Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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19 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Russ Brimelow

Reviewed December 2018

Spectacular wildlife, wonderful crew and great fun group

What a week! Everything you might wish for and more. We spent time with whale sharks, mantas, stingrays, turtles, and all reef life. Also had a great laugh in a beautiful place – lovely group who looked after each other, crew were attentive and focussed on all the details of wildlife spotting and safety. A big bonus for me was the diving. Shafi was truly superb as dive leader (and ships captain). Did 4 memorable dives with him.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many. Swimming with the whale sharks, the pirouetting of the mantas, following turtles across the reefs, floating above 15 to 20 sting rays, laughing all through dinner, breakfast with the sunrise etc etc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey was a great guide and combined great knowledge with an easy and supportive manner. He pointed out countless sights on the reefs we would not have spotted while quietly supporting the lesser swimmers. Shafi was a great captain and dive leader. He has a sunny personality and huge skill and experience in all of his roles in managing the boat. He has done 4,500 dives and is completely first class at managing a relatively novice diver like me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Rash vest and go pro/tough camera are musts! Bring loads of sun cream. A travel towel was great as an addition to my bed sheet as the air con is efficient. Bring your favourite shampoo, conditioner and shower gel as only hand soap provided. Also - let the crew tell you what the best opportunities are on each day rather than hark back to the itinerary. You will see more and better wildlife that way! And maybe have a party night too!

Jean Bonham

Reviewed March 2018

Marine Wildlife of the Maldives

We boarded our boat, Felicity, and set off almost straight away for a lovely trip around the islands of the Maldives. They say it is a romantic place and it is but it is also very suitable for any occasion for friends or even singles. There were 11 of us, 5 singles and 3 couples, mostly British. I would definitely recommend doing the Maldives on a boat, as you get to see different islands and you are not just stuck on one island. There are only 7 double cabins so 14 is maximum.

Most Inspirational Moment

We were able to go a long way in search of the whale shark and manta rays and they took us to where they were. The sea was so warm to swim in so you don't need a wetsuit but be careful to put plenty of SPF on the backs of your legs and your back or wear a rash vest. Snorkel gear is provided and it was of good quality AND one of the crew cleans it for you and makes it so the mask doesn't fog up. I've only ever had to it myself before so that was a real luxury. All the crew are very helpful in every way.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader spoke perfect English and was very passionate and helpful in every way. He asked the question that we were strong swimmers and there was one lady who said no so he kept her by his side the whole time, and let her hang on to a ring which gave her more confidence. He took us to all the sites where we would get good snorkelling, see beautiful fish and we also had another crew member with us in case anyone got into trouble. All the crew couldn't have done more to make my holiday perfect and safe. I felt perfectly safe with all of them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are worried about boats/seasickness then this probably isn't for you. The food on the boat was very good if a bit basic and they catered for a lot of fussy eaters (vegetarians etc). Most of the food is fish/rice based. I put on 5lbs in a week so there is always plenty of food, so much so we felt guilty because there was always a lot that went back, hopefully the crew ate well too. Also lots of fruit which was good, nice fruit too, mangos, papaya, pineapple, bananas etc as well as oranges and apples. There was nothing the cook wouldn't do for the fussy eaters.

Keith McKenzie

Reviewed March 2018

Marvellous Maldives

Great variety of marine life to experience.

Turkish Gullet was an experience – not luxurious but more character than a modern boat.

Excellent food.

Knowledgeable and trustworthy crew.

Snorkelling at 7:30 each morning before breakfast – very refreshing !!

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming above eleven manta rays and watching a turtle feed up close. Sleeping on deck undermeath the stars. Eating freshly caught fish. Enjoying different reefs every day thus seeing something different each day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamay ( nickname Angabaddy - ask him what it means ) was very knowledgeable about the marine life, the environment and local politics and could even get the footy results on his phone as there's no wifi available. Moreover, as my wife is not a strong swimmer, he kept her beside him using the life ring which allowed me to relax more during the snorkelling. Plus the Captain brought up the rear to check we didn't lose anyone and the Dhoni was always available if anyone needed to get out the water. Can't praise Kamay and the all the crew highly enough including the chef (marvellous food and catered for vegetarians) and Eddy the barman.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your own hair shampoo / conditioner / shower gel as it's not supplied. Take insect repellent as only on the last night, mooring near Male, our legs were covered totally in bites. The other nights were fine. You don't need to take a towel - plenty available. We bought full face masks with attached snorkels but had to switch to standard mask and separate snorkel ( supplied by Kamay) as we couldn't breathe properly - left the masks with Kamay for kids to play with in rock pools. All in one swimsuit is a good idea or rash vest, otherwise cover exposed areas with sunscream - very hot and easy to get burnt. AC is very loud and used with the fan can be a bit of a pain. Take a light blanket in case you need it at night.

