Maldivesthe Central Atolls

The Central Atolls

MaldivesText and photos by Brandi Mueller

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A spectacular night dive saw massive nurse sharks hunting at Alimatha Pier of Vaavu Atoll (above); PREVIOUS PAGE: Manta at the manta cleaning station, Moofushi Beru

I was not planning to go on the night dive. It was the first night of the trip and I was a little tired, I already had my camera batter- ies charging and was all settled in with a book for the night after a fabulous first day of diving with turtles, sharks and tons of fish. But Fernando, our dive guide, told me I had to go. Usually, when the dive guide says you have to go, you better go, so I put my camera back together and I was ready in record time.

The dive site was Alimatha Pier at massive nurse sharks. They were in front Vaavu Atoll. We did our giant strides of me, behind me, and above me. into the black water and immediately Then a stingray glided over the sand we were greeted with a ripping current. like a magic carpet flying by, right next They said to bring reef hooks if you had to me. Hunting trevallies were making them, which I did not, so after getting use of our lights, whizzing by us and to the bottom I found a rock to hold making that whooshing sound before on to. Getting comfortable, I looked devouring the fish our lights lit up for around. There were giant white shad- them. All the while the current was rush- ows against the inky black water. ing by, making it hard to stay in one Moving my light around, I saw them— place. A pair of fire dartfish Schooling bluestripe snapper (above); Hawksbill sea turtle (top right)

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Aerial view of the Maldives from the plane (above); Clown triggerfish (right)

The dive took place on a slop- The Maldives ing bottom that went from about Flying into the Maldives feels like 10-15m (30-50ft) and then there was you are flying over blue for ages. a steep drop-off. The drop-off was to Endless sapphire stretches on my right, and at one point, I looked and on. Around the time the pilot in that direction toward what would announced that landing was about be open blue if it were not pitch to begin, specs of green ringed in black, and my lights just barely lit up white started showing up. Stretching the white bellies of more sharks than 760km (472 miles) from north to south I could count. My entire view was and 120km (75 miles) east to west, a wallpaper of nurse sharks, ghostly there are over 1,200 picture perfect white shark-shapes in the black. It did islands in 26 atolls. It is hard to deny not even look real. the romance of these tiny green When our air was nearing empty, specs of palm trees with sugary white and we were forced to leave the sand beaches surrounding them, sharks, and we came up from the most of which are uninhabited. Not dive cheering. Still high on adrena- to mention the diving is said to be line, we looked up at a million stars incredible. on the moonless night in the middle A destination that has been on of the Indian Ocean and we waited my bucket list for years, it is hard to for the dhoni, a traditional fishing not dream of visiting these far away ing in the Maldives was going to be boat re-purposed for diving, to come islands in the Indian Ocean. I had fantastic. and pick us up to take us back to a certain giddiness as the plane Leaving the airport, I found some the Blue Force One, our home for landed in Malé and stepping outside of the crew, and as we set off to the the week. I was so glad I went on the of the cold plane into the equatorial boat, I realized the airport had a night dive. humidity, I knew my next week div- pier. We did not even have to drive

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At 42m (138ft) by 12m (39ft), Maldives Blue Force’s liveaboard, MV Leo (right) is the perfect place to spend a week. It has two hot tubs, three sun lounge areas, a spacious and comfortable salon, and large decorative passenger cabins; The hallway with blue mood-lighting led to most of the cabins (left); Hot tub on the bow (above); Lounge area and bar area (top right)

