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The Maldives

The manta cleaning station here in Addu Atoll is full of life and photographic potential.

Equator Diving!

article and images by KEN HOPPEN - SE Experiences

T he Maldives had never really been on my list of destinations. Distant I thought, relatively hard to get to, but most of all my impression was too expensive. On the positive side I heard of big critter encounters, clean water, and beautiful resorts, so I have had a few differing thoughts about this Indian Ocean destination.

When I heard of a beautiful resort that put the price into a respectable range, I couldn’t resist seeing what I was missing. Equator Village is on the island of Gan, the southernmost island of the southernmost atoll in the Maldives archipelago. Situated just south of the equator (and I mean just south), this tropical, low-lying island is joined by causeways to the neighbouring islands of Feydu, Maradu and Hithadhoo on the western side of Addu Atoll. Buoyed by the knowledge that this atoll has an average temperature of just under 30°C all year round, and an overnight minimum of around 23°C at worst, and me coming off a Melbourne winter, how could I say no to a trip here? There are around 33,000 people who make Addu Atoll their home, so there is a lot of coffee shops, stores, and places to visit when you’re not in the water. We stayed at Equator Village, which is just a few minutes’ drive from the airport. This three-star resort is adapted from an old WWII RAF Station and is very colonial in appearance. The reception area is beautiful and leads straight into the bar and the restaurant. The rooms are air-conditioned and nicely spacious, with only a short walk to the beach and the ocean no matter where you are rooming. There is also the option of

The Maldives own blackfoot anemonefish is only found here and in nearby Sri Lanka. It’s easily recognised by the black pectoral fins and on the lower side of the body.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #404 - February ‘24

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