Maldives Tourist Information
Things to do on your Maldives Dive Holiday
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The Maldives lie studded like gems in the vast Indian Ocean and are spread over approximately 90,000 km². There are 26 atolls which means 1,190 coral islands - enough to make any diver excited. The islands have become synonymous with white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and a romantic, peaceful atmosphere. Nowadays the two main types of visitor are honeymooners and divers.
Although the islands are remote and give the perfect 'in middle of nowhere' feeling they are very well connected with flights and it is little wonder that people from all over the world come to the Maldives in search of peace, tranquility and underwater adventure.
The Maldivian currency is called Rufiyaa and it is divided into 100 Laari but it is rarely used in tourist resorts. You will probably not see any rufiyaa since most transactions for tourists in resorts or on liveaboards take place in US dollars. Most resorts will cash travellers cheques and will accept major credit cards.
The rest of this page contains information about the Maldives:
• View a map of the Maldives
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Tourist Security and Safety
Crime rates are very low in the Maldives and there are not many causes for feelings of insecurity among visiting tourists. Unlike many other destinations, tourists generally stay in their resorts or on their liveaboards so opportunities for criminals are restricted.
Aside from taking the usual precautions with your belongings and valuable items you are unlikely to encounter any potential security issues and the only place where there really exists any such possibility is in Male at night. Even then, being street-smart by staying in well-lit areas and not flashing your new Tag-Heuer around should be enough to avoid trouble.
There are a number of reasons why the crime rate is low in the Maldives. One is that being a Muslim country, social ills like alcohol and drug dependence are low. Another is that tourism is such a major economic factor that maintaining its image of a safe paradise is of great importance.
If you still feel uncomfortable, we can recommend that you take out insurance to cover diving and travel activities, including trip cancellation. See our insurance programme for a competitive quote.
How to Get There
Male International Airport on Hulhule Island, ten minutes by boat from the capital city Male, is where most arrivals first set foot on Maldivian soil.
The Maldives are four hours flight from Singapore, around thirteen hours from London, and three hours from Dubai. Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka is some forty five minutes flight away.
The major airlines that fly to Male include Emirates, Monarch Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Qatar Air (all from UK), Air Italy, Edelweiss, Singapore Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Eurofly which together service Asia and Europe. If coming from the U.S. of A it is most convenient to fly via Singapore and take the four hour flight from there.
If you require accommodation in the Maldives you can get the best value rooms with Agoda, our affiliated resort reservation specialists.
General Information
This section contains information about:
The Local People
The Maldives has a population slightly over 300,000, with the highest density being in the capital Male, with around 70,000 inhabitants.
The official language is Maldivian Dhivehi which is a dialect of Sinhalese (spoken in Sri Lanka) with influences from other local languages. The script is derived from Arabic but do not worry since English is widely spoken, particularly by officials and those in tourism.
Fishing, tourism and agriculture are the three greatest sources of employment. Maldivians are Sunni Muslims and although they observe prayer five times a day (when everything closes down) they are generally very understanding of the different cultures and practices of visiting tourists. However you should not attempt to bring items of other religions into the country such as crucifixes or Buddha statues. Also be wary of having books, magazines or DVDs which might be deemed (by them) as inappropriate. These will be confiscated.
Given its location as a crossroads in the Indian Ocean it is not surprising that Maldivians are of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian origin, with elements of Arabian, African, and Indonesian origin also. Although they are Muslims this influence of cultures means that there is a strong belief in the spirit world. To protect against the evil spirits known as 'Jinns', locals will often use various charms and spells, although you are unlikely to encounter any such activity in the resorts or other tourist areas.
History
Geologically the Maldives were formed by volcanic islands breaking the surface around 65 million years ago and then subsiding leaving what were their fringing coral reefs at the surface to develop into the atolls we see today. In terms of human history it is believed that the Maldives were first settled over 4,000 years ago by seafarers of the Indian Ocean.
The islands were populated by a mix of Indians and Sri Lankans observing the Buddhist religion until conversion to Islam occurred in the 12th century. European colonialism came along from the 16th century, first in the form of the Portuguese, and then followed by the Dutch and the British, from whom independence was granted in 1965.
Recent politics have been dominated by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who continues to serve as president (despite attempts to have him overthrown).
Climate
There are two monsoon seasons which dominate the climate here - the North East monsoon (dry) and the South West monsoon (wet). Due to its equatorial location, the Maldives do not experience major cyclones.
