Helengeli Island

Helengeli is located on the remote North Eastern edge of North Male atoll. Over the past 25 years, the island has developed a reputation as one of the finest diving resorts in the Maldives. A combination of the islands physical shape and its superb location on the edge of the atoll makes it a fabulous option for experienced divers. The island has just come out of a major renovation programme that has seen all the public spaces and rooms redesigned.

House Reef

Helengeli is a long thin island that lies at a 90° angle to the outer reef. Deep channels run down either side of the island, providing a thrilling range of dives for experienced divers that often involve encounters with many pelagic species. The reef edge drops dramatically on both sides of the resort to depths of between 45 and 55 metres, and is accessed via three entry points on either side of the island.

From December through to May the visibility is superb with the island lying in the path of the prevailing current. Over this period, diving off the east side of the reef is invariably unavailable. However, great diving off the west side of the house reef compensates for this. From May to October with the turn of the seasons, Helengeli benefits from frequent encounters with both Whale sharks and Manta rays on dive sites near the island.

Boat Diving

There are over 40 dive sites within a one hour boat ride of the island. These include a range of exciting channel dives within a short ride of the island. Bodu Thila is recognised as one of the finest Thila dives (long oval reef lying in the path of the current), in North Male atoll. Helengeli Thila, which is a short distance from the island, often provides encounters with large numbers of rays, sharks, tuna and jacks. From June to November, Fairytale, with its beautifully encrusted soft corals walls, is an excellent site to encounter Manta rays.

Ocean Pro Dive Centre

The Swiss owned Ocean Pro operates the PADI / CMAS dive centre on Helengeli. Located on a number of islands throughout the Maldives, Ocean Pro has an enviable reputation for both their high levels of service and friendliness. Helengeli offers 6 entry points from the house reef and around 40 dive sites with a maximum of 60 minutes boat ride from the island.

Dive Packs

Ocean Pro diving conduct an orientation check dive for all divers at the beginning of your trip. The dive centre will decide if you are able to dive independently as a buddy team, or if you will require a guide. There is no extra charge for divers requiring a guide, but they will need to schedule their dive programme around the dive centre's. If any dive team would like to guarantee a guide to suit their requirements, then in this case a guide fee would need to be applied. All dive packs are based on air or Nitrox. Nitrox is available FREE of charge up to 32%.

Dive packs are for consecutive days, from the house reef and include tanks (air or Nitrox, if qualified), and weights. Use of a dive computer is compulsory.

Dive Courses

* Includes: Equipment, manual, certification & logbook.

** Includes: Manual and certification fees, excludes equipment.

Extras in Resort

• Boat trips - Single trip: $14
• Boat trips - 2 trips in day: $25
• Service charge: $1 per dive

Equipment rental, payable in resort, per dive:

• Full kit including computer: $18
• Shortie wetsuit: $6
• Regulators: $4
• BCD: $4
• Mask, Fins & Snorkel: $9/day
• Dive computer: $5
• Underwater torch: $7
• Digital camera, & flash: $45

Local GST tax will be applied as follows:

• From 01.01.13 - 8%

Getting Around and Basic Information

Male airport is located on its own island. The Airport island accommodates the main terminal, the seaplane port and the airport hotel (Hulhule Airport hotel). In the vast majority of cases, Male airport acts as the hub for all transfers between island resorts and atolls.

A narrow channel of water separates Male Airport Island from Male town and a regular inexpensive boat service operates between the two islands.

Once you are on your island resort, there is no ‘public’ transport to get around to other islands, you need to organise local excursions and join guided trips.

Twin centre stays, in most cases, hub through the central point of Male to reach your next island.

Internal Transfers to Your Island Resort from Male

Your resort/boat is reached either by sea plane or boat transfer from Male airport, distance dependant, with the exception of Haa Alifu atoll. Transfers are organised as part of your holiday package, unless requested otherwise.

Seaplane and Boat Transfers

Most islands close to Male offer speedboat transfers.

Island resorts located in Ari atolls, Raa atoll, Baa atoll, Lhaviyani atoll, Felidhe atoll, Meemu atoll, North and South Nilande atolls and Haa Dhaaul atoll are served by seaplane services.

Islands and liveaboards located on Haa Alifu atoll are reached by internal scheduled flight.

Some more distant islands offer a boat transfer as well, although as the transfer crosses between atolls they can often be long and uncomfortable and affected by the currents, so we opt to use the most comfortable option for each island.

