[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
Apr 4, 2019, 3:50 pm
#3601
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,662
My recollection is that DSDs went on the dive boat and did a "real" dive with the rest of us. The PADI standard is four DSDs with one dive guide, but I doubt there would be four DSDs there at once. You might do an intro dive in the lagoon. I doubt that the DSDs would do the house reef unless the boat was going there.
If you want more info on DSD, PM me and I can ask my son the scuba instructor.
You can also go to your local dive shop and do a couple of weekends of training and then do your open water dives in the Maldives and wind up certified after two dives.
If you want more info on DSD, PM me and I can ask my son the scuba instructor.
You can also go to your local dive shop and do a couple of weekends of training and then do your open water dives in the Maldives and wind up certified after two dives.
Apr 4, 2019, 8:47 pm
#3602
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 17
I'm going to take this a step further though, if possible could anyone suggest 1-2 dishes (Dinner time menu) at your favorite restaurant(s) on the island? I'll be here for 6 days,&neither myself nor my wife drink. So no need for alcohol suggestions. Since we will most likely only be enjoying each restaurant once, I don't want to waste it ordering the wrong thing! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! (Also, if you know off the top of your head a rough estimate on the price of your favorite dish, please list as well).
No kidding! Our guide was quite impressed by it that he started counting... "I give up at 40!" Said the most was about 50, though.
Last edited by Canarsie; Apr 4, 2019 at 9:41 pm Reason: Consolidation.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:34 am
#3603
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC
Programs: LH Sen, HH Diamond, IC RA
Posts: 313
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...nightmare-for/
or some more scientific facts and studies available from https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/
MWSRP was located on Rangali until a few years ago.
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...-mpa-maldives/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...uth-ari-atoll/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...toll-maldives/
You can request the full abstracts.
Everey one should be aware, that the whale shark activities are neither ecofriendly nor sustainable.
According to MWSRP 29% of the whale sharks suffered injuries, for example from boat propellers...
Last edited by tom-schmitt; Apr 5, 2019 at 2:42 am
Apr 5, 2019, 5:11 am
#3604
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 179
I was under the impression DSD was at the lagoon per the brochure:
Experience a real scuba dive in our tranquil lagoon! What’s involved? - First, you’ll complete the participant form and listen to a short briefing given by your diving instructor. - Next, you’ll engage in a practice session conducted in the shallows of the lagoon to get you familiar with a few simple diving skills. - Once you’ve mastered these skills and you feel ready to go on, your instructor will guide you on a lagoon dive to a maximum depth of 8 m. Congratulations, you’ve accomplished your first real dive! Now that you’ve had a taste of what diving is all about, perhaps you’d like to do some more dives or even enroll in a course. You can talk to your instructor after the dive to discuss these options further.
Experience a real scuba dive in our tranquil lagoon! What’s involved? - First, you’ll complete the participant form and listen to a short briefing given by your diving instructor. - Next, you’ll engage in a practice session conducted in the shallows of the lagoon to get you familiar with a few simple diving skills. - Once you’ve mastered these skills and you feel ready to go on, your instructor will guide you on a lagoon dive to a maximum depth of 8 m. Congratulations, you’ve accomplished your first real dive! Now that you’ve had a taste of what diving is all about, perhaps you’d like to do some more dives or even enroll in a course. You can talk to your instructor after the dive to discuss these options further.
Apr 5, 2019, 7:04 am
#3605
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 429
Headed to the airport now, 30 hours of travel time ahead of me but well worth the reward!!
Apr 5, 2019, 8:28 am
#3606
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
I've seen a lot of posts regarding the best restaurants to eat at & read through a lot of the dining guides from @MaldivesFreak. Super super helpful from everyone! I'm going to take this a step further though, if possible could anyone suggest 1-2 dishes (Dinner time menu) at your favorite restaurant(s) on the island? I'll be here for 6 days,&neither myself nor my wife drink. So no need for alcohol suggestions. Since we will most likely only be enjoying each restaurant once, I don't want to waste it ordering the wrong thing! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! (Also, if you know off the top of your head a rough estimate on the price of your favorite dish, please list as well).
