The questions asked on the way to Manta Point did not need to be discussed any
further.
24/Nov/2004: The luck was on our side on our
daytrip to the Outreef and Manta Point. First we had the pleasure to snorkel
with a whale shark in front of Maamigili - not only for some seconds but for
a half an hour!!! Totally happy we went on to Manta Point where we were again
lucky. For sure 3-4 different manta rays came and circled over our heads again
and again so we could enjoy them from their brightest side. What a day!!!
23/Nov/2004: A day of small and big characteristics.
In the morning we found two small seagrass ghost pipefish on our Housereef und
were really happy about this discovery. In the afternoon the boat took us to
beautiful Aah Thila. Our thoughts were still with the small seagrass ghost pipefish
and our eyes focused on small things when we suddenly saw a 2 meter (7 feet)
long nurse shark lying in a huge overhang.
11/Nov/2004: Today we jumped at Rheeti Thila
with a medium strong current in the blue and as soon as we reached the top of
the reef we could see 10 whitetip reef sharks and one grey reef shark. For 10
minutes these beautiful animals were passing by and suddenly out of the blue
came a 2 meter (7 feet) long barracuda and joined the group of sharks!!!
10/Nov/2004: At Manta Point we had unfortunately
no mantas today, but for that we saw a leopard shark, a great barracuda just
standing in the blue water, big napoleon wrasses and a huge stingray.
06/Nov/2004: Today we had double luck: On MV Kudhima
Wreck we saw besides sting rays and nurse sharks a dolphin while diving. At
the same time on Dhigurah Etere Thila we had the luck to see again a black marlin
on the top of the reef for a short time before it disappeared in the blue!!
29/Oct/2004: With pleasure we jumped in the
water at Vakarufalhi Beru Thila looking forward to seeing the beautiful soft
corals. But because of two grey reef sharks and a big school of jackfish we
almost forgot to look at the splendour of soft corals. And last but not least
there came a black marlin along while doing our safety stop!!
26/Oct/2004: The plan was to go looking for
whale sharks and so we went to the outreef to Dhigurah Beru. Unfortunately we
did not see any whale shark during the whole dive. But 17 mobula mantas showed
up to comfort us for the missing whale shark.
09-13/Oct/2004: There was a lot going on under
water in the last couple of days. Beside many other very nice things we had
for example eagle rays at Manta Point twice and once at Broken Rock. And again
a grey reef shark at Dhigurah Etere Thila and believe it or not a group of more
than 30 mobula mantas also at Dhigurah Etere Thila!!!
04/Oct/2004: Once again we tried to find whale
sharks in the morning at Ari Beach Beru. Even before everybody was ready the
Dhoni crew saw the first whale shark on the surface. So we jumped in straight
away and started our dive with this whale shark - never were the divers that
fast prepared as today :-) But already after some seconds the 5 meter (16 feet)
tall big giant disappeared in the big blue. But during the dive we had 2 more
whale shark encounters. And last but not least we could jump in for snorkeling
twice after the dive where the crew again spotted 2 whale sharks (approx. 4
meter / 13 feet). It was fantastic and only possible with this great job of
the boat crew!!!
24/Sept/2004: In the morning a trip to Manta
Point was planned but due to bad weather we decided to go to the outreef at
Ari Beach Beru. What a wise decision because already after 10 minutes of diving
a whale shark appeared, passed the whole dive group and could be admired by
everyone. After that just a short time later a group of 18 mobula mantas coming
out of the blue - simply sensational!
With such a whale shark luck the boat went again to the outreef in the afternoon.
Already from the boat we could see a whale shark!!! So everybody jumped in and
could snorkel with the elegant giant. What a perfect day!!!
22-23/Sept/2004: Two times in a row we had
the luck to see a grey reef shark: The first time on September 22nd at Vakarufalhi
Beru Thila. Out of the blue this grey reef shark turned up and stayed with us
for 5 minutes. On September 23rd the same thing again: Another grey reef shark
appeared and this time also for a long time.
12/Sept/2004: After four weeks holiday in Switzerland
we are finally back on Vakarufalhi again. And right in the first week of working
we already had a lot to see; so we had at Kalu Giri one of the very rare golden
moray eels, at Ari Beach Beru there were one manta and four eagle rays passing
by, at Broken Rock and at Dhigurah Etere Thila we saw grey reef sharks and last
but not least we could watch a 3 meter (10 feet) tall leopard shark at Manta
Point. Isn't that a good beginning??
14/July/2004: Beside the harlequin shrimps which still can be seen at Kalu
Giri we found there another attraction today: With a perfect camouflage and
wonderful embedded between blue sponges we discovered a giant frogfish which
is beautiful adapted to the environment with its color and structure.
08/July/2004: At Angaga Thila we could first watch today a huge wonderful
black and white Jorunna Funebris (nudibranch / slug) and how it was moving slowly
over the reef. After that it came even bigger and we had for more than 20 minutes
three whitetip reef sharks and a big grey reef shark patrolling all the time
along the edge of the reef.
09/June/2004: Three whale shark encounters in one week is really something
special. We had this at Dhidhoo Beru Faru on the 3rd, 4th and 8th of June. And
on the 3rd of June there were also 6 eagle rays flying by on the same dive.
