Five Things to Know Before your Maldives Local Island Diving Trip - Be in the know! 

When scheduling a holiday to an island, among the first things you have to think about is your transfer from Male. Many island accommodations will arrange speedboat transfers according to a schedule while some will have one departure per day. You can also look into public ferries! These will drastically reduce travelling costs. Tickets cost just a few dollars. Unfortunately, the arrival and departure times of ferries are very irregular. So plan well ahead! The further you are from Male, the more it's going to cost, both ways, as you will most likely need to take a seaplane. So, check with your accommodation to see what suits your needs and budget before confirming an island and place of stay.

The Maldives offers many accommodation options apart from private island resorts like Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives! In inhabited islands, you can find accommodation options known as guesthouses! Despite the implications, guesthouses are not just bunk beds and rusty fans. Some are similar to boutique hotels and will cater to the needs of all guests. They have en-suite rooms, spas and pools. Of course, you can find the basic ones and dormitories as well. These guest houses can cost from 20 USD to 100 USD per person. 

Maldivian islands are unique, and for diving enthusiasts and those who want to do water sports in Maldives, it is worthwhile doing your research. One thing in common will be the sandy beaches and pretty palm trees. Some will have a vibrant atmosphere, like Maafushi, a tourist hub, whereas peaceful Fulidhoo is just a place to relax in complete serenity. Some like Thulusdhoo have excellent surfing locations, and islands like Hanimaadhoo have roads of several kilometres that you can explore via moped. You will notice that tourism has evolved in diverse ways on the islands. Some accommodations will have more amenities, while others sparse. 

Another area where research is vital when planning a diving trip is marine life. Aquatic life doesn't congregate in all of the atolls equally. Some will have more species of sharks and manta rays than corals and shoals of trevally. For example, whale sharks are common in South Ari Atoll throughout the year. Occasionally they appear in Baa Atoll. Diving with multiple nurse sharks and reef sharks is popular in Vaavu Atoll year-round. However, in other atolls, they are harder to locate.

The best diving locations in the Maldives can be challenging! Currents can get strong, and overall conditions daunting even for experienced divers. But the returns are huge for those who love diving! Diving locations like Miyaru Kandu in Vaavu Atoll have schools of rays and sharks visiting its waters regularly. If you think your diving needs improving, it's worthwhile investing in more practice or lessons like drift diving before booking into your Maldivian diving escapade.