LUX* Maldives targets residents, expatriates with underwater festival programme

Maldives nationals and expatriates with valid work permits are being invited to an underwater festival being held next month at LUX* Maldives resort in South Ari Atoll as part of special offer to open up the proceedings to a wider number of guests.

Taking place between April 15 and April 21, 2013, the resort operator hopes to offer an “intense” variety of activities for guests at the festival, including opportunities to partake in free diving and learn underwater film making with experts from the BBC and National Geographic.

LUX* Maldives has announced that during the entirety of the festival – or at least as long as availability lasts – locals and working expatriates will be able to stay at one of the resort’s villas for a special rate of US$200 (MVR3,080) per night on a bed and breakfast basis.

Transfers from the capital of Male’ to the resort will be US$35 (MVR539), while a compulsory supplement of US$650 (MVR10,010) will be charged to all guests for participation in the festival.  These supplement covers a nine dive programme, as well as participation in the exclusive underwater photography and filming course.

The charge also includes a full day excursion to learn more about the whale shark – often identified as a must sea for underwater explorers in the country – a night dive, introductory courses on free-diving and apnea breathing techniques, as well as guided dives for the more advanced, the resort has said.

Filming beneath the waves and “getting the perfect shot” are to be the key focuses of the latest LUX* Maldives’ Underwater Festival – now in its second year.

Further news and reviews encompassing all aspects of the Maldives tourism industry can be found on Minivan News’ spin-off travel review site, Dhonisaurus.

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BBC, National Geographic experts joining LUX* Maldives 2013 underwater festival

The art of filming beneath the waves and “getting the perfect shot” are to be among the key focuses of the LUX* Maldives resort’s second ever Underwater Festival taking place between April 15 and April 21 this year.

Producers from the BBC and the National Geographic organisations will be among key guests at the South Ari Atoll-based resort for the festival – attempting to help attendees perfect the art of taking world class holiday snaps and films.

“This year, we have gone a step further and invited BBC and National Geographic producers to run courses on underwater video-making and video-editing in addition to the photography. We all come to the Maldives with the latest underwater cameras hoping to get the perfect shot, but always end up going home with bits of videos taken while snorkelling,” said a spokesperson for the resort.

“This time the festival will give the great opportunity to the attendees to learn the basics of making their very own underwater reportage.”

The resort will also be joined by world champion free diver Sara Campbell, who will be teaching guests relaxation and advance breathing techniques well beyond the realms of the average tourist to help with exploring the surrounding marine environments.

Guests staying at the resort during the festival will be able to participate in the various events for a supplementary fee, according to LUX* Maldives.

Last year’s festival, which ran from May 14 to May 20, was attended by guests including photographer Junji Takasago and free diver Jean-Jacques Mayol.  They joined the resort’s Resident Marine Biologist Chiara Fumagalli during the week to oversee the festivities and provide special programmes and presentations on diving and photography.

Further news and reviews encompassing all aspects of the Maldives tourism industry can be found on Minivan News’ spin-off travel review site, Dhonisaurus.

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