Diving Centers
One essential feature in each resort in the Maldives is
its dive centre. Although dive centers at different resorts
may vary in size and the facilities they offer, all dive
centers without exception, accept all types of international
certificates and offer equipment for rental and the services
of professional multilingual dive instructors.
Dive centers operate dive trips daily throughout the year.
All dive boats are equipped with radio, life jackets, flag,
oxygen and medical kits.
For those learning to dive all resorts conduct open water
and advanced dive courses and even specialist courses. Most
dive centers also houses educational and library facilities
and regularly entertain divers with slide and video presentations.
Night Diving
Enjoy the nightlife of the Maldives underwater city. Go
in for Night diving and you will be transported into a magical
world. Corals open up and extend their flower like tentacles
in the evening! Spiders and shrimps leave their tubular
sponges in search of food. The experience is made more enchanting
by the presence of moonlight. Visibility is reduced to the
narrow tunnel of light from your torch.
Prohibition on Catching and Export of Marine Life
A ban has been imposed on fishing and collecting of marine
life like Turtles, Napoleon Wrasse, Whale, Whale Shark,
Dolphin, Berried and small lobster, Giant Clam, Conch and
Black Coral
Export of the following items in any form; be as souvenirs
or product for commercial use is banned.
- Putterfish
- Turtle
- Skate and Ray
- Eel
- Bigeye Scad under 15 cms (6 ins)
- Bait fish used in tuna fishery
- Parrotfish
- Whale
- Dolphin
- Lobster
- Black Coral
- All Stony Coral
- Triton Shell
- Trochus Shell Pearl Oyster.
Fish Feeding
Divers often use food as a way of attracting fishes in order
to observe them closely and capture their image or just
for fun. But, in doing so, they do a great disservice to
the whole diving community as well as to the community of
Maldives. Often, divers tend to feed fish without any consideration
to their dietary habits. And their ignorance leads to digestive
problems and even death of the fishes.
The fishes in turn have responded by changing their behavior
towards humans in general. Groupers and Eels, once peaceful
have become aggressive predators. Divers have been seriously
attacked in some of the areas where fish feeding has been
continued over the years. Often, it is the feeders themselves
who have been attacked by sharks. Once, a great attraction
in the Maldives, Shark feeding has fortunately been totally
stopped now.
Obersving Fish behavior
In order to closely observe the behavior of fishes and other
life forms, the right buoyancy has to be maintained. Trying
to get near a fish or a school of fishes can get harrowing
at times, with them swimming away at every external disturbance.
Breathing slowly and moving towards the creature slowly,
bit by bit, helps you to get near it without scaring it.
Holding or seizing fishes, or stroking them for just a
good photograph or even as a friendly gesture is not a great
idea. Most fishes have a very fine layer of mucus covering
their skins or scales, which protects them from parasites.
Touching them or stroking them even gently damages this
layer and cause them pain. Dragging them out of their hiding
positions can injure their internal organs.
Taking Care of Corals and other marine life
The coral reefs not only lend the Ocean amazing shades of
green, turquoise and blue, it is also a base for all marine
life. The coral reefs provide a home to the smaller species
of marine life. The colorful façade of the coral
reefs provide organisms with a place to hide from predators
as well as to prey.
Water Temperatures
Water temperatures mostly stay within the range of 27o and
30o Celsius. However thermo clines can sometimes be experienced
at depths below 20 meters. During the hot periods, water
temperature inside the lagoons increases influencing water
temperatures inside the atoll. During these times many divers
are comfortable diving without a wetsuit. Lycra and 3 mm
wetsuits are the norm although some prefer 5 mm suits for
night dives or dives during the rainy season
Diving on Safaris
Dive safaris offer a totally different dive experience compared
to diving from a resort. A safari would give you access
to a much wider variety of dive sites in several atolls,
many of which are beyond the main dive circuit. There are
about ninety safari or cruise vessels registered with the
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Although safaris
are operated throughout the year, the best weather for safaris
is during the period from November to April. The vessels
range in size and facilities offered.
Important Tips
- While diving, take care to stay above the reef. Take care
that none of your equipment is dragging behind you on the
reef, as the equipments can harm it.
- Strap down your equipment to avoid it dragging behind
you and harming the reefs and other marine life
- To stay away from the reefs, maintain controlled and neutral
buoyancy
- Take care not to stir up the Ocean bed as stirred-up sediments
can settle on the coral reefs and smother it.
- Your fins can cause a lot of harm to marine life, so be
careful.
- Avoid contact with any marine life like hard corals and
other organisms as they might get damaged and killed.
- Some have stinging cells and sharp spines to protect themselves
and they can hurt you.
- Do not pick up hard coral bits and shells for souvenirs.
- Do not spread or leave back any litter in the water as
it can cause harm to marine life.
- Choose reef trips and adventure activities operated in
an ecologically sensitive manner
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