How to Get Around Maldives by Boat
By: Lucifer Goodman
Tags: Vacation, Romantic, Travel, Maldives, Boats

The Maldives as an archipelago of over 1000 islands relies on the Indian Ocean as its main highway for travelling across the 26 atolls or clusters of islands. You too will find that spending a large portion of your time on the Indian Ocean is both thrilling and necessary for exploring the nation. As such, listed below are the options you can choose to travel across the archipelago via boat.

1. Consider the Fab Dhoni Charters

Dhoni’s are the traditional wooden vessels of the Maldives. The archipelago is a favoured destination for celebrating weddings and events, such as honeymoons and anniversaries, offers a fabulous dhoni experience across the Indian Ocean. Many private resorts in the Maldives like Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, offer dhoni cruises to couples wanting to experience the magical ambience of the sea. You can charter a dhoni from your private resort and choose to be at sea for a few hours or all day. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend. And judging by the experience, if you are celebrating your honeymoon or special anniversary, this one off cost will be well worth the memories and experience of sailing into the sunset with the one you love!

2. Choose to Travel Like a Local Via Ferry

All inhabited islands in the Maldives are connected by the National Ferry Service. Established in 2010 this extensive network keeps all islanders connected even if some areas are only offered the service a few times a week; which, however, means that you can reach the farthest corners of the archipelago via ferry if you have the time to spare. The ferries are cheap and perfect if you are on a budget, they, however, do not visit the resort islands. Hence, you need to get to the nearest inhabited island and maybe charter a local fisherman to take you the rest of the way in his boat or charter the resort speedboat or sea-plane to come to pick you up. Ferry service timetables are available on the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company website; however, time tables often change, with services getting cancelled often due to weather and other factors, hence, you need to be prepared for these sudden upsets in your schedule when taking the local ferry. Then again if you are travelling on a budget a few delays are worth the savings.

3. Riding the Speedboats in the Maldives

Private resorts located across the atolls, offer guests speed boat transfers, at very high rates. Most visitors choose this option to save time as ferries are slow and unreliable. Apart from the resort speed boat charter services, there are private companies offering speedboat charters at slightly fewer costs, and if you can afford the rates, speedboats are the recommended option for touring the islands. If you plan on exploring the archipelago there are speed boat companies providing a 10-hour service inclusive of a captain and a few crew members for convenience and comprehensive explorations. Costs are worked out by distance and fuel consumption. Look up places like Inner Maldives offering value-added services with speed boat charters from Male, the capital, or you can check with your private resort in the Maldives and arrive at a suitable rate for a day’s charter. Either way, a speed boat is both enjoyable and quick; there is no greater thrill than whizzing across the glistening Indian Ocean the wind whipping your hair. You also have the option of stopping to savour those idyllic sand bars and little island at which a leisurely picnic and swim in the ocean are activities memories are made of.