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Maldives Information

Discover the Maldives - Vacation in paradise
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Angaga sunset during monsoon season



Traditional dhoni of Maldives



Rainbow over the islands


Location

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Angaga sunset during monsoon season


The Maldives are located between the latitudes 1°S and 8°N and longitudes 72°W and 74°E. If you look on a map and find India, follow south (and a little bit west) into the Indian Ocean and you will find a string of Islands, the Maldive Islands. The Maldives are located west of Sri Lanka.

Being so close to the equator you can expect a hot and humid climate. Also due to the close proximity of Maldives to the equator, the sunset does not last long with the sun looking to drop out of the sky and sink into the ocean around 17.45 to 18.30 each day (depending on the time of year).

You won't experience long light summer evenings in Maldives but you will witness some of the most incredible sunsets!

It is estimate that less than 0.5% of the 90,000 sqm area covered by the Maldives is actually land. With almost 1000 uninhabited islands, you have arrived in a tranquil paradise and since it is mostly water, you definitely explore the underwater world of the Maldives with a SUB AQUA DiveCenter.

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The airport island in Maldives



TMA Seaplane to take you to Angaga



Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in Maldives


For Angaga Island, you will need to take a sea plane


Getting to Maldives

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The airport island in Maldives


You can get to Maldives from almost everywhere in the world! It is easily accessible.

Velana International Airport is the main international airport in Maldives.
If you fly from London UK there are direct flights taking around 10 hours.
You may find it cheaper and easier to fly via the Middle East or Asia with airlines such as Emirates, Qatar and Singapore, depending on where you are coming from.

If you book your flight yourself, not through a travel agent, make sure you also book a place to stay before you arrive! The airport island is just that, an island with an airport on it. To prevent being stranded at the airport when you arrive to Maldives, ensure you have pre-booked a place to stay. All the hotels and resorts are in contact with Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) to make sure you make it from Velana International Airport (Male) to the island of your choice. This part you cannot arrange yourself. Simply book your stay on Thulhagiri or Angaga Islands and let them take care of the rest.

Arriving on the Maldives' Airport Island, you will be met by a representative of Thulhagiri Island or Angaga Island, the home of SUB AQUA DiveCenters. A 25 minute speedboat ride will take you across the azure waters to Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa. Or you will be led to the Trans Maldivian Airways terminal to experience a sea plane flight to Angaga Island Resort and Spa. Either way, have your camera at the ready!

If you want to read more about your sea plane flight to Angaga Island and what to expect, you can find more information on the TMA website.

Tour Operators and Direct Bookings to Maldives

A number of tour operators can help arrange your flights and/or stay with us:
United Kingdom
Regaldive Worldwide
Website
Email
Tel +44 (0) 1353 659 999

Maldives Scuba Tours
Website
Email
Tel +44 (0) 1284 748 010

Sportif Dive
Website
Email
Tel +44 (0) 1273 844 919

Dive Worldwide
Website
Email
Tel +44 (0) 1962 302 087


Netherlands
Diving World Netherland
Website
Email
Tel +31 (0) 314 653 180

Dimension
Website
Email
Tel +31 (0) 455 717 777
Belgium
Travel and Joy
Website
Email
Tel +32 (0) 3775 6227
Italy
Nosytour
Website
Email
Tel +39 (0) 11 360 934

Direct Bookings for islands where there are SUB AQUA DiveCenters can be found here:
Angaga Island Resort and Spa
Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa

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Manta ray of Maldives

Weather & Seasons

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Manta ray of Maldives


The weather in Maldives is one reason it is one of the world's top holiday destinations. It is always warm and mostly sunny. The average air temperature hovers around 30 degrees and the average water temperature is a very pleasant 28 degrees Celsius.

In the Maldives the year is divided into two main seasons, also called monsoons. The word monsoon is a little misleading because it is typically associated with rain and storms but this is not the case in Maldives. The monsoons in Maldives are dictated by the direction the wind is blowing from and this does not necessarily mean bad weather.

The north-east monsoon, known locally as the Iruvai monsoon, starts in November and lasts until about the middle of April. This season brings great weather and good underwater visibility for divers and snorkelers.

The south-west monsoon, known locally as the Hulhangu monsoon, is typically from May to October and can bring more unsettled and unpredictable weather. However this season also brings lots of plankton to nourish the marine life meaning an abundance of fish and pelagic sightings.

More information on monsoons in Maldives and Thulhagiri Island's weather patterns.

  PDF Downloads

 • Maldives Weather Calendar - Nakaiy  

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Maldives soft corals on Thulhagiri dive site

Coral Reefs and Conservation

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Maldives soft corals on Thulhagiri dive site


The coral reefs of Maldives are on every scuba divers bucket list! Year-round fantastic diving on the many dive sites and every island has its own coral reef so you do not have to travel far to experience the underwater enchantment that Maldives coral reefs offer.

What is coral?
Coral is not a plant! Corals are marine invertebrates. You could say corals are animals.
Corals house plant-like cells, a kind of algae called zooxanthellae. The symbiotic relationship between the algae and the coral means coral reefs grow and survive.
The algae uses photosynthesis to produce food for the coral while the coral provides shelter and nutrients to the algae. A win-win situation for both!
The Maldives has perfect conditions for coral reef growth; the clear water and abundant sunlight acts a catalyst to the photosynthesis process required for coral survival, and the water currents mean a constant supply of nutrients to the coral reefs.

How are coral reefs made?
Hard corals are often referred to as 'reef builders'. This is because they build a protective skeleton made of calcium carbonate to support themselves and if thousands of coral polyps build their skeletons close together a larger calcium carbonate structure forms that becomes the habitat to reef fish and other marine organisms. This is a coral reef!

Why are coral reefs so important?
Less than 1% of the ocean habitat is suitable for hard corals to grow, due to lack of clear sunlit waters. Yet these coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on earth. They act as nurseries to a quarter of the world's marine species. They protect the land and islands by dissipating wave energy from storms or tsunamis before it hits the coast. The Maldive islands themselves may not have still existed today were it not for the coral reefs surrounding each island!
Also, coral reefs are beautiful! Nothing compares to descending underwater to find a breath-taking coral reef teeming with fish and other marine life in all colours, shapes and sizes. You want future generations to have this opportunity too, don't you? This is why coral reefs are important.