For Vilu there is the chocolate fondant which everyone loves and isn't that expensive at around $18++. Over the last 3 years there have been a lot of changes in the menus there (at Vilu) and Ufaa and I think for Sunset Grill too. The first changes happened before our last visit (after Ayyoub left), leaving out quite a few items from the previous menus (most notably Vilu's), but which we still managed to get anyway because we specifically asked for them. At Vilu there was the chocolate fondant mentioned above (to the dismay of a lot of regulars they changed it to a chocolate and hazelnut fondant after Ayyoub left) and another was the wagyu beef salad prepared by the waiter at the table. Really really good!
BTW, have you taken a look at the latest menus from Rangali's website?
Apr 5, 2019, 1:24 pm
#3607
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: LH SEN, IB *S, AA PLT
Posts: 18
Sounds like a generic reply. You'd best email the Director of Rooms for that specific information. Ask for his / her email address from the resort's main email address. I used to have the old DoR's email address but she has left the resort so sorry I can't help you here.
“Allow me to assist you in regards of the new renovated Deluxe Beach Villa.
The picture you have sent was during the transition of the renovation, this bathtub has been removed in all the new deluxe beach villa and replaced by a daybed.
You may consider you still have the pool and direct access to the beach.
The new Deluxe Beach Villa will give you the option to have the shower inside or outside, as the room is featured with both options now.“
this is still strange to me but anyway, let’s see what villa we get assigned and will report back if of interest. If anyone having stayed in a refurbished DBV with still a bathtub outside but not villa 140 let me know pls
Apr 5, 2019, 1:47 pm
#3608
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Hmmm.....so a swing constitutes a daybed, eh? That's a new one.
Last edited by MaldivesFreak; Apr 5, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Apr 5, 2019, 2:11 pm
#3609
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond and United Global Services
Posts: 34
United cancels EWR to DEL flights for two weeks - This may have a severe impact of those trying to travel via India to the Maldives!
Last edited by Canarsie; Apr 24, 2019 at 12:04 am Reason: Consolidation.
Apr 5, 2019, 4:35 pm
#3610
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: HH Diamond, BAEC
Posts: 1,341
Some more information regarding whale shark snorkling:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...nightmare-for/
or some more scientific facts and studies available from https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/
MWSRP was located on Rangali until a few years ago.
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...-mpa-maldives/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...uth-ari-atoll/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...toll-maldives/
You can request the full abstracts.
Everey one should be aware, that the whale shark activities are neither ecofriendly nor sustainable.
According to MWSRP 29% of the whale sharks suffered injuries, for example from boat propellers...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...nightmare-for/
or some more scientific facts and studies available from https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/
MWSRP was located on Rangali until a few years ago.
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...-mpa-maldives/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...uth-ari-atoll/
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.o...toll-maldives/
You can request the full abstracts.
Everey one should be aware, that the whale shark activities are neither ecofriendly nor sustainable.
According to MWSRP 29% of the whale sharks suffered injuries, for example from boat propellers...
50 boats out in one area is insane though, that’s dangerous to everybody. I won’t be going out again so. 29% of whale sharks getting injured is dreadful
Apr 5, 2019, 6:27 pm
#3611
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LGB
Posts: 1,205
50 boats in one area??! That is insane. Why did the MWSRP leave Rangali, do you know? When we went, we didn’t experience the tons of boats around - it was very quiet back in (2012, 2013). We went with the MWSRP team. They did mention at the time about other resorts going out on boats and doing crazy things like overcrowding etc sometimes. But it wasn’t the norm, I don’t think.
50 boats out in one area is insane though, that’s dangerous to everybody. I won’t be going out again so. 29% of whale sharks getting injured is dreadful
50 boats out in one area is insane though, that’s dangerous to everybody. I won’t be going out again so. 29% of whale sharks getting injured is dreadful
Apr 7, 2019, 9:21 pm
#3612
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 429
Some changes, in villa dining has increased to $18 from $15 and the afternoon tea starting today will be at Rangalli Bar from 330 to 430 and Happy hour at Villa from 4-5.