Generally speaking the drier months of the year are between November and April (March and April being the hottest months). The wetter season, runs from May to early November. June, July and August often see the most rain, although most of the rain is experienced in the Southern atolls (not the ones Dive The World recommends).
The temperature of the Maldives ranges between 24 and 33°C throughout the year and it is possible to dive the Maldives throughout the year.
You should pack appropriate clothing such as light cotton garments and sandals and otherwise as you normally would for visiting somewhere in the tropics.
Health
The Maldives has no serious problems with diseases. The resorts and liveaboards are self sufficient in terms of water and electricity. In some cases the water is drinkable though not wonderful tasting, and many of the liveaboards will charge for bottled water on top of a 'one bottle a day' allowance.
Diving or sun related injuries account for most of the health problems encountered by tourists. To keep safe avoid overheating, drink lots of water, get into the shade and dive within your limits.
Many resorts have their own doctor or nurse and most are within reasonably easy reach of a decompression chamber. There are two hospitals in Male: the government-owned Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGM) and the privately-owned Abduarahman Don Kaleyfan Hospital (ADK). ADK accepts some insurance plans, but IGM does not. As always medical insurance and or diving insurance is strongly recommended. Try to avoid a med-evac because the Maldives are a long way from anywhere.
As for vaccinations and other health precautions, we recommend you consult your local doctor when planning your Maldives dive trip.
Tourist Visas
No prior visa arrangements are required to enter the Republic of Maldives. A 30 days Entry Permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements.
Time Zones
Standard time here is five hours ahead Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+5).
Business Hours
From Sunday to Thursday 7.30 - 14.30 hrs in the government sector, and generally from 9.00 to 5.00 hrs in the private sector, although most offices in the private sector open for a half day on Saturday. Weekends here fall on Friday and Saturday.
Electricity
Most resort islands use 220/240 volt AC at 50 cycles but there is no standard socket types and it is worth carrying an international adapter. Plugs are usually either the three square pin - 13 amp British type or they are the two pin European style. If you are used to a 110 volt supply you will need a small transformer to convert from 240V to 110V.
Photographic Facilities
It is recommended to bring all spare materials, films and batteries etc with you. Locally, you may have difficulty finding these items.
Communications
The telephone system in the Maldives is very efficient with international telephone communications available from all the resort islands. Mail can be sent from the resorts and will usually reach its destination within 7-10 days.
A GSM cellular network with international roaming is now functioning in most of the tourist areas. You can also purchase 'Pay as you Go' SIM cards at the airport.
Fixed line internet connectivity is not readily available in the islands, and even in Male internet prices can reach up to US$ 3 per hour. However, the wireless internet network is quite extensive. Dhiraagu has announced the introduction of GPRS data roaming service for visitors to the Maldives, and has a prepaid broadband hotspot internet service, called the Wireless Zone service on the main atolls. Wataniya Telecom Maldives also has a network offering high speed internet access based on 3G technologies in the city area of Male and GPRS/EDGE technologies serving other areas of the country.
Codes of Behaviour
Tipping and bargaining
The practice of tipping is customary in the Maldives. Allow for about US$ 10 for staff members who look after you well throughout your stay e.g. in a resort you may have the same waiter for your entire holiday. Local boat crew on a liveaboard will also expect a tip at the end of your trip. For small acts like luggage carrying US$ 1 is normal. Note you should keep a few dollars aside for departure tax. Currently US$ 12, departure tax is included in most flights, but not all.
Clothing
Although you may feel like you are in a remote paradise ,the locals may not take too kindly to you stripping off. Nudity is forbidden. Swimwear should be decent and you would be advised to cover up reasonably well for dining. If paying a visit to inhabited islands you should be covered from torso to knee.
Criminality
You should take the usual precautions such as not leaving money and valuables lying around so as to not invite theft. Upon entry you are not allowed to import several things including alcohol, pork products, idols of worship, spearguns or machine guns. If you do have any alcohol with you, then you can declare it at Customs. They will give you a receipt and you can claim it back when you leave. They usually x-ray all incoming luggage, so any undeclared bottles are likely to be found!
Interested?
If you're keen to discover these popular and remote atolls, then click below to check your options for:
Be sure to book up in plenty of time to avoid limited choice! The best Maldives scuba diving vacations are booked by repeat customers who book well in advance to ensure their reservation!
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