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Maldives Deep South Shark Trip - Carpe Vita Liveaboard

Maldives Deep South Shark Trip - Carpe Vita Liveaboard

February 28 to March 10, 2016

We have the last remaining cabins on a Maldives charter on the Carpe Vita, our favourite ship in the Maldives. First class all the way…! This charter is 11 nights from February 28 to March 10, 2016. Rates on this trip: Main Deck Cabin = $4,549 and Lower Deck = $4,329 USD per person. Fuel surcharge $100 per person, Green Tax $66 per person, Nitrox $200 per person.

This itinerary requires a one-way domestic flight from Addu (GAN) at the end of the trip at an approximate cost of $260 per person.

 
 
 
Male to Addu on the Carpe Vita
 ITINERARY 1: MALE – ADDU (11 NIGHTS)
Atolls covered: South Male, South Ari, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu
This unique 11 night trip will be starting from Male and end all the way past the equator in Addu. On this 11 night trip South Ari atoll is added. Guests will require a domestic flight back after the trip from Gan (Addu) to Male airport or from Male to Addu to join the trip. The routing is suitable for experienced divers only due to the currents and number of channel dives involved. The routing is focussed on seeing lots of sharks including possible thresher and tiger sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks and mantas plus the possibility of seeing the rare Mola molas (sunfish). The map below gives a tentative overview of the routing, but will be weather depending. Because of the distance that needs to be covered this trip will only provide 3 dives a day instead of the package of 4 normally offered on the Carpe Vita.

 

Maldives Far North Expedition - Carpe Vita

 

 

** SOLD OUT **

Maldives Far North Expedition on the Explorer Ventures Carpe Vita

December 30, 2015 to January 10, 2016 - $4164 per person

The Carpe Vita meaning “Seize Life” was built in the Maldives by Amir Mansoor and started operations in 2011. The charters cater to a maximum of 20 divers with 10 cabins on 3 decks thus providing more space than her sister ship, the Carpe Diem.

Join us on an 11-night new route and itinerary for the Carpe Vita December 30, 2015 to January 10, 2016. This fantastic liveaboard will take you to some new and seldom visited reefs and as yet unexplored dive sites.

Explorer Ventures has come up with a unique routing that nobody else is doing yet, starting and ending in Male to avoid domestic flights needed. However due to the additional distance covered there will be an increased fuel surcharge. Because of the distance we need to cover, the minimum amount of nights needed to do this trip is 11 nights or more. These will be the first trips conducted by us to the far North and even though a lot of sites are known to us there will be some exciting exploration of new sites during the trip as well. The trip will take the guests away from other boat traffic, meaning you will be the only boat on most of the dive sites the further North we go. The North is characterized by beautiful reef formations and abundance of fish life.  The trip will have some  great shark life as well as manta cleaning station sites and an exciting site with friendly green turtles. By adding Ari atoll and Vaavu atoll at the end you will still have a chance to see the whale shark and do the famous manta and whale shark night dives but more boat traffic there to be expected.  The trip will only be able to offer 3 dives a day. Planned trip route is shown on a map below.

North Male – Lhaviyani – Shaviyani – Haa Dhaalu – Noonu – Raa – Baa – Rasdhoo – Ari – Vaavu – South Male

This package includes: 11 nights lower deck accommodations aboard the vessel; 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks; 3 dives daily (except for on day of arrival and day before departure) including one or two night dives; use of tanks, weights and belts; non alcoholic beverages and 2 glasses or beer or wine with dinner; airport transfers on the days of embarkation/disembarkation; GST 12%.

$4164 Per Person plus $400 per person fuel surcharge and $6 per day Government Green Fee

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Oct 10-17, 2015 - Group Charter

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Oct 10-17, 2015

Group Charter - Save $200

Join us on a small group charter to the Turks & Caicos on the fin-tastic Turks & Caicos Explorer II Liveaboard. We have only 2 remaining cabins on this charter.

