Nice. I did a scuba diving course years ago in the Maldives (back when I had money and no kids!), and actually preferred snorkelling - I found I could see more snorkelling above the coral and what have you.
But it does feel like it's another world under the surface. Those Mantas are amazing up close.
How's the Maldives doing these days Terry? Last time I went (which was in the early 2000's) much of the coral had been bleached and there were concerns about rising sea levels making the islands disappear?