This award-winning boat has hangout places after been voted one of the top live- the day of diving aboards in the Maldives multiple was complete was times, and for good reason. It is a lounge next to the 42m (138ft) by 12m (40ft) and has upper deck bar, which four levels. There are two jacuzzis, had some tables and three areas for sunbathing includ- chairs and there was ing the entire top deck, as well even a foosball table as a beautiful salon with a large onboard (my favorite!) TV, comfy couches and plenty The rooms were of space. One of the favorite amazing too. My bath- room was larger than most entire cabins on anywhere to get on the boat. We other liveaboards, and I was just jacuzzis and large sea view win- simply crossed the street and got in one of the normal rooms. The dows. on the dhoni, which would take boat has a master suite, master The boat can take 22 pas- us to the liveaboard, our home for cabin and a junior suite as well. sengers and has a crew of the next week. My bathroom had a large shower, around 16. Twenty-two sounds with optional rainshower head, like a lot of people, but the The liveaboard plenty of room to move around large boat never felt crowded. The Maldives is a pretty big buck- and a large sink with drawers In fact, I often found myself the et-list destination. If you are going for storage. The rooms were also only person on the sundeck or to do it, you might as well do it in very spacious, the beds were in the salon as there was plenty style, and the Maldives Blue Force comfortable, there was good of room for us all to spread out or pour a glass of wine. One is definitely that. It is, by far, air-conditioning, and each cabin and get a little bit of that feeling Three meals a day were served the most beautiful, spacious and had its own TV, although I never like we were on our own private buffet style outside but protected comfortable liveaboard I have once turned mine on. Some of yacht. The crew kept everything from the sun or rain. The outdoor ever been on—a true luxury yacht the suite cabins had full bathtubs, spotless and they were always dining area was a lovely place to made for scuba divers. and three had their own in-room there to help get dive gear ready drink coffee in the morning and Beautiful salon area of the MV Leo liveaboard; Sundeck (right inset)

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Sea turtle descends after taking a breath All diving takes place off the at the surface (above); Anthias with dhoni (right), not the main boat, grouper resting on a small shipwreck off making it easy to get to dive des- Kuda Giri Reef (top right); Anthia fish (right tinations. Gear is stored and tanks inset) can range from 4-12cm (1.5-5in) are refilled on the dhoni too.

watch the sun rise before our first dive small details that made diving or have that glass of wine and watch with Blue Force such a fantas- the sunset. tic time. Dhoni diving Day 1 All diving took place off a dhoni, the On arrival day we spent our local name for multi-purpose boats time getting settled on the with motors or sails. Original dhonis of the diving was drift diving. So, the boat and meeting our ship- resembled traditional Arab sailing ves- dhoni was perfect to drop us off at mates. After a lovely dinner, sels, and ours was designed perfectly the dive site and then pick us up, most of us headed to bed for diving. The 18m (60ft) vessel would wherever the current took us. early to recover from the jet pull up along the main boat and we One delightful touch was that staff lag of our long journeys. But we were even a turtle. Not bad for the first were able to easily board just by step- gave us clean dive towels to take up bright and early the next morning dive. ping across one boat to the other. All on the dhoni every morning. Having for our first day of diving. of our dive gear was left on the dhoni separate towels for diving from those Kuda Giri. The boat then headed to and tanks were filled there. When the in your room is always a nice feature, Kurumba. Our first site was Kurumba, South Malé Atoll to a dive site called boat was transiting to other areas, the as oftentimes, dive towels start to get just a little way from Malé. This lovely Kuda Giri, a nice reef with a small dhoni drove behind us. a bit smelly and perpetually damp by dive site had a nice mini-wall covered wreck in the sand. There was quite Diving from the dhoni made it easy the end of the week. Being able to in corals and fish including about a a bit of current on the dive and the to get to dive sites that might be too grab a clean, fresh towel everyday million anthias. We had two gray reef wreck almost seemed to be moving Octopuses were spotted on almost every dive. This one shallow for the main boat and most was fantastic. It was one of the many sharks swim by, a playful octopus and due to all the fish swimming above emerged from its hole to put on a color-changing display.

