5D4N : Maldives Dive
If your idea of paradise is a pristine tropical island with swaying palm trees and pure white beaches surrounded by crystalline lagoons of varying shades of blue, it will be at Maldives.
Introduction
The Maldives is located south of India’s Lakshadweep islands, and about seven hundred kilometers south-west of Sri Lanka.
Maldives Diving Season
During the year, there will only be two periods which would slightly discourage divers from visiting Maldives, and that would be in May and November, where currents are changeable and a higher chance of stormy conditions.
From November, currents flow in from the northeast, bringing in superb visibility and increased action from sharks and other pelagics in the channels and thilas. These currents may become stronger in January till February when they start to calm down and easy diving and slacker currents. After the monsoon ends in May, the currents change toward the south-west side whereby the cycle begins again in June.
Brief Itinerary
Two dives at Maldives.
The dive sites will be selected on the day based on the tides and currents.
Do allow one week time for processing and booking of accommodation and dive trip.
Dive Site Information
Dive Sites in Maldives
There are approximately at least 5 good dive sites diveable in Maldives.
They are:
•Baa Atoll
•Ari Atoll
•Nilandhe Atoll
•North Male Atoll
•South Male Atoll
Maldives Reef Basics
Great for:
Advanced, Reef diving, Drift Diving
Highlights:
Hammerheads, White Tip Reef Shark, Eagle Rays
Depth:
Over 3000m
Visibility:
15-40m
Currents:
Can be strong
Surface conditions:
Calm
Water temperature:
24 – 27°C
Number of dive sites:
~5
Experience level:
Advanced
Recommended Length of stay:
5-7days
What's Included
Onboard shower and toilet
Tanks, weights and weight belt
Water, tea and coffee
Light snack after the first dive
Soft dive gear (full foot fins, wetsuit and mask) – requested sizes subject to availability.
What's Excluded
Dive computer (SGD5.00)
BCD (SGD5.00)
Regulator (SGD5.00)
Dive Insurance
All rental gear funds will be collected on the day of diving.
Please bring cash.
Dive Trip Requirements
Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
Maldivian Rufiyaa
Personal Medication
Travel Insurance (recommended)
Able to snorkel/swim in the sea
Minimum of PADI Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent (for leisure diver)
How to Get There
Transferring from the airport
Unlike other International Airports don’t expect to be able to hail a taxi as there is no taxi rank. If you have booked with a hotel, guesthouse or resort and provided them with your flight arrival details it is usual for them to send a representative to meet with you.
To reach Male independently you can choose to take the Airport Express Speedboat, the charge is MRF30 or US$2 for a one way transfer per person, leaving every 15 minutes. Or the airport public ferry, charge MRF10 or US$1 per person one way, leaving every 10 minutes. Both leave from the jetty opposite the Domestic Terminal. When you arrive in Male, just a 10 minute public ferry ride, you will be able to hail a taxi from the ferry terminal to your destination, guesthouse or hotel. A one stop drop regardless of distance is 25MVR plus an additional 5MVR per item of luggage.
To reach Hulhumale independently you can either enquire as to if a guesthouse vehicle has room on their return journey, the charge would usually be around US$10 one way or take the public bus. The airport bus departs every 30 minutes from the airport and Hulhumale on a 24 hour timetable. On the hour and on the half hour except on Fridays during Friday Prayer when there are no busses between the hours of 11:30 and 13:30. The charge is 20MVR per person one way and it is a journey of 15 minutes. Luggage is accepted and stored in the luggage compartment. At the airport the bus stop is located outside of the International departure area to the left of the food court as you face the ocean.In Hulhumale the bus stop is at the T Junction of Nirolhumagu and Huvandhumaa Higun.
Due to the location of the airport terminal it is not possible to walk to Hulhumale.
