Maldives pool villa | The Adventure Travel Site

Experiencing Maldivian Culture & Life – Captivating Island Insights

For a truly enriching holiday in the Maldives, you should look to experience local culture and life and here are some ways you can do just that.

Image via Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Local Island Visits

While you will no doubt love relaxing at your Maldives pool villa, also make time to visit a local island (if pandemic-related guidelines allow for such excursions). This is an ideal way to soak up the local culture and witness traditional livelihoods; some islands also have museums where you can learn more about the days of old.

Sail the Seas

Local life is linked to the sea and fishing and this can be experienced on excursions on a traditional or luxury dhoni, a local boat. Such journeys are offered at resorts like Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas where one can try traditional Maldivian fishing at sunset; dhonis are ideal to enjoy some dolphin watching too!

Maldivian Cuisine

The cuisine is part of the culture and dishes in Maldives offer flavour-filled culinary discoveries. To help visitors truly gain an appreciation for local food, some resorts have immersive cooking classes worth joining; you will get hands-on guidance on making key main dishes utilising local ingredients or even a traditional dessert.

Below the Waves

The rich marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean waters that surround the islands here is a part of the country’s natural heritage. Some resorts have a bio centre with a resident marine biologist so that guests can learn about this precious ecosystem, while guided snorkelling and diving are also on offer for marine life encounters.

The best seasons for diving in the Maldives – Know your way around

Diving in the Maldives is a popular pastime and one that calls for careful planning. Provided below are the best times to pay a visit to these awe-inspiring isles for a riveting dive.

Northeast monsoon period

Conducive weather conditions are the need of the hour ahead of any water sporting activity in this part of the world and in the case of scheduling diving expeditions, take note of the northeast monsoon season which descends from December to May. During this time, the winds are calmer which in turn contributes towards sunny skies and pleasing oceans; the perfect combination to delight in some diving. Further, the currents that flow through the atolls from December to March make for excellent visibility, especially if you’ve chosen the eastern atolls as your springboard. The eastern portion of the channels witness sharks congregates whilst western sections can be looked at for manta ray viewing.

Southwest monsoon period

With the advent of the southwest monsoons come June through November, the currents are known to move east within the channels. Importantly, visibility is at its best if one opts to dive in the western parts of the channels. However, you will have to deal with rough seas and stronger winds. In terms of the species that can be spotted, whale sharks, mantas, and turtles are one’s, constant companions.

Where can you stay?

Should you be seeking assistance in planning out a holiday where you can experience such excursions to the deep blue, then it is advisable to check in with properties such as Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas who will also offer you convenient Maldives pool villa accommodation to come home to.

All You Need to Know About Turtles in Maldives – Conservation Efforts Vital

Amongst the fascinating marine life to encounter in the Maldives are sea turtles and here are some insights into this majestic creature that requires our protection too.

A robustus at en.wikipedia, Turtle hatchlings noonu atoll maldives, CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Of the seven sea turtle species in the world’s oceans, five can be spotted in the Maldives. Apart from swimming and feeding in these Indian Ocean waters, they also come ashore to the islands to nest. While they are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, the fact remains that globally, sea turtles are under threat and their numbers dwindling.

Five Species

Hawksbill and green turtles are the most commonly seen in the Maldives. Pool villa accommodation aside, resorts like Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas even offer special snorkelling excursions to encounter turtles. Leatherback and loggerhead turtles are sometimes spotted in the country as are olive ridley turtles that sadly tend to get caught in ghost fishing nets.

Threats

The export of turtle shells and the production of shell-based items are amongst the major threats to this species along with plastic and fishing nets left in the ocean. While the Maldivian government’s ban on selling turtle products and killing or catching sea turtles has helped, the poaching of turtle eggs still takes place.

Conservation

The good news is organisations such as Marine Savers in the Maldives are actively involved in turtle conservation and help to protect these species; initiatives include rehabilitating turtles that have been injured, protecting nesting sites, releasing baby turtles to the ocean and conducting photo identification and satellite tracking.

Conserving the Marine Treasures of the Maldives – Preserving an Underwater Paradise

While travellers enjoy seeing the array of coral and fish species in Maldives, many are unaware that this marine ecosystem faces threats too. Here’s what you should know.

Climate Change

While the Maldives has strict laws to protect coral and fish species, one thing it has no control over is climate change, especially rises in water temperature which harm reefs the world over; this has a direct impact on marine life that depends on the reefs and in turn, the survival of larger creatures up the food chain.

Coral Conservation

Coral conservation is vital and resorts such as Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas have initiated coral adoption programmes that travellers can get involved in; apart from enjoying a stay at a Maldives pool villa, guests can help the resort team to transplant broken coral in a reef nursery and get updates on its progress.

Responsible Tourism

Travellers should choose resorts that are vested in conservation including responsible snorkelling and diving in Maldives. Such properties will have a resident marine biologist who will help you get a greater understanding of marine life too; be it swimming with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay or spotting turtles and dolphins, there’s much to enjoy.

Shaping Young Minds

The next generation will also play an important role in marine conservation in Maldives; to this end, some resorts have marine biology courses for kids with a resident marine biologist. It can include fun Indian Ocean adventures where they can see dolphins, swim with turtles, learn about conservation efforts and even get training on diving.