ONBOARD MANTHIRI, Maldives (31 Jan 2005) -- While damage to coastal villages, resorts and marine ecosystems was heavy in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands and Thailand, initial reports from divers aboard Manthiri indicate that most of the coral reefs in the Maldives were spared the full destructive force of the tsunami. And given the record of attempted cover-ups by tourism industry officials and dive shop owners, especially in Thailand, first-hand reports from divers are the only way to get the facts about the full extent of damage both below and above the ocean's surface. From expedition divers aboard Manthiri, here are the ship-to-shore, day-by-day dive site and coral reef reports sent to CDNN during the past 10 days from atolls in the Maldives. DAY 1 :: KUDAGIRI (PINNACLE) - SOUTH MALE' ATOLL An old tugboat. Some fish life but best suited for a checkout dive. Many red tooth triggerfish. This dive site does not appear to have been damaged by the tsunami. DAY 2 :: BIYAGIRI (PINNACLE) - SOUTH MALE' ATOLL Nice pinnacle dive. Fish life: several lionfish, stonefish, scorpion fish. But not world class. DAY 3 :: COCOA CORNER (CHANNEL) - SOUTH MALE' ATOLL Many white tip reef sharks. Very fishy dive. This is world class dive. Some broken coral but not due to tsunami. Every visitor to Maldives should dive at this site. DHON THILA (PINNACLE) - SOUTHEAST ARI ATOLL Done as an early afternoon dive. Visibility not so good but red tooth triggers and black coral produce a spectacular effect. No apparent tsunami damage. This is another site that everyone should experience. The gray and black "theme" of the dive is nice for video. World class. GETHI MULI (OUTER REEF) - SOUTH EAST ARI ATOLL Done as a twilight dive. Limited visibility but many fish. Some coral damage. But apparently not tsunami related. Good dive. DAY 4 :: KUDA RAH THILA (PINNACLE) - SOUTHEAST ARI ATOLL A superb dive. Beautiful Thila dive. Many schools of fish. Coral in excellent shape. Schools of snappers, many red tooth trigger fish. A world class dive. DHIDDHOO-BEYRU (WALL DIVE) - SOUTH ARI ATOLL Coral garden on a gentle slope. A lot of fish fusiliers, many at cleaning stations. Slight current. Coral in great shape—no tsunami damage. HOLIDAY GONI (WALL DIVE) - SOUTH ARI ATOLL Lovely wall dive site. Plenty of fish life. Coral condition was excellent. Saw absolutely no damage to the wall at all from tsunami. And by the way, not any evidence of El Nino coral bleaching. DAY 5 :: SUN FARU (WALL DIVE) - SOUTH ARI ATOLL This dive was very similar in style to the above dive. Once again, lots of fish life, coral in great shape. Not any evidence of tsunami damage. Great dive. RANGALI MANTA POINT (CHANNEL WALL DIVE) – WEST COAST ARI ATOLL This dive was fantastic. Fish life on this dive and all others has been pelagic. The mantas were there for a good part of the dive. Once again the condition of reef was terrific: soft corals, table top corals all pristine. No evidence of any damage to the reef at all. Nor was there any evidence of any coral bleaching. RANGALI MANTA POINT – WEST COAST ARI ATOLL Same as above. FABULOUS AGAIN!!! DIGA THILA (PINNACLE) – MID ARI ATOLL Wonderful wall dive with a large amount of | | life. Plenty of fish. coral, and even turtles. Coral is in perfect condition and there is no tsunami or El Nino damage. DAY 6 :: KALA HANDI (CHANNEL DIVE) - WEST COAST ARI ATOLL Great condition again. Tons of table top coral. Perfect condition again. Not any damage at all. Beautiful setting. Lots of fish everywhere. Rays, puffers, fusiliers, parrot fish. No damage. COME AND DIXIE! DONKALO THILA (PINNACLE-CHANNEL) – WEST COAST This was a great dive. Sand channel leading out of the lagoon to outer area of atoll. 3 – 4 mantas to play with for whole dive. Absolutely great. BIG ANIMAL ACTION!! MALOS THILA (PINNACLE) - WEST COAST ARI ATOLL Extensive soft coral. Lots of fish. Overhangs have a lot of soft coral hanging down. Many gorgonian. No tsunami or even diver damage. We did two dives—one with strong current and the other with little current. We were in a couple of canyons w/coral overgrowing all sides. With current, this is a world class dive. MALOS FARU (WALL DIVE) - WEST COAST ARI ATOLL Terrific wall dive with slight current. Plenty of fish life. Coral is in wonderful shape with huge, beautiful table top coral. Absolutely NO tsunami damage or El Nino bleaching. DAY 7 :: FESDU WRECK - MID ARI ATOLL Tug boat. Nice soft coral. Blue fin jacks circling + hunting – bursting into the clouds of small clouds of fish. No tsunami damage. Strong current. FISH HEAD (PINNACLE) – MID ARI ATOLL High current. Grey reef sharks, white tip shark. Big Napoleon wrasse. 2 – 3 turtles (friendly). No tsunami damage. Many anemones. Excellent coral. DAY 8 :: KANDOL CORAL GARDEN (WALL DIVE) – MID ARI ATOLL Corals all over the place. At the end many table corals at about 10 – 20 feet. Also, many fish. No tsunami or El Nino damage. MAYA SHARK POINT (PINNACLE) - NORTH ARI ATOLL Schools of either giant or golden trevally passed by several times. A number of large sharks. One octopus, many other fish—red tooth trigger fish, fusiliers, etc. Two turtles, one manta, shrimp, eels. No damaged corals. DAY 9 :: GAHA FARU (OUTER WALL) - NORTH ARI Excellent coral and fish life. Terrific manta ray encounters as well as white tip sharks. No tsunami or El Nino damage visible anywhere. RASDO CHANNEL (CHANNEL) - RASDOO ATOLL Tuna, eagle rays, and plenty of other sea life. Coral appeared in excellent condition with no tsunami or El Nino damage. DAY 10 :: VELLA WALL (WALL DIVE) - SOUTH MALE' ATOLL Beautiful vertical wall with plenty of fish life and both hard and soft coral. Excellent caves and overhangs. White tip sharks, turtles, Napoleon, and large schools of smaller fish. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
