The print version

includes all texts and information from our homepage without grafics and pictures - for an easy printout.



Mariana a premium diveoperator

Mariana´s experience in diving is an advantage for you !
Being one of the longest established operations, catering for all your needs in safely exploring the incredible beauty of the underwater paradise. With us, you will enjoy thrilling and exciting moments diving at the world´s leading diving destination that is the Maldives. Being dedicated to diving for 20 years, it has always been our aim to provide our guests with a service that is second to none. The centre is well organised with a multitude of information for snorkellers and divers. Friendly, motivated and professional diving staff of various nationalities make up the team. In addition you will benefit from exploring the underwater world from the comfort of a resort diving base and carry home unforgettable memories. Throughout the year great opportunities are guaranteed diving with Mariana.


Diving World Story

My name is Jürgen Schägger and I was born in Ingolstadt, a small town located in Bavaria, Germany. I was always been fascinated with the sea and had the urge to explore it´s secrets, it´s splendour. My dreams turned true in 1979, when my wife Irene and I first set foot on the sands of Maldives. Being resident on a tiny little Island in the Indian Ocean and discovering the fascinating underwater world, our life has entirely changed. The word scubadiving was not heared everywhere and dive sites remained to be discovered. The divecentre at Biyadoo was opened in 1982 and at that time just a hand full of divers visited us. We did anything possible to please our guests and where proud to forward our service during 24hrs year around. With all our efforts we promoted Maldives as the number one divingdestionation in the world. The word of mouth travelled to people who never could imagine the place. Many people have come to visit us and been extremely satisfied with our excellent dive service.
It fills me with great satisfaction and a sense of achievement,that Maldives continue to be visited by divers from all over the world even today. You are indeed blessed to experience the breathtaking splendour of the underwater paradies that is the Maldives. As one who has been here long enough to feel it my privilege as well as my duty to do my bit protect the miracles of. We must ever remember, that the Maldives is made of fragile corals that take years and years to grow .... The marine fauna and flora and the eco system depend on us - our care and concern not to harm them in the least even, as we enjoy their splendour and beauty. After having seen through over 10.000 diving expeditions, I am the more concerned of the need to do so.
Keep on good and safe diving,
Jürgen


Outstanding location

The Diving World Centre is based at the Dive Resort Biyadoo which is located in the South Male Atoll. The location is among other Islands unbeatable where during boat diving excursions you may choose from a variety of 50 incomparable divesites in our archipelago. The east outerreef is just 10 minutes away from the island and provides you with best big fish diving experience, where during 365 days, friendly sharks, mantas, turtles and many more can be seen. From May untill October, the South West Monsun, calls for expeditions where you can expect large schools of manta rays and whale sharks feeding on plankton. During the Northeast Monsun, you can take advantage diving in blue water with good visibility and getting thrilled watching big sharks closeby. In addition Mariana Diving World offers you do dive at the neighbouring island housereef included in your dive package. With the free boat transfer this opens up further reef sites at your disposal.


Housereef of Biyadoo

Biyadoo house reef is one of the view truly magnificent housereefs in Maldives. The water flow, from the outside reef channel, passes the reef and so there is an abudance of fish and many different types of coral. It has current and calm water areas and a maximum depth between 20 and 30 metres. The six houserreef divespots are easily eccessible from the beach and are clearly marked both above and under water. There is an Island Diveplanner at the diving centre where you can register your dive and obtain information regarding the currents, tides, fish you can expect to see etc., so as to make your dive safe and enjoyable. Some of the special highlights of the Biyadoo housereef is the school of approxiamtely 150 jack fish which remain at a depht of five to eight metres in front of the dive centre. They come so close that you can almost touch them. Or the pack of fourteen blacktip reef sharks which patrol the area. There are also three friendly turtles named „Carla and Clementine" that we imported to the houserreef, who are used to the divers and snorkellers. The sharp eye will find frog fish, leaf fish, ghostmoray and black coral in a cave in front of the dive centre and in another small cave next to the jetty lives „Baltasar" our giant grouper together with lobsters. Easy comfortable diving is achieved by drift diving from one to the six entry/exit passages to the next. Enjoy diving from sunrise to sunset and even at night.


