Dive
Centers & Accommodations
General
Information
The Maldives are located
about an hour's flight southwest
of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.
This country is made up of about
26 atoll formations, comprising
over a thousand islands and scattered
like gem stones in a north to
south direction. With a population
of just 238,500, only 199 islands
are inhabited and 75 have been
set aside exclusively for tourist
resorts.
 The Maldives; the name
alone conjures up images of romance,
sunny skies and an abundance of
underwater life where soft corals
sway in gentle warm tropical currents.
Starlit nights, coconut palms,
tall drinks from chilled glasses
and seafood are plentiful. Yes,
it is a romantic spot and all
the descriptions of the place
ring true.
From the time your plane lands
you will be pampered like never
before. Here, relaxation is the
name of the game. It is a place
where 'time' seems to 'pause'
and hold you in it's gentle grasp.
Where hotel's offer a true respite
from the whirlwind life you have
left behind and icing-sugar white
beaches beckon.
Although topside wildlife is limited,
the underwater world is indescribably
beautiful. The Maldives are one
of the most coral rich regions
of the world. Over three quarters
of the world's reef fish can be
found in their waters. For scuba
divers the Maldives are simply
heaven.
 Diving in the Maldives
can be accessed from land based
resorts which use day boats that
take vacationers out to the reefs,
pinnacles, and channels that comprise
the Maldives atolls. For the more
exotic Maldives diving, you can
experience the remote atolls from
a live aboard dive vessel.
The diving for experienced divers
is excellent. There are drop offs,
overhangs, cuts, pinnacles, and
wrecks full of life. Aside from
the pleuthra of reef fish, divers
will encounter turtles, moray
eels, sharks, mantas, and even
whale sharks.
Climate: 75 - 86F (24-30C)
Water Temp: 78 - 86F (26-30C)
Visibility: 70 - 150+ Ft. (21
- 45+ m)
Getting
There
Travel
to Maldives
Though Male’ is the capital
island, it is too small to have
an airport. Therefore, your
flight will land on a neighboring
island called Hulhule', which
is the only runway in the world
that begins and ends in water.
Just as your flight seems about
to splash into the greenish
blue crystal clear waters of
the Indian Ocean the wheels
suddenly bounce onto the asphalt.
The island of Hulhule’ is less
than 1 mile from Male'.
Transport from Hulhule, to your
next stop is mainly by ‘dhoni’
or Maldivian ferries. These
are usually motor boats which
could accommodate about 30-40
people and take about 10 -15
minutes to reach Male’. If you
prefer faster forms of transportation,
you have smaller speed boats
which can accommodate about
5-7 people.
Further destinations such as
the atolls in Ari Atoll can
also be reached by helicopter
transport. |
| |
|
|
| Air
Travel |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Airline |
From |
Arriving
on |
| |
|
| Emirates |
Dubai |
Saturdays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| |
Dubai
via Colombo |
Saturdays,
Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays |
| |
Travel
Time: 2hours 50 minutes |
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
DUBAI,
HEATHROW, GATWICK, COLOMBO,
ROME, PARIS, ISTANBUL, FRANKFURT,
ZURICH, HONG KONG |
 |
|
| |
|
| Sri
Lankan Airlines |
Colombo |
Daily |
| |
Travel
Time: 1 hours 10 minutes |
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
COLOMBO,
PARIS, ROME, MILAN, FRANKFURT,
ZURICH, HEATHROW, SINGAPORE,
TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, MUMBAI,
MUNICH, DELHI, TRIVANDRUM, DUBAI,
TAIPEI |
|
|
| |
|
| Singapore
Airlines |
Singapore |
Daily |
| |
Travel
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes |
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
SINGAPORE,
PARIS, ROME, MILAN, LOS ANGLES,
CALIFORNIA, FRANKFURT, ZURICH,
HEATHROW, SINGAPORE, TOKYO,
OSAKA, HONG KONG, MUMBAI, CHENNAI,
DELHI, DUBAI, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE,
PERTH, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR,
TAIPEI |
|
|
| |
|
| Indian
Airlines |
Trivandram |
Saturdays,
Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays |
