Aldabra expedition set to resume |13 January 2015

The long overdue expedition to Aldabra will finally be taking place in February/March 2015.

However, the expedition will be on the go only if 10 passengers confirm their presence as the costs of the trip is expensive. The Maya's Dugong has seven large air-conditioned ensuite cabins and there will be a maximum number of 14 passengers for this trip.

People who are thinking of joining this expedition should keep in mind that the nights on the boat are not friendly to light-sleepers, as the engine makes a lot of noise. In any case, this is not a leisure cruise but an expedition! But you have a unique opportunity to be part of it.

The price per person is around US $10,000, plus national park and landing fees.
The rate includes the cruise, full board accomodation, snorkelling and fishing gear, use of kayaks, snorkelling equipment (PADI instructor and diving are included) and the local return flight back to Mahé.

The rate does not include: International flights to/from Mahé, the SIF/IDC impact fees, beverages (payable onboard), diving equipment rental and personal expenses.

The programme for the expedition is as follows:

Day 1 – Assumption: A two-hour flight from the main island of Mahé brings you to Assumption Island, where passengers will embark aboard the ship. During the afternoon the passengers will get the chance to go diving at Assumption, and later guests will be briefed about the week’s itinerary, before enjoying a welcome BBQ onboard in the evening.

Day 2 – Aldabra: The morning will be mostly filled with sailing to the World Heritage Site of Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll. Depending on sea conditions there may be a rare opportunity to observe whales near either island along the way. In addition, there will be a visit to the Aldabra research station, along with the opportunity to dive and snorkel the West Channel. Many of the endemic land birds can be seen ashore, including Aldabra Drongo, Aldabra Fody and Madagascar Sacred Ibis and Aldabra Rail, together with the world's largest population of giant tortoises.

Day 3 – Aldabra: The third day features diving and visiting the main channel of Aldabra, experiencing the excitement of being swept along by the shoals, observing both pelagic and reef fish in the shallow waters of the lagoon. Furthermore there will be a visit to the mangroves forest and the channel. In the afternoon the passengers will visit the Booby colony at Johnny channel and the world’s second largest colony of frigate birds (10,000 pairs of two species, Great Frigate bird and Lesser Frigate bird) and snorkel at the mangroves forest and the channel in high tide.

Day 4 – Aldabra: The day will include a visit to Aldabra’s East Channel and an evening sail towards Cosmoledo.

Day 5 – Cosmoledo: The passengers will get a chance to visit the deserted settlement and dive the west island of Cosmoledo (Menai) where turtles abound. A race of Madagascar White-eye (named menaienis) is unique to the island.

Day 6 – Cosmoledo: The day will include visiting, diving and snorkelling the north island where colonies of boobies of three species (Red-footed, Brown and Masked) are nesting and underwater walls are home to diverse marine life.

Day 7 – Astove: This will feature an early morning cruise towards Astove, a visit to the abandoned settlement including the Veevers-Carter house and old chapel, then crossing  the island to the lagoon and diving the west walls followed by an Evening cruise towards Assumption.

Day 8 – Assumption: The last day includes an early morning arrival to Assumption followed by disembarkation and flight to Mahé.