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Emperor angelfish (above) School of bluestripe snap- Large aggregation of anthias on reef per (right) during tidal changes. This is where sharks swimming by, huge dog- and around the ship in the cur- atolls, which are rem- the Maldives’ adventure diving tooth tuna, tons of fish and even rent. Lionfish were out hunting nants of extinct volca- comes into play. At certain times, an eagle ray. smaller glassfish. A gang of treval- nic islands. Once an the influx of water in or out of the When it was time to head to lies were trying their luck at get- island is formed and lagoon creates a ripping current. the surface, we simply released ting dinner, and every time one stops growing, the Miyaru Kandu is one of these the reef hooks and let the cur- of them would speed into the ocean goes to work adventure dives. The dhoni rent take us through the channel cloud of fish swimming around the eroding the island. In dropped us off on the ocean to the inside of the lagoon where wreck, the cloud would instantly the end, all that is left side of the island and the current the dhoni picked us up. condense and disappear for a is an island ring of for- carried us to the channel open- second in an audible, “Whoosh,” mer coral reef, with a ing. At this opening, we used reef Alimathaa Pier. Our night dive and a few seconds later the fish lagoon of saltwater in hooks (or held onto rocks) and we was the nurse shark night dive at returned to their buzzing cloud the center. There are stayed for most of the dive in this Alimathaa Pier—most definitely about the ship. usually breaks in the opening, as the current ripped a dive I will not ever forget. Still circle island where past us. Sharks and other pelagic amped up after the shark night Miyaru Kandu. Continuing south channels have been animals love these areas where dive, I headed to sleep with we headed to Vaavu Atoll to created and allow the strong currents are. Once we dreams of sharks dancing in my a site called Miyaru Kandu. The ocean water to go in were hooked in, we just watched head. islands of the Maldives are all and out of the lagoon the show, with dozens of gray reef Close-up of schooling glassfish

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Large lion’s mane jellyfish, with tiny juvenile fish swimming among its tentacles for protec- tion at Devana Kandu (above); Balled-up anemone with anemonefish at Dhigurah (right)

Day 2 stayed with it the whole dive just observ- Devana Kandu. We started our ing the delicate relationship between day still at Vaavu Atoll and dived the fish and the jellyfish as they drift in the Devana Kandu—another dive with a current. The ocean is just amazing, but lot of current—with the hopes of see- there were still sharks to see, and I had ing sharks. Soon after getting in the drifted a little bit away from the group, so water, we were drifting, and I saw a I had to kick back into the current to get large shadow off in the distance. to where they were. Keeping my eyes on it, soon it came into focus and was a mas- Maamigili and Dhigurah. Next it was sive lion’s mane jellyfish! I swam after off to South Ari Atoll in hopes of whale it, and it seemed motionless, just sharks. We tried to find them at two dive two fantastic dives. ming about it. With the sun low in the drifting in the current, except for a sites, Maamigili and Dhigurah, but no At Dhigurah, towards the end of the sky, it was perfect for photography, and thousand tiny juvenile fish swimming such luck. I have no doubt they were dive, I swam a little shallower, to see as I kept snapping shots, I saw my dive with it. They scattered about the there, but the visibility was quite thick what was happening at the top of the buddies swim further and further away. jellyfish never holding still, while this and green, and they were probably hid- slop and came across a lovely balled- “But it’s so pretty,” I thought, “why are large mass just lead them wherever ing in plain sight. Even without spotting up anemone. It was pinkish purple, with you guys not stopping and taking photos the current took them. I could have the largest fish in the ocean, we still had two bright orange anemonefish swim- of this too?” with one more shot before Threespot angelfish and anthias on reef