If you are transferring by seaplane you should be aware of the following:

• Seaplanes do not operate a fixed departure schedule, but are planned daily according to the islands and guests that must be picked up and dropped off. The planning is carried out locally 24 hours in advance.
• Seaplanes often pick up and drop off guests from a number of islands on a single transfer run.
• Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours, generally 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
• You may have to wait for a short duration after arriving in Male. On departing, the islands will transfer you back to Male as late a local logistics on that day will allow.
• On departing your island resort your return seaplane transfer time will be confirmed the day before departure by your resort.
• If you have a late international flight departing home, it is highly advisable you ask Regaldive to reserve a day use package for you at the Hulhule hotel.
• Seaplanes are not pressurised flights.
• Seaplanes typically operate a strict weight policy of 20kg for hold luggage.
• Excess luggage is currently $2/kilo to the island and $4/kilo on the return.

Inter Atoll Flights - Haa Alifu

Transfers to Haa-Alifu in the North involve an internal pressurised flight from Male. This is arranged and costed as part of your travel package to the north of the Maldives, unless otherwise requested.

Hulhule Airport Hotel - Day use & overnights

International and internal flight schedules occasionally make fairly long connection times in Male Airport inevitable. The Hulehule Airport hotel offers inexpensive day packages to non-residents for use of their beach, pool, showers, left luggage and other facilities. Pre-booked packages are available with Regaldive, for day use with and without a room, and overnight stays (refer to separate webpage on Hulehule Airport hotel).

Climate

This tropical climate has 2 monsoon seasons. November to May is the northwest monsoon season, which is dry and sunny. June to October is the southeast monsoon and brings the wet season. Having said this, the period crossover of the monsoon seasons fluctuates each year and even during the wet season, one may experience weeks of solid sunshine and just showers in short, sharp bursts.

Air temperature is stable around 28 - 30° C and the water temperature rarely drops below 25° C. Spectacular diving takes place all year round.

Currency

Local currency is the Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR).
Approximately £1 = 26 MVR

The tourist currency is US Dollar ($) or Euro (€). Island resorts charge in USD or Euros and bills can be settled with most internationally accepted credit cards at the end of your stay.

Time

The Maldives is +5 hours of GMT.

Flight Options

Emirates via Dubai from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Other regional departures may be available; supplement may apply. Regaldive's prices are currently based on Emirates. Supplements may or may not apply for other airlines dependant on seat availability.

Sri Lankan non-stop or via Colombo, date / flight dependant, from Heathrow.

Qatar Airways via Doha.

Charter Flights: Flights are direct, once a week for 7 night durations departing Sundays and Mondays. We can tailor-make a quote for you.

Stopovers in Dubai & Sri Lanka available on request.

Internal Transfers to Your Island Resort from Male

Your resort/boat is reached either by sea plane or boat transfer from Male airport, distance dependant, with the exception of Haa Alifu atoll. Transfers are organised as part of your holiday package, unless requested otherwise.

Seaplane and Boat Transfers

Most islands close to Male offer speedboat transfers.

Island resorts located in Ari atolls, Raa atoll, Baa atoll, Lhaviyani atoll, Felidhe atoll, Meemu atoll, North and South Nilande atolls and Haa Dhaaul atoll are served by seaplane services.

Islands and liveaboards located on Haa Alifu atoll are reached by internal scheduled flight.

Some more distant islands offer a boat transfer as well, although as the transfer crosses between atolls they can often be long and uncomfortable and affected by the currents, so we opt to use the most comfortable option for each island.

If you are transferring by seaplane you should be aware of the following:

• Seaplanes do not operate a fixed departure schedule, but are planned daily according to the islands and guests that must be picked up and dropped off. The planning is carried out locally
• 24 hours in advance.
• Seaplanes often pick up and drop off guests from a number of islands on a single transfer run.
• Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours, generally 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
• You may have to wait for a short duration after arriving in Male. On departing, the islands will transfer you back to Male as late a local logistics on that day will allow.
• On departing your island resort your return seaplane transfer time will be confirmed the day before departure by your resort.
• If you have a late international flight departing home, it is highly advisable you ask Regaldive to reserve a day use package for you at the Hulhule hotel.
• Seaplanes are not pressurised flights.
• Seaplanes typically operate a strict weight policy of 20kg for hold luggage.
• Excess luggage is currently $2/kilo to the island and $4/kilo on the return.

Inter Atoll Flights - Haa Alifu

Transfers to Haa-Alifu in the North involve an internal pressurised flight from Male. This is arranged and costed as part of your travel package to the north of the Maldives, unless otherwise requested.

Hulhule Airport Hotel - Day use & overnights

International and internal flight schedules occasionally make fairly long connection times in Male Airport inevitable. The Hulehule Airport hotel offers inexpensive day packages to non-residents for use of their beach, pool, showers, left luggage and other facilities. Pre-booked packages are available with Regaldive, for day use with and without a room, and overnight stays (refer to separate webpage on Hulehule Airport hotel).

Passports

Passengers travelling to the Maldives must have six months valid on their passport from the date of return to the UK.

Visas

A free 30 day permit is given to British travellers on arrival in Male. Other nationalities should consult their consular website.

Vaccinations

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or local GP. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to the Maldives, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio.

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