I arrived in Male around 2:30pm, initially panicking just a little at the airport as I couldn’t find where I was to meet my liveaboard representative.  My emailed instructions said to meet at 3pm under the “Dune” sign, do you think there was a Dune sign anywhere? Of course I didn’t have cell service to double-check my email, so I went to the Information Booth and some how by just giving him the boat’s name he found some one to call, and told me to wait there as they’d be along shortly to collect me.  Just then I saw a man in a red shirt with DUNE written on it walk by, so I tackled him. Or near abouts.  He was a boat crew member.  Unbeknownst to me, the Theia belongs to a French company with a fleet of boats sailing under the “Dune” name.  Mystery solved.

An hour later myself and 7 others are sweating it out on Theia’s dhoni, the little diving boat, docked literally at the airport waiting for the next planeload of passengers to arrive.  We just left the terminal, crossed the road, and stepped aboard!  Luckily all 10 new pax arrived together, and we soon set off for our mother ship, anchored up in a nearby harbor for the night.

We’re a full contingent of guests on board – 18.  I have quite figured out yet who’s who but I know there is one American (yours truly), 2 Maltese, 4 Spanish, and the rest French.  I’m rooming with a nice French fille named Delphine.  Luckily she’s speaks English well as I haven’t spoken any French since high school!  Our lead Dive Master is a French lady named Francesca, and the rest of the crew are a mystery to me. Maldivian? Indian? I know one is from Bangladesh but I can’t remember his name. I must try harder on names, it’s so easy to hear and immediately forget them.

Dinner was a bit late, 8pm rather than the promised 7:30pm and almost everyone was starving as they had all traveled overnight from Europe.  It was served al fresco on the back deck and it was delicious.  Fresh tuna steaks with sautéed veggies, loads of pomme frites, and a nice salad with sliced pineapple for dessert.  Everyone did justice to their meal then when promptly to bed.  It’s a 6am wake up knock tomorrow, and a 6:30a dive briefing before heading out immediately on our first dive.  It’ll be my first dive in 4 years and first since my ankle surgeries so wish me luck!