We have Main Deck cabins reserved and these are normally $2395 per person. Now save $200 per person at the price of $2195 per person. Twin or queen bed, desk and chair, dresser, hanging closet, wardrobe, large window(s), private ensuite bathroom and shower.

Packages Include:

  • 7 nights/8 days aboard vessel
  • 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
  • up to 5 dives daily
  • Use of tanks, weights and belts
  • All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Not included: Port fee $85 and fuel surcharge $125.

Scheduling 5 dives daily, including night dives, the vessel boards in Providenciales each Saturday and offers 5 1/2 days of diving each week. You'll explore the 5 different black coral species at Black Coral Forest, the reef sharks of Provo's Shark Hotel, the deep-water gorgonians of G-Spot, and the spotted eagle rays of Double D, along with a multitude of other dive sites along the region's plunging walls.  

Arenui Komodo Focus 12 Day / 11 Night Cruise Bima to Labuanbajo 2016

2016 Arenui Komodo Focus 12 Day / 11 Night

Bima to Labuanbajo Cruise  $6270 Per Person

Join our group on the Arenui for an amazing excursion in Indonesia, cruising the waters of Komodo. This is another bucket list destination. The charter embarks in Bima and disembarks in Labuanbajo. When you enquire about our charter, ask for our agent's discount. Dates for this charter are 29 July to 09 August 2016. Email us for a detailed trip itinerary.

Added Fees: Port $150; Fuel Surcharge $100; Marine Park Fee $90.

Standard Inclusions: Full board accommodation in deluxe cabin; shore activities/excursions according to the program; soft drinks, water, tea, American/Balinese coffee; five meals per day, up to 4 dives/day; tanks, weights and weight belts; airport transfer; government taxes; 1/2 hour welcome massage.

Standard Exclusions: administration/port clearance fee; National Parks fee; fuel surcharge; international and domestic air; hotels and meals before and after the cruise; alcoholic drinks, espresso, cappuccino; dive equipment rental; nitrox; massages and spa treatments; travel insurance; onboard purchases; private tours; laundry; on-board telecommunications; crew gratuities. 

This famous dive destination is located in the within the Coral Triangle, an area that boasts the world's highest marine biodiversity. Situated 200 nautical miles east of Bali in Nusa Tenggara province - in the Lesser Sunda Islands - the Komodo National Park has a total land area of 75,000 hectares and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which is Komodo (34,000 hectares). A total of 112,500 hectares of the surrounding waters is also under the jurisdiction of the park rangers, allowing for the protection of over 1,000 species of fish and hundreds of different corals.

Komodo's dive sites stretch from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean. The underwater terrain presents many contrasts, with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs and channels - all with differing colors, sizes and types of both hard and soft corals.

As an example of how Komodo truly represents diving diversity, 2 popular dive sites at Gili Lawa Laut - Crystal Rock and Castle Rock - offer opportunities for critter spotting, as well as big fish action.In fact, Castle Rock offers a nice opportunity to try out a 'reef-hook' dive, as you secure yourself to the rock and float in the current, watching the schooling fish and predator/prey action!

 

 

Dive at other famous sites such as Cannibal Rock, Manta Alley, Yellow Wall, Angel Reef, Torpedo Alley, Pink Beach, Unusual Suspects, Crinoid Canyon and Gazer Beach. Visit the very best that Komodo has to offer, from Pulau Moyo, Pulau Banta and Bima Bay, to Pulau Satonda and Pulau Sangean.

In Moyo, you'll find spectacular corals and crystal clear waters. Banta is famed for its stunning wall dives and drop-offs, with beautiful corals covering the walls like an Andy Warhol painting. Bima Bay offers world-class muck diving with black coral covered reefs. Satonda is famous above the water for its fruit bats (which take off every sunset for a nights feeding) and below the waves for its sheltered bays and remarkable critters. Try something unique at Sangeang Island as we dive in the shadow of an active volcano, feeling the hot springs bubbling up under the black sand.h, Unusual Suspects, Crinoid Canyon and Gazer Beach. Visit the very best that Komodo has to offer, from Pulau Moyo, Pulau Banta and Bima Bay, to Pulau Satonda and Pulau Sangean.

