An adapter with different pins is best. Water temperatures range from the high 70s to mid 80s, with some southern sites dropping into the mid 70s from December to March. Diving in channels (kandu in Dhivehi) between atolls and islands in Maldives sometimes can be challenging due to strong currents and visibility but always awesome because of greater chance to encounter sharks and mantas and better coral life. Why not combine your diving adventure with some diving training? If you booked Spa Package you can request a payable Discover Scuba Diving Course. km. Includes Student Kit and Certification Up to 18 meters. Many dives are performed as drifts, allowing participants to go with the flow rather than fight the current. The time zone in the Maldives is Maldives Time or MVT, which is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+5 GMT). I have been diving in Bermuda for $145 per dive and the visibility was 2 meters, waste of money! This is where almost mythical creatures live underwater while on the surface there are white sands and palms in the middle of nowhere in the Indian Ocean. We offer: • Underwater excursion (30-40 min) • Professional guiding • Equipment rental • Discount for further activities . Napoleon wrasse, parrot fish, trigger fish, angel fish, snappers, groupers, sweetlips will be your companions in the journey. Most of the population uses desalinated water while rural areas may use rainwater. When the currents are running, sharks, tunas and mantas gather in the passes, and Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, snappers, jacks and sweetlips swarm pinnacle walls. It is these current-washed passages that provide some of the most thrilling dives, as this is where big animals gather. Maldivians are known for their inventiveness and intricate craftsmanship, which can be seen in handicrafts such as lacquer works, mat weaving, coir rope making and calligraphy. Scuba Package is only available for certified divers. Maldives diving enthusiasts will delight at her extensive range of itineraries, sailing all around the stunning atolls in the north and in the south. They are washed by nutrient-rich upwellings that feed sponges and soft corals, and sustain a wide range of marine life, from resident crustaceans and reef fish to blue-water visitors. Read more about us . Exit Requirements: All visitors departing the Republic of the Maldives must pay an airport departure tax of approximately $10.00 U.S. No immunizations are required to enter the Maldives from the U.S. This Maldives consists of 26 chains of islands made from corals and reefs called atolls. Not like in many other places where diving might be slightly cheaper, but there is hardly anything to see. Dhivehi is the spoken language throughout the Maldives. Some of the fish species that you can observe here include sharks, eels, bannerfish, and grouper fish. Family and community are of utmost importance to a way of life that is understandably shaped by the sea and the need for self-sufficiency within small island communities. An iconic symbol of the Maldives is the traditional dhoni, a hand-crafted wooden boat similar to an Arab dhow. Tethering devices known as reef hooks are often used, but divers should also make the effort to streamline their dive gear and to weight properly, as overweighting will require excessive BC inflation, resulting in the more current-catching surface area. This course is only available during 7 Nights Holidays. mi. Due to the differences in taste, most people prefer to use bottled water which is readily available for purchase. Corals, sponges, nudibranchs, fish, stingrays, dolphins, mantas, sharks - you name it. Come and try scuba diving with us! And remember the most important for this price you get world class diving! Includes Student Kit and Certification Up to 12 meters *OPEN WATER DIVER USD 749. Check with your cell phone provider for international plans which may include data, text and voice. At Fotteyo Kandu the narrow canyons and caves of Kandu Vaavu are covered in soft corals, and attract sharks, eagle rays and tuna in great numbers. Reefs are home to more than 1,000 species of fish and 200 varieties of coral. Divers can choose between luxury liveaboard boats and idyllic resorts on small islands, many with rooms that perch directly over the water. The region's third distinct feature are the numerous coral-covered pinnacles that rise from the depths, serving as both habitats for reef creatures and gathering points for blue-water fish. Whale sharks feed on plankton carried by life-giving currents. Sometimes sightings can include potato groupers, mantas and even hammerhead sharks. What about cavern diving, wreck diving, night diving? Many hotels offer WiFi but