Toni the Maldive Lady
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  • The Maldive Islands
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    • Shark Circus
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Shark Circus

Shark Circus
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Created by Herwarth Voightmann the Dive Master Supreme!

I had seen and knew of these isolated islands years back when flying the world with BOAC. Being of an inquisitive nature I made a note to get there one day! Voila!

My daughter and son started diving lessons with Robert one of Herwarths instructors. The kids had THREE lessons only!  Then during breakfast one morning we were asked if the children would like to dive the Shark Circus... in two hours.
My daughter Lucinda replied with an enthusiastic  YES  YES!!  My son Ashley’s knees shaking, I explained "darling you do NOT have to do this" his reply was a determind " I DO "..

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German divers were being briefed in German, my two were togged up, while dive master Robert ran through the procedure.
I was on the jetty when a small Liveaboard came along and who should it be but Hans Haas and his wife Lotti.
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Hans Haas
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I just could not believe my luck. He had just finished diving The Circus with Voightmann.  He was so so pleasant and patient we spoke for some time. Don’t forget this is years back! But I recall clearly his answer to my question: Where in your long experience have you found the best diving?  “The red sea, has very colorful corals, but the real beauty is the Maldives, it’s not only beautiful below, but so beautiful above”.

Soon after both Lucinda and Ashley were on the open dive boat heading for the unknown! In one picture you can see Ashley looking down very pensive and came up first after using his reserve air and boarded the waiting boat. Lucinda stayed till the end.
Some years later I had my Shark Dive and I had been asked by Fuji to test a new underwater camera which produced these incredible shots.  

Herwarth says lets dive the Circus.
Diving down passed the reef slowly as fish get in the way. I’m  sitting by the coral close to Herwarth. The camera won't shoot at 21 meters but shoots at 20 as the sharks are rushing around. It’s wildly exciting.

Herwarth feeds by hand, no queuing up here, they are frantic. These great bodies, stretching and curling amongst us are about two plus meters long with visibility brilliant.  Then Herwarth feeds by mouth, what a man!
It  took him over two years to get these grey reef sharks  to come up  to a reasonable depth for divers to cope with , he told me he uses bonito and keeps it in the frig with it still stiff when feeding.
It was not an experience I would like to repeat, but would never in the world would have missed it.
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      Not long after it was quite rightly banned.

The Maldive Islands


Ariyadhoo, Himithi, Mini Mas,
Gali & Maamigili
Fuah Mulaku

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL SCHOOL
Gan and Feydhoo
Hanimadhoo & Uteemu
Ihuru
Kuramathi
Kurumba
Laamu  Atoll
Lhaviyani
Niyama - Dhaalu Atoll
Rashdoo & Noonu Atoll
Villingili

Holiday Of A Life Time:
Maldives, Sri Lanka & Dubai

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SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION - LETTER FROM BENEDICTA

MY ISLAND STORY

On My Way To Happy Days

Passenger Flying Log Book

My Very Good Looking Father

Through a Zanzibar Doorway

Lion Sands

Cape Town

A Night At The London Zoo

Wild Reef Child

Ashley

Flying With Hunting Clan

Love At First Sight

The Queen Mother

Romy Has a Surprise!

GEORGE

My Talk 2018

My Flying Diary

The Maldive Lady, by Jo Foley

LiveWire: First Lady of Leisure

Kunfunadhoo

The Lady In The Loo

First Round The World Flight

Tehran

PHINDA

Rat Story

Visha & Maya

Saint Helena

A Flight of a Lifetime

Diving Bangaram Island
Shark Circus
Richard Harley
Yusuff Moosa

I Dived To Victory
Memorable Muscat
You Must Not Wear Any Weights Or Life Jacket


A Magic Boat Launches

Angkor, Cambodia

Champneys

Country Life

Crown of Thorns

Having A Whale Of A Time

​Hurlingham Club Magazine Summer 2016

Kenya

​KASHMIR 1959

Lady Rose

Love of Skiing

My Magic Beans

My Outstanding Award
My Sandbank
Museum of Mankind
My 86th Birthday
Classic Wings: My 87th Birthday
My 88th Birthday
Magic Yellow File
RACEHORSE
Seychelles
South Africa
The Haute Route
Thrills & Spills - Dhoni Mighili
Underwater Ireland
Welcome To Stanford Bridge
***WEST OF ZANZIBAR***

Helicopter Bride
SCHOOL / FLYING
World Travel Mart
My Adopted Maldivian Family
Life Threatening Thalassemia
Himmafushi - The Young Offenders
Villingilli Orphanage
The Tsunami
Commemorative Coins

1986 Commonwealth Games
Guest Speaker of the Canberra
My Cocktail
Love & Marriage in Sri Lanka


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Flags
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A Maldives Symphony -
My Swan Song:

- Velassaru & Kuramathi
-
Colombo

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