Joanna James
As one of the world's top destinations for watersports holidays, the Maldives offers travellers a plethora of water-based activities. Here are five water sports every traveller should experience during a getaway in the paradise isles.
When it comes to water sports and related activities that can be enjoyed as a group or in pairs, nothing compares to the thrills and spills of banana boating. Bobbing around the surface of the water on a banana-shaped inflated boat that is being dragged across by a speed boat is one of the true pleasures of a Maldivian getaway. It is an activity that is easily available through various resorts and hotels the likes of OZEN Life Maadhoo and countless other Maldives watersports centres. No swimming skills are required for banana boating as all participants wear life jackets at all times. A ride usually lasts no more than 20 minutes, but one does not feel the time pass as it is a bouncy ride like no other.
Another widely available and adrenaline-pumping watersport that nearly anyone can enjoy in the Maldives is a Jet Ski ride around the shoreline. The speedy machines have often been compared to motorcycles due to their agility and ability to move fast and furiously across the water. Those who are adept at driving a Jet Ski can rent a vehicle from a water sports gear rental for an hour or two while those who wish to ride in tandem with an experienced driver or a tour operator will also find plenty of local tour packages for their needs.
Although one does require a PADI certification to sign up for a scuba diving excursion, it is easily the most rewarding and truly magical water sports adventure available in the Maldives. Home to some of the most biodiverse ocean floors in the world, the seas that surround more than 1000 islands that make up the Maldives contain more coral and fish species than found anywhere else in Asia. Scuba diving tours in the Maldives typically include pit stops at iconic dive sites the likes of Manta Point, HP Reef, and Banana Reef while those who love to dive into shipwrecks will also find plenty to write home about the Maldivian seafloor.
As a water-based activity that is strictly reserved for thrill-seekers, water skiing is not for the faint of heart. Gliding across the ocean's surface at high speeds, those who are adept at surfing and wakeboarding will find it a breeze to learn how to water ski in the Maldives.
Ranked among the most daring water sports and related activities accessible in the Maldives, flyboarding allows one to fly above the ocean for a few minutes and witness the shoreline from a vaulted perspective. Those who wish to enjoy flyboarding should holiday in the country during the dry season as this is when flyboarding activities are available in the Maldives. Lhaviyani Atoll and Maafushi Island are prime locations for flyboarding activities.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
