Maldives

Night fishing is a popular Maldivian pastime and a favourite activity with tourists. Conditions in the Maldives create the perfect opportunity for relaxing under the night skies while waiting for a catch. Big-game and deep-sea fishing are other options that involve trawling along the outer atoll reefs for giant trophies. The big fish to catch in the Maldives include sailfish, marlin, barracuda, yellowfish, tuna, wahoo, swordfish, and many others.Night fishing is rewarded with a catch of snappers, emperors, barracuda, squirrel fish and jacks. Often, resorts will specify a minimum number of participants required for fishing trips - often four - and those travelling solo should watch the notice boards and enquire from staff if anybody else is looking for fellow fishermen. Usually groups can be easily assembled.Most resorts and hotels offer all the basic fishing gear you may need, but experienced fishermen do sometimes complain about the quality and limited selection of the rods. If you are an expert, it is best to bring your own equipment to avoid disappointment. But if you are a beginner, you should be perfectly satisfied with what they offer.Visitors should note that fishing within the reefs is not allowed at any resort and there are some protected marine regions which must be avoided. It is against the law to fish in some places and offenders will be fined steeply. Talk to your chosen resort before your trip to find out what kind of fishing they offer, as facilities vary from resort to resort.

The tropical waters of the Indian Ocean vibrate with exotic marine life and abundant coral reefs. Some of the popular diving sites in the Maldives can be explored from the resorts or through diving safari trips.Most of the resorts run diving schools offering PADI courses and hiring facilities for diving and snorkelling equipment and underwater cameras. Some of the best dive sites in the Maldives include the Victory Wreck, Mushimasmingili Thila (Shark Thila), Guraidhoo Corner, Kuda Rah Thila (Broken Rock), and Banana Reef.Vaavu Atoll attracts divers with its wealth of marine life; Lhaviyani Atoll's Kuredu Express is a strong current that provides excitement for divers looking for thrills; the North Male Atoll is great for calmer dives, and small, interesting sea creatures; Lankanfinolhu Faru is one of the best places to see manta rays; and Ari Atoll is great for dives with sharks and other large fish.The Maldives has a great variety of dive sites of varying depths to suit different skill levels. The diving is wonderful year-round in the Maldives, but many visitors prefer to avoid the worst of the rainy season, between June and August.

Watersports of many different kinds are popular at the various resorts in the Maldives, including parasailing, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, kite surfing, and tubing. Visitors also love to go cruising in glass-bottomed boats, often in search of dolphins to swim with.Parasailing in the Maldives is a great way to explore the scenic splendour of the islands and the vistas of coral and water beyond from a bird's eye view. Only the larger resorts offer it as an activity and those that do usually have courses for beginners. If your resort doesn't offer parasailing it is usually possible to arrange a visit to a nearby resort that does. Two resorts well-known for their parasailing are Fihalhohi and Adaaran Hudhuran Fushi.The lagoons found around most of the islands make the conditions perfect for windsurfing in the Maldives. Most of the resorts have windsurf schools or watersports centres offering lessons and equipment hiring facilities. Boards and sails for hire cater to varying skill levels so it is important to ask advice. Most resorts in the Maldives offer windsurfing as an activity, but some of the most well-known islands for enjoying the sport are Rihiveli, Velassaru, Baros, Meedhupparu, Anantara Dhiggu, Medhufushi and Kuramathi.