Maldivian Dhoni

A Maldivian Dhoni is a traditional boat used by fishermen and tourists in Maldives as a means of transport or livelihood. It is also a strong symbol of nationalism in a country which is mostly dominated by vast bodies of water.

Maldivian Dhoni

Some Maldivian Dhonis may vary in design and construction, although most are typically built in the same way. There are many similar properties shared even by different boats varying in size and appearance.

Building a Maldivian Dhoni

Constructing a Maldivian Dhoni takes a lot of hard work and patience, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Many fishermen in Maldives use these boats as their main source of livelihood.

Maldivian Fisherman Dhoni

In the past, boats in Maldives were built using coconut wood. Nowadays this material has been replaced with imported hardwoods, which serves as the main ingredient in making the dhoni’s hull. Copper rivets hold together the planks of a Maldivian Dhoni, replacing the use of coir during the older days.

Maldivian Dhoni Cruise

A sail is essential to any Maldivian Dhoni as it will prove to be useful during emergency situations. It can also be used to save precious and expensive gasoline resources. The lateen triangular sail has replaced the traditional square sail made of coconut fronds.

Did you know that the basic hull design of a Maldives liveaboard cruise is entirely based on that of the smaller dhoni? These first class vessels are usually a hundred feet long or even bigger. To know more about luxury liveaboards in Maldives, click here.

Maldives Scuba Diving Liveaboard Expeditions

A Maldives Scuba Diving Liveaboard Expedition is a 14-day dive safari in the magnificent underwater world of this tropical paradise. Liveaboards have developed strategic itineraries for marine enthusiasts to discover the spectacular waters of Maldives in such a brief period.

Maldives Liveaboard

This scuba diving cruise will allow you to explore the 7 different atolls of Maldives, at the comfort and luxury of a liveaboard. If you want have the best and complete scuba diving experience in this country, then going on a Maldives liveaboard expedition is the way to go. These high-tech vessels are capable of carrying out even the most difficult and challenging dives that Maldives has to offer.

Maldives Liveaboard Deck

Maldives Scuba Diving Liveaboard Expedition Sample Itinerary

A typical Maldives liveaboard expedition begins with a check dive, before heading out to the South Male Atoll for some basic cave diving. Here you will experience a variety of overhangs and caverns, as well as encounter a bunch of colorful species particularly found in Vaadhoo and Vellasaru.

Maldives Grey Reef Shark

The scuba diving liveaboard expedition will then head out to the North Ari Atoll of Maldives to explore the exotic underwater world of Ellaidhoo and Fesdhoo, taking short breaks to visit some uninhabited islands along the way for some extra curricular leisure activities. Next stop for this Maldives liveaboard diving expedition is the South Ari Atoll, which also has a couple of must-dives, where sightings of eagle rays and octopus are quite common.

Maldives School of Fish

After completing these Ari Atoll dives, the Maldives scuba diving liveaboard expedition will take you to the lesser dived atolls like Wataru, Mulaku and Felidhoo. Diving these tiny atolls are excellent for more advanced and expert divers. This will be one of the memorable highlights of your Maldives liveaboard expedition, before the final leg of your scuba diving trip back at the South Male Atoll.

There are numerous liveaboards in Maldives offering scuba diving expedition packages like this. To see a more comprehensive list of available liveaboards in Maldives where you can spend the most memorable holiday of your life, visit www.maldivesdivetravel.com.

Seaplanes in the Maldives

Maldives Seaplane

The many islands and atolls of the Maldives are spread over quite a large area, so guests looking for quick and efficient travel between sites often choose to travel by seaplane rather than boat.  There are two companies offering transfers in seaplanes in the Maldives: Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi.

There are also many tours of the islands that can be taken in seaplane, offering the best views of these beautiful islands.

Check out this video of a seaplane trip above the Maldives to get a feel for such an excursion: