As a scuba diver, any trip that offers diving in tropical waters rich in marine life from a boat that takes you right to the sites gets my instant attention.
Here are some special discounts of $295/night (a 10% savings) for 2008 cruises aboard the M/C Manthiri in double or twin-share cabins from Island Dreams Travel in Houston:
• March 10-19: 9 night cruise, call for availability.
• April 19-28: 9-night cruise, call for availability.
Encounters with creatures large and small, and schooling fishes in the thousands, are common experiences on the broadly varied dive sites. The Maldives are one of the finest places for marine life photography, with opportunities for both wide angle and macro to be found on every dive. When it comes to enjoying the very best diving, the Maldives are also a place where a live-aboard definitely will give the best experience. M/V Manthiri is unequivocally one of the best and most highly experienced dive operators in the Maldives.
Costs include all meals aboard the ship, 3-4 dives per day, and the services of English-speaking guides, but do not include airfare to the Maldives, a chain of 900 islands straddling the Equator in the Indian Ocean. For more info, call 1-800-356-6116 or visit www.divetrip.com.