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PADI Open water referral course


sidicks
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This weekend I completed the PADI open water referral course. I have booked a trip to Malta at the end of April to complete the open water dives with the fiance of a friend I used to work with, who has a dive school there.

Assuming I get the open water qualification, I hope to do some diving in the Maldives when we are there in early June, but I’m looking for some advice:

Has anyone been diving in the Maldives and recommend particular dives to do – night days etc ?

How many dives do you ‘need’ before doing the Advanced course ?

Cheers

Sidicks

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How many dives do you ‘need’ before doing the Advanced course ?

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You don't - I did my advanced course 4 weeks after getting my open water qualification and did no proper dives between the two courses.

Can't comment on the Maldives as I haven't been there yet but hope to go sometime this year.

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Has anyone been diving in the Maldives and recommend particular dives to do – night days etc ?

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The Maldives is a big place, which atoll / island are you considering ? That will basically be the limiting factor that will decide what dives you get to do because you will only be able to get so far from your resort.

I have just returned from there and can tell you that the diving is spectacular if you get to the right places. We did an 85 minute dive with 10 Mantas within touching distance whilst they were at a cleaning station. Truly awe inspiring, but we did that dive from a liveaboard. That was in the South of the Ari atoll at a site called Madivaru, the nearest island is the Hilton Rangali which isn't cheap shocked.gif

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MLEHITW

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I once went to the Ari Beach resort (unsurprisingly on the Ari Atoll as well) and had some great diving. Lots to see. Many mantas over at a place called Manta Point, IIRC. Even saw a whale shark, which was a bit special.

It isn't the most sophisticated of the resorts but then it isn't the most expensive. Basic but quite comfortable enough. I thoroughly enjoyed it and spent all the money I had saved on jetskiing smashfreakB.gif

I didn't do any night dives but found quite enough in the days to make me happy.

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