Opening for Maldives 18 - 26 Feb Handhu Falhi LOB trip

[JaGr]

asking for my organiser friend,
Actually had a personal trip organised on Handhu Falhi ex-SIN on 18 Feb and returning on on 26 Feb.

Had 2 panicked cancellations due to the tsunami incident and am now looking for replacements.

Total trip, including airfare by SriLankan Airlines including taxes, LOB 6 nights, 3 dives a day, total 15 dives, one day guided tour n shopping and stay in Sri Lanka (city hotel not affected by tsunami) will come to only only $1900 nett.

Only thing is, it's also a wedding photoshoot for him and his fiance and I, so there may be more stops than usual at various resorts in Maldives. But the number of dives will remain the same.

Do let me know if interested.

Cheers,
Dan

Additional info, we'll be diving around ari atoll area and we can also request the operators to bring us to whatever we wanna see. Additional dives have to be paid for. The boat is new and luxurious and its website is here Drinking water on board will be bottled water form so we're safe. We'll also get to stop and many resorts which usually don't allow you to do so, many pictures taking opportunities there. The price is a steal for what you're getting so if anyone is keen can PM me. Hope to see more photographers on the trip as there's currently only 2 of us out of 13!

Note: This is a not a commercial advert we're a private group doing a private charter but looking for people to fill the spaces due to the pull outs.

[JaGr]

Here are a series of questions and answers from my operator:

1) There have been reports here that water supply in Maldives are contaminated. Can you pls confirm that those on the boat are given bottled water only, even during mealtimes?

Ans. Yes, there is no problems of drinking water in Capital, Resorts and Safari Boats.. Only the problem on 26th Decmber was the islands.. But now the islands have fixed their own running water plants as well..

<I confirmed this with some other resort operators as well. Their drinking water is safe - Dan>


2) There are worries that divers see the remains of those washed away by the tsunami while diving. Can you please advise if dive sites have been inspected and have been declared clear or debris and human remains? There are sites in Phuket (Thailand) that have been closed while the locals clear things and make it safe and pleasant for diving again.

Ans : Yes, now the Diving activities has started, and our boat Handhu is also on the trip with German Divers..


3) Please let me know the current visibility in Maldives, as compared to the average visibility in any other January. This will help the group determine if its still worth paying the money to dive now instead of joining another group later in the year.

Ans : Now everything is perfect.. with immediate effect all islands which was effected are under reconstruction..and all are taken care of well by the government..

4) Please let me know plant and marine life has been affected in any way - coral reefs damaged? Sudden disappearance of certain fishes, etc.

Ans : So far, we have no complaints..

5) You had mentioned earlier that the Maldivian government had discouraged diving activities. Does this still hold true?

Ans : It was on the first 2 Days, just to clear the situation..Now everything is normal and all resorts except 6 are operational.