Boat Diving

One day prior, all information for next days boat diving is available including description, type of dive, dive plan and variety of marine life. This information together with the assistance of the diving instructors, guides or base leader himself, enables you to decide on the optimum choice of dives for the next day. All of the dives are in small groups and are guided free of charge regardless as to whether it is an easy, advanced or professional dive. Diving on inside and outside reefs, channels, steep drop-offs, overhangs, farus, tilas and giris. In only 15 minutes the diving boat is in the largest Maldivian Marine Nature Reserve - the Guraidhoo Area. With its brillant white, sandy bottom and mini coral blocks each with their eco-system, is one of natural wonders of the world. At the manta rock, the huge manta rays play around, gracefully making loops as if performing on a stage. Specially built diving dhonies, with trained personnel, limited numbers on the boat, first aid and safety equipment plus a DAN oxygen set on everey boat. Safety precautions are high priority.


Divesite-Type

Reefs are usually called "faru" which is a coral reef partially exposed at low tide and often a reef encircling a lagoon, sometimes with an islands inside, where already in shallow water, snorklers and divers will find an increadible marine life.

A "giri" is the name for a small coral reef close to the surface, rising from the Atoll floor and nearly reach the surface, while most of the time its covered with water. A few island resorts have their own "Kuda Giri" (Small Reef) like Villi Varu Giri, which is just a stonethrough away from the Villi Varu Resort.

A "thila" is a coral reef usually a few metres below the surface below at depths between 5 and 15 metres. Dive sites, such as Maafushi Tila, Nagili Tila, Gulhi Tila, Dighu Thila are outstanding among thilas with different fish and coral formation offering excellent diving experience. It´s the home of different kind of sharks, barakudas, green turtle and at times to Manta rays. Soft coral such as seafan and gorgony grow in different size and colours.

The channel between two reefs is called a "kandu". There are many other names describing the natural features of the islands which the curios traveller will come across, but it is "maa kandu" or also called "corner " the big sea outside the Atoll, in which most divers will discover the real attraction of the Maldives.

The "outer reef " slope of the Atolls are generally distinguished by greater depths and increased clarity of water. The visibility may exceed 50 metres. Looking down the reef slope, the coral communities change rapidly with increasing depth. The upper parts of the outer reef may be affected by wave action, restricting the growth of more delicate plate coral. A great variety of fish life occurs among the coral in this zone.

Lagoons with good circulation of water may have large stands of branching acropora growing on the sand. Lagoons can trap many fish varieties as the tide recedes On the inner reef coral growth may be rich if the slope is not too steep. Steep or vertical slopes may be bare. Many interesting caves, overhangs and gullies can occur in this zone. The Atoll floor consists mostly of sand and rubble and is usually at a depth of between 30 to 50 metres.


Diving Centre

Baseleader Team
Thomas Eschenmoser is the Baseleader and Resident Manager of Mariana Diving World at Villi Varu and Biyadoo. His qualification is rated as Padi IDC Staff Instructor and having over 12 years of diving experience. He has mainly dived in Thailand and Maldives and completed 6000 dives by now. One can be sure about, he knows the secrets of the underwater world. Being thrilled of the extraordinary richness of our dive sites, he schedules spectacular trips on regular basis. As a Swiss nationality he sticks to the safety standards, so every day good and safe diving will be provided.
Koen Wouters is the substitute to Thomas. He is also a Padi IDC Staff Instructor and as a computer literate in charge of the administration of Mariana Diving World. Having done over 2000 dives alone at our dive sites in Maldives, he gained a lot of experience knowing the environmental conditions precisely. As a professional Padi Instructor he is in charge to coordinate Diving Courses for the beginner and advanced. He is able to communicate well in English, French, Italian, German and Dutch language.

Diving World Biyadoo
Diving World, is one of the longest established dive operator in the Maldives. The divingcentre is situated directly by the sea and is right next to the main jetty where the diving boats are kept. The centre is nicely laid out and is well organised with a multitude of information for snorkellers and divers. Friendly, motivated and professional diving instructors and diving guides of various nationalities make up the team. They will give you advice on where to go and what to see, as well as on all safety aspects. There are four diving instructors and two dive guides who are all experts on the area and will help you to plan your diving and answer questions about the underwater world at any time.

Special features:
Specially designed for our guest divers enabling them to store their personell equipment are the diving lockers shaded by palm umbrellas. Just forget about to carry all the heavy gear, regulator or uw - cameras to and from the divebase to the room. Seperate freshwater basins are available for equipment or photo / video equipment.

