Nice! Have a super time 👍

@@kirkandbear Thanks :)

She has good taste 👌🏼👋

@kirkandbear She has a coloured tattoo of a fox, it's her only coloured tattoo.

Praise indeed! Thank you very much. We have been there several times during the last 6 or 7 years and there have been a few changes - basically they seem to have tightened up the rules a bit. To answer your question, you can get in at the pier or walk in via a number of access points along the beach. We have also walked from the Makadi complex along to the dive centre and entered there, swimming all the way back to the pier so you do have options. Recently, the time at which you can go in is more strictly enforced - we used to go in a first light on occasion but now it seems they do ask you to wait until the “formal” opening time. I think this is due to some safety incidents. At the end by the dive centre they are more vigorous at calling you back in before “opening time”, so we would often arrive there after that time, having been allowed in a bit earlier by the Makadi staff via the beach. In short, you can get in at various places, swim either way, and the whole of the area that I highlighted is available to you. I hope that helps - let me know if you need any more information 👍

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I've booked to go there.

@ Have a lovely time! We might go back again this year :-)

Hi, and thanks for watching - glad you enjoyed it. I would say Makadi Bay is superb. There are some things you see in the Maldives more easily - sharks and rays mostly - but the Red Sea is easy to reach and waaaaay cheaper to visit (for us, anyway). The sea currents are also more predictable. The corals in the Reds Sea are often really healthy whereas the Maldives suffered a coral bleaching some years ago so there are some barren areas. I guess, then, that I would say the Red Sea is very good and somewhere well worth snorkelling. The Maldives is quieter (fewer people in the water), harder to reach and more expensive. Most of the fish species are very similar, so in terms of value for money the Red Sea wins, but I loved the sharks and rays in the Maldives. I hope that helps :-)

Hello, and thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it. I used a GoPro 10 in a dive housing and mounted on a GoPro El Grande pole. It’s worked well for me so far and I like the footage it produces :-)

That’s amazing! Very happy for you…enjoy your time there 👋

@@kirkandbear may i ask , which area of the island you found rays ? I saw Moray eel today while i was observing sea turtle near the arrival jet , took me by surprise 😂 And the area that have strong current , do you think it’s safe enough to explore with the life jacket on ?

Rays were mostly to the right of the arrival jetty past the entry / exit nearest the restaurant. Sometimes they are stationary in the sand right by the arrival jetty. Look carefully :-) We saw a huge moray in the same place! I hope the following makes sense….. The challenge when the current is strong is swimming against it if your only exit is “up stream” so to speak. One day we had to drift back to where we entered because we could not swim fast enough. I would therefore only say it is safe to swim round the tip of the island past the wooden post when the current is very low (whether you have a life jacket or not). We talked with the dive centre staff and checked the tide tables to work out when this was. You can test the current by swimming against it to see if you can make ground. The thing about going round the tip is that once you pass the loading jetty exit, if the current is carrying you towards the tip, then you have no other exit to escape if you can’t swim fast enough against the current. You have to swim against the current back to the loading jetty or go round the tip and swim to the first exit by the water villas on the other side of the island. If you can do it safely it is well worth seeing. I would add, in addition, that we very much liked (and spent lots of time in) the area turning right from the arrival jetty (away from the loading jetty), a fair way past the next entry / exit - we saw most rays in the area and there are some amazing plate corals. Good luck! Let me know how you get on and if you have any other questions :-)

@ thank you so much for replying and your helpful information 🙏🏻 you’re very kind ❤️ The area turning right from arrival jetty , you mean if we’re facing the ocean , the area on right , Am I right ? And the exist nearest the restaurant = the main restaurant ( Reef ) that’s next to main swimming pool , right ?

You are very welcome and are 100% correct. If you are able to keep going past the Reef Restaurant exit (and maybe after the water villas) you find an area with varied levels and lovely corals. We loved that area. Hopefully you may rays swimming too 🤞🏻Also, sometimes, the rays are in the lagoon (saw one in the area between the coral and the beach in the shallow water by Reef Restaurant) but the water can be cloudy. And the rays can half bury themselves in sand so sometimes all you can see is their eyes - they are hard to spot when resting like that.

Thank you so much! There are a few more cool trips on our channel if you’re interested 👋

Thank you, and glad you enjoyed it 👍

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video….it was a joy to visit the falls and a lifelong dream.

