Diving Maldives
Maldives is one of the great diving areas in the world. Diving is such a priority in the Maldives that the independent Republic of Maldives was founded expressly for diving purposes. At least three-quarters of the world’s reef fish can be found in Maldives. There are well over a thousand species of fish, more than half of which are seen regularly on the reefs. Maldives is one of the world’s richest coral areas, comparable only with the Philippines and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. There are more than 200 different species of hard coral alone, but it is the shapes that they form which make them so amazing: caverns, fans, shafts, canyons, and boulders. Maldives is truly a divers dream location. Almost every resort has diving operations that can accommodate every skill level of diver. So beautiful is this underwater area that at first it’s difficult to know where to dive and what to look at. Many divers are inclined to drift or swim from patch to patch on a reef, looking at increasingly more breathtaking shapes and colors.
Because Maldives is so popular, the reefs can be congested. If you prefer solitary diving at remote locations, the best thing to do is to hire a Yacht Dhoni and head off with an experienced skipper, “keyolhu” to the outer deserted atolls. There you’ll find coral reefs that have remained undisturbed for centuries.
Best time to dive
November through February
Visibility
Visibility varies greatly with the season and the rainfall between 30 to 100 feet.
Water temperatures
Water temperature averages 85 °F.
Weather and climate
Maldives weather is divided into two monsoon periods: the north-east monsoon or ruvai lasts from December to March, which are the drier months; the south-west monsoon or ulhangu lasts from April to November, and is wetter, with more storms and occasional strong winds. Daytime temperatures are about 82°F all year. The humidity is slightly lower in the dry season but most days there’s a cooling sea breeze.
Language
Divehi and English
Passport/Visa requirements
Passport valid for the duration of stay required by all. Tourist visas for 30 days will be issued on arrival only and are free of charge to all visitors in possession of valid travel documents. Foreign visitors who enter the Maldives must be in possession of return or onward tickets and sufficient funds to cover duration of stay.
Currency
Rufiyaa – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
230 volts AC, 50 Hz
Capital
Male
General information
The Maldives is a chain of 26 coral atolls southwest of Sri Lanka, extending across the equator in a north-south strip 468 miles long and 73 miles wide. Most of the inhabited islands are covered by lush tropical vegetation and palm trees, while the numerous uninhabited islands, some of which are mere sand spits or coral tips, are covered in shrubs. Each island is surrounded by a reef enclosing a shallow lagoon. Hundreds of these islands together with other coral growth form an atoll, surrounding a lagoon. The majority of the indigenous population does not mix with the tourist visitors, with the exception of those involved with tourism in the resorts and Male.
Map
Get a map of the Maldives from WorldAtlas.com