tplyons
Contributor
Recently returned from a nine day charter onboard the MV Leo (part of the Constellation Fleet) out of Malé, Maldives. The trip was organized by Underwater Adventures Dive Center in Short Hills, NJ.
Upon our arrival we were picked up at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport by Rowan, one of our dive guides. After a quick wait, our dhoni (the traditional fishing/transport boat used in the Maldives) arrived and the dhoni crew loaded our luggage and ferried us to the MV Leo where were were given the tour, assigned our cabins, and were told that every time the bell rang, we should come to the parlor for "something good" -- either meaning it was time to go diving or time to eat!
On our tour we were shown the parlor, which is a dry area, where we would eat all our meals and receive all our dive briefings. This is also where we relaxed and got to know our fellow divers enjoying the air conditioning between dives and in the evenings. The bow featured a jacuzzi which we didn't use, as well as two decks where we could take in the sights and sun of the Maldives. The stern was the only place we could smoke so the rest of the boat didn't carry the odor... many evenings ended here with a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other. Most of the cabins were below deck and were comfortable, with two twin beds and a private bath. The rooms were comfortable and the bath was nicer than I've seen in many American hotels.
Unfortunately, the air conditioning was not functioning properly on the first two days of the trip, so Brett, the boat manager offered free beers to the guests. With the doors open and the fans going, and a few cold beers, we were as happy as could be despite the slight inconvenience of the broken AC.
On day two, our first day of diving, we did our checkout dive, a gentle drift dive on the Karumba House Reef. After the bell, we were briefed and we moved to the dhoni that we would be diving from for the next week. The dhoni was spacious, provided a camera table, delivered us to and picked us up from the dive sites, and the crew was great about helping us move about. After a dive, we would take our computers and cameras and leave the rest of our gear. We would come back from each dive with our tanks filled with Nitrox and ready to go. Our next dives took us to the Kuda Giri wreck and a night dive at Alimathaa (better known as the Jetty, with stingrays and nurse sharks).
The rest of the week took us to many pinnacles, channels, and a few drift dives. On the cruise we were able to swim with many white tipped reef sharks, grey reefs, manta rays, eagle rays, stingrays, reef fish, and even some whale sharks in the northern atolls. The dive guides Brett, Nora, Rowan, and Liwas were great about finding the sea life and pointing it out to us. I had the pleasure of diving with Rowan, Brett and Nora throughout the week and only had a chance to talk to Liwas between dives, however I couldn't speak more highly of the crew.
The food onboard the Leo was excellent, and we left every meal full and happy. The guests on our cruise consisted of ten Americans from Underwater Adventures Dive Center in NJ, two Brits, three Germans, one guy from France, one Russian and a videographer from Singapore. The guides represented the UK, China, South Africa and the Maldives. Everyone onboard got along great and built a great community throughout the week. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and I'm back in the states.
Long story short, I was absolutely floored by the quality of service onboard the MV Leo. I would happily come back to dive the southern atolls with Brett and crew, or I might try one of the sister ships, either the flagship Orion or the Virgo.
Upon our arrival we were picked up at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport by Rowan, one of our dive guides. After a quick wait, our dhoni (the traditional fishing/transport boat used in the Maldives) arrived and the dhoni crew loaded our luggage and ferried us to the MV Leo where were were given the tour, assigned our cabins, and were told that every time the bell rang, we should come to the parlor for "something good" -- either meaning it was time to go diving or time to eat!
On our tour we were shown the parlor, which is a dry area, where we would eat all our meals and receive all our dive briefings. This is also where we relaxed and got to know our fellow divers enjoying the air conditioning between dives and in the evenings. The bow featured a jacuzzi which we didn't use, as well as two decks where we could take in the sights and sun of the Maldives. The stern was the only place we could smoke so the rest of the boat didn't carry the odor... many evenings ended here with a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other. Most of the cabins were below deck and were comfortable, with two twin beds and a private bath. The rooms were comfortable and the bath was nicer than I've seen in many American hotels.
Unfortunately, the air conditioning was not functioning properly on the first two days of the trip, so Brett, the boat manager offered free beers to the guests. With the doors open and the fans going, and a few cold beers, we were as happy as could be despite the slight inconvenience of the broken AC.
On day two, our first day of diving, we did our checkout dive, a gentle drift dive on the Karumba House Reef. After the bell, we were briefed and we moved to the dhoni that we would be diving from for the next week. The dhoni was spacious, provided a camera table, delivered us to and picked us up from the dive sites, and the crew was great about helping us move about. After a dive, we would take our computers and cameras and leave the rest of our gear. We would come back from each dive with our tanks filled with Nitrox and ready to go. Our next dives took us to the Kuda Giri wreck and a night dive at Alimathaa (better known as the Jetty, with stingrays and nurse sharks).
The rest of the week took us to many pinnacles, channels, and a few drift dives. On the cruise we were able to swim with many white tipped reef sharks, grey reefs, manta rays, eagle rays, stingrays, reef fish, and even some whale sharks in the northern atolls. The dive guides Brett, Nora, Rowan, and Liwas were great about finding the sea life and pointing it out to us. I had the pleasure of diving with Rowan, Brett and Nora throughout the week and only had a chance to talk to Liwas between dives, however I couldn't speak more highly of the crew.
The food onboard the Leo was excellent, and we left every meal full and happy. The guests on our cruise consisted of ten Americans from Underwater Adventures Dive Center in NJ, two Brits, three Germans, one guy from France, one Russian and a videographer from Singapore. The guides represented the UK, China, South Africa and the Maldives. Everyone onboard got along great and built a great community throughout the week. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and I'm back in the states.
Long story short, I was absolutely floored by the quality of service onboard the MV Leo. I would happily come back to dive the southern atolls with Brett and crew, or I might try one of the sister ships, either the flagship Orion or the Virgo.