In Komodo, expect encounters with pelagics, such as manta rays, eagle rays, sharks, mola-mola (sunfish), tuna and even whales. Get your macro lens ready for unusual critters such as ornate ghost pipefish, different kinds of pygmy seahorses, rare clown frogfish, weird and wonderful nudibranchs, blue-ringed octopus, pipefish, scorpion leaf fish, coleman shrimp, boxer crabs, zebra crabs. Fill your memory cards with bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, juvenile batfish, stonefish, devilfish, seahorses, dragonets, turtles, cuttlefish, banded sea-snakes, snake eels, stargazers, slipper lobsters, fire-urchins and sea-apples.

Arenui Raja Ampat 11 Day / 10 Night Cruise Sorong to Sorong December 2017

2017 Arenui Raja Ampat - 11 Day / 10 Night

Sorong to Sorong Cruise $5,900 USD Per Person

Join our group on the Arenui for an end of the year celebration in Indonesia, cruising the waters of Raja Ampat. This is truly a bucket list destination. The charter embarks and disembarks in Sorong. Dates for this charter are December 12-22, 2017. When you enquire about our charter, ask for our agent's discount.

Additional Fees: Fuel Surcharge $100; Port Fee $150; Marine Park Fee $120.

Standard Inclusions: Full board accommodation in deluxe cabin; shore activities/excursions according to the program; soft drinks, water, tea, American/Balinese coffee; five meals per day, up to 4 dives/day; tanks, weights and weight belts; airport transfer; government taxes; 1/2 hour welcome massage.

Standard Exclusions: administration/port clearance fee; National Parks fee; fuel surcharge; international and domestic air; hotels and meals before and after the cruise; alcoholic drinks, espresso, cappuccino; dive equipment rental; nitrox; massages and spa treatments; travel insurance; onboard purchases; private tours; laundry; on-board telecommunications; crew gratuities.

 

Raja Ampat is the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity. In addition to varied corals, critters and pelagics, this destination offers vibrant and colorful underwater scenes plus also majestic landscapes, making it a perfect destination for keen photographers. The only problem with diving here, in Raja Ampat, is that you'll be so spoiled by the near-perfect conditions that you may never want to leave or dive anywhere else again.

Spread across 1,500 virtually untouched islands, the waters of the Raja Ampat region are home to the most colorful, pristine and photogenic soft coral reefs, as well as a wide range of creatures from walking sharks to mantas to pygmies. Raja Ampat can boast over 1,300 reef fish, 13 marine mammals, 5 species of endangered sea turtles, 600 hard corals and 75 % of all known coral species. 

PAPUAN DIVE SITES

West of Sorong, Batanta Island will give you the chance to experience the amazing diversity of diving in Indonesia. Along the south coast are 2 incredible muck dives, where divers enjoy close encounters with all sorts of intriguing critters. At Black Beauty and Happy Ending look for tiger shrimps, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus and many nudibranchs. During the night bobbit worms, white V octopus and frogfish can be found hiding in the black sand.

In the south of Raja Ampat, we dive various sites around the large island of Misool. Dive at Nudi Rock, Whale Rock, Batu Kecil, Fiabecet Corner and Kalig Ridge. Wobbegong sharks hide under colourful coral shelves and the elusive Epaulette "walking" shark comes out at night. Marvel at the overhangs and bommies of Wedding Cake. At Wayili Rock, witness large schools of batfish, trevallies and barracuda. Explore Boo Rock and Boo Point, for large Napoleon Wrasse and Green Turtles. Try out your photo skills at Boo 'windows' as dive-buddies swim through the opening in the submerged rock past a reef draped in soft corals and brimming with fish.

