The Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest
ocean after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean includes Andaman Sea,
Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of
Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red
Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water
bodies.
MALDIVES
1190
islands are spread over 26 atolls, ringlike coral
formations enclosing a lagoon, which gives the Maldives its unique
paradise-like appearance. They stretch for about 500 miles from North
to South, 80 miles at the widest point and do not exceed a length of
4.5 miles or an altitude of 6 feet above sea level.
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round
and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in
relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year.
The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December. The
weather is determined largely by the monsoons.
There is a significant variation in the monthly rainfall levels.
February is the driest with January to April being relatively dry, May
and October records the highest average monthly rainfall. The southwest
monsoon or hulhangu from May to September is the wet season. Rough seas
and strong winds are common during this period.
From United States
Bankok Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines offer the
flights to Maldives.
'Ark Royal'
'Eagle Ray'
Maldive Aggressor'
'Manthri'
Peter Hughes 'Ocean
Dancer'
RED SEA
The Red Sea has long been a favorite of professional and experienced
divers. It is considered one of the best, if not the best, diving
areas in the world. Political conditions raise cause for caution
from time to time, but thousand of tourists explore both Egypt and
Israel, the two largest countries bordering the Red Sea, without
incident. You can dive Ras Mohammad from Sharm El Sheik aboard
day boats or liveaboards. Hurghada to the south has become a
center for liveaboards to reach out to the Brothers, Deadalus and
Zabargad as well as many other fantastic locations. Sites may
close from time to time, so itineraries change; the alternative sites
are just as awesome.
Emperor Divers
SEYCHELLES
Seychelles’
115 granite and coral islands extend from between 4
and 10 degrees south of the equator and lie between 480km and 1,600km
from the east coast of Africa in the western Indian Ocean.
The periods
of calm between the trades produce fairly warm and wind-free conditions
throughout April and also in October. Conditions for swimming,
snorkelling and especially diving are superb during April/May and
October/November when the water temperature sometimes reaches 84ºF
and visibility is often 100 feet plus.
The national airline Air Seychelles (HM) operates scheduled flights
from London, Paris, and Rome in the European sector. Regional and
peripheral sectors include Mauritius, South Africa and Singapore. Qatar
Airways (QR) and Emirates (EK) fly to and from Seychelles providing
connecting flights to various worldwide sectors through their hubs in
Dubai and Doha. Other airlines flying to Seychelles include Air France
(AF), Kenya Airways (KQ), Condor (DE), Air Austral (UU) and Air
Mauritius (MK).
THAILAND
The
kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia,
making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China.
Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the
mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central
Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the
tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.
The southern region of Thailand really has only two seasons -- the wet
and the dry. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east
and west side of the peninsular. On the west coast the southwest
monsoon brings rain and often heavy storms from April through to
October, whilst on the east coast the most rain falls between September
and December.
Local carriers Thai Airways(TG) and Bangkok Airways (PG) fly to most
major provincial airports beyond 250 km distance from Bangkok. Thai
Airways’ 2 most popular routes are Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket,
Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the
Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources- rocky
peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad
bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South's
wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.
Diving is
available at all times of the year, although visibility changes
according to the season. In the Andaman Sea, the best time to dive is
from October to April, and in the Gulf of Thailand from May to
September. At recommended dive sites in Thailand the water is so clear
that the under-water world is visible from the surface: whale sharks,
manta rays, marlin, flying fish, dolphins and coral reefs.
'Mermaid I & II'
'The Junk'
'Siren'
