Maldives Excursions

One of the most interesting things to do in Maldives is to indulge in the many excursions of Maldives. There are a lot of places to see around Maldives. It will be an ultimate experience to visit the fishing village and see the Maldivians way of life. And it can be said that if you do not explore Male, the capital city ofMaldives, your trip is incomplete.

You don't need to ponder as to how to enjoy in Maldives, because there are a number of fun options available to suit the needs of every person's enthusiasm level and his budget. There are different kinds of excursions available here consisting of diving, sailing, safari fishing trips, discovering the beauty of resort islands and uninhabited islands etc. If you want to have some thrill, then you can choose to opt for aerial excursions by helicopter or seaplane. It will also give you an opportunity to view the clear blue skies. Some of the resorts also provide for moonlight excursions.

Cruise Boats

Cruise Boats

Given that the Maldives comprises small islands scattered across the ocean, perhaps the best way to experience this unique archipelago is on a cruise boat. Cruising will allow the opportunity to explore many of the 1190 islands and also the chance to dive at some of the greatest sites in the world.

The many liveaboard cruise boats registered and operating in the country vary in size from 3 cabin sailing boats to much larger ones and offer facilities and services ranging from modest to exclusive. However, one thing common to all these vessels is that they are staffed by highly experienced professionals who know the Maldivian waters like the backs of their hands.

In addition to taking you to some world renowned dive sites, these cruise boats also offer you activities such as fishing trips and excursions to uninhabited islands as well as inhabited ones to see the local ways of life.

Diving

Diving

It is not without good reason that the Maldives has acquired a reputation as one of the most enchanting dive destinations in the world.

The unique beauty of the Maldivian underwater world is doubly appreciated by divers world over due to the high visibility (sometimes even at depths of 50 meters), the multitude of exotic marine fauna and flora and the warm temperatures (25 – 30 degrees Celsius) throughout the year.

All resorts and most cruise boats operating in the Maldives have well equipped dive centers, staffed by multilingual, experienced professionals. Also, all resorts have dive schools where, although the facilities may vary depending of the resort’s size, location and clientele; a variety of dive courses ranging from beginners’ to expert PADI certification are offered.  In terms of equipment, all have the basics such as compressors, tanks, BCDs, wetsuits, weights and weight belts in addition to (a limited number of) other accessories such as lamps and dive computers. Underwater cameras and video processing facilities are also available in some of the bigger dive schools. All resorts conduct daily dive boat trips to dive sites around the island throughout the year and sometimes even to famous sites further away. Furthermore, although specialized dives (including night dives) are not daily events, many resorts arrange these also on a frequent basis.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling

For those who would love to see the underwater but hesitate to take the deep plunge, snorkeling is a wonderful alternative.

Since the lagoons of Maldives are so clear that with just a snorkel mask and fin you can be witness to the activities of the many different species of fish and fauna on the unique Maldivian reefs. You are guaranteed to encounter playful fish and rare corals even on the resorts’ house reefs and perhaps a turtle or some other curious creatures too if you are lucky.

Surfing

Surfing

Though surfing is relatively new in the Maldives, compared to activities such as diving and snorkeling, the Maldives is now acknowledged for some world recognized surf spots and has been host to the renowned O’Neil Deep Blue competition for two consecutive years.

The best time to surf in the Maldives is from April to October, with the biggest swells likely to occur in June-September. Due to the monsoonal winds from the Indian subcontinent and the swell generated from the south, the conditions during these months are predominantly off-shore all day. The surf generally ranges in size from 3 – 8 feet although bigger ones are experienced occasionally. A great variety of breaks can be found in the Maldives ranging in intensity from the quite mellow shreddable walls to gnarlier hollow pits.

There are two major surf areas in the Maldives – the North Malé Atoll (April – October) and the Outer Atolls (February – April). The North Malé Atoll sports the most popular breaks and the outer atolls’ breaks (approximately 300 miles to the south of the capital Malé) contain at least a dozen potential world class breaks that are rarely surfed.

Water Sports

Water Sports

All resorts without exception have water sports centers that provide a range of water sports and fun activities. The most popular among these are snorkeling, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. The water sports centers are equipped with boards and sails of different sizes and some offer courses for beginners and advanced windsurfers and sailors.

Among other popular water sports activities are parasailing, kayaking, kite-surfing, water-skiing and jet skiing. Some resorts even offer you the opportunity to try out your sailing skills on a local dhoni.

Island Hopping

Island Hopping

An ‘island-hopping’ excursion would take you to another resort, an uninhabited island and an inhabited island all in a day-tour designed to give you a taste of the country.

You would also get the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters of a desert island and experience a barbecue on the beach. Some resorts take this a step further by conducting the excursion by sea plane.

Seaplane Tours

Seaplane Tours

The sea plane companies operating in the Maldives offers spectacular flights over the atolls – perfect for photo trips, sight seeing or just plain enjoyment.

These flights provide a range for service flights such as airport-to-resort shuttles, island-hopping and short sight-seeing trips which provide breathtaking views of the coral reefs, islands and the crystalline lagoons.

The flight companies also offer their seaplanes for aerial photography that allows one the chance to capture the natural beauty of the Maldives as seen from above; the view of the small islands dotting the vast ocean at regular intervals like gems on a necklace – the perfect souvenir.