Resa till Maldiverna

Travel to the Maldives

The booking was completed and arranged, now it was time to get to the airport. We are going to travel to the Maldives and had been advised to be out in good time. Better to sit at the airport and be checked in than in a car queue because a bus crashed and blocked the road. We arrive and it's easy to get in and find our airline. When asked if we should travel to the Maldives, we answer in unison - YES! Tip for those arriving at an airport is to follow the signs and ask staff if necessary. An airport can be a jungle if you are not used to them and know how it usually works.

Hand luggage

New this time was that they wanted to weigh my hand luggage. Normally, you are allowed to bring 7 kg of hand luggage including the bag and you are allowed to bring one personal item. As a personal item, I chose to wear my diving camera around my neck and there was some muttering behind the check-in counter. They pointed out that; - You can only bring a small camera with you! I asked them to define the term small and of course it was not popular. Instead, I asked them if they were worse than other airlines and demonstrated Singapore Airlines which lists in cm how big a camera can be. Of course they couldn't say they were worse so after that it was smooth sailing. I had in my back pocket a printed copy of their rules and the very concept of "Small camera" bothered me.... they would have seen my big camera.....Traveling to the Maldives without a camera just doesn't exist.

Security check

The next step after seeing the big dive bag slide off on the conveyor belt checked in and ready and we got our boarding passes was to get to security. There, it is important that you do not have a lot of creams and liquids in your hand luggage. Max 100 ml per unit, max 1 Liter in total and each unit must be in a plastic bag. Lucky I read up on the rules. Toothpaste, shampoo, sun protection factor, lotions, deodorants, medicines, it quickly builds up, so the smartest thing to do is to pack as much of this as possible in the large suitcase you check in to avoid this problem.

All jackets must be removed, shoes should not have metal decals, trouser belts with metal buckles must not be worn. Keys, phones - everything must be removed when you go through the security check and for you who are an experienced traveler this is not complicated, but it can raise some questions and many people get annoyed.
In addition, the checks may be different in different countries and different airports. What went well in the first check may not be ok in the next. Think about what you have in your hand luggage, the smaller the easier actually.

Waiting for departure

After the security check, you usually come out into the departure hall, where there is usually all kinds of shopping, restaurants and other things. When you've finished that part and perhaps eaten and drunk or shopped, it's time to go to the gate. Check the information boards with different departures, it is unnecessary to go to the gate if your flight is delayed. Listen through the speakers even if it can be hard to hear at times.

Once you get to your gate, it's usually time to settle down and wait for the call to depart. An often messy event there is the boarding itself. Tip - don't be in a hurry, you will join and you have your place. Many people who are not used to flying seem to think that if you don't hurry up and tackle your fellow travelers, they will miss the plane. It's not, they won't go without you.

The flight itself is simple. Traveling to the Maldives is like most other flights. Food, safety briefings, sometimes slightly over-refreshed travelers, sometimes screaming children, often some form of entertainment such as movies, music and other things are now increasingly offered. All so that time will pass quickly and you will sit as much as possible in your seat. The toilets are few and there is often a rush after the meal and just before landing. Tip here is to go before the food is served or about an hour before landing.

Arrived in Malé

Once you land in Malé, it's first the usual crowd to get off the plane. Custom usually is that those sitting at the front get off first. It's the smoothest and then everyone follows line by line. There are of course those who push and shove to get off the plane but no matter how hard you fight to be first or if you wait until last, you and everyone else will get stuck in the immigration line. Here your passport is checked and sometimes questions are asked if you have enough cash. Sometimes they want to see a voucher that you have booked accommodation. Be prepared and answer any questions honestly and simply.

Then comes the thing that everyone is stressed about, waiting for the luggage. It can take quite a long time. We waited for almost an hour before our bags were placed on the conveyor belt for pickup. There they got those who were stressed to get off the plane, haha.
Different airports in the world are different efficient in getting the luggage out, but the common thing is that almost everywhere, all the travelers from your flight will be standing there and crowded and waiting together.

Should the bag be missing, it is important to find the "lost and found" office. There you can enter your name, contact information and describe your bag. Make sure to get this in writing that your bag has not arrived as you can claim compensation on your travel insurance.
It is important that you can then document it. A trip to the Maldives costs a penny so of course you want compensation if possible.

Traveling to the Maldives? - do not bring alcohol!

Maldiverna is a strictly Muslim country and any alcohol consumption or importation of alcohol is effectively stopped. Once you have the bag in your hand and are about to go through customs, there is control and it is quite tough. I don't know how many people I saw who got rid of their bottles that they tried to hide, hide or exchange for plastic bottles and other things. They are used to the Maldives that about 10% of all tourists who arrive try to bring alcohol with them.

Tip - If you are going to travel to the Maldives, skip that attempt. You will just throw money in the lake and walk away with a long nose. Alcohol is available for sale on liveaboard and the various resort islands, but it is quite expensive and the smartest thing to do if you want to treat yourself to a glass of wine with your meal, a few beers during the day and a few drinks in the evening is to buy an all inclusive package in advance with Scuba Travel if this is offered and even if it costs a few kroner extra, it's definitely worth it and it's nice not to have to think about what you can treat yourself to on the spot.

Arrival and waiting

When you come out of Male airport at the exit to the meeting place and public area, the first impression is, jeez where am I going. With a bit of luck, there will be someone right outside with your name or your cruise ship or your resort there waving. It can be difficult to find if there are many but take it easy and methodically. Sometimes they have a lot of people going and they might be out showing the way to other travelers and know they have to go back and find you. In your departure letter that you receive from your travel agent then it appears where you will be met and when.

