Manta Ray Evolution

The ideas surrounding the evolution process for the Manta Ray is fascinating. It is believed that earlier species of this animal did have a stinger as their distant cousin the Sting Ray does. Yet they really didn’t need protection from predators due to their enormous size. It is also believed by many that the Manta Ray did actually evolve from the Sting Ray. However, not all experts that have studied their history are firm believers in that idea.
There is evidence to verify that the early Manta Ray was flat as it is now. This isn’t a part of their anatomy that evolved. Some believe that they were once a species of shark that took on a flat appearance to blend in well with the bottom of the water. DNA testing though has ruled this out though but they are believed to be related to the shark family in a variety of ways.
There is evidence to suggest that the Manta Ray used to be a bottom feeder in the waters. However, as they evolved they became known as filter feeders. It is this very change in feeding habits that allowed it to grow to the large proportions that we see and how it as today. In order for such feeding habits to occur though they also had to evolve in the design of their teeth.
What is very interesting is that they don’t use their teeth to eat. What many researchers believe is that they did use them millions of years ago to consume food. As time went on though their feeding habits had to change in order for them to survive. This is why they now have the gills on the sides of their head. It allows them to filter out the water that they take in. At the same time they are able to get the most food sources as they move along the water taking in all they can.
Due to the fact that the Manta Ray moves with the water with the pectoral fins flapping, it leads to the conclusion that they are some how related to early forms of birds. They may have once been both water and land creatures that evolved to only live in the water millions of years ago. The wings that used to give them flight though evolved to allow them to easily move through the water.
There is simply still so much that we don’t know about the current lives of the Manta Ray. As a result the research that does take place tends to focus on learning more about them right now. However, hopefully as more fossils are found and new technology we will also learn more about how they evolved. It is going to take time though and that is often where we come very impatient.
Many researchers believe that the Manta Ray is one species of aquatic life that will continue to evolve well. They have already shown us that they can live in a variety of locations as long as the water is warm enough and they have sufficient food. The biggest threat to their survival though is the fact that humans continue to take away their natural environment and they continue to pollute the waters.
There is a great deal of theory and speculation about how the Manta Ray evolved. Not everyone is in agreement about it though which is part of the fascination with finding out more. Only time will be able to put these various theories to the test and to show us once and for all what that process consisted of.

Water sports in Maldives

All tourist facilities in the Maldives offer a wide variety of water sports. All resorts, safari boats and the dive schools in Male’ offer diving, excursion and snorkeling. Some have professional windsurf schools with qualified instructors offering multi-lingual certified courses, while others provide the basics needed for the windsurf enthusiast. Windsurf schools or water sports centers in the Maldives are often equipped with catamarans and kayaks or canoes. There are some centers offer only non-motorized water sports as a rule, to avoid disturbing the peace. However some others offer you the chance to test your skills, at water-skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, body surfing, knee boarding and fun with banana riding and dingo riding. Further, many provide romantic sunset sailing or adventurous excursions and island hopping, in catamarans or small ‘dhonis’. Use the facility search page to find a resort, safari or guesthouses that offer that activities you want.

Scuba Diving

The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colors and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkelers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 meters - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving. All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Many of the resorts have excellent house reefs. Just a short swim from the beach and snorkelers too can experience the same pleasures from the surface.

If the islands of the Maldives are beautiful, what lies under the water is an absolute wonder of nature. The reefs that encircle the islands and the atolls are just as abundant in their variety of coral as the marine creatures that live in and around them. This, coupled with the amazingly clear water, make snorkeling and diving in the Maldives a unique experience that one should not give up. Diving in the Maldives is organized in the most exemplary of fashions. The diving centers are equipped to provide services for beginners and certified, experienced divers. The presence of clear waters all around the atoll means excellent visibility, especially with ingoing currents. Pelagic such as barracuda, trivially and tuna, and big schools of fusilier, snapper and sharks all congregate at the entrance to the channels, attracted by the movement of water and food sources carried with them. Depths inside the atoll are generally 40 to 50 meters and the bottom is mostly sand. There are many shallow water reefs inside the atoll and those just below the surface are clearly defined by sharp contrasts in the watercolor. Maldives is having more than One Hundred different dive-spots recorded with some world-renowned names. Underwater Photography "Given the manifold aspects of the underwater universe of the Maldives and the splendid colors of the fish and coral, it is almost a moral obligation to pause for a while with a camera before these wonders of nature" - says Kurt Amsler, world renowned photographic journalist who has dived the Maldivian waters extensively.

