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)
Dive
Centers & Accommodations
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. |
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| Air
Travel |
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| Airline |
From |
Arriving
on |
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| Emirates |
Dubai |
Saturdays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays |
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Dubai
via Colombo |
Saturdays,
Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays |
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Travel
Time: 2hours 50 minutes |
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Connections
From: |
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DUBAI,
HEATHROW, GATWICK, COLOMBO, ROME, PARIS, ISTANBUL,
FRANKFURT, ZURICH, HONG KONG |
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| Sri
Lankan Airlines |
Colombo |
Daily |
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Travel
Time: 1 hours 10 minutes |
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Connections
From: |
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COLOMBO,
PARIS, ROME, MILAN, FRANKFURT, ZURICH, HEATHROW,
SINGAPORE, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, MUMBAI, MUNICH,
DELHI, TRIVANDRUM, DUBAI, TAIPEI |
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| Singapore
Airlines |
Singapore |
Daily |
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Travel
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes |
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Connections
From: |
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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 |
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| Indian
Airlines |
Trivandram |
Saturdays,
Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays |
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Travel
Time: 50 minutes |
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| Malaysian
Airline |
Kuala
Lumpur |
Saturdays
and Mondays |
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Travel
Time: 4 hour and 35 minutes |
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Connections
From: |
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KUALA
LUMPUR, NEW YORK, ZURICH, HEATHROW, SINGAPORE,
TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, MUMBAI, MUNICH, DELHI,
DUBAI, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, PERTH, JAKARTA,
TAIPEI, NEW YORK |
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| Thai
Airways |
Bangkok |
Twice
a week |
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Travel
Time: 5 hour and 35 minutes |
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Connections
From: |
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BANGKOK,
NEW YORK, ZURICH, HEATHROW, SINGAPORE, TOKYO,
OSAKA, HONG KONG, MUMBAI, MUNICH, DELHI, DUBAI,
SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, PERTH, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR,
TAIPEI, NEW YORK |
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| Qatar
Airways |
Dhoha |
Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday |
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Connections
From: |
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ABU
DHABI, BANGKOK, BAHRAIN, BEIRUT, CAIRO, DHAKA,
DAMASCUS, DUBAI, JAKARTA, JEDDAH, KHARTOUM, KUWAIT,
LONDON, MANILA, MUNICH, MUSCAT, PARIS |
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| Air
Seychelles |
Seychelles |
Sunday |
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Mumbai
(India) |
Monday |
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Connections
From: |
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JOHANNESBURG |
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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'.
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