South-east Misool is famous for the profusion of colourful soft corals and sea fans beautifully draped all over the reefs. If you're not one already, then diving in Misool will undoubtedly make you a huge fan of sea fans. Jump in at Neptune Fan Sea for a great drift dive, rushing along a gulley past giant and exquisitely-coloured gorgonian seafans.

East of Misool, we visit the Wagmab area. Drop in at Edi's Cave for something a little different, as we pop up half way through the dive to take a breath inside the cave! At the Wagmab Corner dive site, look for wobbegong sharks resting under ledges or on top of cup corals.

Back in central Raja Ampat, just north of Batanta (in the Gam area, south of Waigeo island), expect huge schools of fusiliers, snappers, surgeons, batfish and barracuda. Wobbegong, black tip and white tip sharks cruise the reefs here and look out for the elusive blue ring octopus creeping around the hard corals.

In south-west Gam, we dive at Arborek Jetty for pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus. The fish life in this area is plentiful. The newly discovered Pontohi pygmy seahorse can be found on the coral heads and see the giant clam nestled among the pulsing soft corals. At night listen for the toad fish croaking from under the rocks.

Also nearby, Manta Sandy is well-known for much bigger visitors, as it is one of the most consistent spots for finding congregating mantas. It's easy to spend a whole dive observing these majestic animals as they somersault through the water while being cleaned. If you're lucky, you'll be able to witness the unforgettable sight of a "manta train" - where a dozen or more mantas glide around and follow each other head-to-tail.

Heading to the northern Raja Ampat area, we visit a pearl farm in Aljui Bay (north-west side of Weigeo), to explore underneath the main jetty for wobbegong sharks, stonefish, hundreds of schooling scads, ghost pipefish, juvenile batfish and more. Nearby, the night dive is probably the best of the whole cruise, with a chance to see velvet fish, ghost pipefish, waspfish, coconut octopus, helmut flying gunnards and even the walking shark.

West of Waigeo, the rocks and seamounts in the Kawe area are truly singular as they actually sit on the equator. Kawe is one of the few places in the world where you can travel between the northern and southern hemispheres while diving! Yet, this is not the only reason to be excited about this dive. A combination of currents and feeding stations in this area combine to draw in a profuse amount of fish life, as well as huge mantas.

Cruising even further to the north, we visit the Wayag area. This isolated, uninhabited area sprinkled with verdant limestone islands, bordered by slivers of white sandy beaches and palm trees, represents what people usually have in mind when they think of paradise. The only thing to rival the landscape here is the diving. It is truly spectacular, with extensive and untouched hard coral reefs. As the majority of Wayag's islands have yet to be explored, it is very likely that many more dive sites will be found in this still remote area.

Returning to central Raja Ampat, we head to Dampier Strait, where nutrient-rich ocean currents create an incredible underwater environment. Everything which makes for a wonderful dive can be found here. Explore the dives sites of Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Chicken Reef, Otdima Reef, Kerupiar Island and Mioskon. Ironically, sardines are about the only reef fish not found at the site of Sardine Reef, but you won't even notice as fusiliers, surgeonfish, trevallies, rainbow runners, sweetlips and bannerfish practically block out the sky, as they swarm over a reef decorated with sea fans, soft corals and huge orange elephant ear sponges encrusted with pastel colonies of tunicates. One of the more unique thrills of this site is being able to hear "fish thunder" - the loud booming sound made when a large number of fish move rapidly through open water.

Arenui Liveaboard Charter to Alor-Komodo, Indonesia - August 6-19, 2014

 

 

 

 ** SOLD OUT **

Our 2014 Premier Indonesia Liveaboard Charter

Alor-Komodo August 6-19, 2014 

Arenui The Boutique Liveaboard 

Join us on the Arenui, Indonesia's finest liveaboard for a charter that will take us through Komodo and Alor for some of the finest diving found in the Flores Seas. The Arenui features a crew of 22 ready to serve you on this fantastic charter. And a fantastic bonus on this charter will be the photographic talents of underwater professional Liz Rogers. Liz will be conducting evening seminars on improving your underwater photos and skills that will result in professional quality images.

