The iPhone X and the Maldives Underwater World

A week of relaxing in the Maldives with some snorkeling and the iPhone X resulted in the shots below - took the phone under water without a case, around 1-2m deep. These photos were taken at Jumeirah Vittaveli.

Moments of Maldives

10 years after my first trip to the world's lowest country, I was lucky enough to go back to the Maldives. It's definitely a unique place on earth and one that suffers heavily from the downsides of civilization. Go, explore and come back with a more conscious mind.

 

Bliss - for now.

Given that the island is close the most populated areas of the country, there is a noticeable presence of plastics and garbage in the water. Seeing this in such an environment does make you think twice about that plastic bottle.

The last sunset

Keeping the option to come back open...

Rainbow

It rains frequently - usually only for an hour or so until the sun comes out again. Makes for frequent rainbows.

Glass Kayak

Not a bad way to see the reef without getting (too) wet.

Found it

I feel much wiser.

Path to Knowledge

Result on the next image.

After sunset

Wish we had more of those colors in the skies of Dubai.

Roofs

Exterior shot of the aforemented restaurant.

Light & Lamps

Loved the architecture of the main restaurant "Samsara".

Moonrise

In the interest of full disclosure, this is a blend of two images, it's nearly impossible to get the moon and the rest of the photo evenly exposed otherwise.

Just hanging

A flying fox. Definitely on the weirder side of the animal spectrum.

Sunset

A layer of haze just above the horizon meant I didn't get to capture a real sunset. Second best thing.

Garden Lizard

From what I gather, this is a male, indicated by the bright red throat during breeding season.

Home Sweet Home

I wish.

Supermoon

Not really what it's made out to be, a few % larger and brighter than normal.

Fisheye

Testing the new Olympus Zuiko 8mm F1.8 Fisheye. Gorgeous sense for this setting.

Feeding Time

They should up every afternoon for their daily feeding.

Stingray

These guys actually look quite mean, notice the eyes.

Ray vs Murray Eel

Neither seemed particularly bothered.

On the lookout

For dolphins!

Not the sun

Just a bright moon. Supermoon, as they call it...

Waterside Living

The water villas on the western tip of the island.

Moonlight Home

The full moon allowed for interesting shots in the middle of the night.

Playful

First time I saw them in the wild (not counting the one fin I saw back in Oman). You can definitely feel their curiosity and intelligence.

Yellow Submarine

Red one actually. And semi-sub only.

Reef Tips

The tip of one of the many reefs surrounding the island, adorned by an heroine (?) and some kind of ship wreck.

Mass Housing

Not a bad location though.

Exploring

Had to get up at sunrise to spot these guys so close to the shore.

Eagle Ray

Incredibly elegant creatures.

Secluded.

These 7 villas can only be accessed by boat.

Roaming the Beaches

...were these Blacktip Sharks, but only if you got up early enough.

Underwater World

Parrot and Butterfly fish.

Reef Live

Guy on the right seems shocked by my presence.

Unicorn Fish

Yep, that's their name. Shot with iPhone.

Water Living

View over the water villas on the west side.

Reef

Swimming over the reef and arriving at the steep decline into the dark blue sea is fascinating.

The other side

The western side of the island with three more restaurants. Also notice the staff accommodation in the centre (with a football field!) and the faint rainbow on the right.

Island Features

The dive centre on the left, MU restaurant on the right and the jetty in the middle.

Bolifushi Island

The island of Jumeirah Vittaveli seen from the east side shortly after sunrise.

Sunset Flights

This time of the year wasn't great for sunsets or sunrises for that matter - still a great place for a drone.