If you are transferring on to an island outside of the immediate capital area it is likely that transfer arrangements offered will include speedboat or for islands further afield a domestic flight. These methods will add a minimum of $25 per person one way dependent on distance and if the service is scheduled. Note the Maldives covers a distance of 500KM north to south. If you have done your homework it is possible to take a local ferry to many central atoll islands. These local ferries depart from one of a number of jetties in the capital Male so ensure you have allowed time to cross to the capital and locate the correct jetty.
Payment Terms
SGD 100 deposit required upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and dive trip.
Payment payable once upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and or with dive trip package/s.
Equipment Rental Or Rates (SGD)/ Per Day :
Dive Torch : SGD 10
Dive Computer : SGD 15
Dive Computer - D4i : SGD 30
Camera : SGD 35
Disclaimer
Estimated rates for booking, Exact cost of dive trip booking depends on each dive itinerary and arrangement package. Invoice on the payment details will be sent to your personal email account upon booking.
Includes Boat transport, and for each pax meal - Breakfast, Lunch and transport back and forth to your hotel or resort or hostel accomodation.
If you will like to book for the accomodation for a stay for 1 Night or more for yourself and family members or for a tour group etc. , please indicate for your accomodation booking, for the number of days/nights
of stay here in Singapore, and we will arrange for you.
Subjective to availability.
An invoice will be sent to you via email on the separate payment charges for accomodation stay.
Applicable to local and foreign visitors :
•The arrangement of the sequence of the itinerary is subject to change with/without prior notice.
•In the event that the venue of attraction is closed to visitors, it will be replaced with an alternative venue if possible.
•May request for travel itinerary from us via email.
•During trade fairs or the peak season, accommodation stay may not be inclusive.
Cancellation Policy
Any change in trip dates after booking confirmation will be subjected to SGD 100 administrative fees per change/s.
Full fees will be charges for packages cancelled or postponed with less than 28 days notice.
If you cancel less than 28 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, full payment will be non-refundable.
If more than 28 days, 50% of the package price will be forfeited with an administrative charge of SGD 50 Payable to the dive shop.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Diving trip is subjected to road / traffic / tide / weather conditions on the day of trip.
Additional Information
Non-Diver Package :
Prices quoted are all inclusive except for dive equipment, where guest can bring their own or rent from the resort or just rent some that they need only. Example - snorkel and fins.
For:-
A) NON-DIVER Are only allowed to dive in front of the Dive Centre with Instructor via Padi Discovery Scuba Programme (DSD).
B) NOT A CERTIFIED DIVER YET or Are only allowed to dive in front of the Dive Centre with Instructor via Padi Discovery Scuba Programme (DSD).
C) DIVER WHO DO NOT WISH TO DIVE DURING BOOKING but later wish to dive may do so and will be charged at the resort based on Per Dive Rate.
Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
Passport & Visa Requirements
Clearing Immigration and security
To enter the Maldives no pre-arrival visa is required, a thirty day free visa is issued on arrival to all nationalities, provided the following conditions are met:
Be holding a valid passport ( requires to be valid for 6 months from date of arrival) and have a valid ticket to continue your journey out of the Maldives
Confirmation of a reservation in a tourist resort or a hotel either in the form of a hotel voucher or online reservation and have enough funds to cover the expenses for the duration of your stay (US$100 + $50 dollars per day)
The right to refuse entry lies at the discretion of the Immigration official, so make it easier for yourself and organise your accommodation prior to your arrival. Online sites such as Booking.Com, Airbnb and Trip Advisor are a great place to start or if you are looking for more of an experience and not just accommodation contact Secret Paradise.
Once you have cleared immigration, collect your luggage and enter the arrivals hall where a representative of the guesthouse or resort should be waiting for you. Importing goods such as alcohol, pork items, pornography, idols of worship and narcotics into the Maldives is strictly forbidden. To make life easier declare the Buddha that you have purchased in Sri Lanka and the bottle of vodka picked up in duty free, the authorities will hold any items declared or undeclared for you to collect as you depart at the end of your stay.
