7- NIGHT TURTLE SNORKELING CONSERVATION CRUISE

Upon arriving in the Maldives you will be met by your tour leader at Male International Airport and transferred by dhoni to board MV Felicity. After settling in, set off for Maafushi in South Male Atoll where you will have your first Maldives underwater encounter. Your tour leader will provide a safety briefing on responsible snorkeling and act as your ‘spotter’ pointing out marine life that may not have caught your eye. Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems so learning how to snorkel responsibly can help minimize your impact on the marine environment and protect the delicate balance of marine life.

In the evening, a presentation focuses on the vital role of coral reefs, their biodiversity, and the threats they face due to climate change, pollution, and human activities. The Maldives is rich in marine life but unfortunately, our marine life is under threat because of activities carried out by us humans. Your Tour Leader will highlight the harmful practices that are pushing the balance in the ecosystem and what we can do to limit the impact.

Today begins with a visit to Maafushi, providing an opportunity to witness and discuss the positive and negative impact of tourism on small island nations, as well as the chance to explore a coral rehabilitation site and witness coral propagation. This will underpin the importance of coral reef restoration and the positive impact these conservation efforts can have on island nations.

We also snorkel the seagrass beds and discover their importance to the ecosystem. Despite being one of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, sea grass is considered unsightly, and is often deliberately removed.  Gain insights into how seagrass meadows interconnect with coral reefs and marine life including sea turtles.

Back on-board Felicity for lunch, there is time for afternoon snorkeling before we cruise further south through South Male Atoll, during which time the Olive Ridley Project researcher will share information on turtle species, biology, anatomy and turtle behaviors in preparation for our encounters!

Learn more about Olive Ridley Project here

As the sun rises, we go snorkeling in search of turtles. Be sure to have your underwater camera at the ready! Photo identification is a non-invasive method to study marine population dynamics, and has been used on a variety of different marine species such as dolphins, whales, manta rays and sea turtles. The images use unique, naturally occurring marks on each creature’s body to identify different individuals. A turtle’s facial profile is unique to them, similar to human fingerprints! 

Before entering the water, Olive Ridley will share the turtle snorkeling code of conduct, ensuring the experience is memorable for both you and the turtle. As marine life in their natural habitat we have no guarantee of sightings, we may see 2 or 3 turtles in an hour or maybe only one for the whole time we are searching, but the unpredictability adds to the excitement and also to our understanding.

This morning we will cross the channel into Vaavu Atoll where we will aim to provide a further two snorkeling opportunities at reefs where turtles are commonly seen. It is not uncommon to spot a turtle on the ocean surface as it comes up to breathe but the best chance of encounters will be while snorkeling. 

When we do spot them, following the turtle code of conduct we will snorkel alongside them. A truly magical experience. As an integral part of the data capture process, you’ll actively assist the Olive Ridley Project researcher in gathering vital information like size, behavior, and markings. This hands-on involvement directly contributes to their ongoing research efforts, and later this evening you will hear more about their research efforts and how it contributes to both a greater understanding of the species and environmental decisions being made by Maldivian government bodies.

This morning we will once again go snorkeling in search of turtles. The coral reefs of the Maldives are inhabited by a diverse range of marine life and are teeming with colourful fish and corals. Keep your eyes open for sharks and rays you never know what may be in the blue! Your tour leader will act as your ‘spotter’ pointing out marine life that may not have caught your eye.

In the afternoon, we visit an uninhabited island. Islands of the Maldives provide nesting grounds for turtles and the Olive Ridley Project Researcher will take us through the breeding and nesting habits of turtles and the threats faced by nesting turtles, their eggs and also baby turtles. The island’s beaches will invite you to wander and explore their hidden corners. Unfortunately, plastic is often not hidden and we will spend time completing a beach clean-up activity, ensuring we leave a positive mark on the island.

The day concludes with a special BBQ beach dinner, under the stars.

Once again, our day will be focused on snorkeling and searching for turtles in order to gather data. The data collected will assist in understanding population size and composition, and maybe even identify critical habitats such as mating grounds, foraging areas, and migratory routes. Green and hawksbill turtles are the two most frequently spotted turtles across the Maldives, but sadly their numbers are in decline, with Greens officially classified as “threatened” and Hawksbills as “critically endangered”.

Sea turtles remain under threat worldwide and are officially listed as threatened by IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature). This afternoon, learn about the importance of protecting turtle habitat, reducing bycatch, the dangers of ghost nets and how to go about the rescue, disentanglement, and rehabilitation of turtles.

We start our cruise back towards Male today, today snorkeling will provide the opportunity to continue our turtle data research, as well as to encounter a variety of fish species, and appreciate the intricate balance of these underwater ecosystems.

Late afternoon we visit the local island of Gulhi. This tiny quiet island’s main economy is fishing and it is also home to the oldest dry dock boat yard in the Maldives. Stand in awe at the size of the boats under renovation in the boat yard, chat with the ladies sweeping the streets and finally refresh yourself with a cool Kurumba (coconut). 

In the evening, a Maldivian theme night is organized on board, featuring a Bodu Beru musical performance, showcasing traditional Maldivian music and dance. This cultural immersion further deepens your understanding of the Maldives and enhances the overall learning experience.

We start the day with another snorkeling session, allowing you to further explore the marine life and habitats of the Maldives and hopefully capture the last of our turtle data. 

This afternoon we spend time ensuring all our trip data has been recorded and review our findings. Sea turtles are essential to the Maldives both ecologically and economically through tourism revenue, therefore, this information is crucial for future national conservation efforts.

The Olive Ridley Project Researcher will answer any remaining questions and maybe if we are lucky someone will have identified a new turtle to the data base and be given the opportunity to name it.  If we are not lucky there is still the opportunity to adopt a turtle, perhaps even one of those we have been fortunate to encounter!

Departure to Male International Airport.