On May 30, local time, the Maldives National Tourism Administration issued a statement stating that it plans to reopen its borders starting in July 2020. This beautiful treasure located in the Indian Ocean is a holiday paradise and diving mecca in the eyes of countless people, at

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On May 30, local time, the Maldives National Tourism Administration issued a statement stating that it plans to reopen the borders from July 2020. Visitors entering the Maldives will not be charged for or , nor will they be charged any other additional fees.

This beautiful treasure located in the Indian Ocean is a holiday paradise and diving mecca in the eyes of countless people, attracting a large number of tourists. Even if you have no plan to go and find out, you might as well take a look at the top Maldives experiences and diving guide selected by LP for you~

Source: Maldives National Tourism Administration

Website: https: //visitmaldives.com/en

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The Maldives has the best beaches in the world, like pieces of white jade floating on the blue sea, inlaid with nearly 1,200 emerald islands, which is fascinating!

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Although the softness of these beaches varies, it is indisputable that the snow-white sand here and the clear blue water are unique in the world.

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An island is a resort. There are more than a hundred beautiful islands. Your only problem is how to choose.

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In top resorts, the world's leading hotels are competing to launch VIP services, from personal butlers and private pools to in-room massages and pillow menus, giving the word "luxury" new definitions again and again.

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There are world-class diving and snorkeling resorts. The clear underwater world of the Maldives is like a magnet that firmly attracts every marine life enthusiast. The diverse underwater world is an eye-opener as you dive close to the coral reefs, home to coral walls, magnificent caves and swarms of tropical fish.

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In recent years, these unparalleled islands have finally begun to open up to self-guided travelers. Travelers with an adventurous spirit can now create their own itineraries without restrictions, take public ferries to travel between the islands, and immerse themselves in a religious and friendly atmosphere. among the local residents.

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Male

©Levente Bodo/Alamy Stock Photo

The capital of the Maldives is undoubtedly the best place to meet and understand the life of the locals. Brightly colored houses, bustling markets and relaxed teahouses where you can chat and share delicious snacks with regular customers are the highlights of this extraordinary capital city.

Male, ©Jonybraker, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 http://dwz.date/aTtb

Male offers you a chance to see the “real” Maldives, a place far away from the buffets and infinity pools of resorts. The brightly colored high-rise buildings in the city are lined up in rows, surrounded by the seemingly incongruous turquoise water.

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Male is pleasant to the body and mind, but in the eyes of foreigners it is a bit weird - non-alcoholic bars, restaurants, shops and lively markets sit side by side, and the hustle and bustle of the city is everywhere. This island city allows you to feel the real Maldives, appreciate the unique folk customs, and get along well with the locals.

General Photos: Malé, Maldives, ©Catherine Poh Huay Tan, CC BY 2.0, http: //dwz.date/a

The busy agricultural products market is a true reflection of Maldivian folk life. People from all over the country gather here to sell their own or imported vegetables. Coconuts and bananas are the most abundant. Going further in, you can see piles of betel leaves used to wrap "betel nut".

Betel Nut cocktail, ©Foley, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aTze

Walking around, you can see vendors selling food and people buying goods everywhere. Just look at the large number of products on display Agricultural products can make people excited and make them feel like an authentic Maldivian.

# Old Friday Mosque #

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This is the oldest mosque in the Maldives, dating back to 1656. It is a beautiful structure built of coral stone with intricate decorations and chiseled verses from the Quran.

Tombstones, ©Haikal, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aTu4

Even with unsightly protective corrugated iron sheets covering the roof and part of the walls, it is still a charming place place. The interior decoration of the mosque is magnificent and gorgeous, and it is famous for its exquisite lacquer carvings and wood carvings. A long panel carved in the 13th century records the historical process of the initial spread of Islam in the Maldives.

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Watching Hammerhead SharksHaving Breakfast

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Hammerhead sharks are definitely one of the weirdest-looking sea creatures, and you can see a lot of them in the waters of the Maldives. The most exciting experience is to dive into the deep blue sea at dawn, free fall to a depth of 30 meters, and suddenly encounter a large group of hungry hammerhead sharks, who are waiting for breakfast to be delivered to your door.

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The best viewing point is the world-famous Hammerhead Point located in Rasdhoo Atoll. This is a relatively difficult diving point on the outer reef. There are often hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other large deep-sea fish around. Class haunted. Diving activities here usually start before dawn and go into the water around 6:00, because this is the time when you are most likely to encounter these strange creatures.

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Enjoy the drum performance

_DSF3737, ©Redcheese, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aTzv

Whether you are staying at a resort or a residential island, any form of Maldivian cultural tour Highlights should include enjoying a dance and drum performance called "Dagu", which is a typical representative of local culture. This traditional performance is performed entirely by men and is a shocking spectacle. Although the program structure is very simple, the performances can be very complex and eye-catching.

