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Dive Review of MV Maldives Princess in
Maldives/North and South Ari Atolls, Ma

MV Maldives Princess, Oct, 2013,

by Mark Etter, PA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 11 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 7209.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments The boat was wonderful with large private bathrooms and splendid accommodations. The food was equally excellant! The boat crew was very helpful but understaffed and overworked.

The dive guides were difficult to handle and frequently chastized divers. One guide quit right before we left and the tour director also quit. We were at sea with little direction or communication from the crew regarding the day's dive plans. By the end of the trip, we were down to one guide for more than 16 divers. The trip could have been very good if we had better guides. The last guide was very friendly.

We had wonderful dinner under the stars one evening on a private island. Tables with white table cloths, sand sculptures, a bar, and more. The boat crew did an amazing job with several special meals during the journey.

Overall the trip could have been much better with better dive guides.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Indonesia, Red Sea, Lembeh, Komodo, Truk, Fiji, Australia, Much of the Caribbean, Mexico, North Carolina, etc.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions I was able to dive my own profile without restrictions except no decompression.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks 1 or 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments The boat had reasonable accommodations. We used the window sills, tables, and sometimes the sofas to set up cameras. There was no camera room. The boat we dove from had a large cooler for rinsing. The staff still needs to learn proper camera handeling, but they were very friendly and appeared to improve during the trip.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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