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THIS PAGE: Scenes of mantas at the manta cleaning station, Moofushi Beru; Whitetip shark on reef at Moofushi Beru (right) swimming quickly after them. As I Day 3 – Manta Day was swimming to catch up, I saw Rangali Madivaru. Still at South Ari they were everywhere. Over a Atoll, we started off the morning the sharks because this dive was The cleaning station looked like dozen identical balled up anemo- at Rangali Madivaru, with hopes all about mantas (it was as if he a large round table of coral, with nes. Maybe that is why my bud- of seeing mantas. A lovely, relax- had already figured me out). I two mantas hovering just above it dies were not so concerned. ing dive without a lot of current, could not help it though—after and tiny wrasse coming out of the Dinner was quite a surprise, as we saw a few sharks, two turtles— descending to about 25m (82ft), coral to clean them. We stayed the crew of the Blue Force One and at the very end, one manta there were whitetip sharks just sit- low on the outside and watched set up a candlelight dinner for us swam by. ting in the sand all over the place! as the mantas slowly seemed to on an uninhabited beach. We So I spent some time chasing fly in for their cleaning and slowly arrived by skiff and were served Moofushi Beru. Heading to North them around trying to get photos fly out, making a large circle and an amazing meal under the stars, Ari Atoll our next dive was at a until the first manta swam by. Then coming back again. The dive was with the beautiful Blue Force One manta cleaning station called I remembered to focus on the so good, I was really happy when lit up on the water. It was a fan- Moofushi Beru. My dive guide mantas and followed the group they told us we would be doing it tastic way to end the day. told me not to get distracted with to the cleaning station. again on the next dive. I followed

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View from the liveaboard of mantas feeding at night at Emadi Maaga (above); Mating octopuses at Fish Head (top right and right)

Emadi Maaga. The dive took place right dance of feeding, late into the night. wrap his arm around her in an attempt to under out boat, and as we knelt in the mate. sand, I noticed it was a very fine silt that Day 4 quickly got stirred up and reduced visibil- Fish Head. The diving had been great so Bathalaa Maagaa Thila. Next, it was ity. We sat in a semi-circle under the boat far, and we kept joking about how the more shark action at Bathalaa Maagaa light and waited. After a few minutes, I crew could possibly make it any better. Thila on North Ari Atoll. A fairly swift cur- had sort of given up on seeing mantas Our morning dive was at a site called Fish rent took us over the reef, and whenever (they might have been there, but the vis- Head (it also has a very long Maldivian we looked out into the blue, there were ibility was so bad, they would have to, name, but this is a lot easier to spell and numerous sharks off in the distance. We literally, be next to us for us to see them). pronounce). The highlight of this dive also saw an absolutely massive Napoleon But then, like a lightning bolt, a manta for me was a pair of mating octopus, wrasse and a few more octopuses. sailed by, just above my head. It actually which I stayed with for most of the dive. scared the bejesus out of me! The male would slowly extend his hec- Madivaru Beru. Our last dive of the day Manta day was quite a success. After tocotylus (the male’s specialized arm was at Madivaru Beru on Rasdhoo Atoll, over some of the best coral we had seen Rasdhoo. We finished the day by taking dinner, several of us got a glass of wine that can transfer sperm to the female) and as the boat moved to the site, a all week. We saw several sharks, a turtle a short walk around Rasdhoo, a local and sat on the back of the boat to and he almost seemed to hold it in front few lucky passengers got a glimpse of a and large schools of blue-stripe snapper inhabited island. It was really neat to see watch the two mantas do their ballet of her face for a while before he would whale shark. We had an easy drift dive and jacks. how the people of the Maldives lived

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and she put on her homemade tail and separation from the group. swam around a bit to show us what it is Blue Force does not require like being a mermaid. advanced certification for this trip, but many other compa- Diving tips nies doing similar itineraries do, Diving in the Maldives is not for the faint and advanced certification of heart. Many of the dives have very and experience is highly rec- strong currents, which may change ommended for most Maldives throughout the dive. Most of the dives diving. are drift dives, for which the dhoni drops Reef hooks are also a good divers in the water at one place and piece of gear to have. They then picks them up wherever the cur- can be used in the strong cur- rent takes them. Because of the strong rent to “hook in” to a rocky current, a safety sausage (and the abil- area and hold you in one ity to use them) is required in case of place, without having to use a

