The resorts in the Maldives offer a wide variety of watersports. All
resorts offer diving and snorkelling. Some have professional windsurf
schools with qualified instructors offering multi-lingual certified courses,
while others provide the basics needed for the windsurf enthusiast. Windsurf
schools or watersports centres in the resorts are often equipped with one or
more catamarans and a few kayaks or canoes. There are some resorts that
offer only non-motorised watersports as a rule, to avoid disturbing the
peace. However many of the resorts offer you the chance of testing your
skills to the limits, at water-skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, body
surfing, knee boarding and fun with banana riding and ringo riding. Further,
many provide romantic sunset sailing or adventurous excursions, in
catamarans or small 'dhonis'.
Windsurfing: The large lagoons that surround most of the islands are
ideal for windsurfing. Large lagoons with waist deep water for hundreds of
metres with soft sandy bottoms and the protective barrier provided by the
house reef, offer ideal, safe conditions for windsurfing, especially for
beginners. Almost all resorts have windsurf schools or watersports centres
where you could get instructions and lessons and even get an international
certificate. Some schools are equipped with a variety of boards and sails to
suit different levels of windsurfers. All windsurf schools and watersports
centres without exception, have the basic equipment for windsurfing, and in
most cases one or more catamarans and a few canoes.
Snorkeling: A trip to the Maldives will never be complete without
donning a mask and a pair
of
fins and experiencing the beauty that sustains these tiny islands. Each
island offers a beautiful house-reef that you could snorkel in everyday.
Those resorts with far out reefs have boats that take snorkellers to the
reef. Mask and fins can be rented from the dive schools if you need them.
Snorkeling in the incredibly clear waters here would open a new world for
you under water. What lies under the water is a veritable wonder of nature.
The variety and abundance of colorful fish in the reefs surrounding the
islands and the atolls would fill you with amazement and disbelief. !
Water Skiing: Many resorts have their own speedboats and water skis
for rent on an hourly or daily basis. Some even have instructors available
to give you lessons. Prices vary form resort to resort.
Parasailing: Most of the bigger resorts offer the excitement and fun
of parasailing. Some offer instruction for beginners. Parasailing is ideal
for those adventurous enough to try it. In addition to the
excitement
of being high up over the islands, it gives you a fantastic aerial view of
your resort and the surroundings.
Fishing: Almost all the resorts offer fishing, night fishing being
the most popular. A unique Maldivian sport, night fishing provides a quiet,
relaxing time under the stars, out at sea, rocking gently to the waves, in
addition to the excitement of fishing. In night fishing, the boat is
anchored at a reef just before sunset. Lines are tethered with hooks and
sinkers and dropped over board. The favorite catch is the red snapper. Many
resorts also organize morning fishing and big game fishing. Morning fishing,
like big-game fishing involves trolling outside the atoll, usually along the
outer atoll reef.
