Visitors
to Maldives from Yellow Fever-infected areas should have a valid certificate
against Yellow fever.Immunisation against Cholera is not required. Some
health authorities advise visitors to take preventive medication against
malaria, but the incidence of malaria is extremely rare.
Immigration
basics
The
art of doing nothing once applied to entrance requirements in the Maldives,
when it was one of the few places in the world that did not stamp passports
on arrival or departure. Today, tourists require:
(a)
A valid passport ( b) Sufficient funds for to cover their expenses during
their stay. (c) An onward or return ticket, or sufficient funds to
purchase a ticket.
Visas
If
they meet the entrance requirements, visitors get a 30-day visa on arrival.
A landing card must be filled..
Photographs
are not required.
Extension
of Stay
Extension
of stay will be granted on a case-by-case basis if required. Application
needs to be made to the Immigration Department well before expiry of the
fist visa.
Customs
- Arrival
The
import of the following items is forbidden unless prior permission is obtained
a)
Firearms and explosives
b)
Pornography of any kind, including what would be considered
"acceptable
erotica" in all western (and most eastern) societies.
c)
Pork and all products containing pork.
d)
Narcotic drugs, poisons and hazardous, irritable or industrial chemicals
e)
Alcohol - items purchased on the trip will be held in Customs bond for
collection upon departure.
NOTE
that all resorts in the Maldives have permits
which allow the controlled import of alcohol and pork, so visitors who
need either need not worry. Items exceeding a total value of USD200 needs
to be declared, and import duties will have to be paid on items which are
not taken back by the visitor. For any other information please consult
the Customs Officer.
Customs
- Departure
The
export of controlled items such as ambergris requires a special permit
and payment of export duties.
Airport
departure service charge @ US $15 per passenger (subject to change)
What
to Wear
A
relaxed pace of life demands that the dress code be decidedly informal.
Light cotton clothes and casual shoes or sandals are the most comfortable
year-round attire. A wide brimmed beach hat and sunglasses are recommended
for those who tan or burn easily. Most of the larger resorts would prefer
guests to "dress appropriately" when visiting the bar or restaurants, especially
at evening and night. This normally means smart casual dress instead of
beachwear. When visiting Male' and other inhabited islands, visitors should
bear in mind that, in this Islamic society, some modesty and decorum is
appreciated. Remember to remove footwear when entering mosques.
Currency
and Banks
Currency
The Maldivian Rufiyaa (abbreviated as Rf. or MRf.) is made up of 100 larees.
The current exchange rate to the US Dollar is around MRf.26.00 per U.S.
Dollar.
Money
changing Foreign exchange facilities are
avilable at all resorts and banks. Guests staying at resorts can settle
their bills in foreign currency. It should be noted that the U.S. Dollar
reigns supreme over all other currencies in Maldives, and it is likely
that the exchange rate for other currencies is slightly worse.
Banking
and business hours Normal Banking hours
are: 0900 to 1300 on Sundays to Thursdays, and 0900 to 1100 on Saturdays.
Friday is a holiday. Government ofices are open from 0730 to 1330 daily
except on Fridays. Shops and private businessses often stay open till very
late (around 2130).
Credit
Cards Major credit cards are accepted
by most resorts, but payment for a booking deposit by telephone is not
generally accepted. In some cases, shops in Male' may try to add a surcharge
to the purchase price if payment is made by card.
Exchange
control Uniquely to this region, there
are currently no exchange controls in force in the Maldives, and visitors
are spared the trouble of filling in various forms and haggling with the
bureaucracy. However, the laws of the market prevail, and it might sometimes
be easy to convert Dollars to Rufiyaa but strangely difficult to do the
opposite.
Time
Differences
Maldives
is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
When
it is 1200 (noon) in the Maldives, it is :
0700hrs
in London
0800hrs
in Paris, Rome, Geneva, Madrid and Bonn
1000hrs
in Athens, Cairo, Lusaka and Johannesburg
1100hrs
in Moscow
1200hrs
in Karachi
1230hrs
in Colombo, Bombay and Delhi
1400hrs
in Bangkok
1500hrs
in Singapore
1600hrs
in Tokyo
1700hrs.
in Sydney
2300hrs
(previous day) in San Francisco
0200hrs
in New York
Note:
The above refers to GMT. In summer, allow for Daylight Saving Time (GMT+1
hour)
Hulule
International Airport- A Guide
Hulule
Airport, Maldives' gateway to the world, is an island which looks more
like an
aircraft
carrier from the air. A short boat ride from Male', the former airstrip
has developed into
a
modern and busy international airport. Helicopter and seaplane services
transfer passengers to
outlying
resorts and offer sightseeing flights. Internal flights to northern and
southern atolls
also
operate from Hulule. While there is room for improvement of basic services,
Hulule rates
fairly
well in comparison with the region's other airports, especially after the
recent development
of
new terminal facilities. After passing through sometimes cramped immigration
and customs areas,
the
first glimpse of white coral sand and the sea beyond is a welcome sight.
Immediately
upon leaving the terminal building, the various representatives of resorts
and travel
agents
wait with boards to greet and escort their various groups. Travel reps.
also wait on the
lookout
for the very few who arrive without prior bookings. There is an airport
restaurant serving
simple
meals and refreshments. Money changing facilities are also provided. There
is no scheduled
ferry
service to the resorts, and each resort makes its own arrangements. A ferry
service operates
to
and from Male', with frequencies dependent on demand. The fare varies,
from a few Rufiyaa for
sharing
a dhoni to several hundred dollars for a speed boat.
Departure
formalities are more relaxed. Several duty free shops also offer a wide
range of items.
Airline
Counters are only open and staffed during flight times, and the airport
can seem deserted
just
minutes after departure of the flight.
WHY
DIVE IN MALDIVES
"
A paradise for divers "
Listed
are some of the best dive sites in the Maldives -
some
ranked among the best in the world.
Kani
Corner
Location
: Outside corner of Kanifinolhu
Depth
: 10m - 30m
Type
of Dive : Driftdive
Rainbow
Tila
Location
: South off Girifushi Island
Depth
: 8m - 30m
Type
of Dive : Driftdive
Maldive
Victory
Location
: In front of Hulule Airport
Depth
: 16m - 30m
Type
of Dive : Wreck dive, ascent & descent on a rope
Hotel Packages