There are also several small booths and smaller rooms with different resorts that have their own place and that you can search for.
Ask around, people are helpful and there are a couple of different information desks where you can ask where to go or if you can't find your resort.

At the information desk, they help call our boat and are informed that they are on their way. Maldivian time and the concept of "soon" is not completely identical to our time-pressed and well-scheduled culture and lifestyle, but here you take it as it comes. Soon can be in five minutes as well as three hours. You just have to like the situation and wait.
Finally, our people who were supposed to meet us came and asked if we had been waiting long. Yes, a couple of hours, but you knew that, they were talking to you. No they talked to them on the boat, we were in Malé and arranged a few things.

Hmmm ok, exciting with communication and planning sometimes. They knew we were coming .... but this is how it is. The Maldives take things as they come and it usually works out.

We board

Once you are on board your liveaboard and you have received your cabin, the following usually applies. Lie down and feel the bed, feel how your back rests after a long journey and enjoy being there. Then maybe a shower or to start unpacking and changing into holiday clothes and checking that you brought all the diving equipment. They usually want you to take the diving equipment to the diving deck and there you will be assigned a place where you can put all your equipment. When you then assemble it for the first time, it will be assembled most of the time and not even on the boat.

In the Maldives, escort boats, so-called dhonis, are used. Smaller and easier to maneuver, easier to get close to shallow reefs and easier to pick up divers after the dive. In addition, compressors are usually found on these dhonis so you avoid the chewing sound of bottle filling. It is the first day that you carry and move your stuff and then the last. At other times, you usually don't need to think about your equipment at all.

When everything is in place, you have unpacked your stuff and stowed away your suitcase and got clothes and other things in place in your cabin, it is usually time to visit the salon or one of the decks for some sun, beautiful views or just socializing. When you're on a liveaboard, it's a limited space and you have the same people around you every day. It is easy to get in touch with other people on board, everyone has the same common interest, to dive!!

Diving

This week's diving is absolutely wonderful and the whole gang has fun together on board the boat and on the way to and from the dive sites.
The reefs are a bit worn in some places but to compensate they are all the more amazing in other places, the variety of corals is rich and the first few days I see more incredibly beautiful coral walls and there are plenty of fish, both smaller and larger.
The dive sites are varied, current dives are common, but there are places where you avoid current completely.

Walls, flat bottoms with small ravines or reef slopes, octopuses and turtles, starfish and various crustaceans showing off their fantastic colors and shapes, anemones here and there with small "Nemos", clownfish that are only found here in the Indian Ocean around the Maldives.

We get to see dolphins and pilot whales from the boat, we dive with rays and hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, reef sharks and quite a few large shoals of fish. Every day we do 2 to 3 dives depending on the current conditions and all the dives have their charm and variety, some places we dive a couple of times because they are very good. Other places are more for the experience of doing real current dives rather than photography because you barely walk in the water eddies but the experience is incredible.

Time to go home - last day

After a wonderful week of magical diving and fantastic experiences in spring liveaboard and then another four days on one of the beautiful resort islands with just relaxation, parasol drinks, hanging out by the pool and having a real holiday, it's time to go home. Early breakfast and late transfer to the airport. Everyone must leave the boat so they can clean the boat for next week's guests. The flight doesn't leave until tonight so there are some options to kill the day.

Option one is guaranteed to be boring - stay at the airport and wait. There is not much to see or do here and there are few opportunities to eat or drink. Option two is to take in one of the hotels that are available. Then you have access to a day room, shower, toilet, pool and more. This is a nice option as there are hotels directly connected to the airport just 15 minutes away by car/taxi.

There are also several hotels on Malé, the main island. You can go here by taxi boat or by regular taxi across the bridge. In Malé there is more to see and do during the day. Definitely something for those of you who don't just want to lie down and be lazy while you wait for your flight. Boat is by far the cheapest option, 1 USD / way. Here there is shopping, restaurants, markets, several different small hotels and guesthouses and much more. Be prepared for it to be crowded, Malé is one of the world's most densely populated cities (No. 21).

Male

We went over to Malé and spent the day walking around, visiting the fish market (it smells quite strong.....). We also had time to relax at the hotel. In the evening at sunset we take the ferry back and collect our bags that we have stored at the airport. Really convenient not to drag these. It doesn't cost that much and is well worth avoiding the hassle of heavy diving equipment and more.

Check-in goes smoothly and then it's time to "stamp out" at immigration and go through security. Once inside the departure hall, there are several small restaurants and plenty of shopping. Here you can also buy various jewels with high quality. Rubies and sapphires from Sri Lanka which are sold a lot here in the Maldives. They are considered among the best in the world and the price is actually good even though it is an airport. Alcohol is actually sold here at the airport but it is expensive so don't waste money on this. Better to buy the duty free spirit at the next airport.

Listen to the loudspeaker announcements but it can be difficult to hear as in so many other airports in the world. Follow notice boards for streets subject to change as well as times. Our flight would suddenly depart from a new gate and 20 minutes earlier than previously announced. All of a sudden it got a little stressful, but it's going well anyway. When it's time to get on board, it's the same procedure as on the hit journey. Chaos and congestion and then try to relax on the flight to the best of your ability.

Summary

All in all, it is not difficult to travel to the Maldives, it is about a 12 hour flight in total and with stops on the way it takes about 18-24 hours in total "door to door". Make sure you are rested and have eaten well and you will make it through the trip. The Maldives is a real paradise for diving. It is probably a "must-have-visited-at-least-once-during-your-diving-career" for every diver.
Then there are several different places to choose from and the diving in different parts of the Maldives can vary quite a lot.

So the question is just, when is the time to travel to Maldives and dive again???

We traveled to the Maldives - travel report