Technical Diving in the Maldives

[Shafraz]

Hi All!

I'm doing a little survey regarding Technical Diving as we're trying to get the Government of the Maldives to give permission to do Tec Diving here in the Maldives. So...If Tec Diving is introduced in the Maldives, would you do it? Please specify a reason if your answer is 'NO'. Also if it's 'YES', would like to know.

Best fishes

Shaff

[electric_diver]

What is there to see in the Maldives that warrants a technical dive?

Are there any deep wrecks? Caves?

What level of support is available? Can O2, nitrox and He be acquired at a resaonable price? What about sorb for the rebreather divers?

[Shafraz]

There are deep wrecks, reefs and a lot of other undiscovered submerged deep reefs. We're trying to get the government to approve and give permission for tec diving. The dive centers who will be doing tec will cater to all tec diving including O2, He, and nitrox. All the resorts in the Maldives offer Nitrox for free even now.

[BlueLabelDiving]

Hi Guys,


This request comes originally from the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives.

Maldives has had a 30m/no deco limit for the last 15 years. They're contemplating allowing now technical divers to pass below 30m and do extended decompression profiles.

They extended after a public meeting a quest to probe how many tech divers would be interested in visiting Maldives.

There are quite a few facilities that would support tech diving. Manifolds are sparse ( this will change after approval) but there is high level support for CCR (Helium/Oxygen,Sofnolime, Boosters) on liveaboards and dive centers.



The questions we'd like to see answered are;

would you be interested visiting Maldives for tech diving?

-YES/NO

because of ;

-travel distance
-quality of diving
-marine life
-scenery/topography under water
-price
-scenery/topography on land
-isolation of islands
-variety of islands
-exclusivity


Thanks in advance for your feedback,

Ben Reymenants TMX-IT#3134

International Training
TDI, SDI and ERDI

[Oxo]

Shafraz & Ben,

Excellent initiative! Please let me know how I can help! I would really love to see tech diving starting up here in Maldives. I already offer rebreather training here as well as some basic tech courses but limited by the current regulations. I am ready to help!

Take care all, safe diving!
Ben Capitaine

[BlueLabelDiving]

Shafraz & Ben,

Excellent initiative! Please let me know how I can help! I would really love to see tech diving starting up here in Maldives. I already offer rebreather training here as well as some basic tech courses but limited by the current regulations. I am ready to help!

Take care all, safe diving!
Ben Capitaine

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the support. We'd like to get as many votes as possible. You may have seen similar threads we posted on facebook, rebreatherworld, the deco stop and yorkshire divers...

Best, Ben

[IDS_Bill]

Yeah how do we vote in? I have been dying to get to the Maldives and this might just cement it.

[mafiajoe]

Hi Guys,


This request comes originally from the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives.

Maldives has had a 30m/no deco limit for the last 15 years. They're contemplating allowing now technical divers to pass below 30m and do extended decompression profiles.

They extended after a public meeting a quest to probe how many tech divers would be interested in visiting Maldives.

There are quite a few facilities that would support tech diving. Manifolds are sparse ( this will change after approval) but there is high level support for CCR (Helium/Oxygen,Sofnolime, Boosters) on liveaboards and dive centers.



The questions we'd like to see answered are;

would you be interested visiting Maldives for tech diving?

-YES/NO

because of ;

-travel distance
-quality of diving
-marine life
-scenery/topography under water
-price
-scenery/topography on land
-isolation of islands
-variety of islands
-exclusivity


Thanks in advance for your feedback,

Ben Reymenants TMX-IT#3134

International Training
TDI, SDI and ERDI

I'd certainly be interested,but I immagine the price of helium to be on the expensive side due to remoteness(as if it wasn't already expensive enuf;)).And what about recompression chambers?How many and how accessible?
As for rebreathers,a friend of mine is a CCR instructor and every year spends a couple of months there to teach courses,he's there right now,so I'm pretty positive they are well catered for.

[jacoboliva]

Hi,
Dive sites in the west experience wonderful clear visibility and slightly cooler water temperatures, attracting many of the shark species closer to the surface.Technical diving isn't for everyone, but if this type of diving appeals to you and you're willing to accept the risks, responsibilities and obligations.By contrast, experienced divers will enjoy some of the best drift dives in the world.

[super7]

Hi,
Let me vote yea.
Nearly half of my dives were done in the Maldives, and I love the place. If tec training becomes available, I would like to continue my tec training there.

From my perspective,
pros:
accommodation, great reef diving for my wife, kids programme and for my daughter, decompression chambers available (though not abundant), minimal concerns for extra baggage charge (frequent flyer perk), many air routes available from Japan

cons:
proper dive/training sites still to be developed, limited mode of evacuation at night (chopper flights after sun down have been prohibited, if I remember correctly), more impact on the wallet compared to other tec destinations in SE asia

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Nope, but its just a money thing.

[super7]

I'm wondering,
won't this thread get more responses if it's placed under the Regional Travel section,
instead of tech?

[Red Sea Shadow]

Technical diving in Maldives would certainly be a nice thing. But what about hyperbaric medical facilities?

[rubin]

I'm also interested to do this! But the distance is a big factor! Maldives is so far from me so for now my vote 'no'. May be i'll try later ;)