Diving
The Maldives has an abundance of marine life. Night dives are a must as the reefs become extremely lively, with predators on the prowl, particularly sharks and rays. The wet season between May and August reduces visibility. December to March has the lowest humidity and clearest water. Always keep an eye out into the blue, away from the reef into the ocean below you – you never know what action you may drift pass! All boat dives are drift dives; shore dives are also possible if you don’t want to do two boat dives a day. Diving may be in shallow reef gardens filled with fish, or underwater reefs in strong currents. The channels between reefs also make good drift dives. If you are going to the Maldives purely to dive, a ‘live on board’ may be the way forward. They give you access to a wider range of sites.
Snorkelling
In the Maldives, what lies under the water is an absolute wonder of nature. Exceptional and easily accessible underwater life makes Maldives one of the world’s top snorkelling destinations The reefs that surround the islands and Atolls are just as abundant in variety of coral as the marine creatures that live in and around them. Sometimes you don’t need a mask or fins to see the striking fish playing in their coral nest. The water is so clear, that it looks as though you are looking through a glass aquarium. Snorkelling over the shallow clear water of the island lagoon or at the edge of the reef is an ideal way to explore the underwater world. House reefs of most islands are a few meters away from the beach. This, coupled with amazingly clear water, makes snorkelling in the Maldives a unique experience that one should not miss out on.
Fishing
Fishing in the Maldives waters can be an adventure of a lifetime for keen fishermen and first-timers alike. The fish are plentiful and varied. Sailfish, huge tuna, wahoo, barracuda and jackfish are common. Nets are flung out whether with trap, seines, hand or trawl lines as fishing is the mainstay of the traditional island life. Outside the atolls massive tuna catches, sharks, marlin, sailfish, and the famous Maldive skipjack are easily netted. Traditionally Maldivians, as masters of the sea, used small dhonis and trawled outside the atoll enclosure reef. The methods of fishing vary depending on the type of fish that you want to catch and the time of the day that you prefer. Skipjack, dried and frozen is a famous Maldivian product known as “Maldive Fish” and is the main export of the country.
Island Hopping
The Maldives Islands are without a doubt beautiful and unique and it is not unusual for many travellers to want to see more of these marvellous islands and experience more of all the Maldives have to offer. The Maldives boast a profusion of both inhabited and uninhabited islands for you to indulge your dreams of island hopping. Of course if you want a private getaway, charter a dhoni for the day and get whisked off to an inhabited island for a romantic picnic and a snorkel. Island Hopping is a very popular way to experience 2 Islands in 1 holiday. Everything is taken care of to make sure your move to your next Island is a smooth and simple process, leaving you to sit back and have a wonderful holiday!
Dolphin Watching
Did you know that over 20 different species of Dolphins call the Maldives home? Dolphins are the cutest and one of the friendliest marine beings. Dolphin watching in Maldives is like a national pastime. It’s one of the top five places on earth for watching whales and dolphins. Spinner Dolphins are the most common type found in Maldives and they occur here in their tens of thousands. They have a regular daily routine to their lives making it very easy to find Spinner Dolphins at certain times every day. While nothing with wildlife can be absolutely guaranteed, you will never have a better chance to watch wild dolphins playing in their natural surroundings than right here in the Maldives. Tourists are often seen feeding and even playing with dolphins, who happen to be extremely friendly with humans.
Male (Maldives) City Excursions
Male would certainly count as one of the smallest capitals in the world in terms of its physical size. Different from any other island in the country, Male is a city of high-rise buildings and paved roads. While the government offices are located in one area, the main streets are lined with shops and offices. There are no beaches on Male and seawalls surround all its sides. However, a newly landscaped artificial beach area and adjoining breakwater stretching all the way round to the harbour in the southwest of the island. The interesting sites; the fish market, the local market at the northern waterfront, the new harbour in the south-west corner and the 400-year old Friday Mosque, to name a few. A stroll around the residential and shopping areas would provide an insight into the life and livelihood of the residents of the capital.
