Maldives (a quarter of the world’s total) and five of these are quite common, so you are likely to see them even on short trips. It’s part of what makes the Maldives so unique and an exceptional experience.
Mono Ski and Wake Board Throughout the rest of our stay we also water skied and wake boarded, either behind the Waverunners or the boats. The waves can get pretty choppy in the afternoon, so the morning and sunset is best. There is nothing quite like mono skiing over the transparent water in the Maldives next to a resplendent deserted beach with palm trees waving in the wind. Mono skiing is an exhilarating sport, the sheer violence and speed, being able to leap over waves, the tremendous force of the boat pulling you along, slaloming back and forth across the wake, the massive acceleration and the bounces when you fall. All this in stunning surroundings and the knowledge that when you crash at high speed, you land in comfortable, warm, velvety water. JetLev Water Jet Pack
Not content with the ski safari and water ski, I tried out the JetLev or
water jet pack too. This is actually a lot easier than it looks, but you do need to be comfortable with a fairly heavy weight on your back whilst semi submerged in the water. You start with the Jame Bond style pack with two arm controllers, connected by a thick tube to the Sea-Doo water craft. The craft is actually pulled around by you, so you control the direction, the wave rider simply controls the power. At first the Sea-Doo rider gently ramps up the power and you start to rise. As you do you must be careful not to flip backwards or you will hit the Sea- Doo, not a good idea, but the Dive and Sail maestro on the bike regulates the power to keep you safe.
So you begin face down in the water and as the power builds you move forward and up, as you do you gently lower your arms to achieve a steady upward motion and then you rise up over the sea. The first time you are concentrating on what you are doing, but on the second or third go it becomes quite easy and you start to take in that you are flying over one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It is weird experience as you cannot
quite believe what is happening. It is so futuristic, yet in such a natural and idyllic setting, and both exciting and liberating. You are actually flying and can go up, forward or down at will, simply by moving your arms slightly. The wave rider watches and alters the power accordingly. It is like being Superman for a brief spell, you are no longer tethered to the planet but can move in all three dimensions, all whilst admiring the world from a completely different viewpoint.
Some experiences really stay in your mind, I will always be able to see the island of Kanifushi, the jetty, the palm trees, the boats, the beach and the Laccadive sea from above, perfectly preserved in my memory. Heck of a way to pick coconuts too. All in all there’s a lot more to do than just sit on the beach on the tiny paradise island of Kanifushi, but of course you can just do that too.
Dive and Sail Kanifushi:
www.diveandsailmaldives.com/english/ location/dive_center_kanifushi
www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com/leisure
surreymagazineonline.co.uk 57
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