Philippa .

Reviewed February 2018

An absolutely fabulous trip

I had a fantastic time on this trip. The boat crew is great. Whether it’s serving your meal, helping you on and off the boat, or taking your hand in the water to show you whatever’s been spotted, every member takes their role very seriously and strives to ensure that they give you the best experience possible.

The ship’s captain accompanied me on a dive and filmed it on his own camera. He then presented me with the disk on the last day, which was so thoughtful and unexpected.

The amount of fish, sharks, mammals etc to see is vast and the colours are amazing. I swam with a whale shark called Fernando, who is 22ft. I also saw huge manta rays and lots of sharks.

Most Inspirational Moment

The members of the crew who accompanied us in the water during snorkelling trips took the time to teach me how to dive down to get closer to whatever was there. Not being a particularly confident swimmer, this was great and I was soon practicing with confidence.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey, the tour leader on my trip, is so knowledgeable and his passion for marine wildlife is tremendous and he is very respectful of it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I agree with the previous reviewer regarding the amount of other holiday makers and boats scrambling to get to the whale shark. My first experience was great as it was with just my fellow Exodus group but the second day was not enjoyable due to the sheer amount of people in the water. However, I would urge anyone considering this trip not to let this put you off as the Maldives has so much more to offer.

Mary Purnell

Reviewed December 2017

Mantas, extreme weather and good company

The prospect of sighting whale sharks was the big attraction for this trip, along with plentiful snorkelling opportunities. The MV Felicity has great character and a wonderful crew who couldn’t do enough for their guests. We had a lovely group of people and who got along famously from day 1. Snorkelling was well organised and well led by guide Kamey and our multi-talented Captain.

However the whale shark experience was a huge disappointment, not because the crew didn’t do their best to get us an encounter, but because the whole thing in the Maldives appears unregulated with scant regard for the welfare of the creatures. As soon as a whale shark was spotted, boats sped up from all directions dropping snorkellers and divers in the water. There are no speed restrictions in force, and no limits on numbers and we were surprised to find scuba in use around the whale sharks. We had a talk from someone from the whale shark research project on the boat, which set out guidelines for encounters, but these seemed to be disregarded by many of the boats in the area.

Most Inspirational Moment

Snorkelling with manta rays over the reef early one morning. The crew worked really hard to get us in the right spot and I got some lovely photos

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey worked really hard to get us the best snorkelling despite the adverse weather conditions, and was very knowledgeable and helpful

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone who wants a whale shark encounter, and come away feeling that the dignity and well-being of the creatures has been respected.

Larry Meyers

Reviewed June 2016

Leisure at its finest

If you like small ships, great food and spending time in and on the water than this is a great trip. Keep in mind that this is a snorkeling trip with a lot of leisure time built in. Be prepared to sit back, read and chat with your fellow travelers.

Most Inspirational Moment

There is no doubt that swimming with a variety of sea life in warm waters is why one comes to the Maldives. Throw in some great sunrises and sunsets, remote and not so remote islands and a few storms and you have a nice variety. These islands are unique in of themselves and alone worth the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A good group leader is someone who knows what they are doing, leads and makes sure everyone is enjoying themselves. My fellow travelers summed it up well--Kamey is a genuinely nice person who likes to have fun and wants others to have fun as well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Our departure was the inaugural Marine Wildlife of the Maldives excursion. We were fortunate to have an Exodus representative on the trip and the updated trip notes will cover some of my points. To be clear, the focus of this trip is snorkeling and not diving. There was only one day, Thursday, that diving was a true option. I arrived on the island early and did my diving with the local operator for our trip, Secret Paradise. I had some excellent dives and saw some great sea life. Gear--while the gear on the MV Felicity was very good it is always best to bring your own mask and snorkel to insure no surprises. I brought a shorty but didn't need it. There is no need to bring any towels. What you do need is plenty of good waterproof sunscreen--suggest SP 50. A rash vest with a good SP factor is also a must. For those of you with thin hair on top you should bring a swimming hat. The underside of your arms, tops of your feet and the back of your legs should be given special attention. The MV Felicity has teak decks which means no shoes can be worn while on board. Some boats allow for non slip socks which you might inquire about. I also brought my own bar of soap and liquid laundry soap. Reading material is a must for this trip. There is plenty of leisure time on board. I brought binoculars but never used them. Our captain was kind enough to turn on his Wifi for a few of hours in the evening on a couple of nights. Beer cost 3 dollars US and I believe a bottle of wine went for 22 US. You record how much you drank and settle up at the end.