Liz Rogers is an underwater and cave diving photographer and explorer, who regularly travels to remote areas where serious dedication is required to get the shot. Part of the thrill of visiting rarely seen areas is the opportunity to share the experience with others - both in person and with pictures. Liz has brought back images that have been published in both the diving and mainstream press, and placed in major international photography competitions.  

 

She writes regularly on her website, explaining the backstory to her images each week.

 


Liz is looking forward to sharing some great diving and photographic adventures aboard the luxurious Arenui as we cruise through the waters of Komodo and the Flores Seas. 

Check out Liz's website at http://lizrogersphotography.com 

Transform your dive dream into reality! 14 Days / 13 Nights Maumere to Lubuanbajo

 

 

Komodo

This famous dive destination is located in the within the Coral Triangle, an area that boasts the world's highest marine biodiversity. Situated 200 nautical miles east of Bali in Nusa Tenggara province - in the Lesser Sunda Islands - the Komodo National Park has a total land area of 75,000 hectares and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which is Komodo (34,000 hectares). A total of 112,500 hectares of the surrounding waters is also under the jurisdiction of the park rangers, allowing for the protection of over 1,000 species of fish and hundreds of different corals.

Komodo's dive sites stretch from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean. The underwater terrain presents many contrasts, with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs and channels - all with differing colours, sizes and types of both hard and soft corals.

 

General information: Currents can be strong; dive depths 5-30 meters; number of dive sites, 53; seas are generally calm; visibility 10-40 meters; water temperature 22-28 degrees C; suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.

 

Alor

As well as being one of the best kept secrets for diving in paradise, including rare finds like the beautiful rhinopias but also plenty of pelagic action, this area boasts stunning topside scenery and impressive volcanoes.

Cruises in Alor and Flores offer widespread muck diving, sharks and large schools of fish, WWII wreck dives, untouched reefs and unexplored coral gardens, magnificent soft corals and stunning hard coral formations. We also visit the famous Pura Island villagers, who splash out of their wooden dugout canoes and dive underwater with home-made goggles fashioned from wood and glass bottles.

General information: Currents can be gentle to strong; dive depths 10-30 meters; number of dive sites, 47; seas are generally calm; visibility 10-40 meters; water temperature 2-29 degrees C; suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.


 

The Dive Sites

Some of the incredible dive sites we will visit include Serbete Reef and Adonara Island, Tanjung Waiwowan,Suangi Island and Lamalera, Beang Abang, Tanjung Kanang, Pura Island, Sabolan, Tatawa Besar, Tatawa Kecil, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock and many others.

 

Expect to experience reef shallows with ribbon eels and nudibranches; ledges and walls with white tip reef sharks and rhinopias; reef sandy slopes with blue ring octopus and bamboo sharks; sea mounts and crevices with bumphead parrot fish and sea turtles; pelagic sites with dramatic drop-offs with passing whales and Mola Mola; black sand beachfronts with muck dives revealing sea horses, frogfish, and rhinopias; and sites like Anemone City where there is the largest field of sea anemones in the world. Form the macro to the magnificent, you will fill your camera memory card with memories.

Published Rate: $6,500 USD per person plus fees

Fuel Surcharge Fee: $100 USD

Port Clearance Fee: $150 USD

National Parks Fee: $60 USD

 

INCLUSIONS: Full board accommodations, shore excursions according to itinerary, soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, 5 meals a day, up to 4 dives per day, tanks, weights, weight belts, transfers to embarkation/disembarkation airport, welcome massage.

EXCLUSIONS: International and domestic air fares, hotels and meals before and after cruise, alcoholic beverages, espresso, dive equipment rental, spa treatments, onboard purchases, travel insurance, private tours, crew gratuities.

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