| |
Travel
Time: 50 minutes |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Malaysian
Airline |
Kuala
Lumpur |
Saturdays
and Mondays |
| |
Travel
Time: 4 hour and 35 minutes |
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
KUALA
LUMPUR, NEW YORK, ZURICH, HEATHROW,
SINGAPORE, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG
KONG, MUMBAI, MUNICH, DELHI,
DUBAI, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, PERTH,
JAKARTA, TAIPEI, NEW YORK |
|
|
| |
|
| Thai
Airways |
Bangkok |
Twice
a week |
| |
Travel
Time: 5 hour and 35 minutes |
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
BANGKOK,
NEW YORK, ZURICH, HEATHROW,
SINGAPORE, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG
KONG, MUMBAI, MUNICH, DELHI,
DUBAI, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, PERTH,
JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, TAIPEI,
NEW YORK |
|
|
| |
|
| Qatar
Airways |
Dhoha |
Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday |
| |
|
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
ABU
DHABI, BANGKOK, BAHRAIN, BEIRUT,
CAIRO, DHAKA, DAMASCUS, DUBAI,
JAKARTA, JEDDAH, KHARTOUM, KUWAIT,
LONDON, MANILA, MUNICH, MUSCAT,
PARIS |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Air
Seychelles |
Seychelles |
Sunday |
| |
Mumbai
(India) |
Monday |
| |
|
|
| |
Connections
From: |
| |
JOHANNESBURG |
|
|
|
Visa
Requirements
No prior visa arrangements are required.
A tourist visa of 30 days will be
given to visitors with valid travel
documents, on arrival. Visitors
should be in possession of at least
US$25 per day to stay in the Maldives.
For those coming from yellow fever
infected regions, an international
certificate of inoculation is required.
Travel
Tips
Customs and Rules
Strict laws prohibit the importation
of pornographic material, firearms,
alcohol and illegal drugs into the
country. Exports of coral, shells
and other object removed from the
marine environment is also prohibited.
Tipping is discouraged in the Maldives.
Unofficially, if the service is
good - and it usually is - it's
quite customary to tip room staff
and waiters in your resort. US$10
per week is a suitable amount. A
few resorts add a 10% service charge,
in which case there's no need to
tip. Bargaining is limited to tourist
shops in and around Singapore Bazaar
in Male' and at island village souvenir
shops where prices are not fixed.
What to wear
Nudism is an offence in the Maldives
and this includes bare breasts.
Dress is generally casual. T-shirts
and cotton clothing are most suitable.
In Male', the capital island, it
is recommended that women wear modest
clothing without baring too much
and when visiting inhabited islands,
thighs and shoulders must be covered
by both men and women.
Language
Dhivehi is the language spoken in
all parts of the Maldives. English
is widely spoken by the Maldivians
and every visitor can make himself
understood when getting around the
capital island. In the resorts,
a variety of languages are spoken
by the staff including English,
German, Italian, French and Japanese.
Currency
The Maldivian currency is Rufiyas
and Laaris. A Rufiya is equal to
100 laarees (coins). The Rufiyaa
comes in the following denominations
of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500.
The American Dollar is the most
common foreign currency. Payments
in the resorts can be made in most
hard currencies in cash, traveller's
cheques or credit cards. The most
commonly used credit cards are American
Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners
Club, JCB and Euro Card.
Health Care facilities are continually
improving. The Indhira Gandhi Memorial
Hospital in Male' is the biggest
hospital in the country providing
sophisticated medical care. ADK
Hospital is the biggest private
health care facility, and follows
high medical standards. Experienced
European doctors work at the AMDC
Clinic, and some resorts have an
in-house doctor. Decompression chambers
are within reach of most resorts
in case of a diving emergency. The
Maldives is tropical and generally
a healthy environment abounds. Most
will be safe here but please get
advice from your doctor regarding
vaccinations you may require before
arrival.
