I went to Maldives in mid-december 2016. It was kind of a birthday trip of sorts and the main reason for going to Maldives was really, to dive. I hadn't gotten my Basic Open Water then, so I was intending to get it there!
A tip if you haven't dived before and wish to obtain a certification: look for centres that offer PADI certified courses. It's the most widely recognised diving certification in the world.
A tip if you haven't dived before and wish to obtain a certification: look for centres that offer PADI certified courses. It's the most widely recognised diving certification in the world.
Pre-Maldives
If you look at basic open water courses, you'll notice that they all contain 3 components - theory session (and final test), pool session, 4 x open water sessions. In order for it to be economical, it is advisable that you complete all 3 components with the same dive centre. However, I have claustrophobia and am really uncomfortable with wearing the mask required for diving and/or snorkelling. Hence, I signed up for the theory and pool session in Singapore with The Dive Company in case I panicked in Maldives and couldn't finish the open water sessions. The pool session teaches you simple skills that you'll need as a diver - i.e. mask clearing, simple navigation, hovering in water, emergency ascents etc. This is important so that you don't panic when you're 12m underwater in the open ocean. I completed it successfully and got a referral sheet to certify I had completed the theory and pool components.
So yay! I was all ready for the open waters in Maldives!
Arrival in Maldives
We flew Singapore Airlines to Maldives and reached there sometime at 10pm. Since we were staying at Hotel Jen on Male, they provided the free boat shuttle from the airport to the hotel. The hotel is pretty standard, reasonably sized, and the toilet had a glass wall with blinds drawn. The view we got overlooked the sea, so that was rather pretty!
Day 1
Breakfast was a simple western meal - ie toasted sandwiches and juice - at a cafe sort of place near the hotel. Honestly, the theme in Maldives should never be food. There aren't many options around and if you go to the islands it's worse so resorts tend to provide full-board with meals. The agenda for the day was to find a suitable Dive center and after that, to explore the area aimlessly! I really like just walking around cities like a local, so I tend to go for that sort of travel style to experience and see the local culture.
Agenda 1 was completed upon finding Dive Club Maldives! They're situated at a humble corner on Male but they also have other branches on other islands so be sure to check them out (:
We wandered around the streets in the afternoon - there is a particular street (Chaandhanee Madu) that had money changers with good rates, so it's advisable that you bring USD to Maldives and change there! That street has many souvenir shops that offer money changing services and it's possible to bargain for a better rate. If you do not wish to change to the Maldivian Rufiyaa, usd is also accepted throughout the islands.
In Male, you can walk along the jetty and you'll reach an artificial beach on the east of the island. It's all nice and stuff but nothing too spectacular I feel. I love the jetty walks though, the waters are clear and there are plenty of fishes to look at!
Day 2
Diving usually starts extremely early in the morning so you will need to be at the jetty by 8am. If you have motion sickness, it is recommended to pop an anti motion sickness pill 30 min before going up the boat. You should be fine for the dives. Thereafter, depending on the Dive centre, you will go straight to the dive site or pick up other divers/snorkellers along the way. For those new to diving, not to worry, there is always a briefing done on board the dive boat to help you orientate yourself to the emergency procedures and the type of dive equipment used etc. It normally takes about an hour to travel the dive sites since they are usually a distance away from land.
Then, it's time to put on your wet suits, check your BCD, tanks, and in you go! In my basic open water course, I had to perform some basic skills in the open water, so mask clearing and emergency assents were a given. Other skills you'll need to do include basic straight line navigation using a compass and being able to orient yourself on the surface. Besides the skills, you'll still have some time to explore the area and appreciate the beauty underwater.
In the waters of Maldives, the common fishes are:
Butterfly fishes, angel fishes, clown fishes, triggers, surgeon fishes
There are also many moray eels! Leopard morays, giant morays etc. It actually became such a common sight that after awhile you'll just be "Oh, it's just another moray."
Visibility varies depending on the time of the year and the weather that particular day. Honestly, when I went in December it wasn't that good, but there was almost no current.
We usually clock 2 dives in a day and finish at about lunch. Dive club Maldives did not provide lunch so that was free and easy. For the rest of the day, it is recommended that you just take a break and chill! Diving is tiring because of the changes in pressure.
Day 3
We got sick for some reason so the entire day was spent recuperating :/
Day 4
Thankfully, I had one more day to do the last 2 dives to complete my certification! So day 4 was basically about the same as day 2. And at last, I am open-water certified! (Update: I got my Advanced Open Water in Nusa-Lembongan after that too!)
