A cluster of small coral island lying beautifully on the Indian Ocean, Maldives is a paradise on Earth that offers exceptional holidaying option to all its guests. Shimmering white beaches, turquoise lagoons, lush palm trees and unique coral gardens beneath the Indian Ocean create a setting that is perfect for all kinds of tourist with varied interests and different purposes of the visit. Maldivian island also has umpteen numbers of sports and activities for its guests, adding some excitement and thrill to your vacation.
The environment of the island is not suitable for just one or two activities but many of them. From few of the best diving sites to excellent surf breaks to exquisite marine life, you will have best of everything in Maldives. Snorkeling and scuba diving are two of the most popular water sports on the island because of the rich aquatic life. You have 70 different species of colorful coral reefs and more than 700 species of marine creatures flourishing under the Indian Ocean.
Along with these, surf breaks, especially in North and South Male’ Atoll, present amazing opportunities for surfing. These surf ranges in size from 3 – 8 feet and the best time to go for these is between the months of May and October. There are many other interesting activities as well like motorized sports that include water skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, banana riding, fun tubes, etc.
Sports like parasailing present you with breathtaking view of the island and its natural setting of serene beaches and turquoise lagoons that are surrounded by vast Indian Ocean. If you go for Dolphin and Whale watching, you can spot 20 different whale and dolphin species. And if you are with your spouse or on a honeymoon, you can opt for romantic sunset and sunrise cruises. Water sports and activities in Maldives cater to each and every one.
Let’s Take A Plunge Into List of Activities To Do In Maldives:
1. Fishing in Maldives
Maldives is nothing less than a paradise for fishing lovers. Fishing is one of most popular sports amongst Maldives tourists from all over the world. Not just the rich marine life but also the facilities offered make the sports more enjoyable.
Easily accessible facilities offered by the most of the resorts along with proper guidance let you enjoy the experience of fishing in Maldives to the most. Basic equipment like fish rods, fish finders and international fishing hooks along with Dhoni, local Maldivian boats and speedboats are available in almost all the resort.
Fishing in Maldives is also of varied kinds. You can choose between morning fishing and night fishing. Both the kinds promise thrilling moments and refreshing scenic beauty to admire. You can go for big game fishing, which is also called as morning fishing by many.
Here, Dhoni moves just around the atoll enclosure reefs where you can find few of the exceptional big fishes. If you go for this fishing, you are likely to come back with catch like sailfish, marlin, barracuda, yellow fish tuna, wahoo, swordfish and many other big fishes outside the atoll.
Night fishing presents more of excitement, breathtaking and serene nights with star stud sky to spend most memorable moments of your life. In this sport, your Dhoni leaves the island in evening when the darkness sets in and anchors by the outer Atoll reefs. The lines and sinkers are dropped in the reef waters from different sides of the Dhoni. Emperors, snappers, squirrel fish, jacks are few of the fished that you can catch during night fishing.
2. Parasailing
Parasailing is one of the most popular activities amongst tourists holidaying in Maldives from all over the world. The sport provides tourists with a refreshing opportunity to get an overview of the breathtaking natural setting of the Maldivian Island. In this activity you have the option of watching the snowy white beaches, turquoise lagoons and blue vast Indian Ocean and have an overview of the atolls and beautifully designed resorts and hotels from a higher point.
Here you fly in the air with a parachute which is being pulled by a high-speed boat and you get amazing aerial view of the island and its various natural speed boat. While flying above the ocean water you get a complete picture of the attractive atolls, intricately designed resorts and hotels and serene beaches surrounded by turquoise lagoons and blue vast ocean. It presents you with a refreshing view of the island when the soothing wind caresses you as you fly in the air.
Almost all the resorts and hotels on the island provide this facility and making it easier for tourist to access the basic facilities and try parasailing. You are offered proper guidance as well. Tourists are generally advised to wear a life jacket as they get in touch of water before and after lift-off.
Many resorts in Maldives has trained experts to guide you throughout the sport. And if interested, you can have a professional guide accompany you for the parasailing. Thus, along with favorable environment and natural conditions, tourists are equipped with all kinds of facilities and necessary equipment for parasailing.
3. Scuba Diving
Maldives exquisite marine life, high visibility and favorable environmental conditions make Scuba diving one of the most sought after sports amongst tourists. The island boasts of few best diving sites in the world. Some of the amazing dive sites are Lion’s Head, Kudu Haa, Girifushi Thila, Middle Point, Nassimo Thila, Okobe Thila, Sunlight Thila, Maldives Victory and Banana Reef.
An approx. of 70 different species of colourful coral reefs and more than 700 species of fishes and other aquatic creatures are found in Maldives. You can spot these exotic aquatic creatures and have a glimpse of the breathtaking marine life beneath the Indian Ocean while Scuba Diving in Maldives.
Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, snappers, barracudas, jacks, sweetlips, hammerheads, grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, frogfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, trevallies, etc. are few of the popular ones that you are likely to spot.
However, if you are interested in seeing whales, you can get a glimpse at the southern tip of Ari Atoll from late August to October. And if you want to see giant rays and whale sharks, you can visit Malé and South Male from August to November and Ari Atoll from February to April.
The temperature of the water is also quite suitable for scuba diving such as the temperature of water is 24°C (75°F) in February and July to 27°C (81°F) in April, May and September. Ocean water near Maldives has high visibility making the spots even more enjoyable. The visibility of the water is up to 15 – 40 meters (50 – 130 feet). Most suitable time to go for diving is between the months of June to October and December to March.
Even in diving you have different kinds to choose from. You can go for night diving and get a close look at the marine life when compared to diving in day time. You also get the opportunity to see the changed colors of aquatic creatures. If you are interested in relaxed diving, you can go for lazy diving. Most of the resorts and hotels offer the facility for scuba diving and have dive centers in house.
4. Snorkeling
Maldives is also popularly known for snorkeling. The island offers exceptional environmental conditions making the island suitable for the activity. For snorkeling to be enjoyable, rich and colorful underwater life is very important. While snorkeling in Maldives, you can spot sharks, turtles, and anemones, schools of sweetlips, eels, octopus and rays.
And if you like to see more of whales and sharks, going for snorkeling in late summer and during the fall can be a good idea. The experience of watching colorful, extraordinarily beautiful marine life under the blue water of Indian Ocean will make your Maldives vacation a memorable one.
Although many place in Maldives is perfect for snorkeling, some of the good sites for the sport are Sunlight Thila, Rasfari and the protected marine sanctuary of Kuda Haa. These sites are shallow enough for snorkeling. You also have Banana Reef which has strong current. The currents of water play an important role in the gathering of the big fish species.
The depth of water also plays a crucial role, as you will find different corals and marine creatures at deeper level. Reefs are the best places for snorkeling. The resorts and hotels in Maldives also take you to various sites for suitable for snorkeling and diving via dive boats.
There are various kinds of facilities offered by the most of the resorts and hotels on the island to assist you throughout the sport of snorkeling. Tourists are offered with varied kinds of equipment for the activity such as mask, snorkel and fins, etc.
Almost all resorts appoint highly qualified instructors to offer lessons in shallow lagoons or swimming pools is someone is interested in taking the same. The experts ensure your safety and provide you with all kinds of instructions needed for the activity.
During snorkeling, there are few precautions that you must take such as checking tide tables, as water depth and clarity will change with the tides and also tidal currents and speed. The island promises a wonderful snorkeling experiences to all its tourists.
5. Water Skiing
Water skiing offer excitement and a refreshing experience both at the same time. Maldives has a suitable environment for the activity of waters skiing. Its calm weather and gentle breeze caresses you as to try this sport. Here, you are pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on water of Indian Ocean, skimming the surface.
Along with the thrill, the experience of being amidst the beautiful natural settings is inexpiable. Though this activity is suitable at any time of the day, it is advised that you avoid it from the months of June to September. As the rainy season starts from June and end in September, making it difficult to water ski with the high winds, rain and rough, choppy ocean currents.
Many resorts in Maldives provide the best facilities for Water Skiing which make this sport all the more enjoyable. You are pampered with excellent facilities and provided proper guidance by the high qualified experts appointed by the resorts for the comfort of its guests. Along with guides, you also have lifeguards to assist your whenever needed thus taking care of the safety of the tourists.
6. Windsurfing
Windsurfing in Maldives promises thrill and adventure amidst the best of natural settings creating a refreshing environment. In this sport, you are required to maintain balance on a long board that is wider than a typical surfboard and hold onto a triangular sail at the same time. The experience of cutting across water and moving forward will sure make your vacation memorable.
The island also offers a safe setting for the windsurfers to go for the activity and enjoy it to the maximum. The island with its large crystalline lagoons with waist deep water and soft sandy bottoms and a protective barrier that is provided by the house reef make it safe for windsurfers. This helps especially the beginners.
There are many good surf breaks in Maldives. Some of the best surf breaks can be found in North and South Male’ Atoll of Maldives. The best time to go for windsurfing is the South-west Monsoon which is from the month of April to October. You can see the biggest of swells in the months of June to September. The surf breaks are generally of the size that ranges from 3 – 8 feet.
Apart from all these, even the facilities offered on the island are excellent and of high quality promising a wonderful windsurfing experience. Most of the Maldivian beach resort and hotels offer equipment like boards and sails varying as per the skill levels along with windsurfing lessons to their guests and ensure their safety by appointing instructors and guides.
Leave a Reply