Business hours From Sunday to Thursday
7:30 - 14:30 in the government sector,
and generally from 9:00 to 17:00
in the private sector. Weekend falls
on Friday and Saturday
Communication
Up to date technology and international
satellite links allow Maldives to
have a sophisticated communications
system. IDD facilities are available
on all resorts, and card phone facilities
are available on all islands. Dhiraagu,
the Maldives telecommunications
company, an affiliate of the British
Cable and Wireless Company, provides
mobile telephones for rental on
a daily basis. Dhiraagu is also
the Internet service provider.
Food and Beverages
Restaurants, coffee shops and well
stocked bars in all resorts provide
varied and delicious meals with
wide choice of fresh fruit juices,
punches, cocktail, wines and spirits.
All resorts serve food and beverages
to suite demanding palates, be it
favourite international dishes and
or the fresh and exotic delights
of seafood. Many offer a-la-carte
services that cover eastern and
western flavours. Maldivian short
eats served with tea or coffee are
popular with most visitors as a
snack in between meals while grills
and barbecues are much in demand
in most resorts. A few resorts have
specialized restaurants each for
favored cuisines as European, Indian
and Chinese.
Electricity 220-40V, 50 Hz
Activities and Sports
While in the Maldives, there are
many activities to keep you busy
when not diving and snorkelling.
Badminton can be played at a number
of resorts dotted around the Maldives.
Check out the hotels offering this
facility.
‘Bai Bala’ is a Maldivian tag game.
Local associations compete and there
are tournaments on a number of the
inhabited islands. Ask at your hotel
or resort for more information.
Basketball can be played at a number
of resorts and hotels.
Beach Volleyball is a popular pastime
at many resorts around the world
and the same goes for the Maldives.
Big Game Fishing is an upmarket
option at some resorts, but there
is a 'tag and release' policy, so
you can't keep your catch. If you
can't get your fill in the daytime,
you can also go night fishing on
board a dhoni (a traditional boat).
Billiards is another activity well
catered for by a number of hotels
and resorts on the islands.
Chess is available at most hotels
and resorts.
Carom played on Carom bole tables
(without pockets) is the forerunner
of the American 'Carom Billiards'
game and is a very popular pastime
with locals as well as being available
to guests in a number of resorts.
Cricket can be watched on the main
island of Malé and on some
of the smaller islands. Joining
in though is another matter entirely
and it’s best to wait until invited.
Darts are usually available free
of charge in many of the resort
islands.
Parasailing
Fly over the islands, drift over
the sea…look down through the clear
depths of the water below and view
layer upon layer of schools of fish,
watch dolphins frolic below you
and be thrilled by the experience
that will stay with you long after
your feet touch down on the soft
white sands of your tropical island
hideaway again.
Photography
Color films are available. Processing
and printing of color film, including
slides is locally available. Cameras
and equipment should be imported.
NOTE: It is quite a problem to prevent
fungus from attacking cameras, projectors,
lenses, binoculars, negatives and
slides so bring plenty of moisture
absorbent bags to store equipment
in.
Sailing can be done on one of the
many catamarans supplied by most
hotels or in a traditional dhoni
(local sailing boat). This is a
wonderful experience and well worth
it, especially at sunset or in the
early morning. It is not unusual
for schools of dolphins to play
around your boat or to see hundreds
of flying fish taking flight as
the boat passes by.
Soccer is a locally supported sport
and a number of matches are held
on Malé that are worth watching.
Ask at your hotel or pick up a copy
of one of the local newspapers that
will list the various games.
Surfing has become more popular
in the islands since there are excellent
breaks accessible from resorts close
to Malé almost year-round.
Surfing safaris to the outer atolls
can also be arranged. It's always
best to book surf trips prior to
arrival as the Maldives is definitely
not the sort of place where a surfer
can rock up with a few boards and
head for the waves. The average
height of waves is about 2 - 2.5
meters.
Table-tennis is another sport that
is catered to by most resorts and
hotels on the islands.
