How to Dive like a Pro on Your First Time Diving in the Maldives - Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Your First Maldi

Those who wish to make diving the focal point of their Maldivian getaway will find that staying at a resort that is known for its diving tours is a great way to prioritise the activity. Whether you choose Kandolhu Maldives or any other convenient resort base, make sure some of the top dive sites for beginners are within easy reach of your hotel. Although there are countless tour operators organising Maldives excursions for divers, being a hop and a skip away from dive sites allows newbie divers to hone in on their skills and explore more of the stunning underwater world around their resort.

Just because you know the basics of diving does not mean that you are ready to tackle every diving experience available in the Maldives. Local tour operators and resorts will often curate diving tours for various skill and experience levels so that beginner divers need not embark on the same tour as that of seasoned experts with countless dives under their belt. Communicate your skill level to the tour operator and ask a local instructor's advice on what dive sites you may be able to handle as the diving locations in the Maldives are as vast and different as the marine species that occupy its waters. Some dive sites in the country are deemed suitable for "all skill levels" but it's crucial to stick to the beginner-friendly sites first and work your way up.

First-time divers must also familiarise themselves with the safety rules and regulations put in place by Maldivian authorities to ensure no mishaps occur during diving expeditions. Depths of 30m are as low as one can travel when engaging in recreational diving in the island nation and the maximum dive time allowed is no more than 60 minutes. Entry-level or beginner divers can only go as deep as 20m even though divers are allowed to go deeper on the second dive than they did on the first. The Maldivian authorities also recommend a safety stop when you reach 5m of depth and 3 minutes before surfacing. Tourists are not allowed to dive when there are less than 12 hours left to their departure flight. Dive planning is also mandatory for all individual divers in the Maldives.

Even though the waters off the coast of Maldivian islands are clearer and shallower than in most diving hubs around the world, first-timers should not dive alone. In fact, even dive shops and dive centres in the Maldives require tourists to take a Scuba Review course if it has been more than 6 months since their last diving experience. Unlike riding a bicycle, the skills and instincts necessary for safe diving do not come into play as soon as one hits the water, and this is why a diving buddy must be part of your plans.

First-timers must also make sure that they are well-hydrated before and after they embark on a diving session as dehydration will not help one fend off decompression sickness. Using the right equipment is also necessary as your fins and mask must fit perfectly.