Dive Maldives It’s the underwater paradise the home of 1350 different species of coral and fish.

Parasailing

Most of the bigger resorts offer the excitement and fun of parasailing. Some offer instruction for beginners. Parasailing is ideal for those adventurous enough to try it. In addition to the excitement of being high up over the islands, it gives you a fantastic aerial view of your resort and the surroundings.

Water Skiing

Many resorts have their own speedboats and water skis for rent on an hourly or daily basis. Some even have instructors available to give you lessons. Prices vary from resort to resort.

Snorkeling

A trip to the Maldives will never be complete without donning a mask and a pair of fins and experiencing the beauty that sustains these tiny islands. Each island offers a beautiful house-reef that you could snorkel in everyday. Those resorts with far out reefs have boats that take snorkelers to the reef. Mask and fins can be rented from the dive schools if you need them.

Windsurfing

The large lagoons that surround most of the islands are ideal for windsurfing. Large lagoons with waist deep water for hundreds of meters with soft sandy bottoms and the protective barrier provided by the house reef, offer ideal, safe conditions for windsurfing, especially for beginners. Almost all resorts have windsurfing schools or water sports centers where you could get instructions and lessons and even get an international certificate. Some schools are equipped with a variety of boards and sails to suit different levels of windsurfers. All windsurf schools and water sports centers without exception, have the basic equipment for windsurfing, and in most cases one or more catamarans and a few canoes.

Maldives Declares Protection for Seven Marine Areas

Seven areas of Baa atoll have been declared protected and the area of two previously protected areas have been extended. A declaration was signed today between the Environment Ministry and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on the occasion of the World Environment Day, declaring the seven areas protected. Many environmental projects have been conducted in Baa Atoll before and the atoll is noted for its biodiversity compared to all other atolls that make up the nation. The areas protected under the declaration include an uninhabited island called "Mendhu", the island’s reef and several other uninhabited islands surrounding the island covering a total of 200 meters. Baa atoll "Goidhoo" swamp area, Maahuruvalhi Faru and the surrounding area isolated on the western side of the atoll, and the islands and reefs of "Bathalaahura", Gaaganduhura and Vinanehfaruhura encompassing an area of 32 square kilometres are included in the list. Under the declaration, an area known as "Dhorukandu" including an island called Mathifaruhura has gained protected status as well. A kilometer of area surrounding a ship called ‘Kobin"that was grounded on the northern side of the island of Baa atoll Fulhadhoo in 1602 has also been protected. The span of "Dhigalihaa" area, which was protected in 1998, and the area around Baa atoll "Hanifaru" Island, which has been protected since 2009, has been extended today as well. "Dhigaligiri" has been added to the Dhigalihaa protected area and "Hanifaru" has been included in the protected area around the island. Speaking at a meeting held at the Housing Ministry today, Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam said Baa Atoll being one of the most biologically diverse atolls in the country has gained global attention. The minister said United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been suggested to recognise Baa Atoll as the Maldives very first biosphere reserve by July. Biosphere reserves are globally recognized protected areas to promote sustainable protection of land and marine biodiversity.

Gray Reef Shark

The grey reef shark is one of the most common species of shark found in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Grey reef sharks are generally found in the coastal regions and along continental shelves from the Middle East to the islands in the deep Pacific.

Grey reef sharks are one of the smaller species of shark with adults reaching a maximum length of around 2m long and baby grey reef sharks being around 50cm long at birth.

Grey reef sharks feed on reef fish, squid and shrimp. The grey reef shark is not thought to pose a great threat to humans and the grey reef shark has been noted to be inquisitive towards divers.