🤣🤣 Yes indeed :-)

You’re welcome 👍😀

Thank you…glad you enjoyed it. It really was an amazing adventure and privilege to be there. 👋

Thank you…so please you enjoyed it 👋

That’s great to know and glad you enjoyed it…thank you 👍

They really are 😀

Glad you enjoyed the video and I hope you have a good holiday there! It is a wonderful place. The only guided activity we did was the “night fluo snorkelling”, which is in a separate video. All that you see in this video is personal snorkelling - no guide or time tabled activity. We typically snorkelled twice a day for a couple of hours each time because we really enjoy it. Visit the dive centre when you arrive to be shown where all the entrances / exits are, and where and when the current might be strongest. We would take a photos of the tide table during our stay so knew what the sea was doing. The dive team are really helpful and the guided activities are helpful if you wish to take them. I think there are some free activities and some paid ones but do make use of personal snorkelling without a guide. Inside the lagoon is shallow and very easy to explore. Outside the reef there is more to see though - over our stay we went round the whole island, but not in one go (although you can do that of you wish).

@@kirkandbear Thank you for replying so quickly and thoughtfully! I’m not sure why but I thought you’d need a guided tour to find the good spots, but that’s amazing you were able to see all that by yourselves ! We’ll definitely give solo snorkelling more of a go knowing that now (and save a little cash in the process :P) Thanks again. Even more excited about our trip now :)

You are most welcome! Have a fantastic time. Vilamendhoo video coming early next year if you’re interested 👋

Hi, and thank you! I don’t know for sure, but the people who assist with access to stop people getting too close to the seals said that the pups are born over a couple of months and so some have fattened up, while others are just starting to put on weight. I think that’s why they are such different sizes. Although the two at 3:16 were close to one another they didn’t belong to the same mother. I’m fairly sure there was still time for the small one to feed and put on weight before having to leave the beach and go into the sea to fend for itself. I hope that helps :-) 👋

That is wonderful. Congratulations on your marriage!! I wish you many happy years and good fortune together. I am very pleased you enjoyed the video 👋 Can you tell me more about your equator question? It may not have translated properly 😀

@@kirkandbear Can you recommend a trip with a good underwater environment like NH Resort? (I am south Korean. Therefore, the equator was so far away that it seemed impossible to go there in life.)

The Red Sea, Egypt is excellent but I think that is further away for you. I have not been to either the Great Barrier Reef, Australia orr Okinawa, Japan but all the Instagram and KZbin content I have seen look good. We will go at some point I am sure. I believe Indonesia has amazing snorkelling too - on our travel list, but not been yet so look into those places yourself if you like the sound of them. I hope that helps and best wishes from the UK 👍 Kirk & Bear

We’re delighted! Kept us entertained for weeks 😀

Thank you! We’re glad that you enjoyed it 👋

Loved Zambia…hope to go back for longer 👋

Hello, and thank you very much. It was filmed in January 2024, so quite recently. If you have any other questions then let me know 👋👍

we are going there in about 1 month We heard that the house reef is great there and the corals are very beautiful thats the reason why havodda

@@sandrawurzinger3198 Check with the dive centre about the various entrances to the reef. We snorkelled all the way round the island and it is beautiful - lots of fish, rays and sharks. At one end of the island is a post in the sea - be cautious about when you snorkel here as the currents can be strong sometimes. Other than that, have a lovely trip - it’s a gorgeous place and we loved it. Video of Vilamandhoo coming early next year if you’re interested!

@@kirkandbearthank you for your helpful information ❤❤

You are welcome 😀

Thanks Stephen 👋 Glad you enjoyed it!

Hi and thank you. I’m using a GoPro 10 and a Canon R5. I’m glad you enjoyed the video…it was an amazing trip!

Hi….thanks for watching. GoPro 10…I think it produces very nice footage with the right settings

Thank you my friend!!

Thank Jonas! What an amazing journey we had 👌🏼

Thank you…so glad that you enjoyed it. Sorry some of the footage was a bit wobbly - Zodiacs are hard work! I have to say that it is a Kirk & Bear recommended experience. Go if you get the chance 👋😀👍

Thank you 👋 I hope you make it there - it is a super experience. We would definitely go again.

Hi 👋 It was filmed near the jetty of the Makadi Grand. Some turning left from the jetty heading towards Sunwing, and some turning right. There is lots to see all the way along the reef and it can be different every day.

You are very welcome and we are happy that you enjoyed it! 👋

Hi…we only went snorkelling but there is a very good PADI dive centre there if you’re a diver.

PS sorry for the late reply - been off the grid for 2 weeks! Back now though so if you have any other questions then let me know 👍

Excellent! 👌🏼

Hello, and thanks for watching. When we landed at Hurghada Airport the transfer to our hotel at Makadi Bay took 30-40 minutes, so not very far away.