Day 5-6
We spent 2 nights at Malahini - Kuda Bandos. The entire island is rather small and it's just a whole resort on its own. My advice is go for the full board with all meals provided because there isn't any other food option there. It's a little more pricey but it really is very pretty. You can do water sports there, or just chill on the beach. They have various activities at night to keep you occupied and entertained so be sure to look out for those as well! Other than that, it's just nice to snorkel (bring your own gear or rent at a price) and walk along the beach.
Just something to take note - the transport fee from the resort island to the airport island is rather expensive, so just be prepared for that (about 50 sgd per person).
So yay! I was all ready for the open waters in Maldives!
Arrival in Maldives
We flew Singapore Airlines to Maldives and reached there sometime at 10pm. Since we were staying at Hotel Jen on Male, they provided the free boat shuttle from the airport to the hotel. The hotel is pretty standard, reasonably sized, and the toilet had a glass wall with blinds drawn. The view we got overlooked the sea, so that was rather pretty!
Day 1
Breakfast was a simple western meal - ie toasted sandwiches and juice - at a cafe sort of place near the hotel. Honestly, the theme in Maldives should never be food. There aren't many options around and if you go to the islands it's worse so resorts tend to provide full-board with meals. The agenda for the day was to find a suitable Dive center and after that, to explore the area aimlessly! I really like just walking around cities like a local, so I tend to go for that sort of travel style to experience and see the local culture.
Agenda 1 was completed upon finding Dive Club Maldives! They're situated at a humble corner on Male but they also have other branches on other islands so be sure to check them out (:
We wandered around the streets in the afternoon - there is a particular street (Chaandhanee Madu) that had money changers with good rates, so it's advisable that you bring USD to Maldives and change there! That street has many souvenir shops that offer money changing services and it's possible to bargain for a better rate. If you do not wish to change to the Maldivian Rufiyaa, usd is also accepted throughout the islands.
In Male, you can walk along the jetty and you'll reach an artificial beach on the east of the island. It's all nice and stuff but nothing too spectacular I feel. I love the jetty walks though, the waters are clear and there are plenty of fishes to look at!
Day 2
Diving usually starts extremely early in the morning so you will need to be at the jetty by 8am. If you have motion sickness, it is recommended to pop an anti motion sickness pill 30 min before going up the boat. You should be fine for the dives. Thereafter, depending on the Dive centre, you will go straight to the dive site or pick up other divers/snorkellers along the way. For those new to diving, not to worry, there is always a briefing done on board the dive boat to help you orientate yourself to the emergency procedures and the type of dive equipment used etc. It normally takes about an hour to travel the dive sites since they are usually a distance away from land.
Then, it's time to put on your wet suits, check your BCD, tanks, and in you go! In my basic open water course, I had to perform some basic skills in the open water, so mask clearing and emergency assents were a given. Other skills you'll need to do include basic straight line navigation using a compass and being able to orient yourself on the surface. Besides the skills, you'll still have some time to explore the area and appreciate the beauty underwater.
In the waters of Maldives, the common fishes are:
Butterfly fishes, angel fishes, clown fishes, triggers, surgeon fishes
There are also many moray eels! Leopard morays, giant morays etc. It actually became such a common sight that after awhile you'll just be "Oh, it's just another moray."
Visibility varies depending on the time of the year and the weather that particular day. Honestly, when I went in December it wasn't that good, but there was almost no current.
We usually clock 2 dives in a day and finish at about lunch. Dive club Maldives did not provide lunch so that was free and easy. For the rest of the day, it is recommended that you just take a break and chill! Diving is tiring because of the changes in pressure.
Beautiful photo of a sea turtle!
Spotted Moray Eel
A whole school of triggers
Needle fish
Rays
Clown trigger
Day 3
We got sick for some reason so the entire day was spent recuperating :/
Day 4
Thankfully, I had one more day to do the last 2 dives to complete my certification! So day 4 was basically about the same as day 2. And at last, I am open-water certified! (Update: I got my Advanced Open Water in Nusa-Lembongan after that too!)
Day 5-6
We spent 2 nights at Malahini - Kuda Bandos. The entire island is rather small and it's just a whole resort on its own. My advice is go for the full board with all meals provided because there isn't any other food option there. It's a little more pricey but it really is very pretty. You can do water sports there, or just chill on the beach. They have various activities at night to keep you occupied and entertained so be sure to look out for those as well! Other than that, it's just nice to snorkel (bring your own gear or rent at a price) and walk along the beach.
The entrance walkway at night
Lighted christmas trees along the beach
Lighted decorations for christmas
Just something to take note - the transport fee from the resort island to the airport island is rather expensive, so just be prepared for that (about 50 sgd per person).
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