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For divers and lovers of the undersea world,
Bathala remains the finest dive resort in Maldives. Its location
on the edge of Ari Atoll makes it the perfect base for exploring
the dozens of excellent dive sites nearby.
On this tiny island with its Robinson Crusoe atmosphere, a beautiful
house reef, populated by hundreds of exotic species from tiny, luminous
wrasse and gaudy parrotfish to black-cheeked morays, stingrays and
sharks, is just a few steps away from the beach. Gentle currents
and clear visibility make the water around the house reef ideal
for novice divers. It is also a perfect location for night dives.
Further out, but still within easy reach, are a host of excellent
dive spots. The main atoll reef, Bathala Thila, offers magnificent
corals and is haunted by giant Napoleon wrasse and white-tipped
reef shark. It is just a five-minute boat ride from the resort.
Also nearby are Maaga Thila, or ‘shark point’ and the
famous reefs of Fish Head, where tame Napoleon wrasse welcome divers
to their home, and Maaya Thila, with its sharks, eagle rays, turtles,
barracuda and stonefish. Still farther away (a two-hour excursion
by boat) is Maalhos Thila, a completely unspoilt reef whose corals
were not affected by the El Niño bleaching of 2002. These
are just the best-known spots; in all, Bathala boasts 32 nearby
dive sites. |
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Bathala is also a good place in Maldives to see manta rays from November
to April. The dive school at Bathala offers both
CMAS and PADI courses and certification with German, English and Italian-speaking
instructors. Attention is personalised,
with lessons in groups of 2-3 divers, and the instructors will accompany
any dive at no extra cost. More experienced divers
will find that the instructors at Bathala are kindred spirits, fellow
enthusiasts who love both diving and the underwater paradise that is Maldives.
Perhaps the best testimonial for Bathala comes from the community of divers
that has grown up around the resort, many of whom keep returning year
after year. Some of our guests have returned to Bathala as often as 18
times! |
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