to see through. After a few minutes of search- ing, we headed back to the reef (I have no doubt the hammer- heads were there, we just could not see them). Back on the reef, we spent our last dive among the coral gardens, with a few whitetip reef sharks and a huge Napoleon wrasse swimming by. At the end, we were doing our safety stops and several zebra unicornfish came and swam direct- ly on top of our heads and being able to see the Maldives from like they were playing in our bubbles. land instead of water. We emerged to the surface, sur- rounded by turquoise blue water and a Day 5 dot of green off in the distance, where Madivaru Beru. On our last day, we got the dhoni picked us up one last time. up extra early in hopes of getting a The rest of the day was spent relaxing on glimpse of a hammerhead shark at the the picture-perfect MV Leo. I also had dive site Madivaru Beru. We dropped in the fantastic opportunity to snap a few and headed out into the blue at about photos of a much sought-after marine 30m (100ft). Unfortunately, there was a creature—the elusive mermaid. We hap- thermocline at about 20m (60ft), and the pened to have a professional mermaid cooler water was quite green and hard (and scuba diver) onboard with us,

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Night dive at Alimatha Pier of Vaavu Atoll found massive nurse sharks patroling the reef (above); Common octopus (below); Squirrelfish inside a small wreck off Kuda Giri Reef (left); Sweetlips, grouper and parrotfish on reef (top left)

that there were and I really appreciated that because there is plenty of food in islands, seemingly in the middle of two other instruc- they put us all together, with two the water, such as plankton and the Indian Ocean. At the airport, tors, who were other advanced divers, and they algae, which can make for lim- it is very inexpensive to purchase liveaboard guests, allowed us to dive at our skill ited visibility. This can cause sub- a “tourist” package for data and level. Dives had a time optimal shooting conditions, espe- cellular plans. Throughout the trip I limit of 60 minutes, but cially when trying to avoid back- had 3G and 4G internet, and the our guide let us dive scatter. I recommend having long boat offered free Wi-Fi too. right up until 60 min- arms on your strobes so you can I am not sure if it is a good thing utes (and sometimes a move them far away from the or not, as sometimes disconnect- little longer) on every camera, and angle them slightly, ing can be beneficial. But for dive. With the sepa- to avoid front-lighting particles. someone who needs to check lot of energy to kick into the cur- which is just the chance you rate groups, we were Also you can try using diffusers on in, even on vacation, it was easy rent or damaging the reef. take when going on a trip able to dive at our skill your strobes, turning the power to do so (and also easy to share The boat separated us into without your dive buddy. But level—while diving in down, or if nothing else, turn the those epic manta photos via groups of five or six, depend- I really felt Blue Force went our limits, of course. strobes off. Facebook, immediately). As we ing on skill level, and I was really above and beyond to make The Maldives is an watched the mantas do back impressed with how they did this. the diving the best possible amazing place for Staying connected rolls behind the boat one night, As a scuba instructor and single for every diver, no matter big animal sightings, On a side note, I was completely one passenger was face-timing diver on a liveaboard, it is usually what their skill level, including which photographers amazed by the potential of stay- with his son, showing him the quite hard to get paired up with advanced divers. will love. However, the ing “connected” while on the action in real time, by transmitted another advanced single diver, I got incredibly lucky in big animals show up boat moving throughout the from a small cell phone—a pretty

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THIS PAGE: The Maldives’ capitol city of Malé is a vibrant, bustling center full of markets, fishing boats and motorcycles; I was told that after you choose your fish to purchase, these people (lower left) will fillet them for you in minutes. Aerial view of Gulhi (right)