Tennis is one sport that a number
of resorts cater to. Equipment can
be hired at some hotels but you
are advised to bring your on shoes.
Lawn tennis is offered at a number
of resorts and makes a pleasant
change to a hard court.
Traditional Performances Traditional
music and dance are not everyday
events, there is a contemporary
Divehi culture and on public occasions,
like the beginning and end of Ramadan,
the celebrations always have a distinctly
Maldivian touch.
Bodu Beru means a big drum, and
gives its name to the best known
form of traditional music and dance.
It's what tourist resorts put on
for a local culture night, and it
can be quite sophisticated and compelling.
Windsurfing
Skim across the crystal water, the
wind in your hair with the freedom
of living at your finger tips. Scoot
past islands and swoosh over coral
reefs, enjoy the feeling of nature
around you as you glide in a ‘world
of your own’ on one of the many
colourful windsurfing boards available
at most resorts.
Waterskiing is available at a number
of resorts and is a popular activity.
Jetskiing
For those with speed in mind this
is one activity that will certainly
thrill you. Please remember though
that there may be divers below you
and be aware, so as to not injure
anyone in passing.
Shopping
Male' is the best place for shopping
if you are interested in buying
imported goods. Most of the shops
that specialize in tourists do sell
a lot of local handicrafts and souvenirs.
It is always best to browse through
some shops before making a choice.
The shops that are recommended by
guides or shop assistants volunteering
to be guides are not necessarily
the best places for shopping.
Duty Free
If you are looking for duty free
shops, there are some located at
the Male' International Airport.
They offer a pretty good range of
goods from cameras, cosmetics, electrical
and electronic equipment, cigarettes
and other merchandise.
Souvenirs
It is not difficult to find your
way around Male’, especially if
you carry a map with you. After
all it is only two square kilometres.
The main street Majeedhee Magu,
runs right across the island from
east to west. Chaandhanee Magu on
the other hand runs from north to
south. Most souvenir shops line
the northern end of Chaandanee Magu,
earlier known as the Singapore Bazaar
for its many imports from Singapore.
Guides and vendors speaking in English
and other foreign languages patiently
wait to serve the visitors. These
shops are stocked with an ample
supply of gifts and souvenir items.
Best buys include the ‘thudu kuna’
the Maldivian mat woven with local
natural fibres. Attractive too are
the wooden miniature ‘dhonis’. When
shopping for souvenirs, do keep
in mind that export of products
made of turtle shell, black coral,
pearl oyster shell and red coral
is prohibited.
Garments to Electronics
Shopping is the favorite activity
for the locals especially in the
evenings, when it is cooler. The
Majeedhee Magu, which is the main
road on the island, has along its
sides various shops selling goods
from the smallest commodities to
virtually everything you could think
of. The shops are well stocked with
garments, perfumes and cosmetics,
jewellery, watches or electronics,
to name just a few. Many find it
a pleasant experience to join the
throngs of shoppers on the main
shopping streets in the evenings.
All shops are open until 11.00 in
the night, except for prayer times,
when they are closed for 15 minutes.
Local Handicrafts
Traditional Maldivian handicraft
includes mat weaving, embroidery
for traditional dresses, coir making
and lacquer work.
Dining
Male’ has a wide variety of cafés
and restaurants, most offering a
range of hot and spicy local snacks
and meals. The majority of the food
outlets in Male’ are cafés
or teashops which dot many of the
streets. In these you would find
the atmosphere busy and hectic,
as well as a high noise level to
match. These are the ideal places
to sample the local fare. A range
of ‘short eats’-local sweets and
savouries are displayed inside glass
food cases. Teashops are of the
self-service type. You may find
the norms here quite different from
those at restaurants you have seen
elsewhere in the world or even in
Male’.
Most dining though is done in within
the resorts as they are often isolated
and the only options available are
the restaurants within the resort
complexes. Other than that, there
are a few restaurants in the capital
city and on the other inhabited
islands though to a lesser extent
than on Male'
|