ARRIVING IN THE MADIVES: Maldives Airport.

“Now that I have decided to come, what can I expect? Where do I start my holiday?”

Be prepared for your first sight of the Maldives. The word ‘island’ takes on its full meaning Maldives. Malé International Airport itself is on an island all by itself!

As with any international airport, do expect your passport to be checked by immigration officials. Expect them to smile and bid you welcome as well. They would also issue you your thirty-day on-arrival visa.

Immediately after that, you picked up your luggage at the carousel and move t Customs clearance. There is no Green Channel at the airport and al in bound passengers’ luggage is screened. This is done electronically. Do keep your keys handy in case an officer asks you to open an item for inspection. You may also be asked to state you have any audiovisual media that may e retained for a short duration for inspection. So it is safe not to pack any restricted items.

The arrival point is the place where you should go next. A representative of your host will normally welcome you and brief you if you have a reservation at a tourist resort, guesthouse or cruising vessel. If no one meets you, look for a counter with the logo of your host. If you do not have a reservation made, you may use services of the representative of a local travel agency. Always insist on representatives producing proper documentary identification before you make any commitments.

After you have been received, a speedboat or a seaplane whisks you away to your chosen place of adventure in the Maldives!

In a country where there is more sea than dry land, you will expect to find boats. Rightly so! If you want to have a ride through the atolls, come to Maldives.

The atolls are Haa Alif Atoll, Haa Dhaal Atoll, Shaviyani Atoll, Noonu Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll, Kaafu Atoll, Alif (Ari) Atoll, Vaavu Atoll, Faaf Atoll Dhall Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, Gaaf Alif Atoll, Gnaviyani Atoll and Seenu Atoll. Among these atolls there are many islands; inhabited and uninhabited. If you want to go see the atolls, only to some Atoll’s islands you can go by seaplane, but other islands you have to ride on a dhoni. Mainly transportation is done by dhoni.

If you are a boat fan and want to see how we use boats ranging from one-man canoes to container ships, just ask when you come here. If you would like to have an idea of what the star performers are and what the attention-grabbers are on the seas, read on.

The star performer on Maldivian seas is easily the ubiquitous dhoni. The dhoni is a unique craft. Each dhoni is unique by itself in that it is normally hand built by master craftsmen who work without blueprints and with only the general directions given by the prospective owner as to the dimensions of the vessel. Built of strong wooden frame, the dhoni is built to sail in almost all the weather conditions. Dhoni are used as fishing vessels and as inter-island ferries throughout the Maldives. It is a well-known fact that most sea-wise persons choose a dhoni over any other type of vessel when the sea gets rough. Traditionally sporting a lateen sail that is extremely versatile, the dhoni has also recently married well with the marine diesel engine and has become the workhorse of the sea in Maldives. Custom-adapted dhoni serve the tourism industry very well as diving boats, excursion craft and supply tenders.

Powerboats of varying designs and sizes have become almost a new culture in the Maldives, especially with the advent of a serious tourism industry in the country. In a country where the international airport is on an island all y itself, and where all the tourist resorts are on separate islands, the speedboat has come into its own in a manner that is purely Maldivian. In addition, the speedboat performs well in its more conventional roles in recreational activities like pleasure cruising and water-skiing.

When the wind surfer first arrived in the Maldives, some daring young persons began using it as a means of getting around. After a few hair-raising incidents, this is highly unconventional practice was banned – a fact that you need to keep in your mind. The temptation is ever so strong. Though now restricted to tamer seas within the house reefs of individual islands, the wind surfer was made famous throughout the country because of this.

Getting around the Maldives is not restricted to a boat either. Seaplanes are fast becoming a favorite way to getting around. A seaplane ride in Maldives is always a breath-taking experience; the view is magnificent!

Though bound to the sea by nature, the Maldivian is certainly not immune to the wheel-mounted internal combustion engine. Expect the latest sports car whiz past you on the roads of some of the bigger islands, especially in the capital island of Malé. Motorcycles and scooters of all imaginable forms are quite common. And bicycles are simply everywhere!