_DSF3729 , ©Redcheese, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aTz6

The dancers sway their arms slowly and nonchalantly at first, becoming more active as the beat speeds up, and finally in a rhythmic movement Ended in a state of madness. In some dances, dancers enter a state of trance. There are 4 to 6 drummers in a band, and the music has a strong African flavor.

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Aboard the seaplane

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Elsewhere, regular transport to your destination is unremarkable. However, when coming to the Maldives, tourists may need to take a seaplane to reach their hotel, which is a rare mode of transportation in the world.

Lux Maldives, © Jonathan Palombo, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aUj2

These fast "taxi's are like taxis in other countries. Taking them will provide you with a spectacular view from the air." Coral atolls, blue lagoons and uninhabited islands, this air trip will be unforgettable for you

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Stay in an inn

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In the Maldives, inns are on the rise! It only took a few years. But now some inns have unique characteristics, allowing tourists to experience the "real life" of the Maldivian islands: contact the locals, taste traditional food, and integrate into an atmosphere that is completely different from resort life.

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The most outstanding inns are located in remote atolls, far away from the modern atmosphere of Malé. The local people are warm and friendly, and treat tourists like old friends. They lead tourists to explore deserted islands and guide tourists on fishing, diving and snorkeling. If you think it’s boring to travel without local residents and stay in a resort, this is a great option.

Sunset Volleyball at a Maldives Resort, © Badr Naseem, CC BY-ND 2.0, http://dwz.date/aT5g

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Try a modern version of Robinson Crusoe

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Almost every resort offers this theme Activities: You and your companions or family receive a picnic basket (in the most luxurious resorts, it may contain a meal prepared by the hotel), and then use a Dhoni to send you to an uninhabited primitive island.

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You are then left alone, surrounded by white sand beaches surrounded by turquoise lagoons. You can explore the island, eat delicious food, sunbathe and swim - a modern version of Robinson Crusoe.

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Dancing with whale sharks

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The largest fish in the world, whale sharks, are frequent visitors to the waters of the Maldives. They are large in size, gentle in character, and live on plankton. It can reach more than 12 meters. Whale sharks are most easily seen in the southern Ari Atoll and during the full moon when the currents between the atolls are strongest.

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Many resorts and lodges are located on the fringes of atolls, making whale shark encounters a centerpiece of diving and snorkeling trips. Swimming underwater with these gentle giants is a rare experience.

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Maafushi Island

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Maafushi Island (Maafushi) is the first inhabited island in the Maldives that can receive a large number of tourists, with a total of more than 30 inns and hotels. This is the best budget beach resort in the Maldives, with fierce competition and low prices for accommodation, diving, snorkeling and other tours.

Houses in resort close to Maafushi, © Jonybraker, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0,http://dwz.date/aTyw

During the peak tourist season, the number of foreign tourists on the island is comparable to the number of local residents, making it an international city in the Maldives. The most densely populated island with the most advanced ideology.

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The island has a beach exclusively for foreign tourists so that tourists can wear bikinis in the water. There is also an elegant secluded area where tourists can swim without disturbing the local residents. Moreover, it is only one and a half hours away from the international airport, making it easy to get there.

active Maafushi, ©Tati Tata, CC BY-NC 2.0, http://dwz.date/aT6p

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Learn to Scuba

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Plunging into a deep blue water is the most beautiful thing you can imagine. As exciting as it is, the rewards are huge, especially in a place known as the Maldives as a world-class "scuba diving" destination.

Maldives, ©Tchami, CC BY-SA 2.0, http://dwz.date/aUk4

In the Maldives, as long as you can reach the water safely, there is nothing to stop you from admiring the corals, tropical fish, sharks, turtles and rays, etc. It forms a fantasy world, and diving can make you enjoy it even more.

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All resorts and many inns have diving facilities, so you won’t regret learning to dive. The Maldives implements strict safety standards, is equipped with the latest equipment, and has passionate and experienced diving instructors. Crucially, the water is so warm that many people don't need to bother with a wetsuit.

# Diving Courses #

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There is a range of courses available in the Maldives, from introductory diving courses in a pool or lagoon, to open water diving which will award you with a qualification recognized worldwide course. In addition to these, there are also more advanced and specialized courses.

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Learning to dive in the Maldives is not cheap, but it will not be more expensive than if you learn it at home, and learning here can guarantee a high level, good equipment and an extremely pleasant environment. If you are serious about diving in the Maldives, you should take an open water course.

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The course requires nine dives, typically five in closed water and four in open water, plus classroom training and completion of a multiple-choice written exam. The price of a complete course in the Maldives is US$500~850. Sometimes this price includes all expenses, but there are often some additional charges.

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# Diving Fees #

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The cost of diving varies by resort and depending on whether you need to rent equipment. If you only need to provide oxygen tanks and weight aids for solo diving, the cost will be US$50~120, but generally speaking, it will cost US$60 (night diving is more expensive).

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If you also need to rent an automatic regulator and a buoyancy control device, a dive will cost US$50~150. Sometimes the price of a full kit includes a mask, snorkel, fins, dive computer and pressure gauge, but sometimes these may also cost extra.

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If the diving fee is finally settled on your room rate, there may be an additional 10% service fee, plus a 12% general consumption tax, so the total cost is really not low. The ideal way is to book your dive in advance, confirm the total cost, and compare between several resorts to determine which one has the best price.

# Diving Season #

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to April is generally considered the best month for diving, with pleasant weather and high visibility on the seabed.

The weather in May and June is changeable, heavy rain and cloudy days are common, and last until September.

October and November The weather is clearer and the wind is lighter, but because there are a lot of plankton in the water, the visibility on the seabed may be slightly worse. Some divers enjoy this time because there are many large fish, such as whale sharks and manta rays, which swim into the channel to eat plankton.

December There may be severe weather, including strong winds and rainfall.

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# Marine Environmental Protection #

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1. Avoid physical contact with living marine tissue or hauling equipment between reefs. Even the slightest touch can harm coral polyps.

2. Never stand on corals, even if they look solid and strong. If you must catch them to prevent them from being washed away by the waves, grab dead corals.

3. Watch your flippers, even if they don't touch the delicate marine tissue of the reef, the rolling waves created by the swing of the flippers can destroy them.

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4. Always use caution when entering underwater caves. The shorter the time spent inside, the better, as bubbles of air you exhale may become trapped in the ceiling of the cave, drying out any organisms that were previously in the bubbles.

5. Resist the urge to feed the fish. Doing so may disrupt their normal eating habits and trigger aggressive behavior.

6. Take home all your trash and any trash you can find.

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# Diving resort recommendation #

Equator Resort

From a price/performance perspective, Equator Village is one of the most value-for-money diving resorts in the Maldives. The low room rates and all-inclusive package (US$224) make it an excellent place to stay. Staying here will give you the privilege to experience "daily life" in the Maldives, as this resort is connected to several inhabited islands via causeways. The rooms are functional and not romantic at all - not a great place for a honeymoon - but they are comfortable and ideal for divers.

Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo

Divers don’t have to look hard: Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo has more than 100 diving spots that can be visited within half a day, and it enjoys the reputation of being the core diving area in the Maldives. It is considered to be the best house reef in the Maldives, with a 750-meter-long coral wall, a large number of caves, coral colonies, rich marine life, and even a small shipwreck. The villa-style residence is trendy and fashionable. The double-story water villa is spacious and spacious. It is very cost-effective in terms of its grade. It was just renovated a few years ago.

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Reference before traveling

Visa: is exempt from visa for stays within 30 days.

language: The official language of is Dhivehi, and English is widely used.

Currency: The currency of the Maldives is Rufiya (rufiyaa, referred to as Rf, the standard currency code is MVR).

time: Male is 3 hours behind Beijing time.

Maldives, a place you want to be, ©Nattu, CC BY 2.0, http://dwz.date/aUyW

Arriving in the Maldives

. Ibrahim Nasir International Airport

. Speedboat: Located in the North and South Male Atolls The resort picks up guests by speedboat (10-70 minutes).

. Seaplane: has charter flights before 17:00 every day (seaplanes cannot fly after dark) to areas outside the North and South Male Atolls. Guests arriving late will need to stay overnight in Male and take a seaplane to their destination the next day.

. Male Ferry: There are ferries to the capital 24 hours a day (Rf10, journey 5 minutes, departure every 10 minutes).

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Daily budget reference

Economy: less than US$300

The price of a budget resort is US$150~400 per night. The room rate at

Inn is cheaper, about US$100 per night.

Take a cheap public ferry to the inn, which costs US$5~10.

Mid-range: US$400～850

The price of mid-range resort is more than US$300 per night.

A package that includes three meals or an all-inclusive package can save you money.

A speedboat ride to the resort costs approximately US$200.

High-end type: higher than US$850

High-end resort prices are more than US$750 per night.

A round trip by seaplane costs about US$400.

A meal at the best restaurant in Male costs around US$20.

Vi ses om 12 dage, ©Christian Jensen, CC BY 2.0, http://dwz.date/aVjy

After watching the dreamlike scenery

and the magical underwater world

Are you excited?

You might as well go on a vacation after the epidemic~