Sounds so easy, right? So we look forward to a beautiful manta season and
a lot of divers who will follow these rules. Thanks a lot.
15-16/Dec/2005: On the afternoon dive at Vakarufalhi Etere Thila we
jumped with a good current and good visibility into the water. After a while
there were all of a sudden thousands of yellowback fusiliers swimming underneath
us. It looked like a huge carpet and this went on for several minutes. The
next day we dived at Dhigurah Etere Thila and we had a similar scenario: Good
current, good visibility and again thousands of neon fusiliers - this time
they came directly towards us. We felt like someone who's driving down a highway
in the wrong direction!!!
10/Dec/2005: Nurse sharks again!! On the Outreef of Dhigurah we were looking
for a leaf fish in a small cave which we saw there already for a couple of
times. The leaf fish could not be found this time but there were two big nurse
sharks lying next to each other in the cave and we could admire them in all
their splendour.
07/Dec/2005: Big and Small at Ali Thila! In one of these black coral bushes
we discovered today a small ghost pipefish. It was camouflaged exactly the
same as the coral itself and we have passed him for sure a lot of times before
without seeing him. Besides that there was again the nurse shark on the top
reef sleeping underneath his coral block.
05/Dec/2005: Ray day on Vakarufalhi!!! On our morning dive on Vakarufalhi
Beru Thila we enjoyed wonderful visibility, a small current and lots of shoals
of fish. Suddenly two eagle rays came out of the nothing and passed all the
divers. On the afternoon dive at Kuda Rah Thila we could see besides lots
of blue striped snappers a small mobula manta who circled once over the reef.
It looked like it just came fast there to say hello to us.
01/Dec/2005: Shark luck again on Ali Thila: On the top reef we were looking
for small animals when we saw a shark's tale sticking out of a coral block.
And there was a 2 meter (7 feet) tall nurse shark which had to make itself
quite small to fit in the small whole of the coral block.
30/Nov/2005: Shark luck on the first dive after the holiday: On a check
dive on our house reef we could see a juvenile leopard shark (zebra shark)
lying in the sand. As leopard sharks are not often seen in the South Ari Atoll
it was for us a real special encounter.
29/Nov/2005: After 2 weeks holidays on Phuket we are back on Vakarufalhi.
Phuket is still a very good holiday destination - a beautiful island and wonderful
inhabitants. Luckily there is nothing left from the devastation of the Tsunami.
Also the tourism is recovering very well. There is no reason at all not to
go to Phuket - on the contrary, the island needs guests and we hope that a
lot of you will choose Phuket fort their next holiday again.
01/Nov/2005: Whale sharks on the Outreef!! Already on October 23rd and
25th we could watch whale sharks at Dhidhoo Beru Faru during our morning dives
there. And also today on our fullday trip at Ari Beach Beru we were lucky
and could go snorkeling with a whale shark after our lunch break.
20/Oct/2005: This morning at Meddu Thila we found two baby whitetip reef
sharks underneath a table coral and it was so cute to watch these little two
guys there. But as we took a closer look at them we discovered that both had
a hook still with the line through their mouth.
It would be nice if everybody would think first a little bit about this before
he is joining game, morning or night fishing during next holiday and being
cruel to animals in such a senseless way. There are enough other possibilities
to pass the time instead of causing unnecessary pain to the fish and even
be delighted when they are taken out of the water while there are wriggling
like hell just because they are not able to scream!!!
16/Oct/2005: During a dive on our divesite 7th Heaven with quite strong
current we had many fascinating encounters: First of all there was a big black
spotted stingray not lying lazily in the sand but swimming and facing the
current together with other shoals of fish - unique. An then over the reef
which is covered in beautiful soft corals we could not only see many whitetip
reef sharks but also two grey reef sharks. Very sad, for those who had only
the macro lens on the camera, isn't it, Hans-Juergen???
13/Oct/2005: This afternoon at Vakarufalhi Etere Thila we jumped in the
water on a good current. And right from the beginning on we could watch a
grey reef shark and some whitetip reef sharks patrolling all the time along
the edge of the reef.
11/Oct/2005: At Kahambu Thila thousands of glassfish were creating big
curtains in front of the overhangs. There were so many that it was difficult
to see the overhangs at all...or even your buddy who was behind these curtains!!!
We have had this phenomenon now for already some days on the dive sites in
the North. The trevallies (mackerels) are totally happy to hunt these little
fish!!! And we also had the luck to see a small black spotted torpedo ray
lying lazily in the reef.
10/Oct/2005: Big surprises!! This morning at MV Kudhima Wreck our divers
were lucky to see beside the sting rays, nurse shark and circling trevallies
(mackerels) even 3 dolphins swimming by very close to the wreck!!!
And in the afternoon on the Housereef during the very first dive with three
students we saw again one dolphin swimming by!
02/Oct/2005: 4 out of 6!! Or in other words: 4 whale sharks within 6 days!!
This morning on our way to the dive site along the Outreef we discovered again
a whale shark at the surface. Also this one was absolutely not disturbed by
the snorkelers around him and so we were able to snorkel with this 5 meter
(16 feet) tall giant for about 15 minutes. The whale shark was all the time
swimming very close to the surface so everybody could enjoy him in full length!!
