TRAVEL FEATURE continued
Central Atolls. Luxury Yacht Maldives, Aggressor Fleet, Man- thiri, Blue Force, and Emperor Fleet are all options for divers. Many liveaboards operating in this area provide com- fortable cabins, quality food and memorable diving. Luxury
https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the arrival date and have at least one page available for an entry stamp. Visitors must have a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered
Yacht Maldives, an Italian-owned company, offers two boats, M/V Conte Max and M/V Duke of York, with a distinctly Italian approach to dining aboard live- aboards. Land-based options are also plentiful in this area. At the high end of luxury is the Conrad Resort on Rangali Island in South Ari Atoll. Complete with overwater bungalows, an un- derwater restaurant and a 5-star PADI operation, it may be the once-in-a-lifetime island expe- rience some customers are seek- ing. There are numerous other options across a wide spectrum of costs and amenities in the Central Atolls. Planning a trip here requires careful research into cost, resort offerings, dive operations, trans- fer logistics and the dive options available from each property. Travel Logistics Traveling to Malé International Airport usually involves transiting through a gateway city. Flights to Malé originate in places such as Seoul, Mumbai, Dubai, Doha, Singapore, London, and many others.
facility, a complete travel itinerary including confirmed return or onward tickets, and a 30-day free tourist visa, which is issued upon arrival. For many people, the geogra- phy and long Maldivian names of the various islands can present a daunting challenge. A practical recommendation is to first de- termine which region the cus- tomer wants to explore – Central, Northern, or Southern – and then decide which mode of ac- commodation best fits the trip: liveaboard or land-based resort. Almost all resorts and live- aboards provide an easy means of getting from the airport in Malé to their location. Malé airport is right on the water, and getting to the docks is as easy as walking out the front entrance. Some liveaboards dock right at the airport or a short distance away. Often, represen- tatives meet guests in the airport and arrange transportation to the boat or resort.
At the Malé airport, several kiosks for resorts and dive boats are prominent. Starting the jour- ney may be as simple as going to the appropriate welcome desk. Transportation may be provided by speedboat, docked outside the airport, or by seaplane, also located nearby. Tour operators, liveaboards or hotels should provide those arrangements in advance of arrival. Be sure customers understand luggage limitations, especially if the journey involves a seaplane transfer. Seaplanes are
The world is always changing, so travelers should verify entry requirements before planning their trip. For example, the Third Amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act prohibits entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports effective April 15, 2025. All travelers visiting the Maldives must submit an IMUGA Traveler Declaration form within 96 hours of arrival at
FORTY-TWO | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
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