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Dive Review of M/Y Blue Voyager (Maldives Master) in
Maldives/Central Atolls

M/Y Blue Voyager (Maldives Master): "Maldives: Great Boat, Questionable Diving", Apr, 2018,

by Tim, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports with 7 Helpful votes). Report 10243 has 3 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Blue Voyager and The Master Fleet are merging and while the brand is yet to be consolidated, it is a well-run organization. The 120’ boat is well appointed with a large dining area, a very large sky lounge and a large sun deck with a hot tub. There are 13 cabins.

They run a “dhoni”, Blue Shadow, which is a 62’ dive boat that follows the Master. All dive gear is stored on the dive boat and all dives are conducted from the dhoni. This was a very convenient set-up and kept the live-aboard dry and free of clutter. The food was good and there was a nice variety. Fresh snacks followed every dive. The crew does a good job maintaining and addressing any issues that arise. The Dive Crew had a great attitude and excellent dive briefings.

The customary approach is to dive in a current and hook on the corner where the channel and reef meet and observe Mantas, Rays, White Tip, Gray Reef Black Tip Sharks. Unfortunately we saw very limited action and were told the changing season played havoc with anticipated currents. Often there was no current and only a couple small sharks. On a couple of occasions at depth there was a ripping down current flowing out to the channel resulting in a challenging dive that was not enjoyable. Visibility was mediocre on most dives, but there were a few spots where it was excellent. Coral was brilliant on a few sites, but mostly dead rubble.

We hope that our bad fortune – 2 mantas and no whale sharks – was our timing and the change of seasons. It could also be that when 150+ divers (we encountered this) regularly diving on the popular sites is changing animal behavior. Many live-aboards, including this boat, left Egypt after their political issues and are now based out of Male. Getting to The Maldives is a very long trip to just to see “the usual tropical suspects”, mediocre viz and unhealthy reefs.
Websites M/Y Blue Voyager (Maldives Master)   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving California, Hawaii, Florida, Cuba, USVI, BVI's, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, La Paz, Indonesia, Chuuk, Palau, Fiji, Egypt, Saba, Dominica, St. Maarten, Bahamas
Closest Airport MLE Getting There LAX -> HGK -> MLE

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents, no currents
Water Temp 84-86°F / 29-30°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 90' depth limit by Maldives Law
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 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 2 stations: one in the Sky Lounge upstairs on top of a cabinet. One on the aft deck not enclosed.
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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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