Other species of reef shark include the white tipped reef shark, the black tipped reef shark and the Caribbean reef shark, all of which belong to the same family so have similar characteristics to the grey reef shark.

The grey reef shark has a very distinctive shark-like appearance which includes the long slender body of the grey reef shark, large fins and a rounded snout. The grey reef shark tends to gather together in schools with other grey reef sharks during the day, but the grey reef shark is generally more active at night.

The grey reef shark tends to move about slowly gliding silently through the water at speeds that often do not exceed a few miles an hour and the grey reef sharks are commonly known to lay on the ocean floor for long periods of time. However, when the grey reef shark detects food in the water, the grey reef shark is known to suddenly become very active and quick, with the grey reef shark often becoming fairly aggressive if there is food about.

The grey reef shark has very few natural predators in its coastal, underwater habitat as many larger water-bound carnivores tend to lurk in the deeper waters. When the grey reef shark feels under threat, particularly from larger species of shark or from humans diving, the grey reef shark tends to react in a very distinctive way with the grey reef shark arching its body up and moving its head slowly from side to side whilst the grey reef shark is swimming along. The grey reef shark is thought to do this to intimidate unwanted company rather than in preparation to attack it.

Scuba Club Maldives

Scuba Club Maldives was found on 2011 by expert group of divers, who shares love for recreational diving and creating awareness for environment with this vision Scuba Club Maldives open its first dive club in Hulhumale.

Maldives is known for its world-class dive sites, where tourists and local divers progressively breed. We at Scuba Club Maldives try to share best Scuba Diving and awareness with our clients.

Scuba Club Maldives is known for first dive club in Hulhumale, which offers tourist and locals affordable Diving, Snorkeling, Excursion, Surf trip and fishing trip. Scuba Club Maldives has quickly became a widely recognized dive club in Hulhumale and Male’ by (Hulhumale Inn, Huvandhumaa Inn and Surf View) Guests and locals. Scuba Club Maldives has been very successful dive club through tourist’s, guesthouses and locals.

Mission

Diving will change your life forever. Once you’ve been underwater, you just won’t see the world the same way. The landscape beneath the waves is an unlike any other environment.

Scuba Club Maldives is committed to helping people appreciate the life in our oceans and foster awareness of the threats facing this sensitive, globally important ecosystem by providing training, equipment, travel, and services to help forge the world’s safest, most environmentally aware recreational, and professional services to the holiday makers in the Maldives.

Vision

We believe the Internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for the diving industry to reach more people, more effectively and more often than ever before. The Internet provides an unprecedented opportunity for industry participants to reach new customers, serve Existing customers better and more often, and generally conduct business on a larger scale than ever before. Scuba Club Maldives intends to be a major catalyst for change and growth in the industry by helping industry participants understand and take full advantage of the “internet opportunity” to grow their businesses.

Objectives

• To organize scuba diving, surfing and excursion activities in Maldives with related social activities.
• To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information in relation to scuba diving and surfing.
• To promote recreational scuba diving, surfing and excursion trips to locals and international customers.
• To encourage continuing education, environmental conservation, good sportsmanship and goodwill amongst members and co-operation with all other users of the marine environment.

Services

Our service is delivered in a professional manner and we aim for the highest level of customer satisfaction. Our purpose is to provide more than just a diving experience but a transformational experience that allows our divers to get so much more enhancement from their time with us. This allows them to make a positive contribution to the underwater world and raises their level of education and awareness. We do this in a safe, professional and, most importantly, fun manner.

The Instructors who work at Scuba Club Maldives are trained to the level of at least PADI ‘Dive Master.’ We also have a wave surfing Instructor has been surfing more than 15 years on staff to raise the quality of the services we offer to clients at all levels.

We are constantly reinvesting and maintaining our boats, tanks, equipment, and operation to the highest impeccable standard to maximize our client’s convenience and comfort from their time with. However, we believe our main strength is our staff, which we value more than anything. They are the asset that cannot be matched and provide our clients with the education and experiences they seek from our facility.

Our core competencies are the experiences that we provide certified divers and surfers, the training we provide to students of all levels and the effort that we take to protect our environment and amazingly rich natural heritage.