A Guide to Diving in the Maldives for Singles

The Maldives can be a lonely place if you’re young and single or even traveling with friends. It evokes images of newlyweds snuggled together for sunset drinks, couples walking hand-in-hand along moon drenched beaches, and an older crowd more comfortable with paying the exorbitant prices. That’s the romantic and geriatric side of the Maldives, the one that lives above the water, huddled on islands and protected from the real world by rings of coral and 60 plus touting staff to each tourist.

Under the water there is a world of adventure as the idyllic turquoise blue waters hide some of the best scuba diving in the world. Underneath the water you are never alone, as thousands of bright fish swim alongside, dart in and out of the multicolored corals, and you are never far from your required dive buddy. Just like a honeymooning couple you are always within reach of your dive buddy, to point out a large grumpy looking moray eel, the passing of six elegant eagle rays as they seem to fly by, or in extreme cases to grab more air as your tank has become empty from the excitement of it all (no, the last is not supposed to happen so check your air gage often).

Diving in the Maldives can be a daunting task to plan, not just because of the stigma of being single, but also because of the considerable dent it can cause in your bank account. However, there are ways to limit the monetary drain and choose the right place where you can meet more than just the staff that feels sorry for the single person on the island. Don’t get me wrong, the staff can be great and are often from all over the world, but here is some advice and options for planning a scuba diving trip that leaves you feeling satisfied and enlivened above the water as well as below.

First, I am going to assume a few things about you. You are not a billionaire, you don’t have your own boat, you would like to have enough money left to eat for the month after you return home, and you are not visiting with a fiancé or significant other; but you might be with friends who, like you, wouldn’t mind talking to someone else for a least part of the trip. Second, you know how to scuba dive, although at any of the options you can get certified in a few days. This leaves you with three choices, a safari boat, staying at a resort, or diving from Male (the capital city…well, the only city in the Maldives).

SAFARI BOATS

Known as live-aboards in many other dive destinations, safari boats are one of the best ways to see the Maldives, meet other people, and save on some cash. The clientele is usually dedicated towards diving, not snuggling, and the camaraderie formed at 100 feet below the surface while being circled by six foot grey sharks is par excellent. Safari boats come in all shapes and sizes, from the intimate 5 person owner led tours to the mega boats that can hold up to 30 persons. Trips are usually all inclusive of dives and meals, saving you from the higher costs found on the resorts. The scenery also changes as the boats cruise through different atolls providing you with a sample of different diving areas in the Maldives. The downside to safari boats is the strict schedules they follow. Almost all of the boats follow weeklong trips, usually Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. While the daily cost of diving might be cheaper on a dive boat, the overall cost can grow as you are “forced” to stay in the Maldives for a whole week. Like all things there are exceptions and you can hire a boat for a shorter period of time, but be prepared to find enough friends to join you to make it worth the cost. Book early (at least 4 months in advance) or you may find your dream vacation full. For a good introduction to the various boats and their costs see www.visitmaldives.com

RESORTS

The next best option is to find a young, hip, cheapish resort with amazing diving at its doorstep. No easy task in the Maldives, but with over 100 resorts dotting private islands throughout the archipelago and another 60 in development its not impossible. They are also a fantastic place for traveling single females who don’t want to be accosted by the local staff. Where are these magical islands? Follow these three simple guidelines during your research and you’ll have a better chance of finding what you need.

1) In the Maldives cheaper is usually better for finding the younger crowd. This is the Maldives and anything is going to be comparatively expensive and upscale, so you are not going to be staying in a rat infested Bangkok special. The more affordable places attract younger couples who are looking for a slice of heaven that won’t jeopardize their future family. They tend to be cool, extroverted and looking for drinking buddies at sunset happy hour.

2) Pick a place closer to Male. Anything about one hour speed boat away is a good bet and will save you the cost of having to fly to the resort on sea plane or wasting your precious vacation on a long transfer boat.

3) Make sure the island has its own dive centre. Most of the resorts do, but not all of them. You have been warned. I recently stayed on one such resort, The Holiday Inn on Kandooma. Yes, you read that correctly, I went to the Maldives and stayed at The Holiday Inn. It exceeded all of my expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

MALE

Male, capital of the Maldives

The capital of the Maldives is anything but an exciting party destination. However, if you are low on cash and time it may be your best option. There is no alcohol allowed in the Maldives, except on resorts and only for tourists, so you won’t find a club scene on Male. What you will find is accommodation for under 100 USD a night and a number of dive centers offering daily dive trips. The boats are a great place to meet new people, and since everyone is in the same situation as you on Male most people are eager to meet for dinner afterwards. If you want to experience a Maldivian resort you can always take the short ferry ride to Bandos Island (15-20 mins) and see how the other side travels, or just grab a well deserved, overpriced mojito. Combine the Maldives with a trip to Sri Lanka, just 1 ½ hours flight away, and you have the perfect combination of tropical islands and cultural experience. Click the link for some ideas on traveling in Sri Lanka.

There you have it, a single person’s guide to diving in the Maldives.

This article was provided by Todds Wanderings 

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