Gillian Wright-Dixon

Reviewed April 2016

Excellent Trip

The Maldives is known as paradise to some, others probably wouldn’t even consider this part of the world. This trip exceeded my expectations in more ways than one and if your looking to do something different, then give this a go.

I have previously done walking/hiking trips or discovery trips and didn’t think a boat trip would be exciting enough. I was wrong. I never considered the Maldives previously as a must see destination, and had an image in my head that said “it looks like a boring place to visit with not much to do”. I decided to book this trip due to my “give it a go” attitude, and it has been one of my favourite trips I have done that I would go back and do it all again. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone that likes wildlife, great food and good company.

The corals and reefs were so vividly clear to see and colourful. The amount of marine wildlife was staggering.

Most Inspirational Moment

I had the privilege to snorkel with some of the most beautiful biodiverse creatures in the world including whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles which were each awe inspiring and magical. I also had the pleasure of scuba diving for the first time in my life which is an experience I will never forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey was a good leader and certainly knew a lot of information about the areas we visited. He enjoyed having fun with the group and worked well with the ships crew to ensure all needs were met. Kamey is a confident swimmer, snorkeler and diver, so you are in safe hands!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Felicity has a generator that runs throughout the day and night, if you are a light sleeper or if noise disrupts your sleep then I would advise ear plugs for this trip. Plugs in the cabins are English (or at least it was in my cabin). Snorkel equipment and fins are provided so you don't necessarily need to purchase your own. Some of the group were cold at night due to the air conditioning/fan, therefore it might be worth packing a blanket. Alternatively you can turn the air con or fan off. Beach towels and bathroom towels are provided. Beware of stormy weather - its tropical and it happens! The sun is very strong in the Maldives, take a t-shirt to swim in. I ended up wearing more clothes swimming than when I was on the boat! Take a spare pair of socks - if your fins start to rub your toes (like mine did) just snorkel with socks on :) Underwater camera is a must if you wish to take unforgettable shots! Factor 50 sun cream is recommended but its up to you. I used 30 and crisped up too much and too easily. You need to be confident in the water. You are not swimming in a milk pond, there are currents and you can spend a couple of hours in the water at a time. The water is warm day and night, even in rain. Evenings are warm and pleasant I was unsure if I would need a wrap in case the temperature dropped. It didn't drop much and was nice after a hot day.

Jane Herve

Reviewed April 2016

A truly wonderful experience

This trip will stay with me for a long time. To snorkel with whale sharks and manta rays was amazing. The reefs were fantastic with a huge variety of fish to watch and wonder.

Most Inspirational Moment

Snorkeling with whale sharks. Seeing the manta rays doing somersaults to catch the plankton too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey was so friendly and great fun. He knew so much about the marine life we saw. He really took care of us and made sure we were safe and confident in the marine environment. He made sure I felt welcome right from when he met me at the airport until he took me back. Really great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to be a reasonably confident swimmer to really enjoy this trip. Although the crew were great and ensured we were always safe, I feel a love of the water and the life in it certainly made the trip more fantastic.

Chantal Nunhuck

Reviewed April 2016

Perfect for those who love the sea & all it's creatures!

Its not often that I ever write a review for anything. Felt compelled to do so for this holiday! We were the 1st group to do this trip…..

This holiday was excellent on every level! Perfect combination of the sea, snorkelling 2-3 times every day in the azure sea, truly unbelievable that I managed to snorkel alongside a giant whale shark (about 6 metres long & 15 tons) within touching distance for about 15minutes!

Most Inspirational Moment

Snorkelling alongside a whale shark! Unforgettable & very precious memory which I will never forget! Food was outstanding! (and I say this as a discerning foodie), it defies belief how the chef managed to produce 3 meals a day in a small galley/kitchen!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kamey, was superb, a genuinely nice/fun, truly sincere guy and keen to help us wherever possible. The captain (Shafi) also looked after us when snorkelling, always keen to point out anything of interest, hung on to our hand if ever we needed a bit of help speeding up to catch up with any sea creatures. I felt in very safe hands!

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Can't flush paper down the loo, so based on a previous bot trip, I brought some nappy bags with me (although cabin bins emptied every day). 2. Got a bit cold I the cabin at night with the A/C and fan on, so a very lightweight blanket might be useful as you only get a sheet to cover you. 3. A rash vest may be useful to reduce the risk of sun burn when snorkelling! The sun is very strong, I'm dark skinned but needed factor 30 reapplied several times.

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