Often described as one of the most unique adventures one can experience in the Maldives the Whale Submarine encounter lets visitors observe what lies beneath in the comfort of the largest deep diving passenger submarine in the globe. Accessible from the Tear Drop Reef situated between Villingili and Male the once in a lifetime excursion is fast becoming one of the most popular attractions in the archipelago for marine life enthusiasts and amateur oceanic explorers.
With the ability to delve up to 150m below the ocean’s surface the Whale Submarine offers its passengers glimpses in to the deep underwater environment littered with schools of fish and stunning coral reefs. Up to 50 passengers at a time can ride on board the state-of-the-art vessel which was constructed in Germany by manufacturer Bruker Meerestechnik. Having performed nearly 2000 deep sea dives safely the world’s largest deep dive passenger submarine features cosy interiors that make for a comfortable trip on board one of the globe’s finest naval engineering feats. The air-conditioned interiors of the vessel also maintain normal atmospheric pressure conditions making the air quality within the cabin easy to breathe as above ground. Operated by a highly skilled staff of French and Maldivian personnel the Whale Submarine adheres to the strictest safety measures set forth by the Bureau Veritas of France and the American Bureau of Shipping while carrying sufficient food, energy, oxygen and other supplies to last up to100 hours for the benefit of all its passengers.
The 45 minute excursions on the Whale Submarine begins with a stopover at 25 meters depth where passengers will catch a glimpse of reef fish, colorful corals and other marine life with the likes of Yellow-Stripped Snappers, Turtles, Lionfish and Yellow Box Fish. The stop at 40m depth however opens up to a coral garden and an underwater cave where various kinds of marine life such as Giant Groupers, Napoleons and White Tip Reef Sharks take refuge.
Other highlights on the underwater adventure include dives alongside historic venues such as shipwrecks and well-known shark feeding areas. Refreshments and valuable insights on the particular dive site will be provided by the crew while night time excursions on the Whale Submarine are ideal for spotting Manta Rays asleep where they lie. Available at your convenience Whale Submarine dives take place every 90 minutes from 9am to 8pm.
Travellers desiring a quintessential villa in Maldives should look to the stylish Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas for their needs in accommodation. Ideally situated within a tropical haven this luxury rest with the only underwater restaurant in the county is amongst the finest Maldives resorts on the archipelago.