there may be a charge for it. Scuba Diving In The Maldives At A Secret Island . The Rufiyaa is divided into 100 Laari or cents. Move with the waters along the reef walls (faru in Dhivehi), enjoy spectacular views of sea inhabitants, breath in, breath out. It's your chance to discover greatest dive sites in Maldives around Thoddoo, Rasdhoo and Ukulhas islands. These formations are like stop signs for the currents, providing food for corals and sponges - favourite food of bigger fish, turtles and sharks. Maldives budget holiday packages with rank 1 dive center in Male area rated 4.5 stars on Facebook and Tripadvisor. Euro-Divers Maldives offer scuba diving activities in some of the best scuba diving resorts in Maldives as well as water sport activities at selected resorts. Floating Resort by Scubaspa is a new and unique concept combining exceptional spa experiences with unforgettable scuba diving. Come and try scuba diving with us! Points around the ring are cut by channels, known locally as kandus. English was introduced as the medium of instruction in most schools in the 1960s, while Dhivehi is still the language used for the overall administration. Plan your dive trip to paradise with our scuba diving vacations packages Maldives. So we hope for another brilliant season of manta diving in Thoddoo! Most major island resorts, local and souvenir shops will accept American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. A traditional performance that is often staged for visitors is the Bodu Beru, where sarong-garbed dancers sway to rhythmic drumbeats and chants. The vast South Ari Atoll is considered to have some of the best diving in the Maldives and has long attracted discerning liveaboard divers. The Maldives is a nation of coral reefs. If you wish to complete PADI Open Water Course you are required to choose Scuba & Spa Package. However we understand that many look for an affordable tour package which gives them an adventure, as well as great diving experience during their holiday. Maldives has everything to prove it: clear warm water all year around, perfect visibility (20-40 m), and fantastic marine life. This is no ordinary island. Though scattered across thousands of square miles of ocean, dive sites in the Maldives fall into three general categories, based on structure: Individual islands within an atoll are generally surrounded by a reef that creates a sheltered lagoon. The Maldives located in the south-west of India is an archipelago nation meaning has been spread over a sea in multiple small islands famous for scuba diving in Maldives. Dive Paradise offers a broad selection of diving and accommodations packages — choices for every taste and budget. Her wooden hull has been specifically designed to optimize sailing through the waters of the Maldives, while her interior has been fitted out to heighten comfort and relaxation for guests aboard. Recommended by 97% travelers! The islands are 99% sea and 1% land comprised of 26 natural atolls of dual island chains. * Not included in any Dive Packages *BUBBLEMAKER USD 120. 99% of our guests are scuba divers from all over the world. Explore excellent dive sites and a collection of underwater gardens. More and more mantas are visiting Thoddoo cleaning stations. On larger thilas, eddies form on the down-current side of the pinnacles, giving divers a respite from the flow. 2hrs) This is the perfect introductory session for those who have never tried scuba diving before. Copyright ©2021 Caradonna Dive Adventures. MORE. Sometimes mild, sometimes strong, but always enjoyable. The Republic of Maldives is a tropical island nation, consisting of 1,190 islands grouped in 26 ring-shaped atolls. The total population of the Maldives is approximately 390,000. There are some underwater rocks growing almost up to the surface called 'thilas'. 1. Includes DAN Insurance *SCUBA DIVER USD 440. Tourism has brought the modern world to the Maldives, but these changes are seen primarily at resorts, and in the capital city of Male, where shops and homes envelop every inch of the island with a vibrant pulse. You will explore the very same dive sites as guests staying in 4 and 5 star resorts. Diving Resorts in Maldives: Find 80242 traveller reviews, candid photos, and the top ranked Diving Resorts in Maldives on Tripadvisor. Electricity in the Maldives is 220-240 V, 50 Hz. ), over 1,100 islands; twice the size of Washington, DC. The walls of thilas are often carved into canyons and caverns that create hiding places for reef dwellers such as octopus, moray eels and scorpion fish. All-inclusive resort, small hotel, or condo. Area: 298 sq. It’s safe to say that whatever your dive ability there is something spectacular for you to see in the