Diving Group 9 – Hijan and Yoosuf.                      

On May 25^th, Hijan and Yoosuf (both of them Grade 11 students) became the first Billabong students to log more than 3 dives through the Diving Club. Not only have both of them completed four dives, but they have been lucky enough to do every one of them in different locations: Maagiri, Banana reef and now Bandos and Manta Point too.

It has been more than two weeks with most days in the Maldives been either rainy or windy or both, however this Saturday proved to be a good day for going out as even dolphins (a common sight last year but very rare since the beginning of Billabong´s diving club) decided to swim close to our boat as we were going back to Hulhumale.

Today´s diving activities started with a trip to Bandos where Hijan and Yoosuf learned how to attach their oxygen tanks to the BCD and prepare the rest of their equipment before entering the water. Once in Bandos, we saw an octopus, entered a few caves and saw many colorful fish.

The second dive took place in an area known as Manta Point. This place has an even greater amount of colorful fish, anemones, rays and stronger currents; something that can clearly be seen in the second picture of the Maldives anemone fish. Although the water was colder than expected, during the last minutes of our dive we were rewarded with the sight of a turtle that seemed perfectly comfortable with the presence of many divers looking at it having lunch.

The equipment is ready.

Hijan, Yoosuf and Bandos´ reef.

A hiding octopus.

Hijan´s walking, fortunately not on the reef.

Yoosuf and some fish in the background.

A Maldives anemone fish in Bandos.

Hijan just leaving the first cave.

Clark´s anemone fish.

Yoosuf and Hijan.

A group of Crown Squirel fish.

Hijan in the second cave.

Some colorful fish.

Fish, bubbles and nature.

Maldives anemone fish in Manta Point with a strong current.

Three Oriental Sweetlips.

Our final underwater sight of the day.