01/Oct/2005: Again a whale shark day!!! Today we had a full day trip scheduled
and were very lucky with a sunny and calm day. After lunch we drove along
the Outreef and kept our eyes on the water the whole time. We have been rewarded
with a 4 meter (13 feet) tall whale shark soon. We could snorkel for 10 minutes
with the whale shark which went down to 2 meters and came back to the surface
again and again. So we could admire and enjoy the beautiful animal from all
sites before he went into deeper water again.
28/Sept/2005: After yesterdays success we went today out to the Outreef
again. When we arrived at the dive site we already discovered a whale shark
at the surface and could snorkel with him for a couple of minutes. On the
following dive there was unfortunately no whale shark to see but for that
big groups of eagle rays were passing our way several times. And again the
divers came back with a big smile in their face.
27/Sept/2005: Finally!!! After going several times to the Outreef without
any success we have been rewarded with a 4 meter (13 feet) tall whale shark
today. After approx. 30 minutes of diving the whale shark came from behind
on 25 meter (80 feet) depth and passed the whole diving group. With a big
grin on their faces the divers were back for lunch after that exciting morning
trip.
23/Sept/2005: The afternoon dive was on Vakarufalhi Etere Thila. Also
here we have the most impressive encounters in the beginning and at the end
of the dive. In the beginning there was a huge napoleon wrasse coming out
of an overhang but disappeared soon again. Towards the end of the dive we
were looking for some scorpionfish on the top reef and then suddenly a 3 meter
(10 feet) tall manta ray came along just like that.
22/Sept/2005: A beautiful dive on Thinefushi Etere Thila started with
the encounter of a big black spotted stingray which we could already see during
our descent. Then we drifted along on a small current. To finish the dive
we went to the shallower top reef where we could suddenly see 5 pygmy devil
rays coming towards us.
21/Sept/2005: Finally we could enjoy a grey reef shark on Reethi Thila
this morning. We could see him already during the descent but unfortunately
he went on to the next reef. But then we were lucky to see many whitetip reef
sharks during the whole dive and on top of that there was as well a big black
spotted stingray close to us.
18/Sept/2005: During the check dive today on Vakarufalhi Housereef we
encountered a 3 meter (10 feet) tall manta ray. Luckily the manta ray was
not just somewhere far away in the blue water but directly underneath the
divers. What a nice way to start the holiday!!!
17/Sept/2005: We also took part on the "Clean up the World"
day of PADI A.W.A.R.E. Together with about 60 guests we cleaned today the
house reef, the lagoon and the beach of Vakarufalhi. There were again quite
a lot of bags full of rubbish collected. Each year it's amazing how much rubbish
can be found on such a small island like Vakarufalhi. After the work was done
coffee and tea was served and we handed over a certificate to all the guests
who participated in this event.
20/Aug/2005: After a 3 month dry spell we saw finally whale sharks again.
On the full day excursion along the Outreef we could go three times snorkeling
with whale sharks. During the dive they were unfortunately not there anymore
but for that we saw 8 pygmy devil rays…..also not bad!!
08/Aug/2005: Sad job at Dhigurah Etere: Yesterday at Dhigurah Etere we
found an approx. 30 meter (95 feet) long drift net which was given up by fishermen
and got tangled there along the reef. Already a whitetip reef shark was entangled
in there and got strangled to death. This morning we went out there again
to remove the net. Within only 24 hours there were already another grey reef
shark, a big harlequin sweetlip and three groupers entangled in the net and
were perished in a very cruelly way. After we cut out all these animals we
were able to take the net out of the water.
If you like more information about drift nets and what can happen we invite
you to visit our
Protection Site
and have a look on the article about
Fishing.
It would be great if you would think about it afterwards and adapt your behaviour
a little bit to the today's situation.
06/Aug/2005: Those three sailfish we have seen the day before yesterday
at Dangethi Corner were caught today by some tourists who decided to do a
game fishing trip!!!
05/Aug/2005: We had a spectacular afternoon dive on Broken Rock. First
we enjoyed the boat trip with a blue sky and a sea smooth as glass. When we
arrived at Broken Rock we could already recognize the famous canyon from the
boat. And the visibility of more than 30 meter (95 feet) lasted during the
whole dive and this on a small current!!! Did we already mention the sweet
eagle ray which swam in front of us for the longest time? Now we look forward
to enjoying a perfect sunset to finish a perfect day.
04/Aug/2005: Good start into the new month! Today at Maamigili Beru we
could watch four mobula mantas as they glided from the blue water over the
top reef. And even more luck for our divers at Dangethi Corner. They saw for
a short time three sailfish coming along their way!!
22/July/2005: During our morning dive at the beautiful Ali Thila there
was suddenly a big guitar shark swimming underneath us!!! Even though we dived
like crazy he disappeared very fast again. On our way back we could watch
many dolphins again and again how they came close to our boat as if they just
wanted to say hello. But not enough: In the afternoon our Open Water students
saw a manta ray on the housereef. For sure a good motivation to go on with
diving :-)