Quick reference Divingcenter:
Diving center: Mariana Diving World / PADI 5 Star Divecentre
Association: PADI - CMAS - SEA Scubapro
Language: English, german, french, dutch, japanese
Owner: Mariana Adventures Pvt. Ltd. Maldives
Management: Thomas Eschenmoser and Koen Wouters
Diving staff 5 Instructors and 1 Diveguides
Courses: starting several times a week, speciality courses
Opening time on 365 days: daily from 8:45 - 12:30 from 14:00 - 18:30 hrs



Your Advantage

The decision to book a diving holiday depends on many things. Therefore we would like to draw your attention to our outstanding product and are proudly presenting you the information below, which will definately help you to choose Mariana Diving World based at Biyadoo Island Resort.

Friendly and professional service
More than 50 boat dive sites
Good and safe diving

Excellent housereefs conditions
PADI 5 Star Trainingfacility

Useful informationen

GUIDED TOUR and CHECK-IN
On the arrival day guests are welcomed to the diving centre and are invited on a guided tour, where the day to day operations of the diving centre are explained afterwards the guests can Check-in and arrange rental of any equipment they require. We recommend that guests make a small snorkelling tour on the wonderfull housereef surrounding the island on the day of arrival.

ORIENTATION DIVE ON THE HOUSEREEF
The next morning guests participate in an orientation dive on the housereef in front of the diving school. During the dive, divers are required to prove that their practical diving skills are up to date.

Recommended items to bring along
Diving Courses:
It is recommended to bring a medical certificate

PAYMENT:
US Dollar, US Cash, Traveller Checks
Credit Cards are accepted : amex, master, visa


The PADI - 5 * Diving School

As a PADI 5 Star diving centre we conduct all the possible diving courses:
For the very beginner, we offer the Discover Scuba Program which is the easiest and least complicated start to underwater adventures.
Courses: Advanced open Water Plus - Medic first Aid - Rescue Diver - Dvemaster - Assistant Instructor - Open Water Instructor
Specialties: Deep Diver - Night Diver - Wreck Diver - Multilevel Diver - Equipment Specialist - Underwater Naturalist - Search and Recovery - Underwater Navigator - Drift Diver
Inquiries should be made to the diving centre.

Courses start several times a week and are available in the following languages:
English, German, French, Duth, Italian, Spanish, Japanese.

Students are insured during the diving courses.


Prepurchaseable Divepackage/s 2003

Prepurchase and benefit of discounted divepackages booking via Internet. Just click the "online-booking" button, fill in the form as required and then press the button "send". A confirmation will be mailed from our bookingcentre shortly.

Diving Packages Tank & weights All equipment
5 day unlimited divepackage U$ 349.-- U$ 399.--
from 5 days onwards per day U$  70.-- U$  80.--
10 dive package U$ 300.-- U$ 340.--
from 10 onwards per dive U$ 30.-- U$ 34.--
5 dive package U$ 155.-- U$ 180.--
from 6 onwards per dive U$ 31.-- U$ 36.--

Boattrips
10 boattrip package U$ 90.--
from 10 onwards per boattrip U$  9.--
Padi Openwater / Padi Advanced Openwater / Discover Scuba Diving Courses Inquiry to prebooking details, start of course, duration and prices to be directly e-mailed to the diving centre.

An Invoice will be raised and charged in the name / room no of clients upon arrival and shall be collected from the front office before the first dive of the guest staying at the Resort.

All tariffs are subject to change.
Updated 1. Feb. 2003


Diving World Maldives

Lokal Tarifs for 2003 (in US Dollar)
Diving packages All equipment Tank & weights
5 days unlimited divepackage 420.-- 370.--
Extra day unlimited divepackage  84.--  74.--
Dive package - 10 dives 360.--- 320.--
From 10 onwards per dive  36.--  32.--
Dive package - 5 dives 185.-- 165.--
From 5 onwards per dive  37.--  33.--
Single dive  39.--  35.--
Boat trips
Boat package - for 10 dives 90.--
Boat trip to divesite - for 1 dive 10.--
1/2 day dive excursion / twotankdive 17.--
full day excursion incl. packed lunch 20.--
Dive equipment (per Dive)
Set price for your entire equipment
BCD, regulator, divecomputer,wetsuit,ABC-Set
12.--
BCD Divejacket Scubapro 4.50
Regulator Octopus Scubapro 5.50
Dive computer Aladin / Scubapro 4.50
Neopren tropical shorty 4.--
PADI Diving for the real beginner
"Discover Underwater World" 35.--
"Discover Scuba Diving" 55.--
PADI Diving Courses Individual Group rate
PADI Scuba Diver Course - 5 dives 290.-- 229.--
PADI Open Water Diver Course 490.-- 410.--
Certification fee  70.--  70.--
PADI Advanced Courses All equipment Tank-weights
PADI Adventure diver - 3 dives 249.-- 229.--
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver - 5 dives 300.-- 265.--
Certification fee  70.--  70.--