@kirkandbear I am staying in Hurghada for a week in May. Definitely, I will be visiting this place.

Excellent. You might find a local boat operator could take you there to snorkel, and there are also other super places for snorkelling in the area. I hope you have a lovely time! 👋

Thanks for watching and I hope you have a wonderful visit. We loved it very much! There is so much beauty in the ocean 👌🏼

Hello, I would love to know how did this compare to Reethi Faru because we cannot decide, we also love snorking. I would love to hear from you.

Hi, I think if you use their handle (@) they will be notified that you’ve asked. As I’ve not been to Reethi Faru I am not if much help to you! Which ever one you go to, I suggest checking tides and currents with the staff or dive centre as they can be quite strong sometimes. I hope that helps, K&B.

PS Looks like you did @ them - apologies. I hope they reply 🤞🏻

Hi, how would you compare Centara, Reethi Faru (it's Raa - not Baa btw) and NH for hotel quality (food, rooms, common areas, services, greenery) and snorkeling? I am absulutely turn first-timer (w 2 kids aged 6 and 11). Thanks!

Enjoy! The strongest currents are at the tip of the island at the dive centre end (the staff there will advise you). We had the most sightings between the dive jetty swimming along past the main restaurant towards the over water villas. Currents vary in strength during the day and can be strong at their highest levels so just be aware of what’s happening and change your direction accordingly. Mostly absolutely fine though. I hope that helps and thanks for watching! Have a great trip 👋

Hi…thanks for watching. All the videos from that trip, including this one, were captured between the jetty and beach. Turning left from the jetty was off limits last year. No idea if that has changed this year - I hope it has. The barracuda was right at the beach entry, so I had no choice but to be quite close. Looked mean though, and I was wary so didn’t hang around for long! I hope you have a good trip to Makadi Bay - it is excellent snorkelling and you never know what you will see. And thank you for the compliment. Any questions then feel free to ask. 👋

Thanks for watching!

Hi, and thank you. We’re glad you enjoyed it 👍. The video was filmed with my trusty GoPro 10 in a dive housing, mounted on an El Grande pole. If you have any other questions please let me know 👋 Enjoy your trip. Which island / resort are you going to?

So you recommend I get a GoPro because your video was super clear. They are just so expensive. We are heading to Lily Beach Resort.

Thanks - I’m pleased you like the video quality. Lily Beach looks lovely! I have been very happy with my GoPro 10 - much more reliable than my old 7 - so have not felt the need to upgrade it yet. If something really good happens with the GoPro 13 or 14 I may do. With the GoPro 10 I found getting the settings right really helps with video quality. Let me know if you want more information about that. In terms of price, you could consider second hand (used) cameras - there are many available (here in the UK anyway), so that might help. Also, the GoPro 12 was priced lower than the 11 when it was introduced. I saw it on offer in the UK for £299 GBP (reduced by £100 GBP) in December. I have not yet tried other, similar cameras though. I notice that DJI has competing products and many people love theirs. I also wonder about the Insta360 Ace Pro as well. Not saying they are cheaper, but I’m sure there are lots of KZbin videos comparing them for image quality and other factors. I guess it will come down to budget, but my GoPro continues to be a good choice for me. I would also say that good light, good water clarity, and good technique can really help make the best of your footage as well. I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions please do let me know.

Hi, and thank you…we’re glad you enjoyed it. Yes - it was a Reef Manta (Manta Alfredi), which is a bit smaller than the Giant Mantas (Manta Birostris), and our first ever Manta encounter 👌 There will be a Galapagos video in April if you’re interested.

It’s a difficult choice. The people we met who changed room said that the outside space of over-water villas are either in shade or full sun, and they didn’t like the walk from the villa to the restaurant / bar. While we didn’t stay in one we were completely satisfied with the sunrise villa we had and would choose it over an over-water villa again - plenty of space, with a good deck that is under cover and sun loungers you can move onto the beach, which is at the bottom of your small “garden”. They even put large water vessels by both doors so you can wash the sand of your feet before entering. The room we had was in excellent condition- not brand new, but nothing stays brand new for ever. There was no dirt or broken fixtures, so I would say “nearly new”. It was clean, spacious and the covered outdoor bathroom was a delight. Aircon was superb. Food is good - I don’t know what you like to eat, but there is plenty of choice for all meals, it is all fresh, and the staff are very accommodating if you need something. I think there are some free activities. There is one free guided snorkel, and one free “try scuba” session. Also daily yoga (I think, but didn’t try) Their website also lists other stuff. We are fairly independent, and spent hours in the sea snorkeling twice a day but we did pay to do a guided night UV snorkel and it was super, but may be off-putting to anyone who doesn’t like not being able to see in all directions. Most of the paid activities are quite pricey, but because there are relatively few people I suppose that makes sense. Here is the website, although you may have already found it: world.nh-hotels.com/en/nh-collection-maldives-havodda I hope this is of some use. Just ask if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to answer.

