Water Sports and other Activities in Maldives for Honeymooners
These myriad islands, scattered over thousands of kilometers of the Indian Ocean close to the equator, are perfect for water sport enthusiasts, amateur and professional alike. Maldives offers one location after another in which to enjoy the whole gamut of water sports: swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing, surfing, sailing (from dinghies through catamarans to ocean-going yachts and schooners), scuba diving and snorkeling.
The coral reefs on which the islands stand offer safe shallow waters, teeming with fish. The crystal-clear sea ensures visibility of up to forty metres (130 feet). Yet where the coral reefs plunge vertically as much as 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) to the ocean bed there lies a whole new world of tropical deep-sea fish.
In the shallow waters of the atolls, more than 2,50 species of coral, including 100 endemic to the islands, thrive. Several hundred species of fish, including all the most colourful Indian Ocean species, also flourish in this benign environment.
The border between the shallow lagoons and the deep water is one of the most interesting areas for underwater enthusiasts. Wherever you happen to be staying, most water sports can be arranged from the beach of ‘our own resort. Virtually all provide the necessary equipment for such sports as surfing, water-skiing, wind-surfing, snorkeling and diving.
Taj hotels in Maldives offer variety of sporting facilities. Taj hotels have two beautiful resorts in Maldives and the packages offered by the hotel are very attractive the details of are as below:
Taj Coral Reef Maldives Package
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is an ideal way to explore the shallow reef areas and most resorts has excellent snorkeling areas within easy swimming distance. Almost anyone who swims can snorkel but while some take to it straight away, others often need a helping hand.
Most diving centres offer short, inexpensive snorkeling courses. If you are apprehensive about throwing yourself into an Indian Ocean teeming with fish, it is well worth taking one.
Snorkeling is easy, relatively cheap, and allows you to spend hours watching the world of the coral reefs. If you follow a few tips you will find it even more enjoyable. First of all, you should buy, borrow or rent a mask that fits snugly. Test this by putting it to your face without using the strap and breathe in through the nose. It fits properly it will not fall off, even when you lean forward. If it is loose, keep trying until you find that it does fit properly. Next, choose some fins which feel comfortable on your feet, and a snorkel which fits easily, into your mouth.
Ask any of the water sports staff, or dive centre instructors for a basic introduction on the proper way to use the equipment. After this initial introduction you must now find out which are the best places in your locality to go snorkeling, how to reach them and what are the potential problems — such as waves, currents or difficult entries and exits.
Always take adequate precautions against the sun: the deceptive cool of the ocean will increase chances of sunburn. T-shirts help but remember the sensitive skin on the back of your knees and neck. Waterproof sunscreen cream or the full protection of Lycra body suits provides the best protection.
Lycra suits also protect you from minor scrapes against the coral and you can always use them afterwards for aerobics at home.
Finally, whenever possible, swim —rather than walk — around the reef edge. Walking over shallow coral not only results in cuts and scrapes but, more importantly, damages the corals, often severely.
Scuba diving
While snorkeling allows you to watch most of the shallow water fish in detail and see many different coral formations, you are restricted underwater to the length of time you can hold your breath. For many this becomes more than a little frustrating. For those who feel the urge to explore further, scuba diving is the only way to really enjoy the undersea world.
Diving has come a long way in the last three decades: modern equipment is lighter and easier to use and professional dive instructors make learning remarkably easy. So if you have longed to follow in Cousteau’s footsteps (or bubbles) there is no better place to start than in Maldives. One traditional, diesel-driven dhoani, the Magic of Maldives, has been adapted as a 12-bed floating centre for minimum charters of six days.
Many dive centres in the islands have staff and instructors with international qualifications — your guarantee of a safe and enjoyable diving experience. Almost all resorts have dive centres, but the bulk of them are in North and South Male atolls.
Once you feel at ease and your instructor considers you safe, it is time to test your new-found skills with your instructor to guide you around and introduce you to some of the multitude of marine creatures.
Once qualified, you can continue your diving education, either in the form of advanced courses or in special interest areas such as night dives or wreck diving.
Underwater photography, another popular course, takes you from holiday snap-shots in the deep right up to learning the advanced techniques needed to produce an underwater video programme.
If this all sounds too extreme, hire a “photo buddy” to photograph or video film your underwater exploits for you to show your friends back home.
Diving excursions are available daily from most centres and boats take you to the best diving spots in the vicinity. Instructors or dive masters should give you a thorough briefing on each dive site you visit.
The following points are also worth noting: remember that your legs will be much longer than normal, due to your fins, so take care not to kick the corals as you swim past. It only takes a few seconds to destroy decades of coral growth.
Never touch or handle coral structures. Their surfaces are covered by a thin, delicate skin and if they feel slimy it means you may have ruptured this protective membrane.
Never touch or handle marine life. Not all are as harmless as at first they might seem. Long-spined sea urchins are particularly unforgiving.
Never remove corals or shells, for even dead coral is important to the development of the reef — and “empty” shells are home to many different creatures.
Move slowly around the reef. Swimming fast allows you to see more coral, but fish sense you long before you approach and many go into hiding. By swimming fast over a coral reef, only the surface will be seen. Gentle swimmers inevitably see more fish as they do not pose a potential threat or disturbance.
You should also take time to look for smaller reef fish and other creatures as it will make your dive much more rewarding.
Board games
Maldivians work hard to survive their difficult marine environment but they enjoy their leisure. Although the vision of Maldives as a nation of “lotus eaters” waiting for coconuts to fall from the sky or fishes to hook themselves is a complete myth, there is time for games and dancing.
Older men on the islands often play cards in the shade of breadfruit trees in the village or under cadjan roofs by the seashore. Chess, a favourite game, is played very fast and with great gusto. The pieces are banged down hard.
Another favourite pastime is simply to sit under a tree in a kind of deck chair made from coir net, or on a flat wooden swing in the house.
Many children learn arithmetic playing a board game called ovvalhu in which cowries shells are placed in sixteen different bowls carved in a wooden block. It probably originated in Africa.
Children also play an Arabic board game known as carrom in which they shove flat discs with their forefingers and try to in knock others into the four corner pockets.
Athletics
More energetic sports include bashi, a girls’ game. It is a mixture of cricket and tennis in which one girl knocks a ball over her shoulder with a racket while trying to keep the opposing team from catching it.
Cricket is played in Male, but the sport that has really caught on is foot-ball, especially since a former president insisted every island should have a football pitch.
The inter-atoll championship is a big affair: the entire island turns out for the cup final — men, women and children —which takes place on the dusty pitch in the late afternoon. Presided over by chiefs and dignitaries, the game is followed by a big feast which sprawls into the streets. Later in the night the drums are brought out as winner and loser release their tensions in swirling, gyrating dances.
Most popular hotels in Maldives are:
For more information on Maldives tour packages contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in Connaught place New Delhi India.
Swan Tours - Blogs 