How to try scuba diving in Maldives

The Maldives is a collection of islands, lazily placed on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The islands, apart from being a romantic's haven, is a mecca for sun-worshipers and those seeking a spot of adventure above and below the waves. Scuba diving is one of the most rewarding sports to enjoy around the archipelago, tipped to hold some of the world's top scuba diving points. Best of all, anyone can enjoy diving on the islands, as this article on how to try scuba diving in the Maldives shows.

1. Understand Why The Maldives Is A Top Notch Destination For Scuba Diving

The waters surrounding the islands are crystal clear, boasting visibility to depths of around 30 metres in some places. Add to that the tropical allures of the Indian Ocean, enticing all manner of marine life and you've got your holiday activities in the Maldives all planned out.

The sea around the archipelago is known to harbour around 500 types of marine life. The coral islands are verdant homes made up of utterly beautiful coral formations and house reefs which are habitats for manner of aquatic creatures. There are sandy banks, hidden coves, underwater tunnels and sunken cliffs which are a scuba divers treasure chest of wonders to discover in the form of the most exotic marine life to grace the seas.

All this and more, makes the Maldives a sought out hot-spot amongst professional divers, as well as, those wanting to learn the sport. In order to spice up your Maldives adventure you can explore the many online travel sites where tips, suggestions and experiences are discussed for travellers to understand all about the destinations they are exploring. Some like The Maldives Travel are specific about the destination, giving the reader loads of suggestions to explore and implement in order to make their adventure in Maldives one to remember. You can learn about where to stay for the best scuba diving experience, as well as, which resorts offer PADI diving certificates for the novice diver to embark on an exploration of the Indian Ocean.

2. The Best Time To Visit The Maldives For Scuba Diving

As a tropical destination, the Maldives is actually accessible throughout the year. The islands experience only two seasons, the wet and dry. For the best clarity and visibility in the water, its best to visit the Maldives for scuba diving during the dry season. The weather there is influenced by two monsoon seasons; although the climate remains hot tropical all year round.

The dry season happens with the north-eastern winter monsoon, taking place between November and April. The rainy season is from May to October taking place during the south-west monsoon. During this time the archipelago experiences strong winds and conditions similar to storms. However, its notable to add that it rarely rains all day in the Maldives. Plus, the north is more influenced by the monsoons than the south of Maldives.

In a nutshell, the best time to visit the Maldives on a scuba diving tour is in February, March and April. During this time divers are treated to flat seas, gorgeous sunny skies and plenty of chances to spot the elusive whale sharks and huge manta rays. Explore your Maldives travel site for more details on tours available at this time of year for tourists wanting to book a live aboard scuba diving safari in the Maldives.

3. Getting Around The Maldives

Your international flight will arrive on Male, the capital island. From there you can choose to transfer to your Maldives resort via seaplane, speedboat or public ferry; choices depend greatly on cost as the seaplane and speedboats don't come cheap. You can arrange to be picked up by your private resort in the Maldives or the tour operator with whom you arranged your scuba diving tour. For a list of Maldives resorts and tour operators you can check out Maldives travel sites.

4. Choose The Type Of Scuba Diving Tour You Want In The Maldives

The Maldives offer a variety of scuba diving tours aimed at the professional and novice diver. The most popular are the house-reef diving tours since the islands are home to around 900 house reefs from amongst the over 2500 reefs there. A house reef is the coral reef which surrounds a private island and are the easiest to explore as you simply swim out to one from the beach of your resort.

Liveaboard scuba diving tours too are popular where you can join a tour aboard a yacht exploring the many fabulous scuba diving spots around the archipelago; as the name suggests, you stay aboard the boat and dive and snorkel to your hearts content. You can choose the liveaboard tour which best suits your budget from amongst the many on offer.

5. Decide Where You Want To Stay For Which Type Of Scuba Diving Experience

If you prefer the simpler, house-reef type diving in the Maldives check out the following places noted for the most verdant reefs. Baros Maldives, Reethi Island, Bathala Island, Mirihi Island etc.

The best dive sites in the Maldives include; Ari Atoll home to Maaya Thila and Fish Head. Baa Atoll home to Nelivaru Haa and Dhonfanu Haa.

Read up as much as you can about the topographies in the Maldives. Learn the terms and identify the best locations for each type of marine attraction. That way you can map out your holiday and have the most memorable scuba diving tour in the Maldives.