experience, firsthand, could easily come back to the what it is like to speed area again, as well. along the skinny streets Maldives Blue Force has sev- of Malé, packed with eral special weeks each year other bikes, people and when professional photographers, cars. Seeing Malé was videographers and researchers, definitely worth skipping such as those with Manta Trust, my afternoon nap, if come onboard to educate and capital of the Maldives and nothing more than for the contrast of this dive with passengers. During my eraries to check out on this one, beautiful one of the most densely busy, bustling city compared to the slow, trip, we were lucky enough to have a boat. populated places on Earth, relaxed life of the other islands. professional videographer, Rafa Herrero, With so many islands, one could eas- with over 133,000 people onboard. He shared some of his amazing ily come back to the Maldives over and living on this tiny 5.8 square More to explore work, dived with us, and answered ques- over again, before even scratching the kilometer (2.2 sq mile) My trip included the Central Atoll tions throughout the week. Blue Force surface of the many amazing dive sites. island. Skyscrapers cover Itinerary, which went around North and also does family weeks and free diving Diving with Blue Force One is definitely the the small land mass from South Malé Atolls, Felidhoo, Ari Atoll and clinics, so there are plenty of different itin- best way to do it. Sign me up please!  end to end, and as soon as Rasdhoo Island. After you set foot on the island, talking with the dive Special thanks to Maldives Blue Force you are aware of the thou- guides, it sounded like (Maldivesblueforce.com). cool experience to be able to share in sands of motorbikes whizzing through the visiting the Southern Brandi Mueller is a PADI IDC Staff real time. streets. Atolls was worth a Instructor and boat captain living in the A local guide gave me a walking tour, trip back. Accessible Marshall Islands. When she’s not teaching Visiting Malé showing me where the president resides, only a few months scuba or driving boats, she’s most happy On the last day of the trip, after the div- several mosques, the local market and of the year, they told traveling and being underwater with ing was finished, there was an option to the fish market. Outside the fish market us there was even a camera. For more information, visit: ride with the crew on the dhoni to Malé were rows of boats, just back from their healthier corals, more Brandiunderwater.com. and take a look around the city while day out fishing. Friends of my guide let big animals, more they re-provisioned. It was a tough deci- me go on one of their fishing boats and fish and more remote REFERENCES: sion to choose between that or napping showed me their catch. Then, since it islands in the area. I MASTERS, T. (2015). LONELY PLANET MALDIVES. on the sun deck, but at the last minute, I was just me on the tour, he decided felt like we only got a LONELY PLANET, 9TH EDITION decided to check out Malé. to bring me back to the dhoni on the small glimpse of the MALDIVESBLUEFORCE.COM Malé is an interesting place. It is the back of his motorbike, where I got to Central Atolls and VISITMALDIVES.COM

