| Fun & Adventure |
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| Diving | Sailing | Surfing | Fishing | Excursion | |||||||||||||||
The Maldives is spread across the Indian Ocean - north of the equator and southwest of the Indian peninsular. A chain of 1190 small coral islands stretch over an area of around 90,000 square kilometers. What is most attention-grabbing, though, is that only one percent of this considerably large territory is land. The rest is all taken up by the vast blue Indian Ocean . The 1190 islands of the Maldives are naturally grouped into 26 atolls. The distribution of islands in the atolls is random, the number of islands belonging to an atoll varying from one to the other. No more than 200 of these islands are locally inhabited. 88 have been chosen for resort development and the rest are all desert islands - some rarely ever set foot on by man. It is the endless ocean which separates the islands which contributes to the Maldivian air of mystery. It is also these geographical features which have helped Maldives retain its natural beauty and centuries old traditions. If the islands of Maldives are beautiful, what lies beneath under the water is a veritable wonder of nature. The reefs that encircle the island and the atolls are just as abundant in their variety of corals as the marine creature that live in and around them. This, coupled with the amazingly clear water, make snorkeling and diving in the Maldives a unique experience that one should not forego… Snorkeling is one the simplest ways in which one can have a glimpse of the amazing world under the water. All it takes is to exchange your sunglasses for mask, equip yourself with basic snorkeling equipment (snorkel and fins) and off you go! Temperature and Visibility : The conditions for diving are ideal in the Maldives where the annual average water temperature is 28 degree Celsius. Although it is possible to dive with swimwear, you may require a 3 millimeter neoprene wetsuit as thermal protection. With visibility reaching up to 30 meters, you can admire the immense underwater landscape without restriction in almost every dive. Diving Possibilities : Maldives being one of the most coral rich regions I the world, here you are spoilt for choice when it comes to diving. With over thousand species of coral fish, every dive is a fascinating experience. While boat diving is more popular, shore diving to discover natures little wonders subtly hidden in the house reef of the island are favorite past time for many. Diving possibilities include drift diving, wreck diving and night diving. Safety and Insurance : Recreation diving in the Maldives has a depth limit of 30 meters. You do not need to go deeper as you can enjoy all the riches of coral reef within 30 meters. All dive operators in the Maldives strictly adhere to international diving standards. Although there are well-equipped clinics and decompression chambers in the Maldives , prevention is always the best medicine. Always take the safety regulation seriously and dive with responsibility to yourself, your buddy and to the environment. If you are not sure that you present insurance covers you for diving related accidents, please check whether it does. Respect for the Environment : The coral reefs are made of very fragile structures that may break and die with the slightest impact. Please take care not to touch or harm the fragile eco-system by maintaining neutral bouncy throughout the dive. Help us to preserve our delicate environment by being a responsible diver and please do not use gloves while diving. Enjoy the underwater treasure of the Maldives and cherish it for our future generation. To truly make the most of a holidays in the Maldives you must consider seeing a bit more of the Maldives than what the tourist resort have to offer. 1190 little coral island strew across the Indian ocean, each with its own charm and secrets, waiting to be discovered. Some have never been stepped onto while others tell tales of romantic mysteries. Thousand of reefs, some well known for its breath taking beauty and the abundance of marine life, while man has never seen others! Discover the enchanting Maldives islands by cruising across the atolls. Be it a dive “safari” (as cruise is called in the Maldives ) or simply a relaxing cruise, the journey is filled with adventure and interesting discoveries. For those seeking the mystical unknowns of these islands, a cruise is a best way to discover the real Maldives and the concealed treasure within the reefs of this archipelago. With most favorable conditions for warm weather, a cruise in the Maldives is indeed a very beautiful experience. What do you do on a Safari? The out most experience in having a really laid back and relaxing holiday! In tune with the rhythm of the sunny islands, you will be filling your days with as much or as little activity as you wish. You may wish to lie sunning on the deck or read those books you never find time for, or you may be diving three to four times a day! Its all up to the individual and depends on the holiday that you book. You could very well be walking around on uninhabited island or getting squinted with the locals in the fishing village. Don't forget the possibility to visit resort islands to join in the various evening entertainment and add in the menu barbeque on uninhabited islands under starry tropical skies! The best thing about a cruise is that you are not restricted to one island or to a certain number of dive sites. Looking for the perfect waves plus something more? Here you find the