Maldives/Egypt?

Hi,

1st time poster, long time viewer.

I am going on hol 2nd week in Sept. Not sure whether to head to Egypt or the Maldives.I am based in Baku. I think Egypt may be a bit too hot for the other side trips.

Anyway would appreciate any feedback/old links on the Maldives.

I would be travelling alone for 2 weeks in Sept. I would rather be land based, dont have my sea legs yet. Would be great to see some rays/sharks etc but not too fussed.

Most of my diving has been in Western Oz /Gilli Isl & Manado.

I am not sure if its the right time of the year to visit the Maldives. Also concerned about finding a buddy in Maldives as i assume Maldives is a family/couple set-up.

Would greatly appreciate any feedback & i will post some out of focus photos of whatever destination i go too.

Hi,

Don't quite know where you are based so find it difficult to judge the travel stuff.

Having said that I have dived both the Maldives and Egypt in the past 12 months.

Value for money I can't fault Egypt, for us in the UK a week on a Live Aboard for about £1k is excellent value.

Diving from a live aboard is usually better than land based, also if it is hot on land then it is tolerable on a live aboard, I was there in June and our enforced day on land was hotter than hell but the boat was just fine.

Maldives - mmm - dive wise I had a bad time to be honest, where I was the coral was not in good condition and the remaining fish life was a bit thin. The land based dive operations are well run but tend to enforce the rules somewhat. I don't mind diving with a buddy dumped on me by the guide but if he consumes a tank of gas in 10 minutes I ain't going back to the surface with him !

If I was looking at the Maldives for a pure dive vacation I would look to the various Live Aboard options.

As a photographer you may have an easier time on a Live Aboard, once you have proved to the guides that you are not about to trash yourself or the reef then they will leave you alone. On land your buddies and guides may well be changing on a daily basis so you are always 'suspect'.

FWIW Pics from both the Maldives and Egypt are up on my web site www.GuernseyBiscuit.com

Paul C

September is not really the optimum time of year for the Maldives. Season wise, the shift from the (wetish) southwest monsoon to the (dryish) northeast monsoon occurs during October and November. During this shift the weather becomes very unstable - wind and lots of rain and squalls. The monsoon shift can occur late or early - therefore you are risking bad weather in September, although of course you may on the other hand be completely fine.

I lived in both Egypt and the Maldives for a few years each, and which is best depends on personal opinion, your choice of operator, and your experiences whilst there - as Paul's experience has highlighted above. Both are world class destinations.

I'm not sure how easy it is to get to either Egypt or Maldives from Azerbaijan but quite honestly I would go to Egypt if you are limited to September only and save your money to go the Maldives at the optimum time (December through March)

hope this helps a little

Steve