PS There is also free loan of mask, snorkel & fins for your entire stay with a small refundable deposit. Looked like decent gear, but we always take our own so didn’t need it.

@@kirkandbear thanks for the information

No way! Hope you had a good time 👍 The Mobular was definitely a high point but the close encounter with the eagle ray was our favourite encounter because it was just so close. Thanks for the comment too 👋

@@kirkandbear Love an eagle ray. Their faces are just so cool! What did you film with out of interest?

@@SnappyTravels will you be posting a video? We’ll take a look if you do. Currently using a GoPro 10 on an El Grande pole.

@@kirkandbear sure will. It’s in the edit at the moment 👌🏻. My GoPro 10 killed itself on the first snorkel but fortunately some friends were flying out and brought me a new 12 to play with 😂

Ouch, but nice to get the 12 so quickly! Looking forward to seeing your vid 👍 Hope you had special encounters. We had an amazing leopard encounter last year on safari and it still gives me goosebumps.

Hi, and thanks for watching. Yes - it was all filmed when snorkeling - no diving. It is very easy to get into the water, and it is also very easy to swim in the lagoon, with lots to see. It is also easy to swim outside the reef, however outside the reef there are currents in some areas on some days. We snorkelled twice a day for 1-2 hours each time and only on one day did we have to work against a very strong current and, in the end, we turned round and let the current take us back to our original entry. We did not find it excessively tiring at all. The Dive Centre team and good at talking you through where is safest and there is a red flag / green flag system to help you. Red flag = advice not to swimming outside the reef. If there is a current then there are some places you can get in at one entrance, swim with the current, and get out at the next entrance. In particular, between the dive jetty and the arrival jetty. It’s all shown on the reef map and the most dangerous area is clearly shown. The house reef here is recognised as one of the best, so I do recommend this resort. We have spent a lot of time in the Red Sea and at this Maldives resort we saw many more rays and sharks, which we enjoyed enormously. We stayed in a sunrise villa on the island, and not an over water villa. There is more shade and it is easier to access the sea in our opinion. By all means choose over-water, however we met a couple while there who asked to change to an island villa as they couldn’t escape the sunshine when in their over-water villa. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

PS In case it is useful to know…The resort includes free mask, snorkel and fins loan (small refundable deposit required) for your stay, although we take our own. It also includes one free guided reef snorkel during your stay, which may help to familiarise you with the reef and conditions in the sea.

Thanks….I’m glad you enjoyed it 👍The journey was quite demanding but it was a very unique experience! 👋👌

Thanks Manaaf 👋 Wish I had a better camera for night filming! It was very good though. Check out our day time snorkel video if you get a chance…loads of Rays and Remoras 👍

Hello, and thank you for the amazing compliment! Most of the time I hand hold for photos and video so I can compose my shots quickly, but not always. When using a large and heavy lens I favour a monopod. All of this video was shot handheld. With photographs at long focal lengths I always try to get my shutter speed reasonably high, generally at least one over focal length (for example 1/500th at 500mm) and stop down the lens a little. I also used a camcorder for some of this video and it has a zoom equivalent to 600mm but the image stabilisation is quite good. I always try to use good posture and technique to help stabilise photos and video. Does that help? Greetings from the UK and thank you for watching the video 👋

@@kirkandbear wow, it looks rather stable regarding to a handheld vedio. thank you for your selfishless sharing experience in shutter speed setting of long focal lengths. you must be an expert in recording. I always get my video looked flurred due to handshake. I have lived in UK for 3 years and have visited hunstanton and scarborough SEA LIFE to see seals (mostly habour seals). hoping to have chances to see seals in norfolk someday.

*blurred

I find if I relax my hands I can make the camera more stable. Give it a try…once I start recording I always have to consciously make myself relax my hands. I didn’t realise I did that until I started shooting video! I hope my tip helps you and that you are enjoying the UK 👍

I’m glad 👍

Hello. Yes - you may use the short clip from my video. I am delighted that you asked. Please credit my Chanel if possible :-)