Everything was a bit off yesterday service wise we were on the first plane in and got one of the day rooms everyone else except another couple had to wait in Rangalli and there were 2 more full flights in before noon so it was a bit crowded there. Trying to get ice delivered to the room in the afternoon and evening after dinner to enjoy some drinks took over an hour and there was a piece of bacon on the railing of the deck when we got into the room and then no beach towels. We left happy hour after 35-40 minutes because we were tired and they did not have any appetizers served by then. Headed off to breakfast now will repost with some further observations later.
Apr 7, 2019, 9:57 pm
#3613
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 16
I was on one of those later flights yesterday. Departing at 11:20am and in around 1pm after the the time change.
Things were crazy busy at MLE airport as it seemed at least 4-5 wide bodies landed within 30 minutes of each other. Our incoming flight to MLE to circle for 20 minutes because of ATC before landing and then another 20 minutes of waiting on the plane before our buses arrived. Once off the plane the terminal was elbow to elbow but immigration only took 5-10 minutes and our bags were already on the belt circling. We found the guy with the Conrad sign in the sea of hotel signs and were off the TMA for weighing and to the lounge in 10 minutes. We were told 90 minutes upon arrival for the seaplane but it ended up being less than 10 minutes (no massage). And we were on the island by 1pm local time with a full flight of 15.
Room was ready immediately and after a quick detour to grab fins at the dive center we were in our Superior Water Villa (received our choice as well) before 2. All seemed well organized besides the Happy Hour yesterday that was a bit crowded. Though we just had to flag down our server to get a drink. We left around 5pm when the Tea ended but walking back through around 5:15 we did see most people with small plates of something savory. By the way we were told that Happy Hour was going to be 4:30-5:30 so no overlap with Tea.
Room service breakfast breakfast this morning was relaxing and amazing and perhaps the be $20.16 ever spend. Trying to decide if we will ever leave the Villa for breakfast this week.
Let me know if if there any questions I can answer. I’m here all week.
Things were crazy busy at MLE airport as it seemed at least 4-5 wide bodies landed within 30 minutes of each other. Our incoming flight to MLE to circle for 20 minutes because of ATC before landing and then another 20 minutes of waiting on the plane before our buses arrived. Once off the plane the terminal was elbow to elbow but immigration only took 5-10 minutes and our bags were already on the belt circling. We found the guy with the Conrad sign in the sea of hotel signs and were off the TMA for weighing and to the lounge in 10 minutes. We were told 90 minutes upon arrival for the seaplane but it ended up being less than 10 minutes (no massage). And we were on the island by 1pm local time with a full flight of 15.
Room was ready immediately and after a quick detour to grab fins at the dive center we were in our Superior Water Villa (received our choice as well) before 2. All seemed well organized besides the Happy Hour yesterday that was a bit crowded. Though we just had to flag down our server to get a drink. We left around 5pm when the Tea ended but walking back through around 5:15 we did see most people with small plates of something savory. By the way we were told that Happy Hour was going to be 4:30-5:30 so no overlap with Tea.
Room service breakfast breakfast this morning was relaxing and amazing and perhaps the be $20.16 ever spend. Trying to decide if we will ever leave the Villa for breakfast this week.
Let me know if if there any questions I can answer. I’m here all week.
Apr 8, 2019, 12:15 am
#3614
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
By that I presume you mean Vilu.
Thanks for the posts, guys. Could you please double-check on the times (3:30 - 4:30 & 4:30 - 5:30 respectively) and find out whether Afternoon Tea has moved to Rangali Bar temporarily or if it's permanent. Cheers. I'd hate to think it has moved to Rangali Bar for good.....
Thanks for the posts, guys. Could you please double-check on the times (3:30 - 4:30 & 4:30 - 5:30 respectively) and find out whether Afternoon Tea has moved to Rangali Bar temporarily or if it's permanent. Cheers. I'd hate to think it has moved to Rangali Bar for good.....
Apr 8, 2019, 12:35 am
#3615
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 357
Sitting here in MLE at the lounge. Our Qatar flight landed at 930 and we have to wait until 12:00 for the transfer. At least we got the massage, but I'm bored!