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RIGHT: Global map with location of the Maldives fact file BELOW: Map of the Maldives with yellow LOWER LEFT: Zebra The Maldives fever, you unicornfish must show proof of Ihavandhippolhu Thiladhunmathee Atoll yellow fever Atoll vaccination Maamakunudhoo Miladhunmadulu before Atoll Atoll SOURCES: US CIA.GOV, XE.COM, LONELY PLANET, admittance. MALDIVESBLUEFORCE.COM, VISITMALDIVES.COM Arabian Sea Foodhippalhu Please check Atoll Maalhosmadulu with your state History The Maldives are small countries and conserving accounts for nearly Atoll department believed to have been first inhab- the environment. Government: 30% of the Maldives for any travel Goidhoo Atoll Male ited over 2,500 years ago by republic. Capital: Malé. GNP and is the largest Atoll warnings and settlers from India and Sri Lanka, economic sector. Fishing, Ari your health Atoll though the ancient recorded Geography The smallest of which used to lead their Indian Malé cuisine department for any history is incomplete and lit- the Asian countries, the Maldives economy, now comes Ocean is based health advisories or tle archaeological evidence is located in the Indian Ocean in a distant second. Felidhoo on three required vaccinations. Atoll remains. The country is located south-southwest of Sri Lanka and Agriculture and Industry Nilandhoo main ingredients; along the main maritime trade India. The country consists of an play a minor role but Atoll fish, coconut and starches. Fish Decompression Chambers routes and the strategic position- archipelago of 1,190 coral islands are limited by the lack Malaku is found at nearly every meal Bandos Island Resort, Bandos Atoll ing is believed to have played clustered into 26 atolls, which of cultivable land and a in one form or another and is Medical clinic and hyperbaric a role in early colonization. For are spread out over 90,000 sq shortage of local labor. Kolhumadulu even used as a topping for pizza. center, tel: + 960 440 088 Atoll most of its history, the Maldives km. Roughly 200 of islands are Starches are comprised of rice, Hadhdhunmathee existed as an independent entity. inhabited, with nearly 100 of them Environment Atoll potatoes, taro, cassava and Kandoludhoo Island Resort, Kan- There were brief periods of for- hosting tourist resorts. The highest Challenges include sea Huvadhoo breadfruit. Coconut is eaten fresh doludhoo Divers Rescue eign control by the Dutch and point on the islands is only 2.4m level rise due to global Atoll Laccadive or as coconut milk or oil in various tel: + 960 773 485 the Portuguese, and in 1887, and thus the country is at risk of warming; depletion EQUATOR Sea dishes. the Maldives became a British being swallowed up by rising sea of freshwater aquifers, Kuramathi Resort, Kuramathi Med- Protectorate. It remained under levels due to global warming. which is threatening Addu Tipping A service charge is ical center hotline: +960 777 3485 British control until it gained its Coastline: 644km. water supplies; and Atoll added to most everything in independence in 1965. The first bleaching of coral reef. the Maldives, so tipping is not Travel/Visa The Ibrahim Nasir resort was opened in 1972, and Climate The climate in the Phone/Internet The required. However, tipping International Airport is located today, the tourism industry is con- Maldives is tropical and is Population 393,595 (July 2014 Maldives has over 86,400 (2009) is expected on liveaboard adjacent to the capital of Malé sidered one of the best in the greatly influenced by the Iruvai est.) Primarily comprised of South Internet users and over 560,000 dive boats and at most tourist and is the only International air- world. The Maldives is also a world (“dry” northeast monsoon that Indians, Sinhalese and Arabs. The (2012) cellular telephones. The resorts. Each establishment will port in the Maldives. Flights from a leader in promoting the protec- typically blows mid-November to official religion is Sunni Muslim. international country calling code have their own guidelines and variety of airlines connect directly tion of April) and the hulhangu (“wet” is 960. Each atoll and several recommendations. to Malé via Singapore, Bangkok, southwest monsoon in May to Language Dhivehi is the official individual islands have their own Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, among oth- October). Air temperatures language in the Maldives. It is a cell towers and Internet access is Driving The islands only have ers. A passport is required for entry are fairly constant dialect of Sinhala and the script often available, albeit slow and 88 km of total roadways, most and a free 30-day visa is granted between 29-32°C (84- is derived from Arabic. At resorts, spotty at times. of which reside in the capital of on arrival. Customs checks are 90°F) year-round and English is widely spoken as well as Malé. Boats and small planes are extremely strict and the import of water temperatures Spanish and German. Voltage the only way to get around the alcohol, meat and pork products, fluctuate between The voltage in the Maldives is islands and atolls of the Maldives. drugs, pornographic material and 27-29°C (80-84°F). Currency Maldivian Rufiyaa 220/240 AC at 50 cycles and they underwater fishing spear guns is Steady sea breezes (MVR). Credit cards are widely utilize several socket types. An Health & Safety Currently, prohibited. help offset the high accepted at tourist destinations. International multi-prong adaptor there is risk of Zika virus in the humidity levels. Exchange rates: 1USD=15.21MVR; is recommended. Maldives. Avoid mosquito bites. Websites 1EUR=16.25MVR; 1GBP=19.14MVR; There is no risk of yellow fever, but Maldives Tourism Economy Tourism 1AUD=11.52MVR; 1SGD=10.73MVR Cuisine Traditional Maldivian if you are arriving from countries Visitmaldives.com n

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