Grouprates: on request – please make your inquiery
Tarifs: all tarifs are in U$ Dollar and are subject to change
payment locally: US$ cash, US$ traveller checks, credit card
More information per e-mail at divingworld@mariana-net.com
or per fax: 00960 - 44 - 7272
updated 1.2.2003


Watersport

Watersportbase Location - The Watersport base for both the islands is located on the beach next to the jetty in Biyadoo because of the easy access to the deepwater. The Windsurfing, Water Skiing and Catamaran sailing equipment is kept in Biyadoo Island, however, all of the activities on offer are available to guests on both islands and the transfer across the 300 metre stretch of water will be arranged for or being picked up directly from Villi Varu.

The Area - While situated in the centre of South Malé Atoll it gives plenty of opportunities to visit other islands and reefs regardless of wind strenght and direction. The shallow lagoon at Biyadoo is perfect fo beginners and just outside the housereef is a huge playground perfect for inermediate and experts alike.

The Winds - There are two seasons in the Maldives, the South West Monsoon and the North East Monsoon. The Northeast Monsoon lasts from the middle of December until the end of March and brings good steady weather and winds. The wind Strenght averages a force 3 to 4. The Southwest Monsoon lasts from the middle of May until the end of October and can bring changeable weather with strong winds. The wind strenght averages a force 4 to 5 and is the recommended period for keen windsurfers. Between the monsoons there is always a changeover period which brings unsettled weather. There may be no winds days, strong wind days or a bit of everything all in one day.

Tarifs in U$ Dollar 2003 (in US$)
Windsurfing Program
US $
Private Lesson 30.-
Short Course 3 hrs 65.-
Windsurf rental 1hrs 9.-
5 hrs 40.-
10 hrs 75.-
1 week 155.-
Catamaran Program
Private Lesson 35.-
Short Course 3 hrs 75.-
Catamaran rental 1hrs 20.-
5 hrs 90.-
10 hrs 140.-
1 week 180.-
Catamaran Orientation 25.-
Catamaran guided trips ½ day trip p.pax 25.-
Full day trip p.pax 45.-
Sunset trip p.pax 18.-
Tarifs all tarifs are in U$ Dollar and are subject to change
payment locally US$ cash, US$ traveller checks
accepted credit cards AMEX, MASTER, VISA, JCB



Dive-Resort Biyadoo

Biyadoo is one of the finest Diving Resorts situated near the eastern outside reef in the heart of South Male Atoll in the Maldives, that offers various and varied attractions for those who want to get away from it all and unwind themselves and for fun loving and adventurous watersports and Diving enthusiasts. From Male International airport, a 45 minute boat ride to the South, takes you to Biyadoo where in splendid isolation they offer you the kind of holiday that is fantasy come true. The island has an Indian management team while the service is universally respected as 3 star standard. The island is clean, well maintained and the service and friendliness of the hotel staff is praiseworthy. The island hotel is built between the palm trees in harmony with nature and large interior areas of the island have been left completely nature. Biyadoo was one of the first islands in the Maldives to have the guest room built in two-storey while the result is that the rooms shrink into a smaller area and leave more undeveloped space on the island. There are a total of six blocks, three o the sunrise side of the island and three o the sunset side. Set in twenty-five acres with only guests and friendly staff on the island, it gives you privacy and a sense of peace that is so rare today. The rooms are of European standard, nicely furnished and clean and all have beach front with immediate access to the beach. The restaurant has non - smoking and smoking areas and provides good food and friendly service.