perfect waves plus the right combination. South and north Male' Atoll offer some great waves for you to surf to your heart's content. The Maldives is known as the best kept secret in surfing! Limited crowds, great varieties of reef breaks, and some of the most perfect shaped waves make this place any surfer's fantasy! Surfing in the Maldives is like ridding through an underwater aquarium! The water temperature is a warm 80-89F (26-31C), while on land it varies between 80-91F (26-32C). Surfing is possible practically all year with the average wave height 4-8feet, however bigger days are experienced. You can enjoy these perfect waves at surf resort or on a Surfing Safari boat. Surfing Safaris: February- October is an average the best time for surf, with the biggest swells likely to occur in June/July. During these months the wind are usually offshore, all day thanks the swell generated from the south and monsoon winds from India . Each year there are two monsoons season: the north-east monsoon from December to April and south west monsoon from May to November. December - April/ NE Monsoon-Good weather for tourists Traditionally fishing has been the main blood-stream of the economy and the islanders' principal source of income. Even today it still employs half the Maldivian workforce. The fishing Dhoani are privately owned and usually keep a crew of eight or so, although in the north they tend to carry more. All Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus Pelamis) and Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus Albacares) are caught by artisanal fishermen, who fish daily around the vicinity of their home islands in the Maldivian archipelago consisting more than 2000 islands of which around 202 are inhabited. Furthermore there are smaller catches of Frigate Tuna (Anxis Thagard) and from smaller vessels called "Dhoani" ranging 5 - 12m LOA in size and driven by 20 - 60hp engines or sail. The method used by Maldivian fishermen is referred to as the "Pole and Line" method. This consists of a bamboo or plastic construction pole, 10 to 15 feet in length, with a line and a feathered barbless hook attached to the smaller end of the pole capable of handling a fish weighing below 50lbs. Big Game fishing in the Maldivian waters can be one of the most unforgettable adventures of a lifetime for keen fishermen and first-timers alike. The islands of the Maldives form a ridge which shelves steeply to the depths of the Indian Ocean . The coral atolls boast one of the greatest concentrations and diversities of sea life found on earth - big billfish are caught within meters of the tourist resorts. The fishing methods in the Maldives are interesting to watch, and bait less fishing is the most fascinating among them. Fish caught during game fishing varies according to the weather. The Maldives , a country that straddles the equator, remains sunny almost all year around. There are two main seasons, however, - the South West Monsoon and the North East Monsoon. The South West Monsoon, which usually starts in May and continues until August, is the rainy season. Bad weather in the Maldives is not common but the varying temperatures can effect the underwater currents and consequently the movements of fish. Most holidaymakers visiting the Maldives see little of life in the Maldives , as resorts are exclusive and are on islands by themselves. Excursions offer you the possibility of venturing out for a change of scenery. You may visit resorts close by or catch a glimpse of the daily life of Maldivians in one of the fishing villages. For those who wish to test their skills at fishing, a variety of fishing expeditions is organized. Excursion Programs: All resorts offer excursion programmes, often a weekly program in which a range of different excursions are organized once a week, and the more popular ones, twice. However, in almost all the resorts, these are subject to weather conditions and a minimum level of participation by the guests. Most resorts feature island hopping in their programs. This involves a full or half-day trip to a number of islands, the variety of which depending on what is available close by. Often, these combine visits to a fishing village or two and an uninhabited island, where you get an opportunity to snorkel or swim or simply laze on the beach. Often a barbecue lunch is served on the beach. The trip is rounded off with a visit to a resort. In addition to this, there are specific excursions to uninhabited islands, fishing villages and resorts. Some excursions are unique; a day and night alone on a private island, or a two-day cruise for two on a luxury live-aboard are just a few of the possibilities at some of the resorts. Aerial excursions are organized by seaplane operators. You may request to participate in one organized by your resort. You could also contact the seaplane operator directly to participate in one of their excursions or even to organize one of your own. A full day aerial excursion could be arranged to visit islands far from each other, to combine a variety of islands. Aerial excursions could also take you to famous dive sites far away from your resort. On these fly & dive excursions, all flights are conducted at low altitude as a precaution for divers. Many feel that the best of the Maldives is seen from the air and underwater. A fly & dive excursion would give you the best of both worlds. For a fly & dive excursion you may rent dive equipment yourself from the resort or let the seaplane operator arrange it for you. |
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