Maldives. It's your chance to discover greatest dive sites in Maldives around Thoddoo, Rasdhoo and Ukulhas islands. Recommended by 97% travelers! From 8 to 10 years old *DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING USD 120. Our tiny little island ( just 1 km long and 500 meters wide) is one of the most impossibly gorgeous sights that you will ever lay your eyes on. The depth of this site ranges from 5 to 30 meters. North channel (north to Veligandu resort) is where you can see mantas almost every day. At some sites where currents flow around an underwater headland, the plan may call for divers to anchor themselves in place to watch the passing show. Prodivers first opened their doors on Kuredu Resort & Spa back in 1988, and have now grown into the largest dive operator in the Maldives. Currents around thilas can range from mild to strong, and dive plans are formulated to match conditions. Along with old good friends - Selkie, Dr Zoidberg and others, we have got Iaia and some yet to be identified mantas. The stunningly beautiful tropical islands of the Maldives are strung like pearls across the Indian Ocean Equator and surrounded by world-class diving. This is where you will find fan corals with macro life such as moray eels, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf fish and glassfish. Prodivers has been exploring the Maldives for 25 years, and offers diving and snorkelling courses and trips that promises to blow you away! Jump in, adjust your buoyancy, and... just relax. The Maldives islands has just so many scuba diving spots and hotels to choose from. In years past, this involved holding on to rocks on the sea floor, but most operators now employ reef hooks. Reef hooks can often be rented, but it can be more cost-effective to buy and bring your own. See Caradonna Central America Destinations, See Caradonna Animal Interactions Adventure, See Caradonna Cultural Activities Adventure, See Caradonna Digital Guides Digital Guides. Maldives is the world diving destination #1. The Maldives is one of the premier scuba diving locations in the world, partly due to the clear waters that are warm all year round, and partly because the Maldives is home to an incredible abundance of sea life surrounding its excellent private-island resorts. From absolute beginners to experienced divers, we offer a range of Maldives scuba diving packages that will further your understanding of the underwater world. Best thilas are located near Ukulhas island (Maaya Thila, Maa thila). Having India, Sri Lanka and some of the coral islands at a distance, the country has the best mixture of cultures and languages. Most famous one is currents. Madivaru channel near Rasdhoo island is the place to see hammerhead sharks. Massive schools of fish, feeding manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks are just a few of the beautiful creatures that make Baa Atoll so unique. Maldives – The pearls of the Indian Ocean. Tidal water exchanges create brisk currents in the kandus, and the narrower the channel, the stronger the flow. The tidal waters that ebb and flow through the kandus and wash over the thilas account for the abundance of marine life and big animals that are the hallmark of diving in the Maldives. And this resort is an excellent base to visit some of the best sites. Below we’ve listed the ten best dive sites in the Maldives as determined by our scuba diving experts. Dive resorts in the Maldives are an excellent option for budding and experienced underwater photographers due to the sheer beauty and varied colours of the marine-life. The vertical faces hold resident schooling fish such as blue striped snappers, big eyed jack and fusiliers, and attract passing tuna, eagle rays sharks and manta rays. Skin suits for lagoon dives, 3mm on drifts, and some may want a 5mm when diving in currents. Typically sand bottomed and less than 60 feet deep, lagoons offer relaxed diving on coral formations. The notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 while the coins are available in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 Larees or 1 and 2 Rufiyaa. Beachside or in town. So too is a tradition of hospitality, forged through centuries of interaction with maritime visitors. (115 sq. Ten days scuba diving in the Maldives squeezed into 9 minutes of video. Arrangements vary from island to island. Feel free to contact us and enjoy divers' discounts! Maldives Rufiyaa comes in different denominations of notes and coins. Call Us To Book Your Trip 1-800-298-9009. Day or night, Maaya Thila ranks among the best dive sites in the Maldives. Maldives currency is called Maldivian Rufiyaa (MFR or MVR) and noted locally as Rf. 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