And to make it even more special we could watch today at Velagali Thila one
of the really rare guitar sharks!! So we had an absolutely special shark- and
ray-week here on Vakarufalhi!!
28/May/2004: We saw today a 4 meter (13 feet) tall whale shark at Ari Beru.
Right after we discovered him at the surface he unfortunately dived down. But
approx. 20 minutes later during our dive he passed again and we were able to
swim with him for about 6 minutes.
21/May/2004: We could watch today up to 7 mantas at Velagali Thila. They
were feeding for plankton at the surface with their mouth wide open (we saw
them first during our safety stop and afterwards while snorkeling for about
20 minutes). They were passing one by one in a row again and again and again.
Truly fascinating animals!!
16/May/2004: For already three weeks a new diving boat (Dhoni) is available
for the dive center. It's called Aaru and we are completely delighted about
it. It is a little bit longer and wider than the other dhonis and so there is
more space and storage tray available. It has a sun deck and even a toilet!!
As it is a little faster than the other boats we can reach Manta-Point and the
Southern Outreef even faster. Just a wonderful boat!!!
09/May/2004: In February this year Pete and Janet have been again on Vakarufalhi
for holiday (both several repeater guests). Of course Pete brought again his
own rebreather to the island….the Buddy Inspiration Rebreather (closed
system). During their holiday we had the opportunity to make a dive with this
rebreather under the supervision of Pete. For us it was an impressive experience
and we were fascinated of this dive. Again thank you very much to both of you
and here
some pictures of this great experience.
15/Apr/2004: The whale shark season has now definitely started. Four days
ago we had again a whale shark encounter for a couple of minutes at Maamigili
Beru. And although the manta ray season is slowly coming to its end we could
enjoy today up to 4 mantas at one of the cleaner stations at manta point for
about 40 minutes.
07/Apr/2004: During the check dive this morning at the house reef Petra
and two guests could watch one of the quite rare guitar sharks.
31/Mar/2004: Today we saw two whale sharks on the morning dive at Maamigili
Beru. The first smaller one was passing by underneath us in a depth of around
22 meter (70 feet). The second one was approx. 5 meter (16 feet) tall and was
coming directly from the front towards us in a depth of 15 meter (50 feet) -
so we could enjoy this amazing animal from close up. Some of the divers could
even watch six dolphins afterwards before finishing a remarkable dive!!!
11/Mar/2004: On this day we went to the outreef of Maamigili hoping to see
a whale shark. We were full of expectations and these expectations were even
exceeded: Besides a 4 meter (13 feet) tall whale shark, we could also see a
huge manta ray swimming by. And last but not least we saw approximately 20 dolphins
swimming and jumping around us at the end of the dive!!! Unnecessary to mention
how the mood was on the boat after this experience :-)
04/Mar/2004: Unfortunately the ghost pipefish at Hukuru Elhi Faru (Manta
Point) are gone. But as a replacement we could admire two beautiful white leaffish
there three times in a row already. And then there was this approx. 5 meter
(16 feet) tall whale shark passing by above us exactly while we were looking
at the leaffish - fortunately two of our divers saw him just in time!! By the
way; also the manta rays can still be seen very close at the cleaner stations
during every dive. Again and again incredible dives at Manta Point!!!
22/Feb/2004: After we found a very nice seagrass ghost pipefish in an overhang
at Aah Thila this morning it became even better in the afternoon: At Kalu Giri
we saw two of the extremely rare harlequin shrimps. What beautiful animals!!
15/Feb/2004: "Home Sweet Home" at MV Kudhima Wreck: Looks like a
big red frogfish, a nurse shark and up to 6 stingrays made themselves a new
home there. We could find the frogfish already a few times at the crane. Also
the stingrays and the nurse shark could already be seen two times underneath
the keel of the wreck.
08/Feb/2004: Manta Point - where big and small meets. For the last couple
of weeks we could regularly enjoy manta rays at Hukuru Elhi Faru. Now we have
another attraction there: The sixth time in a row we found there as well ornate
ghost pipefish and halimeda ghost pipefish. So it must be really true: opposites
attract!
22/Jan/2004: Incredible luck today for some snorklers at Vakarufalhi Housereef.
Around lunch time they could watch a whale shark passing by very close during
snorkeling. Why do we go diving here anymore???
13/Jan/2004: And again a whale shark on the full day trip to Hukuru Elhi
Faru (Manta Point). On the second dive an approx. 6 meter (20 feet) tall whale
shark was passing by directly above us. Together with the later on following
ten manta rays at the third cleaner station it was an unforgettable experience!!
12/Jan/2004: On the afternoon dive today at Dhigurah Etere Thila there
were five grey reef sharks to see. At the beginning two separate sharks and
then a group of three animals. The biggest was just standing in the current
and seemed not to be disturbed by the divers.
02/Jan/2004: Manta ray season has started!! On the full day trip to Hukuru
Elhi Faru (Manta Point) with totally two dives we could enjoy altogether 22
manta rays very close. At the different cleaner stations there were up to 7
manta rays at the same time. Some of them with a wingspan up to 4 meter (13
feet). What a start into the new year!!!
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