Dive Review of Sub Aqua DiveCenter in
Maldives/Conrad Rangali Resort

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Sub Aqua DiveCenter, Mar, 2011, by Steve Giles, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5973.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The Conrad Rangali Resort is not a dive resort per se, but a very upscale resort hotel for those willing to travel the distance. Our trip via Malaysia Airlines involved four flights to arrive at the destination: LAX to Taipei; Taipei to Kuala Lampur; Kaula Lampur to Male; and Male to Rangali (by seaplane). Total travel time (including layovers) = 48 hours. The resort is beautiful and immaculately maintained. All rooms consist of villas, some located on the beach; others located over the water. All afford a great degree of privacy. Probably most convenient for divers are the beach villas numbered from 201-206. We were in number 203 which was located directly across from the dive center and close to the swimming pool, workout room, child care center, shops, several restaurants, and the snorkeling lagoon. There are a total of eight restaurants available to resort guests, all of which can be described in two words: "excellent" and "EXPENSIVE". The Conrad Rangali boasts one of only two underwater restaurants in the world: the Ithaa Restaurant, which is truly unique. Something unusual about this resort: you don't need shoes! Other than the shoes/sandals that you wear while traveling, you will not need a pair of shoes while on the island. Thong sandals are furnished in the rooms and you will find that in most cases, shoes are an impediment to getting around. Even the exclusive Ithaa Restaurant requires that your footwear be removed at the door. The dive operation is extremely well run. Nitrox is available to those so certified at no additional charge. The dive boats are spacious with a fully covered deck plus a sundeck. We are not U/W photographers, but there seemed to be adequate acommodation for photographers and their equipment: water buckets furnished for cameras and a platform available for loading film, etc. Lots to see underwater in the Maldives: whale sharks, manta rays, white tip, black tip and silver tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, nurse sharks, stingrays, a variety of moray eels, grouper, tuna, jacks, schools of reef fish, lion fish, stone fish, octopus, etc. The people who run the dive center, the dive masters (Danny, Agnus, Jimmy, Julia, Mohammad, and Elder), and boat crew are very accommodating. On one occasion, we were late in signing up for a dive trip, the boat was full, and we were offered an early morning (unscheduled) trip to the same location. Highlight of the trip, for us, was the sighting of two whale sharks: one while snorkling; and a second while diving. Currents can be substantial in the Maldives, yet we had only one dive (out of 16) where it was an issue. Water temperatures ran 90-degrees at the surface; underwater the temperature varied between 84-88-degrees, depending on depth and location. The Maldives Conrad Rangali is definately NOT for the diver on a budget; but if you are willing to pay the price and go the distance, it is truly the trip of a lifetime!
Websites	Sub Aqua DiveCenter [same]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Thailand, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Hawaii, Palau, Fiji, St. Lucia, Bonaire, B.V.I., Roatan, Guanaha, Loreto, Cozumel, Mulije, Playa Del Carmen, Belize, Channel Islands
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm
Water Temp	84-90°F / 29-32°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	A dive guide is assigned for every four divers. All dives are timed at 60 minutes max. Those with "Open Water" certifications are limited to 20 meters (60 ft.) / those with "Advanced" certifications are allowed to dive to 30 meters (100 FT.) All divers must have/use a computer.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Sub Aqua DiveCenter in Maldives/Conrad Rangali Resort

Sub Aqua DiveCenter, Mar, 2011,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Sub Aqua DiveCenter in
Maldives/Conrad Rangali Resort