Operational plans are under way to activate around the Maldives but don't expect to log any contacts from Islands on the Air locations. The grid squares for 8Q7OS are being activated as "wet squares" during an ocean-diving safari led by Sergey R9OOF with Mariya UB9OGC and Dmitry UB9OFY. Listen for the callsigns 8Q7OS/mm, 8Q7DD/mm and 8Q7MD/mm from the 26th of October through to the 2nd of November. They'll be on the air using SSB on 20, 17, 15 and 10 metres.

During this not-uncommon way to combine boating adventure with amateur radio, the hams won't just be fishing for QSOs but diving for recreation from a chartered yacht.

So if the Maldives archipelago is on your list of All Time New Ones, Sergey writes on his page on QRZ.com that you're bound to be disappointed. He wrote: [quote] I am not on air from any islands." [endquote