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Dive Review of Explorer Ventures Carpe Vita in
Maldives/central atolls

Explorer Ventures Carpe Vita: "Diving is not worth the cost or time", Feb, 2017,

by Gail M King, FL, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 28 reports with 25 Helpful votes). Report 9523 has 4 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 2 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 2 stars
Value for $$ 2 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments We went in the prime diving time of year--Feb & March to have the best conditions so paid full price.We had rough,windy conditions the first 4 days of our 10 nite trip with slowly improving conditions for the remainder of the trip.But the weather was not the real problem in the Maldives...all types of hard corals were 90% dead on all reefs we dove for the entire trip which included North & South Male,Vaavu,Meemu,South & North Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls for a total of 34 dives.I think the dead corals have vastly depleted the tropical fish population.Every dive was the same...we went down to 90+ feet & hooked in to watch a few white tip & grey reef sharks swim back & forth...got boring very quickly.We felt lucky to see a squad of Eagle Rays pass high above us once.We also saw the mantas at South Ari.I did see 1 honeycomb moray which was the highlight of my trip...other morays were seen more often as were octopus.We were divided into 3 groups each led by a guide to the hook in spot...there just wasn't much variety of life to observe on most dives.The dive boat was large & comfy,drops were good,& diving was safe in current conditions.Our liveaboard was a floating hotel...our standard cabin was huge by liveaboard standards,salon was large & comfy as was the upper sun/shade deck.I wish Carpe Vita was in a different location.All meals were outside buffet.There was plenty of food just the same thing over & over for lunch & dinner...jack fish was awful...ice cream was the lunch delight.I expected to be impressed by the diving from all I had researched but the word had not gotten out as to the reef conditions that happened last year which really sent the reefs into a death spiral.Bottom line...don't go.Palau is much more alive for hook in current diving & Raja Ampat has great variety & water/reef conditions.
Websites Explorer Ventures Carpe Vita   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Indonesia, Palau, Fiji, Philippines, Australia, Galapagos, Socorro, Hawaii, Bahamas, Caribbean
Closest Airport Male,Maldives Getting There Emirates from Orlando,FL thru Dubai to Male

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp 81-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions buddy diving only & depth of 99 ft which was ignored
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks > 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 2 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments rinse tanks for cameras & plenty of table room.crew was careful with cameras
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Report currently has 4 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By wendy durr in CA, US at Mar 29, 2017 00:10 EST  
March sister boat, ditto- disappointing diving, boat and crew were great. Food similar for all meals, agree.
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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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