24-hour diving event returns to Maldivian resort

February 22, 2016 Come 25 April 2016, guests at the Angsana Ihura in the Maldives can take part in a special 24-hour scuba diving event organised to commemorate the 16th anniversary of a nearby shipwreck. The activities include six dives that would be offered over the 24-hour period, starting from 10am onwards. The different timings are designed to give guests a glimpse into the daily "routine" of the world that lies beneath the waves.     Dives will also be organised to the Rannamaari wreck, which sank in 1999. Situated at a depth of 28 metres, it is the only shipwreck in the Maldives that sits on a house reef. Previously a dredging ship, the Rannamaari was towed to its present location to be used as an artificial reef. However, it mysteriously sank several days before its scheduled sinking, and is now home to thousands of marine plants and animals. Special underwater cameras have been installed at the wreck for this event, to facilitate live streaming to the resort website and YouTube. Apart from diving, guests can also snorkel, to catch a glimpse of the beautiful reefs that the Maldives is renowned for. Just a few centimetres below the surface is a marine paradise, where hundreds of fish species – from clownfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, sturgeon fish, etc – frolic amidst the colourful corals. Stingrays and eagle rays have been known to make an appearance here. The event also aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the marine environment, a principle that the resort has been committed to since its opening in 2001. Throughout the year, guests can take part in projects that aid the preservation of sea turtles, manta rays and sharks. They can also help in the coral transplantation project, by helping to plant corals (under supervision, of course!). In addition, the dive centre at the resort offers professional dive courses for both beginner and experienced divers. It also organises expeditions to, among others, the eleven world-class dive sites that are less than 50 minutes away by boat.