What a spectacular way to finish our journey, exploring the dazzling cyan-blue waters and picture perfect white sand beaches of the Maldives. We had the opportunity to go for our last snorkel and take the final plunge into the deep blue of these crystalline and tropical warm waters. The expedition has been blessed with some great weather and water visibility and today was no exception. We have been diving, snorkeling, enjoying the beach or just simply relaxing in outstanding conditions. Clear skies, gentle breezes and nice warm, clear waters have been a constant on our trip. During our voyage we have been able to observe different coral reef gardens and island ecosystems, some of them rated the best in the world. The richness and variety in marine life is astonishing and remarkable. With nearly 1200 islands, the Maldives channels, reef edges and inner-slopes in sheltered waters inside atolls are home to schools of thousands brightly coloured tropical fish and hundreds of species of corals, turtles, dolphins, friendly reef sharks and the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. We have experienced it all, but wait – there was even more to come! The new itinerary also gave us the opportunity to take a scenic flight around the surrounding reefs and islands of Malé. It was a great chance to put things in perspective and this offered a splendid photo opportunity. Looking at these tiny little islands and spectacular reef ecosystems confirmed how lucky and privileged we have been to be able to explore and experience this unique paradisiac nation.
5/6/2015
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National Geographic Orion
Galle, Sri Lanka
Our second day exploring this gorgeous corner of Sri Lanka saw most of us enjoying a mixture of nature, culture, and local flavor. After traveling along a coast lined with rocky points, statues of Buddha, and beautiful waves, we arrived at the Madu Ganga River. Here, we boarded some local boats to navigate through mangrove channels and a series of lakes dotted with islands, experiencing a bit more of the local lifestyle. Onboard the boats, we enjoyed searching for wildlife. Brahminy kites and fish-eagles circled overhead while colorful kingfishers and Indian cormorants fished closer to the water. A few different lizards were spotted, including one large water monitor. Hiding in amongst the mangrove roots it allowed for a close approach. For me, the highlight was the monkeys. Purple-face leaf monkeys put on quite a show leaping from tree to tree. They were quite tame and didn’t seem to mind all of us burning lots of pixels pointing our cameras in their direction. Part of the fun of our excursion was simply navigating along the channels and lakes. We had to duck under some very low bridges while trains, bikes, cars, and pedestrians passed overhead. A few stops added to the excitement as well. Visiting a Buddhist shrine allowed for many of us to learn about the predominate religion here in Sri Lanka. A stop at a Cinnamon Island taught us about this important spice and how it is prepared. Man-made mangrove tunnels and caves helped us learn more about this essential ecosystem by being inside of the trees. After a delicious local lunch with nearly endless choices, it was time to return to the National Geographic Orion and set sail towards Colombo. It has been an incredible voyage through the Seychelles and Maldives and ending here in Sri Lanka. From the biggest (blue whale, giant tortoise, and whale sharks) to the smallest (geckos, sunbirds, and clouds of tropical fish), it has been a voyage filled with amazing discoveries. Sun and sand, diving and snorkeling, history, culture, and ecology. It is time to get a cold drink and enjoy our final “green flash.”
