MALDIVES

Sun, sand and sea, a thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. However there is more to the Maldives than just that.

What to see in the Maldives

Male Fish Market and Local Market are located on the northern waterfront of Male and are the main hubs of trade and activity throughout the day. The waterfront and the by-lanes in the area are crowded with shops stocked with a variety of goods including unique local produce. While some ‘dhonis’ from all corners of the country unload dried fish, fresh fruits and vegetables from the atolls, others are seen loading everything from foodstuffs to construction materials. The pace increases in mid-afternoon as fishing ‘dhonis’ start returning with their day’s catch. The catch, mainly tuna, are carried across the road into the open-sided market and laid out on the tiled floors.

What to do in the Maldives

The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since the Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving. All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Many of the resorts have excellent house reefs. Just a short swim from the beach and snorkellers too can experience the same pleasures from the surface.

Travelling to and around the Maldives

There are frequent direct flights to the Maldives from both Europe and Asia, as well as charter flights from main European airports. A ferry service is available from the airport island to the capital around the clock. A special dhoni ferry leaves from the airport jetty to the capital every 15 minutes which changes to one every 30 minutes after midnight. Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways operate special air transfer trips to most of the resorts. This mode of transport is best arranged by your agents or the resort operative. Normally resort operators have arrangements for chartered flights to their resort with either of these parties. Taxis provide the main land transportation service, although many visitors elect to rent a car.