Joanna James
If you are an avid diver and have not visited the Maldives yet, then this is the year you should! No matter where you go in the Maldives you are sure to enjoy a diving adventure like no other. Thanks to the renewed laws in the Maldives, especially after covid-19, guest houses and homestays have now popped up in local islands which means you have even more accommodation options now. If you do decide to dive from a local island, here are 5 things you need to know.
Transfers from the main island are one of the toughest things to organise unless you are opting to stay at resorts like Kuramathi Maldives. Resorts usually offer speedboat transfers in their packages, however, if you are staying on a local island, this may not be as easy. It is better to plan your transfers beforehand as some speedboat services or local ferries may run only once a day to some islands. If the island you have selected is very far from Male, you will have to take a domestic flight there. This is the most expensive way to travel in the Maldives.
When it comes to alcohol in the Maldives, you are not allowed to consume alcohol just anywhere. If you are staying at an island resort, this is definitely allowed, however, on local islands you will not find a place to enjoy some booze after your dive. A few local islands like Maafushi have a licensed liveaboard boat where you can spend an evening at the bar.
When your lodging is a luxury resort, you are guaranteed premium rooms, villas and even overwater living spaces. If you are opting for a guest house stay on a local island, you won't be sleeping in a dingy room under a rusty fan. Guesthouses, despite being called so are more like boutique hotels. Some of these accommodation options are equipped with in-house spas, pools, and other small amenities to ensure that your stay is comfortable, if not extravagant like the typical Maldives resort.
Yes, all the islands in the Maldives are blessed with beautiful white sandy beaches and clear waters, but that's not all. Each island is unique and may have various activities that you can do when you are not with the reef life under the water. Some islands offer great swells for surfing, and some are big enough to be explored on a moped!
While the locals at the resorts may seem confident enough to speak to you in English and approach you at once, the people on the local island may not. This is because local tourism is still a new concept, and the older generations are still getting used to having foreigners living in their vicinity. It's best to approach the locals with a smile and a friendly wave so that they are comfortable to allow you to approach them with whatever help you may need.
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