9.185
9 (Mon) July 2018
Chili Spaghetti
4.0
aboard MV Adora
-Maldives-
with DV and friends
Summer Solo Vacation in the Maldives, Day 3.
- Day 1 (9.183 Grilled Y/F Tuna)
- Day 2 (9.184 Grilled Reef Fish)
In Male. Here for my first liveaboard experience: diving from, eating on, and sleeping in – i.e., living aboard – a boat that takes divers from site to site. I join a group assembled by my dive teacher DV, comprising his students and friends. For 7 days, we’ll be sailing through and diving amidst the central and northern atolls of the Maldives.
Here’s how it works …
MORNING DIVE
0600. Wake-up call (crew member clanging a bell).
0630. Briefing.
0723. Entry.
Dive 91.
0824. Surface.
BREAKFAST
0900. Breakfast.
While the lunch and dinner spreads are plentiful, healthful, and flavorful, the breakfast options are not.
MORNING NAP
0930. Back to bed.
Somehow, I lucked out and got a triple room to myself. As with the facilities throughout the boat, the room was immaculate, especially the bathroom – which is critical, as I am needing to shower three times per day.
AFTERNOON DIVE
1115. Briefing.
1205. Entry.
Dive 92.
1249. Surface.
LUNCH
1330. Lunch.
Similar to dinner, but a bit lighter with more veg.
AFTERNOON NAP
1430. Back to bed.
Although diving would seem to be nothing more than floating in the water – an hour at most, for a basic recreational dive – it’s tiring. After every dive, every diver took a nap.
NIGHT DIVE
1730. Briefing.
1814. Entry.
Dive 93.
The famous Alimatha shark dive. We enter at dusk and descend to a coral formation on the ocean floor at a depth of 30 meters. The dive masters turn on flood lights and chum the corals with fish blood. Within seconds, the nurse sharks arrive. While they’re busy thrashing about and sucking at the chum from the corals, completely oblivious to our presence, we’re free to touch, hug, kiss them. Intimately surreal.
1855. Surface.
DINNER
1930. Dinner.
The chili spaghetti was divine. So simple – nothing more than noodles with olive oil and chili flakes – yet so intense. I had three servings. Will definitely try to make this on my own.
Maybe the shark dive had heightened my senses.
BOOZE
Prior to arrival, my biggest concern had been whether I could access booze during the trip. The Maldives is a Muslim country where alcohol is strictly regulated: banned from entry at the airport – no duty free – and served only in certain licensed establishments where only tourists are permitted.
Thank goodness, the boat offers a full bar, including draft beer and a wide range of liquor at reasonable prices.
2100. Back to bed.
RINSE AND REPEAT