Quick Reference
Location located in the middle of South Male Atoll approx. 18 miles from Airport. Transfer by speedboat takes only 40 minutes. It is an inside atoll island surrounded by its own permanent coral reef.
Island A well maintained island set in twenty-five acres of attractive palm studied gardens, imaginatively landscaped to preserve the natural primitive wilderness. It is round with a beautiful pathway leading around the island and high, densely packed palm trees. The island is full of banana trees and has two greenhouses where fresh vegetables are grown.
Hotel standard rated as 3 star standard
Reef a coral reef which surrounds the island in a distance of just 20 metres from the beach on the east side and 50 metres on the westside.
Accomodation 96 double rooms ( 24 of which are threebed rooms ) arranged in six two storey blocks. Every room has access to the beach. Ground floor rooms have a terrace and first floor rooms have a balcony. Each room is equipped with WC, shower with hot/cold water, remote controlled air-conditioning, minibar, coffee/tea maker machine, telephone and hairdryer.
Facilities reception, lobby, open-air bar with sand floor, air-conditioned restaurant, sundeck, souvenier shop and an Indian Ayurtheeram an traditional herbal health centre. Sport vacilities include table tennis, volleyball, badmington, football and ofcourse diving and watersports.
Food Accomodation is provided on a full board basis, with breakfast and lunch buffets and evening menu with a choice of international, indian or vegetarian cuisine. Special: dinner on the beach under the palm-trees and star studded sky. Choose between beach barbeque, seafood extravaganza, Maldivian and Maharadja ( Indian ), accompanied by music from the live calypos band or local folk music.
Beverages Full selection available, special cocktails on average hotel prices.
Entertainment weekly disco, magic show, fire limbo dance, underwater slide show.
Excursions visit to other islands, Male shopping, night fishing
Recommended perfect for scuba diving, snorkelling / watersport enthusiasts

Maldives - Nation of Islands

Sun, sand and sea, a thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens. About 1192 officially recognised islands are spread out in a vast area of over 90,000 sq.km, which extends for 754 km in a latitudinal direction and a 118 km longitudinal direction. The population amounts to about 245.000 inhabitants, about 55.000 are living in the captial of Male. The spoken language is Dhivehi. The Islamic religion dates back to 1153. The first contact that the visitor has with the archipelago of Maldives, takes place at the HULULE International Airport, which was re-opened after explansion in 1981, enabling large aircrafts to land safely on the extensive Island. Generally speaking the climate of the Maldives can be described as warm throughout the year and is determined by the monsoons. The average air temperaturs oscillate between 27 and 32°C. The average watertemperature is 27°C. The ring-shaped arrangement of the madreporic reef sit´s on volcanic origin, due to it sinking during the interglacical period. The development of coral-producing colonies, in fact, could only take place where the presence of dissolved oxygen and of sunlight are greater, for which reason the polyps were obliged to progressively raise their constructions along the old perimeter of the submerged island. The Maldives are recognised to be one of the finest dive spots in the world, with over 700 species of marine life, which can be found in it´s faszinating divingworld.


Tour Operators and Airlines

Please make inquierys with your local travelagent.

England

  • Regal Diving
  • Airtours
  • Manos Holidays
  • LPremier Holidays

Maldivien agencys

  • Inner Maldives
  • Vista Travel Maldives
  • LK Holidays Maldives

or direct by


Internationale airlines to the maldives:
Emirates - Kuweit Arilines - Quatar Airways - Singapore Airlines - Lankan Airways - Indian Airlines - Malaysian Airways - Air Seyschelles


MARIANA ADVENTURES PRIVATE LTD.
- Mariana Diving World -
Biyadoo Island Resort 9
South Male Atoll
Male 20153
Republic of Maldives
Tel: +960 - 447171
Fax: +960 - 447272;
E-mail: office@mariana-net.com

Geschäftsführung:
Jürgen Schägger

Registered with Ministry of Tourism, Industries and Labour
Male, Republic of Maldives C-31197

Verantwortlich für website:
Mariana Adventures - Heinz Bichl



Copyright © Mariana 2001/and licensors/contributors. Mariana Logo, all images and text in this online title are Copyright © Mariana 2001. No information may be reproduced without written permission from Mariana.
Last updated: 1/2/2003



PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE
These materials are provided by Mariana Adventures Pvt Ltd, Southmale, Republic of Maldives, its subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities ("Mariana") as a service to its customers and may be used for informational purposes only. By using this site, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this site.

TRADEMARK NOTICE
This Web site contains the Mariana, Divingworld and Caribbeansports and other valuable trademarks owned and used by Mariana to distinguish its services and wares. These trademarks and related proprietary property are protected from copying and simulation under national and international laws and may not be reproduced, copied or otherwise used without the express prior written permission of Mariana.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
The information, text, graphics, images, sounds, links and all other information and software published or otherwise contained on this site (the "Contents") are the exclusive property of Mariana and, except as specifically provided herein, may not be copied, distributed, displayed, reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Mariana.

Copyright © 1997 Mariana Adventures Private Limited. All rights reserved.