Enjoy Diving In Maldives
The Maldives, a series of coral islands located near the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, are often touted as the last paradise on earth. The islands are flat, palm tree covered beaches that offer a tropical climate and a series of beautiful lagoons. Together, these characteristics do indeed make the Maldives one of the last true paradises on earth. However, these unique islands have more to offer than just beaches and palm trees, especially if you enjoy diving, as many visitors to this diver’s paradise do.
A visit any diving enthusiastic must make during a trip to Maldives is to Banana reef. Located on the east side of the North Male Atoll, this particular reef gets its name from the shape of it. Despite the fact that divers have been checking out this reef for decades now, there have been no adverse affects on either the fish or the seascape in the area. In fact, some say that the populations of fish and other marine life seem to increase.
If you dive Banana Reef in Maldives, you should know that only drift dives are possible because of the currents. The coral formations and various rocky seascapes do offer shelter from currents if you know where to go. For this reason, you may want to consider finding a diving guide during your trip.
What makes this dive so popular with so many divers is the abundance of life that can be seen. The highlight attraction for a lot of divers are the many bannerfish, of which there are some 500 around the northeastern side of the reef. Depending on currents, gray reef sharks can occasionally make a visit and you can see them even without the aid of any bait. Additionally, you can expect to see humphead wrasses, moray eels, and oriental sweetlips. If you dive out deeper even, you can see a number of other fish and marine animals including grouper that are more than a meter in length.
Moreover, the fish in Banana reef are incredibly friendly. They show little or no fear of scuba divers. That makes the dive fantastic for getting an up close encounter with the animals. Divers should be cautious about touching the fish, though, since many reef dwellers are poisonous or prone to biting. Additionally, handling of the marine life can be harmful to them. Photography and filming, though, are definitely a legal way to record your experience.
Though the beaches and surf of Maldives is certainly impressive, and even though each of the over one thousand islands that make up the country offer something unique and exciting, no vacationer should miss a trip to Banana reef. Divers can enjoy one of the most exciting and rewarding dives in the world, while other visitors can catch glimpses of life since the water can be as shallow as 3 meters in some places in the reef. So take a day away from the beach, the sun, and the surf to enjoy the wildlife and seascapes that a dive into Banana reef in Maldives can offer you.
