Maldives holiday advice.

[neil_r]

I finally got fed up with the English winter so have booked two weeks @ the Velavaru Island Resort in the Maldives (http://www.velavaru.com/ (http://www.velavaru.com/))

Has anyone been there? Any tips, hints or suggestions will be gratefully received.

N

[chris.bailey]

Neil

Going to Kanahura (second year on the trot) end of next week which is on the Lhaviyani atoll so almost at the other end from Velavaru. Can't wait. do you get a sea plane transfer? If so, make sure you have a wide lens on and be ready for huge condensation problems just after take off as the altitude causes the dew point to drop!!!

a few pics from last year at http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/maldives_feb_2004

Weather will be hot (mid 30's) and dry (very occasional light late afternoon showers). Watersports, fishing, diving etc are brilliant. Service tends to be exemplory and to my mind I have yet to find anywhere better to unwind. If its anything like Kanahura I'm sure you will be very impressed.

Our highpoint last year was hiring a speedboat and snorkelling out in the reef at various places. Crossing the reef we must have seen a school of over a thousand dolphins. Finished up having tea on a deserted island no more than 100m long located such that you could see nothing else from horizon to horizon.

Its worth checking on the damage on that island caused by the Tsunami as it was quite hit and miss.Eastern Islands with water bungalows faired the worst.

[chris.bailey]

PS I'm taking the MKII, 17-40, 70-200 2.8 and 1.4Tele, Epson P2000 and my ageing and battered S50.

[neil_r]

Chris, those pictures are stunning…….

Yes we do get the seaplane transfer, I will have to pack the camera bags with silica gel by the sound of it.

The island was hit by the Tsunami but is now 100% open. I have spoken to the guys at the dive centre to book my dives and they tell me that the accommodation is better than before (well fresh paint) and there has been no adverse affect on the sea life or coral.

I will be taking my S70 which has a waterproof case that is good for 40 meters and I will also take the MkII, I am not sure if I should take the 100-400 as it is almost as big as the island, what do you think?

Having looked at your pictures I am really fired up now and looking forward to “just getting away from it all”

Cheers

N

[chris.bailey]

Neil

I will be doing the Silica Gel trick this year as it was halfway through the sea-plane flight last year before I got to use the camera. Good news about the effect of the Tsunami on the coral as last year it was just beginning to come back after the El Nino effects. Underwater is stunning especially on the reef shelf as on one side the water is 30-40m deep and on the other 400m with a vertical cliff between!

I would take the 100-400 (I'm taking the 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4x). It should just about fit on the island!

The Maldives is certainly getting away from it all! Enjoy.

chris